Introduction
What are
Special Educational Needs?
Special Educational Needs (SEN) has a legal definition. Children with SEN
have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to
learn than most children of the same age. These children may need extra or
different help from
that given to other children of the same age.
The SEN children who have a considerably greater difficulty in learning than
others the same age. It also includes children who cannot use the
educational facilities which other children of a similar age use because of
their disability.
As many
as one in five children may at some time need extra help with their
education and they are said to have 'Special Educational Needs'.
There are varying levels of Special Needs, including a small number of
children who have severe problems in learning and who need to have special
kinds of help over several years. These children are likely to have a
written description of their needs and what is to be done for them.
Educational Assessments for Children attending school
Some children will have had their special educational needs identified
before attending school for others this is not the case. If you as a parent
have concerns about your child you can express them and ask for an informal
assessment. The levels for a formal assessment are similar to a child
attending an early years setting.
- School Action - This is the level at which a teacher or a child with SEN
who needs additional or different support to that given as part of the usual
curriculum. Parents should be informed and consulted at this level and in
regard to any further action.
- School Action Plus - This results in the request for help from outside
services or specialist help to meet a child's needs. This should be done
after a meeting with parents
- Request for a Statutory Assessment - Where it is felt the child still has
extra needs which cannot be met by the actions of previous levels, the
school may ask for a statutory assessment of the child.
ICT enabling access to the curriculum
In this area you will find practical examples of using ICT to assist with
the teaching of students with special needs,
1- Help in identifying the most appropriate technologies for addressing
individual needs, and suggestions on how these might be managed in school.
2- Practical experiences of using low-tech aids and ICT to support access to
the curriculum for pupils with physical and/or learning difficulties,
focusing on pupils from nursery and those who are developmentally young.
Also included is a series of templates designed to help you to create an
inventory of your software.
How ICT can help learners with particular difficulties
Maintaining an overview of developments in access technology for all areas
of special educational needs requires not only an understanding of ICT but
also an awareness of the needs of learners with different disabilities. This
aims to identify key areas in which ICT can help particular learners .
Pre-school children with special educational needs
If you think your child is slow in developing or is not hearing or seeing
properly speak to your nursery or play group leader, health visitor, your
family doctor or someone at your local Child and Family Consultation Centre.
It is important to get help as soon as possible.
What can
you do if your child has a learning difficulty at school?
If you are concerned about your child you should talk to the class teacher.
There will be a teacher at your child's school who has a special
responsibility for children with special educational needs. The school will
tell you the name of that teacher.
.
All ordinary schools provide special help for children with special
educational needs.
You are an active partner with your child's school. The school should tell
you about your child's progress, listen to your concerns and work with you
to make sure that your child gets a proper education.
When your child starts school, or moves to a new school, you should tell his
or her teacher about all the special help that has previously been provided
by other schools, or by health or social services
Links for Learning
Disability
http://www.addgroup.org/
http://www.adders.org/
http://www.add.org/
http://www.additudemag.com/
http://www.addresource.com/
http://addwarehouse.com/
http://www.adhdnews.com/
http://www.futurenet.co.uk/charity/ado/index.html
http://www.dys-add.com/
http://www.chadd.org/
http://www.dyslexic.com/
http://www.dyslexia-information.com/
http://www.dyslexia.com/
http://www.dyxi.co.uk/home.htm
http://www.interdys.org/
http://www.ldpride.net/
http://www.ldonline.org/
http://www.livingwithadd.com/
http://www.add.org/
http://www.nldline.com/
http://www.oneaddplace.com/
http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwrld/
http://www.rfbd.org/
http://www.schwablearning.org/
http://www.bena.com/ewinters/styles.html
http://www.adult-add.org/
http://www.wordfinding.com/
Special Education Needs
