Education and learning

What is a special educational need?

Children and young people with a special educational need (SEN) all have a learning difficulty or disability that makes it harder for them to learn than most children or young people of the same age.  They may need extra help because of a range of needs, such as in thinking and understanding, physical or sensory difficulties, emotional and behavioural difficulties, or difficulties with speech and language or how they relate to and behave with other people. 

It is quite common for children and young people to have more than one type of SEN. 

Severity of need

Around one child in five will have a special educational need at some point during their education.  But not all need the same level of help.  It is realistic to expect some children to be able to catch up with their peers just by having a little extra help at the right time.  But other children with more complex or challenging needs may always have difficulty. 

Severity of need ranges from mild or moderate to severe and complex.  Schools use three broad bands of need to help them plan support and monitor progress:

• School Action – where pupils have fallen behind most of their peers and receive ‘catch up’ sessions, usually as part of a group
  
• School Action Plus – where pupils have made little progress at School Action and need a personalised learning programme, often involving specialist or professional input
  
• Statement of SEN – where pupils have long term, severe and complex needs who are likely to require ongoing additional support.  A statement also names the school that the child should attend

In Croydon, around 12% of pupils are at School Action, 6-7% are at School Action Plus and 2% have a statement.

Contact Details

Contact name

Colin Pates or Florida Lyimo

Job title

Special Needs Team

Department

Children, Young People and Learners

Telephone

020 8760 5627/5481

Email

colin.pates@croydon.gov.uk