Special educational needs (SEN) refers to needs children may have as a result of learning difficulties or a disability which makes it harder for them, than other children their age, to learn and make progress.
Your child may have special educational needs if they:
- struggle with schoolwork and find it hard to keep up in class
- have difficulty reading, writing or understanding information
- have difficulty expressing themselves or understanding what others are saying
- have sensory or physical needs that may affect them at school
If your child is affected by any of the above, you can find detailed information in the following documents:
You can also learn what home-to-school transport options are available to your child.
If your child has diabetes, staff working in schools should be aware of the guidance produced by Diabetes UK.
If you think your child may have special educational needs, you should speak to the special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) at your school.
The majority of children with special educational needs will attend a mainstream school. In Essex, we also have a number of special schools for children and young people with more complex or severe needs. See our school admissions pages for details of our special schools and how to apply. You may also be interested in our information on school transport for children with special educational needs.
Unfortunately, there are times when children with special educational needs get bullied at school. Our section on bullying offers advice and support for you and your child.