The term 'additional needs' is often used instead of the term Special Educational Needs - this usually means that a child has needs that are 'additional to' or 'different' from those of their peers.

Special Educational Needs includes children who may experience:

• difficulties with thinking and understanding.
• physical or sensory difficulties.
• emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• difficulties relating and behaving with other people.

These needs may result in children having difficulties with learning at school.  Children may have more than one type of need.  The majority of chiildren will have their needs met within a mainstream school, where the school Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) will work with you and your child to agree strategies that will improve learning.