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Directory of needs

Certain types of special educational needs can be identified quickly, others take more time and expertise. Here, we publish overviews of many learning difficulties and disabilities which may receive a SEN diagnosis.

Essential reading

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Autism in girls

SEND

Autism signs in girls include difficulty with social cues, recognising facial expressions, making friends. Here’s how to support.

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Speech and language difficulties in children

SEND

When a child has problems with grammar or speech sounds, poor listening or stammering, it is called speech and language difficulty

Birds sitting on a wire

Identifying and dealing with PDA

SEND

Parenting a child with PDA requires patience and understanding. Experts say remain calm, avoid direct demands and provide choices.

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Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs)

SEND

Specific Learning Difficulties is the collective term given to conditions including dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia.

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Our experienced and empathetic SEND consultants can help with education advice, navigating specialist support and finding a school for your child where they will thrive.

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Recently reviewed schools

Reviewed

Burlington House School

Independent Special school · London, SW6 6EG ( miles)

Co-ed
7-19
Not provided
181 pupils

Read our review

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Reviewed

Frewen College

Independent Special school · Rye, TN31 6NL ( miles)

Co-ed
7-19
From £23,499 pa
125 pupils
Boarding

Read our review

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Reviewed

Limpsfield Grange School

State Special school · Oxted, RH8 0RZ ( miles)

Girls
11-16
94 pupils
Boarding

Read our review

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All Directory of needs articles

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Anxiety and emotionally based school avoidance

SEND

Emotionally Based School Avoidance occurs when an anxious child no longer wants to attend school. Here’s what can be done to help.

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Anxiety in Autism

SEND

Anxiety is common in Autism, with 40-50 per cent of autistic people thought to have a severe level of anxiety on a regular basis.

A parent and child looking at the sea

Attachment disorder in children

SEND

Attachment disorder symptoms in children include low self-esteem, lack of trust, difficult behaviour, and mood swings.

A head made from jigsaw pieces with the letters ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD)

SEND

A child with attention deficit has difficulty with self-regulation and hyperactivity. Here’s how to support children with ADHD.

Parents hugging a small boy with autism

Autism

SEND

Autism or Autistic Spectrum Disorder affects how people communicate, interact with others, relate to the world around them.

A child who is sitting nervously

Autism and fear of needles

SEND

Fear of needles is more common in children with learning disabilities, especially autism. Here are steps to minimise discomfort.

Oil painting of a blue-eyed girl on a white background

Autism in girls

SEND

Autism signs in girls include difficulty with social cues, recognising facial expressions, making friends. Here’s how to support.

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Challenging behaviour

SEND

Understanding triggers of challenging behaviour like aggression, self-harm and ‘acting out’ is key. Read how to help manage these.

Illustration showing a small boy looking into the distance through a head-shaped aperture

Developmental Language Difficulty Awareness Day - 18 October 2024

SEND

Developmental Language Disorder or DLD affects 3% of the population but is rarely mentioned. October 18th is DLD awareness day.

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Dual or multiple exceptionality (DME)

SEND

Insight into Dual or Multiple Exceptionality, when a child has high learning potential alongside a special educational need.

A head full of numbers to represent Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia support in school

SEND

Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty affecting numeracy; symptoms include problems with basic arithmetic and calculations

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Dysgraphia support in school

SEND

Children with dysgraphia have trouble with writing or copying and may have an unusual or awkward pencil grip.

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Dyslexia support in school

SEND

Schools can support dyslexic children with specialist technology, kindness and excellent communication between SENCo and teacher.

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Dyspraxia

SEND

Is your child’s room a nightmare? Always buying plasters? Your child may have a learning difficulty called dyspraxia. Read more.

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Epilepsy support in school

SEND

Most children with epilepsy attend mainstream schools and do not need additional provision, however medical support is necessary.

Red dress girl looking at white cat on wooden fence

Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

SEND

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder describes defects from exposure to alcohol before birth. Here’s how to support children with FASD

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Fragile X

SEND

Fragile X is an inherited genetic syndrome which results in learning and behavioural difficulty, associated with Autism.

Dna test infographic. Genome sequence map, radial two-dimensional barcoding

Genetic disorders

SEND

A genetic disorder is caused by abnormalities in the genome. Examples: Down’s syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Prader-Willi and more.

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Global Developmental Delay

SEND

A child making progress at a slower rate than peers may have global development delay. Here’s how to help them in school and home.

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Oppositional Defiant Disorder

SEND

Oppositional Defiant Disorder is a behaviour disorder. The term refers to children who defy and disobey those looking after them.

A black rotary telephone

Selective mutism

SEND

Selective mutism describes the behaviour of children who are able to speak but remain silent.

A representation of waves on a beach

Self-harm

SEND

Secondary school and university years are when young people are most at risk of self-harm. We look at reasons that lie behind it.

Little girl with blue butterfly on her hand oil painting

Sensory Processing Difficulties

SEND

A child with SPD may have reactions which can be hard to understand and seen as bad behaviour; how parents and schools can help.

A superhero kid

Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs)

SEND

Specific Learning Difficulties is the collective term given to conditions including dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia.

A painting of a small child in red flying a yellow kite

Speech and language difficulties in children

SEND

When a child has problems with grammar or speech sounds, poor listening or stammering, it is called speech and language difficulty

A watercolour illustration of someone listening

Supporting children with Auditory Processing Difficulties (APD)

SEND

A child with APD struggles to register and make sense of what they hear which means school can be challenging. Here’s how to help.

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Supporting children with Gender Dysphoria

SEND

Gender dysphoria causes distress because there is a mismatch between biological sex and gender. Here’s how adults can help.

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Supporting students with eating disorders

SEND

For some children, it is not classes causing anxiety at school but lunch. Here’s how parents and schools can support students.

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Supporting students wth Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

SEND

Symptoms of OCD in children include difficulty concentrating on schoolwork and feeling irritable, upset, sad or anxious.

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Tourette syndrome

SEND

Tourette syndrome is a recognised medical condition, which is often inherited, but the cause is not yet understood.

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Visual Impairment (VI) and Hearing Impairment (HI)

SEND

Visual Impairment (VI), Hearing Impairment (HI) in childhood include sight and hearing difficulties. Here’s how to offer support.

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