I have been told that my young child has Special Educational Needs. What does this mean?
What are the different sorts of Special Educational Need?
I have been told my child has learning difficulties. What does this mean?
What is Assessment?
How is assessment used in the Code of Practice?
I’ve been told my child is at Stage 1. What does this mean?
I’ve been told my child is at Stage 2. What does this mean?
Can I see my child’s Education Plan?
I’ve been told my child is at Stage 3. What does this mean?
Will my child improve?
What is a Special Educational Needs Register?
My child’s special educational needs are obvious and serious. Will my child still have to go through all the stages first?
How long do I have to wait before my child is assessed by an educational specialist?
Will educational specialists listen to my views about my child’s difficulties?
What if I do not want my child assessed?
What if I do not agree with the results of my child’s assessment?
Where can I find out more?
I have been told that my young child has special educational needs. What does this mean?
Your child has special educational need if s/he has a learning difficulty which calls for special educational support to be made available. Special educational support is any help for your child that is different from or extra to, children’s general requirements.
What are the different sorts of special educational need?
The most common special educational needs are those that result from your child having difficulties learning new and useful skills. However, there are also special educational needs resulting from difficult behaviour, troubles with communication, problems moving parts of the body, hearing difficulties, problems of eyesight and health difficulties.
I have been told my child has learning difficulties. What does this mean?
If your child has learning difficulties, this means that s/he has significantly greater difficulty learning than the majority of children of his/her age. It may mean that your child has a problem which makes it more difficult for him/her to respond to teaching when school starts.
What is Assessment?
Assessment is an important part of teaching for all children. Before any teacher starts to teach, s/he is expected to have considered what a pupil can already do and to have set realistic targets for what the child can learn. The next step is to plan how the teaching should be carried out. Once plans have been set, the child is taught – either on his own, as part of a group or in a class of pupils. Finally, the teacher weighs up outcomes to see if targets have been achieved. The diagram below shows an easy way to understand how these processes operate in school:
How is assessment used in the Code of Practice?
When a child has learning difficulties, everyday assessment, planning, teaching and evaluation are not usually enough to make sure that the child’s needs are being met. Special measures are necessary. A child is placed at a particular stage depending on how serious his/her needs are and how much extra help is necessary. The diagram below shows an easy way to understand the various stages in the assessment process:
I’ve been told my child is at Stage 1. What does this mean?
When a child is at Stage 1, this means that his/her teacher understands that s/he has learning difficulties. They are taking extra steps in class to help him/her learn.
I’ve been told my child is at Stage 2. What does this mean?
When a child is at Stage 2, this means that the child has not made sufficient progress at Stage 1 and is getting help from the school Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (called a “SENCo” for short). At Stage 2 it is necessary that your child has an Education Plan setting out the steps that the school will be taking in their efforts to meet your child’s special educational needs.
Can I see my child’s Education Plan?
Yes. If your child is registered at Stage 2 you will normally be consulted when the school is drawing up the Education Plan and you will be given a copy.
I’ve been told my child is at Stage 3. What does this mean?
When a child is at Stage 3, this means that extra steps in school to help him/her to learn have not met with reasonable success at Stage 2. At Stage 3, the teachers may work along with an educational specialist to help your child to learn. The specialist usually carries out a detailed assessment of your child in order to plan what should be done. Before any new steps are taken, the specialist should tell you and your child’s teachers about his/her conclusions and what steps s/he thinks are necessary in order to help your child.
Will my child improve?
If you are looking at the answers to these frequently asked questions then it is likely that your child’s problems are serious and may well last into the time when school starts and beyond. However, all children with special educational needs are reviewed regularly by educational staff. It is possible that, with suitable help, that your child’s difficulties will improve.
What is a Special Educational Needs Register?
Every school must keep a Special Educational Needs Register. This record contains the names of all pupils with special educational needs, as well as the stage at which they are registered.
My child’s special educational needs are obvious and serious. Will my child still have to go through all the stages first?
Normally, evidence is collected first to ensure that learning difficulties were identified and assessed at stages 1- 3. However, for a small number of pupils, who have very significant difficulties, the school may consider it necessary to directly request that the education and library board carries out a Statutory Assessment (Stage 4).
How long do I have to wait before my child is assessed by an educational specialist?
The education and library boards recognise the importance of early help for school pupils with special educational needs. Once pupils have been referred by school principals, boards endeavour to respond as quickly as possible. However, specialists are busy people so it is likely that you may have to wait longer than you would wish.
Will educational specialists listen to my views about my child’s difficulties?
Yes, they have a duty to do so. They should take your views into account and work in partnership with you and your child’s teachers.
What if I do not want my child assessed?
Most parents agree to their child assessment because they are very worried about the future. However, if you think your child does not have special educational needs or if you think these needs are not serious enough to be assessed then you should tell the educational specialist.
What if I do not agree with the results of my child’s assessment?
Educational specialists are trained and experienced professionals. Most parents agree with the assessment results. However, you should tell the educational specialist if you feel that his/her opinions about your child’s special educational needs are wrong. The specialist should listen to your concerns.
Where can I find out more?
You can find out more by contacting your local Education and Library Board.
