Understanding Your Child's SEN
If your child has been identified as having Special Educational Needs, it can feel overwhelming. This guide explains the different types of SEN in plain English, what they mean for your child, and how schools can help.
Around 1 in 5 children in England have some form of SEN — that's about 1.6 million children. Having SEN doesn't mean your child can't succeed. With the right understanding and support, children with SEN can thrive, achieve, and be happy at school.
What does SEN mean?
SEN stands for Special Educational Needs. A child has SEN if they have a learning difficulty or disability that means they need extra help compared to most children their age. This is not about how intelligent your child is — many children with SEN are extremely bright.
Your child gets extra help at school, planned by the SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator). This is the most common level of support. The school uses an "assess, plan, do, review" approach to find out what works best.
An Education, Health and Care Plan is a legal document for children who need more support than a school can normally provide. It sets out your child's needs and the help they must receive. You can ask your local authority for an assessment.
Types of SEN
Click on any type below to read a detailed guide with signs, how schools can help, practical tips for home, and links to specialist organisations.
Autism / ASD
Autism affects how a person experiences the world around them. Children with autism may find social situations confusing, prefer routine, or be very sensitiv...
Learn more →Emotional & Mental Health
Some children find it very hard to manage their feelings, cope with anxiety, or deal with difficult experiences. This can affect their behaviour and learning...
Learn more →Speech & Language
Children with SLCN find it harder to communicate. This might mean they struggle to say words clearly, understand what others are saying, or express their tho...
Learn more →Dyslexia & Learning Difficulties
SpLD covers conditions like dyslexia (difficulty with reading and writing), dyscalculia (difficulty with maths), and dyspraxia (difficulty with coordination)...
Learn more →Moderate Learning Difficulty
Children with MLD learn at a slower pace than most children their age. They may find it harder to understand new ideas, remember information, or develop skil...
Learn more →Severe Learning Difficulty
Children with SLD have significant difficulties with learning and understanding. They may need support with most areas of the curriculum and daily activities...
Learn more →Profound & Multiple Difficulties
Children with PMLD have very complex needs and typically have more than one difficulty. They need high levels of adult support throughout the day. These chil...
Learn more →Physical Disability
Some children have physical conditions that affect their mobility, coordination, or ability to do everyday tasks at school. This might mean they use a wheelc...
Learn more →Hearing Impairment
Children with hearing impairment may be deaf or have partial hearing loss. This can affect how they learn to speak, understand language, and follow what's ha...
Learn more →Visual Impairment
Children with visual impairment may be blind or have partial sight. This affects how they access learning materials, move around school, and interact with th...
Learn more →Multi-Sensory Impairment
Children with MSI have both hearing and vision difficulties. This combination creates unique challenges because the child can't easily use one sense to compe...
Learn more →What to do next
Start by speaking to your child's class teacher or the school's SENCO. They can tell you what support is already in place and what else could be done. You know your child best — share what you see at home.
Every school must publish an SEN Information Report on their website. This explains what SEN support they offer, how they identify needs, and who to contact. Look in the school's Inclusion tab on our site for more detail.
If your child needs more support than the school can normally provide, you can ask your local authority for an Education, Health and Care needs assessment. The school can also make this request. IPSEA and SOS!SEN offer free advice.
Parenting a child with SEN can be challenging. Contact your local Parent Carer Forum (find them at contact.org.uk), or call the SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) — every local authority has one, and it's free.
Note: This guide is for general information only. Every child is different, and SEN types often overlap. If you have concerns about your child, the most important step is to talk to your child's school and your GP. Data on this site comes from the DfE SEN Census and is updated annually.