<\/span><\/h2>\nSEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities<\/strong>, and the SEND Code of Practice (2015, statutory guidance for England) identifies four broad areas of need:<\/p>\n\n- Communication and interaction<\/strong> \u2014 e.g., speech and language delay, autism spectrum conditions affecting social communication<\/li>\n
- Cognition and learning<\/strong> \u2014 e.g., learning difficulties affecting the pace or approach to learning<\/li>\n
- Social, emotional, and mental health difficulties<\/strong> \u2014 e.g., difficulty regulating emotions, attachment difficulties<\/li>\n
- Sensory and\/or physical needs<\/strong> \u2014 e.g., visual or hearing impairment, physical disabilities affecting mobility<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Common assignment mistake:<\/strong> Writing generally about “a child with additional needs” without identifying which of the four broad areas the scenario relates to. Naming the correct area demonstrates you understand the SEND Code of Practice’s actual framework, not just a general sympathetic attitude.<\/p>\nWorked example:<\/strong> A case study describes a child who becomes distressed by loud noises, avoids eye contact, and has limited spoken vocabulary for their age. A strong answer identifies this as most likely relating to the communication and interaction<\/strong> area of need (and potentially sensory<\/strong> needs regarding noise sensitivity), rather than a vague description of “the child needs extra support.”<\/p>\n