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Child Development & Early Education vocabulary · Special Needs and Inclusion

SENCO

Meaning in child development & early education, with examples

/ˈseŋkəʊ/abbreviationCommon term

In child development & early education, SENCO means: Short for special educational needs coordinator, the member of staff who organises support for children with special educational needs and works with families and outside professionals.

In Turkish: özel eğitim koordinatörü, özel gereksinim koordinatörü

How it is used

A UK role in schools and early years settings, pronounced 'SEN-co'. Staff say 'speak to the SENCO' or 'the SENCO has made a referral'. It is also written SENDCo when disabilities are included.

Example sentences

  1. I'm worried about his speech, so I've asked the SENCO to observe him.

  2. Our SENCO meets the speech and language therapist every month.

Common collocations

  • speak to the SENCO
  • the setting's SENCO
  • SENCO referral
  • SENCO meeting
  • special educational needsLearning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for a child to learn than most children of the same age, so that extra or different support is needed.
  • individual education planA written plan for a child with special educational needs that sets out their targets, the support they will receive and how their progress will be reviewed.
  • inclusionMaking sure every child, whatever their needs, background or abilities, can take part fully in the life and learning of the setting and feels they belong.
  • early interventionSupport given as early as possible, often in the first years of life, to children who have or may develop delays, disabilities or other difficulties.

More terms: Special Needs and Inclusion

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