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Child Development & Early Education vocabulary · Special Needs and Inclusion

Special educational needs

Meaning in child development & early education, with examples

nounCore term

In child development & early education, special educational needs means: Learning 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.

In Turkish: özel eğitim gereksinimi, özel gereksinim, özel eğitim ihtiyacı

How it is used

The standard UK term, shortened to SEN, or SEND when disabilities are included (special educational needs and disabilities). A child 'has SEN'. Americans more often say special needs or special education. Reports use person-first wording: a child with SEN.

Example sentences

  1. Our SENCO supports all children with special educational needs in the setting.

  2. Children with special educational needs may need a quieter space to play.

Common collocations

  • children with special educational needs
  • SEN support
  • special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
  • identify special educational needs
  • SENCOShort 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Special Needs and Inclusion

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