Special educational needs (SEN) refers to the additional support some children need to learn, communicate, or thrive in a school environment — support that goes beyond what a standard classroom setup provides.

SEN isn't about a child's intelligence or potential. It's about how a child learns best. Some children process information differently, need more time, need instructions broken down, or experience the classroom environment — noise, light, social interaction — differently from their peers. With the right support, these children can do exceptionally well.

Some children have a single, clearly diagnosed need. Others have a combination of needs, or needs that haven't been formally diagnosed yet but are still very real and worth addressing. There's no single "type" of SEN child — every profile is different, which is exactly why individualised support matters.