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Children and young people special educational need and disability (2016)

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Topic title Children and young people special educational need and disability (2016)
Topic owner Helene Denness
Topic author(s) Russell Wiseman, Helene Denness and Jean Robinson
Topic quality reviewed 30/11/2016
Topic endorsed by Special Educational Needs Board
Topic approved by Special Educational Needs Board
Current version 2016/17
Replaces version 2010
Linked JSNA topics
Insight Document ID /d/180428

Executive summary

This chapter considers the health and education needs of children and young people, 0-25 years, with special educational needs and disabilities who live in Nottingham City. The needs of adults with disabilities are outlined in other chapters.


Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities are a broad and diverse group and include individuals with complex needs requiring multi level support as well as those who require substantially less input (ChiMat 2016). 


Special educational needs are legally defined:


“Children who have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it significantly harder for them to learn or access education than  
most other children of their age” (Department for Education 2014).


The definition of special educational needs is a broad one covering a wide range of need including behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, autistic spectrum disorders and specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia. 


A person is disabled if he or she has a “…physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and long-term’ negative effect on his or her ability to do normal daily activities” (Equality Act 2010). 


Children and young people who have special educational needs (SEN) experience significant barriers to learning but do not necessarily have a disability. Children and young people with disabling conditions do not necessarily have SEN, however, there is a significant overlap between disabled children and young people and those with SEN. Porter et al (2008) estimate that approximately three-quarters of ‘disabled’ children are also identified as SEN. 

Key contacts

Helene Denness, Consultant in Public Health, Nottingham City Council helene.denness@nottinghamcity.gov.uk 
Clare Gilbert clare.glibert@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
Charlotte Reading charlotte.reading@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

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