Inclusion

Autism Spectrum Condition affects how people understand the world around them. It is known as a “spectrum” disorder as there are different levels and areas of difficulties that people experience. 

Difficulties may include social communication, social interaction, sensory seeking/avoidance behaviour and rigid thought processes.

Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) is the term given to describe the extensive range of needs related to all aspects of communication – from understanding others to forming sounds, words and sentences to expressing ideas and emotions and using language socially.  

Developmental language disorder (DLD) is a condition where children have long-term challenges talking and/or understanding words. Children with DLD may have lots of ideas but find it hard to put their ideas into words and understand what other people say to them. Their difficulties can be hard to spot and may be ‘hidden’ for a long time.  A child can be diagnosEd with DLD if their challenges with talking and/or understanding words: 

• have a big impact on how well they do at school, or in everyday life;  
• are not caused by another condition, such as hearing impairment or autism; and 
• are not likely to get better by age five – their challenges are likely to be life-long.  

Most children with DLD will need support and changes to the environment at school to help them. Some people with DLD continue to need support when they are adults. 

SEMH stands for Social, Emotional and Mental Health.It is a term used in the SEND Code of Practice (2015) for a child who is “becoming withdrawn or isolated” or who is “displaying challenging disruptive or disturbing behaviour”.

A child with SEMH needs may have:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Self Harm
• Attachment Disorders
• Issues with Substance Misuse
• Eating Disorders
• Difficulties with emotional regulation
• Psychosis
• ​​​​​​​Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) 

There are a range of different sensory and/or physical needs that a young person may have at the Academy:

• Hearing Impairment
• Visual Impairment
• Physical Disability

A Physical Disability becomes a Special Educational Need when it calls for special educational provision to be made for the child and is classed as substantial and long term.

Examples of a Physical Disability that calls for special educational provision may include:

• Cerebral Palsy
• Sickle Cell Anaemia
• Scoliosis

Cognition and Learning is the broad term used for students who may have MLD (Moderate Learning Difficulty) and SpLD (Specific Learning Difficulty). 

MLD identifies students who learn at a slower pace to their peers, even with appropriate differentiation and intervention. These students will require support in all areas of the curriculum.

SpLD identifies students who have difficulty with one or more specific aspects of learning. This includes:

• Dyslexia (difficulty with words)
• Dyscalculia (difficulty with numbers)
• Dyspraxia (difficulty with organisation of body and mind)
• Dysgraphia (difficulty with writing)