Education is a basic right for all children and the aim of education is to try and encourage and enable all children to reach their full potential in school. Special needs children may require additional support and help at school. As a result of this, all schools should have measures in place to ensure that all children with special needs get the help they need to fulfil their potential.

The term ‘special needs’ covers a range of different illnesses, conditions and difficulties, including physical disabilities, chronic health conditions, serious medical issues, behavioural disorders, mental health problems and developmental problems. As a result of the breadth of children covered by the umbrella term, special needs, the response to special needs must be multi-faceted, as some children may require different kinds of help and support to other children.

Help at school

School can be challenging for children, but it may be particularly difficult for children with special needs. Children may struggle to fit in, make friends, do their school work, sit down for long periods and concentrate, get around the school and cope with being away from their parents, for example.

Children with physical disabilities and serious or chronic health conditions may struggle to get around, they may struggle with their work due to missing a lot of classroom time (if they have to go to hospital or they stay at home because they are not well enough to be at school) and they may struggle to integrate with other children. Schools may have a number of different measures, which can help children with disabilities and health conditions. They may provide additional earning support, they may have measures and policies to help integration and they will have equipment to ensure that children can get around the school easily and join in with activities and games.