Inclusion and SEN

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a neurological difference and can have a significant impact during education, in the workplace and in everyday life. As each person is unique, so is everyone's experience of dyslexia. It can range from mild to severe, and it can co-occur with other specific learning difficulties. It usually runs in families and is a life-long condition.

It is important to remember that there are positives to thinking differently. Many people with dyslexia show strengths in areas such as reasoning and in visual and creative fields.

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which primarily affects reading and writing skills. However, it does not only affect these skills. Dyslexia is actually about information processing. Dyslexic people may have difficulty processing and remembering information they see and hear, which can affect learning and the acquisition of literacy skills. Dyslexia can also impact on other areas such as organisational skills.

The British Dyslexia Association provides some brilliant advice and guidance for parents.

ADHD

1 in 20 children have ADHD and can present in a mild, moderate or severe form. ADHD is a lifespan condition, by adulthood, many people have learned to live happy, healthy and successful lives using a range of interventions and strategies that include medication, daily exercise, healthy nutrition, stress management strategies and what are known as executive functioning skills to help them plan and organise their lives, especially in school and in the workplace.

There are three main characteristics of ADHD:

• Hyperactivity: Lots of energy and feeling the need to move about or fidget and sometimes resulting in poor sleep.
• Impulsivity: An inability to self regulate thoughts, feelings and actions.
• Inattention: Difficulty concentrating and remembering information.

Understanding and Support Your Child's ADHD

Autism

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. More than one in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and there are around 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.

Autism is a spectrum condition and affects people in different ways. Like all people, autistic people have their own strengths and weaknesses. Below is a list of difficulties autistic people may share:

• Social communication difficulties
• Social interaction difficulties 
• Repetitive and restrictive behaviour
• Over or under sensitivity to light, sound, taste or touch 
• Highly focused interests or hobbies
• Extreme anxiety
• Meltdowns and shutdowns

For more information on autism, please visit the National Autistic Society.

Communication and Language Difficulties

Some children and young people have challenges with talking and understanding words. They may experience some of the following difficulties:

• Difficulties with speech sounds
• Difficulties in understanding others 
• Difficulties with producing language
• Difficulties with using language appropriately

You can find out more about signs and symptoms of communication difficulties here: Speech and Language UK.

The local Speech and Language Therapy Service website gives advice and details of their universal offer including a help line and email which is manned on Tuesday morning between 9 and 11.

Social and Emotional Difficulties

Children and young people may experience a wide range of social and emotional difficulties which manifest themselves in many ways. These may include becoming withdrawn or isolated, as well as displaying challenging, disruptive or disturbing behaviour. These behaviours may reflect underlying mental health difficulties such as anxiety or depression, self-harming, substance misuse, eating disorders or physical symptoms that are medically unexplained. Other children and young people may have disorders such as attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder or attachment disorder.

Visit our wellbeing page to find out about our whole school approach to emotional wellbeing.