Special educational needs (SEN)

Special educational needs (SEN) means that a child needs some extra help or support to reach their full potential. It often means that a child has a learning difficulty or disability of some kind, but it is the amount of extra help a child needs, rather than their abilities, that decides whether they have SEN.

Epilepsy can cause problems with memory, communication, learning and behaviour. The anti-epileptic drugs taken to help control seizures can also affect behaviour and may have side effects such as dizziness or drowsiness.
Because of these factors, children and young people with epilepsy are more likely to have some special educational needs (SEN). The majority of children and young people with epilepsy do not have SEN, and a child with epilepsy does not automatically qualify for any provision. The SEN framework sets out how extra help is given to children with SEN.

Extra help can take many different forms, and help children and young people with many different types of educational needs.

The SEN framework is complicated, but support is available for parents and carers. Your child’s school or education setting, the local authority’s education service, and the local parent partnership service should be able to help you. There are also charities and organisations to help parents and carers, such as Network 81, the Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) and the Independent Panel for Special Education Advice (IPSEA).

This SEN framework is described in to the SEN Code of Practice (England) and the SEN Code of Practice for Wales. Copies of these documents are available from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) (England) and National Assembly for Wales (Wales). More guidance for education staff working with pupils with epilepsy is in the guide Positive action in education, available from Epilepsy Action’s online shop.

There are two levels of support that can be delivered by schools or early years (pre-school) settings. The lowest level of support is called Early Years Action in an early years setting, or School Action in a school. The next level gives a higher level of support and is called Early Years Action Plus or School Action Plus. To help provide the support, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) will be used, to describe the extra help in detail and the targets the child is aiming towards.

If a child needs more support than Early Years Action Plus or School Action Plus can provide, they may need a statement of special educational needs. To decide whether a statement is appropriate, a statutory assessment is carried out. If the assessment shows that the child needs a statement, then the Local Authority will write one.

The SEN framework:

Throughout the framework, the following principles should be followed by everyone involved.

• A child with special educational needs should have their needs met,
• the special educational needs of children will normally be met in mainstream schools or settings,
• the views of the child should be sought and taken into account,
• parents have a vital role to play in supporting their child’s education, and
• children with special educational needs should be offered full access to a broad, balanced and relevant education, including an appropriate curriculum

• Epilepsy awareness project for primary schools