The Four Broad Areas of Need 

1. Communication and interaction

Where children and young people have speech, language and communication difficulties.

Children and young people with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder are likely to have particular difficulties with social interaction.

2. Cognition and learning

Where children and young people learn at a slower pace than others their age, they may:

• have difficulty in understanding parts of the curriculum
• have difficulties with organisation and memory skills
• have a specific difficulty affecting one particular part of their learning such as in literacy or numeracy

The term ‘learning difficulties’ covers a wide range of needs, including moderate learning difficulties (MLD), severe learning difficulties (SLD) and profound and multiple difficulties (PMLD). Specific learning difficulties (SpLD) such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia come under this area.

3. Social, emotional and mental health difficulties

Children and young people may experience a wide range of social and emotional difficulties which present themselves in many ways. They may:

• have difficulty in managing their relationships with other people
• be withdrawn
• behave in ways that may hinder their and other children’s learning or that have an impact on their health and wellbeing

This broad area includes attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or attachment disorder. It also includes behaviours that may reflect underlying mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression, self-harming and eating disorders.

4. Sensory and/or physical needs

Children and young people may have visual and/or hearing impairments, or a physical need that means they must have additional ongoing support and equipment.