Sample Solution

may be an overlap between the needs of both groups of students. ‘A disability might give rise to a learning difficulty that calls for SEN provision to be made for a child. Many children who have SEN will also be defined as being disabled under the EA. However, not all children who are defined as disabled under the EA will have SEN. For example, pupils with severe asthma, arthritis or diabetes may not have SEN but will have rights under the EA. Similarly not all children with SEN will be defined as having a disability under the EA’.

This therefore demonstrates clearly the overlap whereby a child may fall within either one or more of the definitions.

The diagram below assists in explaining the difference between SEN and disability and where they overlap. According to The Learning Trust’s Approach to SEN (2009) demonstrates how useful this overlap can be when assessing the effect the EA has had on provisions made for those disabled students who require SEN considerations. As illustrated by O’Mahony and R.Rieser (2001) a large number of students will be classified as both SEN and disabled. They will access the EA under the terms of anti-discrimination measures and reasonable adjustments.

Data for SEN students

Statistics from the Department of Education SFR (2013) indicate that there are 216,030 pupils who have statements who attend state-funded educational institutions in 2012/13. Statistics indicate that the most common primary type of need was autistic spectrum disorder which accounted for 21.9 per cent of all pupils with statements and the least common was multi-sensory impairm