Complex Additional Needs

What do we mean when we say, “complex additional needs”?

Complex: Children who have complicated health and care needs due to multiple learning disabilities.

A combination of, for example: sight loss, hearing loss, significant speech delay, non-verbal communication, requiring assistance to move, significant developmental delay (2 or more years). 

Moderate: Children who have social, emotional and cognitive needs (but less likely to have significant and ongoing medical needs), due to profound and multiple learning disabilities. This may present as significant challenges in meeting milestones.

A combination of, for example: neurodiversity, significant speech delay, non-verbal communication, significant developmental delay (2 or more years). 

Supporting Play

  • Learning through play, and opportunities for play, are essential for all children.
  • Children with complex additional support needs may face challenges in developing play skills due to physical and/or learning differences, and the environments they live in.
  • Adults need to seek out and respond to any playfulness the learner shows, introducing simple structure and modelling interaction and sustained engagement.

Ideas for Supporting Play

  • Sensory play – Stories, bubbles, water, sand, foam, gloop etc.​
  • Music – simple repetitive action songs such as twinkle twinkle, row your boat, etc. Exploring instruments and sound e.g., drums, everyday items such as pots and pans. ​
  • Movement – parachute, trampoline, swings, spinning chairs. ​
  • Art – using hands/feet / body parts to make marks, different textures. ​
  • Cause and effect toys – e.g., musical, spinning, light up.

Planning & Tracking

Further information for ELC and education staff can be found on Glow.

Resourced Provision (Learning Centres) information is held by the Supporting Learners Service and can be accessed through Glow. This page contains useful videos for parents/carers and professionals.

Where can I get help?

Virtual Consultation – further information can be found here.

A Glow Team is available – you will be invited to join this Team if appropriate.

Further training for ELC and education staff can be found in the Professional Learning Directory.