Additional support for learning means giving children extra help or support so they can get the most out of their education.
A child or young person is said to have ‘additional support needs’ if they need more – or different support – to what is normally provided in schools or pre-schools to children of the same age.
There are many reasons why a child might need additional support for learning.
These include:
- finding it difficult to control their behaviour
- not making themselves understood (because English is not their first language or because of a speech and language difficulty)
- being bullied
- being abused or neglected
- caring for someone at home
- having difficulties with reading and spelling
- being far ahead of their classmates in their subjects
- changing schools a lot
- having a disability
- being a young parent
- dealing with the death of a loved one
- being looked after
- having mental health worries
- having an alcohol or drug problem
It is not possible to list all the reasons because it will depend on the child. Children are affected by things in different ways – one child who has lost a family member may struggle at school but another will not.
Your child might need support for a short time, or if their needs are more complicated they might need help for longer.
This website (taken from Enquire) provides more information: What is additional support for learning?
