The concept of additional support needs is a relatively new one. Previously, the term “special education needs” was used to refer to the needs of children who required an educational plan that was different from the ones being followed in the mainstream schools. If a child was known to have special education needs, arising from developmental, learning or physical challenges s(he) would be placed in a special school that only catered to children with disabilities. However, critics have argued that this approach dealt with students unfairly and even discriminated against those who had physical or mild to moderate learning disorders. Such disorders can be easily accommodated in mainstream schools by putting in place an inclusive methodology.
Over the years, the concept has evolved to embrace the idea of providing additional support to children who are facing challenges or difficulties in the mainstream classroom instead of asking the students to take admission in special schools. A child or young person is said to have additional support needs when, for whatever reason, they need additional support with their education. The need for additional support can be either temporary or permanent depending on the level of difficulty the child is facing.
People often assume that a person who requires additional support needs is disabled. However children facing emotional problems or are being bullied but are otherwise physically fit, can have additional support needs as well.  A disabled person is defined as one who has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. For example, people with mobility, physical co-ordination or learning, speech, eyesight or hearing difficulties may be considered to be disabled. People who are disabled are likely to have additional support needs. However, a child does not necessarily need to have a diagnosis or disability to be considered as having additional support needs.
As opposed to the term 'special educational needs' which limit the provisions to those children and young people who require extra help, ‘additional support needs’ refers to children’s needs of extra help for whatever reason for example a physical handicap, a specific health need such as an ADD, alienated due to being a minority, etc. Additional support is provided in order that children or young people with additional support needs can benefit from an education which is directed to the development of the personality, talents and mental and physical abilities of that child or young person to their fullest potential. |
The reasons why children or young people may need additional support are wide and varied. It may be because of a disability, family circumstances, social and emotional factors or because the learning environment does not meet their needs. Some common examples of factors include the following:
- Learning environment
- Inflexible curricular arrangements
- Inappropriate approaches to learning and teaching
- More able children
- Children with additional language needs
- Family circumstances
- Homelessness
- Parental drug or substance abuse
- Children looked after by third parties
- Disability or health need
- Motor or sensory impairment
- Specific language impairment
- Autistic spectrum disorder
- Learning difficulties
- ADHD
- Depression or other mental health problems
- Social and emotional factors
- Children who are being bullied
- Children who are suffering discrimination
- Children who are bullying
- Children with behavioural difficulties
This is not an exhaustive list and there could be other reasons why a child requires additional support at school. However, it does not imply that a child who is going through the above problems has additional support needs. What determines that is the level and quantity of support that a child requires. For example, a child going through emotional problems may not be as perturbed as to require additional support from therapists, counselors or teachers etc. It is important to identify that the needs of different children are identified and assessed individually to support them effectively.
Types of Additional Support
A child, depending on her/his needs may require various types of additional support from the school or at home. S(he) can require this additional support through:
- The use of a particular resource
- A distinctive teaching approach
- Input from caregivers
- Input from additional staff members working in the field of education
- Input from additional professionals apart from those working in the field of education, such as doctors, therapists, psychologists etc.
Again, the additional support required by children will be determined through proper assessment of their needs and problems. |
