Some children and young people learn at a slower pace than their peers at school, even with adapted support. This can mean that developing literacy and numeracy skills, and or understanding general ideas or concepts that are important for learning is difficult. These learners may also have difficulties such as speech and language delay or social interaction differences.
Some learners may have difficulties with one or more cognition and learning skill. This is often referred to as a specific learning difficulty, or SpLD. These include:
- difficulties with accurate and fluent word reading and spelling (dyslexia)
- difficulties with counting, arithmetic and learning mathematical skills (dyscalculia).
- difficulties with fine and or gross motor skills coordination (dyspraxia or Developmental Coordination Disorder).
Types of learning difficulties
Some children can have difficulties across a broad range of cognition and learning skills which can have a moderate, severe or profound impact on their learning and development. A child may also be described as having ‘mild’ or ‘severe’ learning difficulties depending on the degree of need and the impact this has on their lives.
The term learning difficulties cover a wide range of needs
- Learners with moderate learning difficulties (MLD) may need extra support in some areas of the curriculum.
- Learners with severe learning difficulties (SLD) are likely to need support in all areas of the curriculum and have associated difficulties with mobility and communication.
- Learners with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), are likely to have severe and complex learning difficulties as well as a physical disability or sensory impairment.
Cognition and learning support in schools
Educational psychology
Our educational psychology (EP) service are here to help schools to support pupils with a wide range of needs, including cognition and learning.
The service has produced a range of ‘psychology in action guides’, including supporting children’s literacy and supporting children’s maths.
The EP service has also produced some guidance for young people about what an educational psychologist does.
ICT/SEN Team
The ICT/SEN Team supports access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and provides advice on using ICT to enhance learning for children and young people with sensory, physical, significant learning or communication and interaction difficulties.