SEN: Special Educational Needs
"The support for all students with special educational needs is outstanding."
“Under excellent leadership, students make rapid progress, for example, in improving their reading or in strengthening their confidence.”
What does having Special Educational Needs mean?

SEN: Special Educational Needs
"The support for all students with special educational needs is outstanding."
“Under excellent leadership, students make rapid progress, for example, in improving their reading or in strengthening their confidence.”
What does having Special Educational Needs mean?
Students are defined as having Special Educational Needs when they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made.
What kinds of Special Educational Needs does Cheam High School provide for?
Cheam High School provides for students who can access mainstream education and who may have SEN that is categorised as follows:
Cognitive and Learning Needs
- Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLd)
- Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD)
Communication and Interactive Needs
- Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH)
Sensory and/or Physical Needs
- Hearing Impairment (HI)
- Visual Impairment (VI)
- Medical (Med)
- Physical (Phys)
What is the most common SEN at Cheam High School?
The majority of students are on the SEN register for: moderate learning difficulties and social, emotional and mental health needs.
Does having English as an Additional Language count as SEN?
A student would not be regarded as having a learning difficulty solely because the language or form of language of the home is different from the language in which s/he is or will be taught. However, such students do receive support through the English as an Additional Language programme.
Are More Able or Gifted students seen as having SEN?
Any child may have Special Educational Needs; this includes those who are MAGT (more able and gifted students). However, More Able and Gifted students are not defined as students with special educational needs and so would not be automatically registered on the Special Needs register. Instead, they will be listed separately in accordance with the school’s More Able Students: Gifted and Talented Policy. The school recognises that gifted students have the right to challenging and appropriate work. Each department is responsible for ensuring that suitable activities are part of its scheme of work. More information about More Able or Gifted (MAGT) students can be found here.