Understanding Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEN/D). We have created these pages to support colleagues who want to find out more about Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND or SEN/D) in music teaching, learning and performing contexts. Have a look at the tabs above and the titles to the right – and get in touch if you have information to add!
We recognise that the terms “special educational needs” and “disability” are not neat, specific categories – and that children and young people exist on a broad continuum of needs and learning styles, and may have a range of overlapping and individual needs.
Special educational needs may for example indicate that a child has problems concentrating, or that their behaviour is affected. They may have problems communicating or with literacy or numeracy.
The term “special educational needs” is also a legal definition that schools and other agencies use to identify needs and the resources needed to support children, young people and vulnerable adults. Many children will have special educational needs at some time in their education, including those deemed to be gifted and talented.
The social model of disability
We advocate for the social model of disability, which says that people are disabled by the by the way society is organised, rather than by a person’s impairment or difference. It looks at ways of removing barriers that restrict life choices for disabled people. When barriers are removed, disabled people can be independent and equal in society, with choice and control over their own lives.
Watch a film made by the disability charity Scope
Wiltshire Music Connect recognise that disability education, training and awareness goes hand in hand with improving our music offer for young disabled musicians.
- create a more informed context for our work around SEN/D
- promote better musical and social outcomes for SEN/D children and young people
- promote professional standards for colleagues
We do not, and are not attempting to provide information or guidance on the clinical or medical aspects of SEN/D.
At the top right hand side of this page there are some links to further information on working with specific groups of young people, and on the menu bar at the top of this page there are further resources and information.