Categories of Special Educational Need – Teaching and Learning
This section outlines how differing categories of special educational need (from menu on left) impact on teaching and learning. It also offers tips for teaching, along with additional resources and references.
Categorising the complex and diverse nature of disability in this form is not intended to equate individuals with disability labels. Rather, these categories act as signposts that enable teachers to negotiate the social, psychological and biological factors that affect each individual pupil’s learning and unique needs.
The strategies outlined are not exclusive to any category, or indeed to special educational needs, and should be used in conjunction with a number of key publications:
Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties - A Continuum of Support: Guidelines for Teachers (NEPS, 2010)
Click here for NEPS Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties [PDF - 1.89MB] [1]
A Continuum of Support for Post-Primary Schools: Guidelines for Teachers (NEPS, 2010)
Click here for NEPS Continuum of Support Guidelines, Post-primary [PDF - 646KB] [2]
A Continuum of Support for Post-Primary Schools: Resource Pack for Teachers (NEPS, 2010)
Click here for NEPS Continuum of Support Resource Pack, Post-primary [PDF, 473KB] [3]
Inclusion of Students with Special Educational Needs: Post Primary Guidelines (DES, 2007)
Click here for DES Post Primary Guidelines [PDF - 3.25MB] [4]
A Continuum of Support (NEPS, 2007)
Click here for NEPS Continuum of Support [PDF - 296KB] [5]
Circular SP ED 02/05 (DES, 2005)
Click here for Circular SP ED 02/05 [PDF - 437KB] [6]
Learning Support Guidelines (DES, 2000)
Click here for Learning Support Guidelines [PDF - 474KB] [7]
Other documentation is available in Documents and Publications [8].
[9]To view PDF documents you will need to download Adobe Reader [9] from the Adobe website.
