Special educational needs (SEN).

Special educational needs (SEN) is a term used in the United Kingdom to refer to students with learning disabilities and the interventions they require. Learning disabilities and difficulties that fall under SEN include autism, dyslexia, attention deficit disorder (ADD), Asperger syndrome, and speech disorders, as well as visual, hearing, and motor impairment. Addressing the needs of children with these conditions falls to governments, school systems, teachers, and specialists, who must follow the legislation in place to protect the students’ rights and ensure their education. According to the UK Parliament (2025), there were roughly 1.7 million school students in England with identified SEN in 2024. This comprised roughly 18 percent of English students.