17th September 2010 9:00
By Harriet Boulding
This week it has emerged that the Schools Inspection agency OFSTED found that nearly half of pupils identified as having special needs were misdiagnosed. Students with SEN and SLD (Special education needs and Specific learning difficulties) are often given extra time in exams, different school exercises and even put in different work groups. However, the schools agency found that many students with this diagnosis simply need better teaching or pastoral care. Others have far more complex social and emotional problems which were waved away by applying a SEN label.
Whilst this is a very disappointing revelation, it does not surprise me that oversubscribed schools are unable to take the time to understand the nature of a student’s problems, much less be able to take the time necessary with students who are in need of focussed pastoral care. This is an area in which private tutors can have a significant impact, because they have the time and one to one contact with the student necessary to identify and address the issue.
The OFSTED report showed that a high number of pupils whose fathers were serving in Afghanistan were diagnosed with special needs. In many of these cases it is clear that an individual such as a mentor or tutor could give the kind of guidance and support necessary, whereas often the best option a school has is to incorrectly label them as special education needs in order to provide them with a small amount of extra resources.
Whilst it is certainly necessary to maintain support and funding for pupils with genuine special educational needs, those who are in need of counselling, support and generally better pastoral care will not be helped by an incorrect diagnosis.