The nature of provision for special educational needs has changed dramatically over the years following the Warnock Report and the 1981 Education Act, with an increased awareness of educational needs and a focus on improving the quality of provision for much larger numbers of children. Special Educational Needs underpins current practice by providing necessary and relevant information about the impairments and disabilities which may contribute to the development a handicap and may limit educational progress Against a context of a generic understanding of special education, the authors stress the entitlement for all children to a broad and balanced curriculum, and explores ways in which the National Curriculum can be adapted to meet the needs of children with various learning difficulties and impairments. The central chapters focus on particular areas of special educational needs, each chapter being written by a specialist who explores in detail how conditions can be recognised, what specialist skills and resources are needed, and the implications for provision, teacher support, curricular access, assessment and classroom management.