‘Learners with additional support needs’ refers to learners from pre-primary up to higher education and lifelong learning who experience barriers to learning resulting from learner-environment interaction.
Good quality learning and teaching will meet a range of diverse needs without additional support. However, some learners will need additional support, different resources or adapted pedagogical approaches to ensure they gain the most benefit from their education.
There are many reasons why learners may need additional support (either short- or long-term) to help them learn. Such needs may be due to:
- disability or health;
- learning environment;
- family circumstances;
- social and emotional factors.