Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or physical health needs
14.1 As outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education (2022), Coventry Adult Education Service is aware that children with additional needs or disabilities may be more vulnerable to abuse both online and offline and additional barriers may exist when recognising abuse and neglect. This could be because -
- assumptions that indicators of possible abuse such as behaviour, mood and injury relate to the child’s disability without further exploration
- being more prone to peer group isolation or bullying (including prejudice-based bullying) than other children
- the potential for children with SEN and disabilities or certain medical conditions being disproportionally impacted by behaviours such as bullying, without outwardly showing any signs and
- communication barriers and difficulties in overcoming these barriers.
- Being unable to understand the difference between fact and fiction in online content
14.2 Any reports of abuse involving children with SEND will therefore require close liaison with the designated safeguarding lead and deputy designated safeguarding lead. Staff will also be trained in recognising signs of abuse in children and young persons with SEN and disabilities or certain medical conditions.
14.3 Staff will take into account the needs of a child or young person when responding to concerns of abuse or when taking a disclosure. We recognise that some children and young people require specialist intervention to communicate and advice from the DSL / DDSL, and our specialised teams, i.e., LLDD and Study Programmes will be sought in these circumstances.
14.4 Safeguarding learning opportunities within the curriculum will be appropriately differentiated to ensure all children can access it.