SEND Outreach Service - Cognition and Learning Team

What is cognition and learning and how do difficulties present?

Cognition is how a child or young person thinks, understands things, and solves problems. These skills develop through their experiences, thoughts, and senses.

Learning is how we gain new knowledge and skills. This can happen through experience, study, and being taught.

Children and young people with learning needs may learn more slowly than others their age. This can still happen even when teaching is adapted to support them.

Learning needs can be:

• General, affecting most areas of learning
• Specific, affecting only some areas, such as reading or maths

Cognition and learning needs may affect most subjects at school. This is often the case for pupils with moderate or severe learning difficulties.

For some pupils, these needs may only affect certain areas, such as:

• reading
• writing
• spelling
• mental maths

For more information about Specific Learning Difficulties, please see the Specific Learning Difficulties Team page by clicking here.

Signs of a general learning need

If a child or young person has a general learning need, you may notice:

• difficulty learning early skills, such as language, reading, writing, and number skills
• learning levels that are lower than what is expected for their age
• slower progress than other pupils, even with the right support
• low confidence or difficulties managing emotions and social situations
• difficulty focusing and staying on task
• high levels of frustration
• difficulty processing information, such as putting things in order, making links, or organising work
• difficulty understanding instructions
• a limited vocabulary
• problems with memory and recalling information
• weak fine or gross motor skills
• difficulty linking ideas across lessons and learning
• other difficulties with planning, organising, and self-control (executive functioning)