Defining ‘additional support needs’

ELC provision must therefore be delivered in a way that ensures equality of access for, and accounts for the varying needs of, all children. Children should be able to learn free from discrimination and in settings which actively tackle health and social inequalities. Additional support may be required, over the short or the long term, to overcome needs arising from the care and learning environment, family circumstances, health needs or disability or social and emotional factors. Those that may require additional support may include, for example, children with disabilities, children with English as an additional language, Gypsy/Travellers, highly able children, asylum seeking/refugee children and Service children (children from Armed Forces families) (p. 31).