ABSTRACT
This chapter explores: What it means to be a child and the concept of childhood, theories of child development, and maslow's hierarchy of needs and Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory of child development. It also explores special educational needs and disability, the special educational need (SEN) Code of Practice, equality of opportunity and barriers to learning, and factors that children experience that may act as barriers to their learning. The chapter explores some key points around what it means to be a child, what childhood might be thought to be, and various theories explaining how children might develop physically, cognitively and in terms of their wellbeing. It further explores factors that might impact on aspects of that development. The development of educational approaches to what is regarded as good inclusive practice is also supported by a range of recent changes to legislation and educational policy.
