Who are the SENbetweeners?
Meet the SENbetweeners - bright, capable neurodivergent children who can study at age-related levels and achieve academically, but who don’t always learn in the same way as their neurotypical peers or fit neatly into the “mainstream” box. At the same time, they don’t meet the threshold for complex specialist support either - and so they fall through the gaps in provision. They’re the ones who quietly struggle, often masked by the notion that "they seem okay" - but their needs often go missed….until they eventually burnout, some becoming severely traumatised by mainstream school environment. "SEN betweeners" now represent a large, growing, and vulnerable segment of the neurodiverse, mainstream school population; in short, they are children considered too neurodiverse for mainstream schools to cope with, but not deemed "severe" enough to qualify for special school places.
While we recognise that not all neurodiverse children are exceptionally gifted, one study of children with autism found that 21% met the criteria for academic giftedness - a remarkable indicator that among neurodivergent learners there exists high potential waiting to be nurtured.
HOWEVER, an “average or above-average IQ” is not to say that all of these children are able to thrive and do well in mainstream school!
These are the children who may have autism, ADHD, dyslexia, Tourettes or other neurodivergent profiles, are often academically able, some even bordering on genius.
Remember Albert Einstein (suspected autism), Thomas Edison (suspected ADHD), Sir Isaac Newton (suspected autism+ADHD), Bill Gates (autism), Elon Musk (autism) Tim Burton (autism) Richard Branson and Steve Jobs (Dyslexia) Jamie Oliver and Emma Watson (ADHD).
History shows us that neurodivergent minds are often the very ones that drive humanity forward - yet too many today with similar potential are being left behind and abandoned - some without proper schooling at all.
Many struggle in conventional school settings due to sensory, social, or processing differences. Mainstream classrooms/environments can be overwhelming and traumatising. Large crowds, multi-storey buildings, long corridors, bright lights and loud bells can cause untold distress. On the other hand, special schools designed for children with complex needs, can’t offer the academically challenging curriculum or flexibility they need… and so, they fall between the gaps - anxious, isolated, or out of education altogether.
‘NO’ to less Education… ‘YES’ to the right kind of Education!
SENbetweeners need the right kind of spaces, education and support.
With understanding, creative teaching, and a community that believes in them, they can and will thrive and reach their full potential.
It’s time to make sure that every child in Scarborough, Whitby and the coastal regions has access to a place that ‘fits’ them - not a system that forces them to fit into it.
Help us build the future our SENbetweeners deserve.