Gifted and talented

Provision for pupils working well beyond age expectations. Also a SEND question.

What it is

Provision for pupils achieving, or with the potential to achieve, significantly beyond their peers — variously called gifted and talented, more able, or high prior attaining.

Where it applies

Any pupil. There is no statutory framework since the national programme ended, so provision varies entirely by school.

How it works

Being more able and having SEND are not mutually exclusive — twice exceptional describes a child who is both, and it is one of the most commonly missed profiles because the two mask each other and produce apparently average work.

Good provision is depth and challenge within the curriculum rather than simply moving a child up a year.

What you can ask for

Ask what challenge looks like in practice — which task, in which lesson — rather than accepting that a child is "extended".

If a very able child is producing average work, ask for that gap to be investigated rather than treated as effort.

Ask about acceleration carefully. Moving up a year has social consequences and is rarely the first answer.

Where to get help

Potential Plus UK supports families of more able children, including twice exceptional. SENDIASS for free local advice, and IPSEA or Contact nationally.