How can we help children with special needs become active learners? This book provides a practical guide to teaching young children with special educational needs. At the heart of the book is the belief that the focus should be on the child as an active learner, rather than on their disability. This fully revised edition takes into account changes in educational policy to provide the reader with comprehensive information and understanding of working with young children with special needs. The author addresses key issues such as the nature and causes of specific disabilities, intervention and assessment, working with families, planning individualised objectives and instructional strategies. There are also sections on emotional competence, early literacy concerns and discussions of the emotional implications of brain research. Case study examples and practical suggestions are included throughout.