What do Pupils with Severe Learning Difficulties Understand about Counting?

The study of how children with severe learning difficulties acquire number skills is a much neglected topic – especially when compared to other areas such as language development or social interaction. Jill Porter, lecturer, Institute of Education, London University, asks if this is because the acquisition of language is perceived as more important than the acquisition of number or if it is because we don't think children with severe learning difficulties (SLD) are capable of developing numeracy skills.