Glossary of terms
Please take a look at our glossary. You may find that some if these words and acronyms are commonly used when talking about inclusion. If you come across a word or acronym that is not included and you would like us to define it for you, please let us know and we will add it to our list.
Academy A state funded school in England which receives its funding directly from and is owned and controlled by central government
ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder
AR Annual Review – the yearly review of a statement
ASC/ASD Autistic Spectrum Condition/Disorder
CAF Common Assessment Framework. A method of assessment which can be used by social services, health or education. It is non statutory i.e it does not replace a statutory assessment.
CAMHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
CCG Clinical Commissioning Group. A CCG plans and arranges the delivery of health care provision for people in its area.
CP Cerebral Palsy is a physical impairment that affects movement.
CSDPA Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970. Thisis one of the main Acts of Parliament which entitle disabled people to social care.
DfE Department for Education
DP Direct Payments made in lieu of services, Direct Payments may be available for health care, social care and for the special educational provision of a EHC Plan.
Dis Res Disagreement resolution service offered by local authorities to resolve disagreements between parents, schools and the local authority.
Early Years Provider A provider of early education places for children under five. This can include state funded and private nurseries.
EHC needs assessment An assessment of the education, health care and social care needs of a child or young person conducted by the local authority under the Children and Families Act 2014.
EHC Plan An education, health and care plan which may be produced at the end on an education, health and care needs assessment.
EP Educational Psychologist.
EWO Education Welfare Officer
EYFS The Early Years Foundation Stage. A statutory framework which covers children both in pre-school settings and in reception classes up to their fifth birthday.
FE Further education which includes further education colleges, sixth form colleges, specialist colleges and adult education institutions. It does not include universities.
HI Hearing Impairment
Independent Supporter A person recruited locally by a voluntary or community sector organisation to help families going through an EHC needs assessment and the process of developing a EHC Plan.
ISSS Integrated Sensory Support Service
LA Local Authority in England
Mainstream School State school which can meet the needs of most children.
Mediation A method of seeking to resolve disagreements by going to an independent mediator. Mediation must be offered to a parent or young person in relation to an EHC Plan. Mediation is not compulsory for the parent or young person but they will need to consider mediation before appealing the education parts of an EHC plan in most cases with the exception of an appeal over placement only.
MLD Moderate learning difficulties
National curriculum A statutory entitlement to learning of all pupils determining what should be taught and setting attainment targets for learning.
OCD Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
ODD Oppositional Defiance Disorder
Ofsted Office of Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. This is the body which inspects and regulates services which care for children and young people and those providing education and skills for learners of all ages.
OT Occupational Therapy, sometimes used to refer to the occupational therapist.
Outside Agencies- Professions who may not work in a school but may offer support to pupils with special needs
Paed Paediatrician
PDD Pervasive Developmental Disorder
Personal budget A Personal Budget is the notional amount of money which an LA has identified as necessary to secure the special educational provision in the EHC plan.
PMLD Profound and multiple learning difficulties
Portage Home based educational support for pre-school children with SEN.
SEN Special educational needs.
SENCO Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator-the teacher with responsibility for co-ordinating special help for children with SEN at their school.
SEND Special Educational Needs and Disability
SEN Support- The first stage of SEN provision
SEN Support Plus – The next stage of SEN provision where outside agencies may be involved.
SLD Severe learning difficulties
SLT or SALT Speech and Language Therapy, sometimes used to refer to the Speech and Language Therapist
Special school A school which is specifically organised to make special educational provision for pupils with SEN.
SpLD Specific Learning Difficulties
TA Teaching Assistant also sometimes called Learning Support Assistant (LSA).
TSP- Termly Support Plan- a plan set up for pupils on the SEN register.
VI Visual Impairment
YOS Youth Offending Service
