The SEND system is full of acronyms and legal terms. Here is what they actually mean, in plain English. Search for a word or browse the list.
Alternative provision
Education arranged for pupils who cannot attend a mainstream or special school, for example due to exclusion or health needs.
Annual review
The review of an EHC plan that must happen at least once every 12 months to check it still meets the child's needs.
Children and Families Act 2014
The main law setting out the SEND system in England, including the right to request an assessment and the duties on schools and councils.
DLA
Disability Living Allowance. A benefit that helps with the extra costs of caring for a disabled child. It is separate from the education system.
EBSA
Emotionally Based School Avoidance. When a child struggles to attend school because of anxiety or distress, rather than defiance.
EHC needs assessment
The process the local authority follows to decide whether a child needs an EHC plan. Parents can request one directly, without the school's agreement.
EHCP
Education, Health and Care Plan. A legal document describing a child or young person's needs and the support they must receive. It is for those whose needs cannot be met through ordinary school support alone.
EOTAS
Education Otherwise Than At School. A package of education arranged when attending a school is not appropriate for the child.
EP
Educational Psychologist. A specialist who assesses how a child learns and thinks, and recommends support. Their report often carries significant weight in an assessment.
Equality Act 2010
The law that protects disabled children from discrimination and requires reasonable adjustments.
Graduated approach
The assess, plan, do, review cycle schools must use to identify and meet a child's needs, adjusting support based on what is working.
IPSEA
Independent Provider of Special Education Advice. A national charity offering free legal advice on SEND, including tribunal appeals.
Local Offer
Information your local authority must publish about the SEND services and support available in your area.
Mediation
A free, voluntary meeting with an independent mediator to try to resolve a disagreement with the local authority. You must consider it and get a certificate before most appeals.
OT
Occupational Therapist. A professional who supports a child's physical, sensory and motor skills needed for everyday tasks and learning.
Outcomes
The specific, measurable goals an EHC plan is working towards for the child, usually over a phase of education.
PDA
Pathological Demand Avoidance. A profile, often linked to autism, where a child experiences extreme anxiety around everyday demands and expectations.
Permanent exclusion
When a pupil is removed from the school roll altogether. It should be a last resort, especially for children with SEN.
Personal budget
An amount of money identified to deliver parts of the provision in an EHC plan, which families can sometimes choose to manage themselves.
Phase transfer
The move between stages of education, such as from primary to secondary. EHC plans must be updated by set deadlines before each transfer.
Reasonable adjustments
Changes a school must make so a disabled child is not put at a disadvantage. This is a duty under the Equality Act 2010 and applies whether or not a child has an EHC plan.
Reduced timetable
When a child attends school for less than full time. It should only ever be a short, agreed and reviewed arrangement, not a long term solution.
SALT or SLT
Speech and Language Therapy. Support for children who have difficulty understanding language, communicating, or with speech sounds.
Section B
The part of an EHC plan that describes the child's special educational needs. Every need listed here should have matching support in Section F.
Section F
The part of an EHC plan that sets out the special educational provision the child must receive. It should be specific and quantified, for example the exact hours of support, so it is legally enforceable.
Section I
The part of an EHC plan that names the school or type of school the child will attend.
SEN
Special Educational Needs. A child has SEN if they need extra or different support to learn compared with most children their age.
SEN Support
The support a school provides from its own resources, before or instead of an EHC plan. It follows a cycle of assess, plan, do and review.
SENCO
Special Educational Needs Coordinator. The teacher responsible for managing SEN support across a school and your main point of contact.
SEND
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The same idea as SEN, but also covering children with a disability.
SEND Code of Practice 2015
The statutory guidance that explains how schools, councils and health services must carry out their duties under the law.
SEND Tribunal
The First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability). An independent body that hears parents' appeals against local authority decisions. Parents succeed in most appeals that reach a hearing.
SENDIASS
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service. A free, impartial service that every local authority must provide to help parents.
SOS!SEN
A national charity providing free, independent advice and support to families navigating the SEND system.
Suspension
A fixed period exclusion, where a pupil is removed from school for a set number of days. It must follow a formal process.
Top-up funding
Extra funding a local authority provides to a school, above its core budget, to meet a child's higher needs.
These definitions are general explanations to help you understand the system. They are information, not legal advice.