It can seem as if the area of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is full of jargon.
We hope this jargon buster will help to explain language that may be used in meetings, conversations, on websites and in letters. Most are special educational needs terms, but we have included some key job roles, organisations and services too. A more in-depth Who’s who? guide is also available, with information about people, services and organisations you may come into contact with.
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A
Academy
A public funded school that is independent from the local authority.
Act
A law that has been passed by Parliament.
ADD and ADHD
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are both defined as a group of behavioural symptoms, including inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
Adult Social Care
Care and support for adults who need extra help to manage their lives and be independent. These adults include older people, people with a disability or long-term illness, people with mental health problems, and carers. Children and young people who need social care support will move from Children’s to Adult’s Social Care services from the age of 18.
Adult Continuing Healthcare Framework
A framework that determines the healthcare support for young adults with eligible needs. See also Continuing health care (CHC).
Advocacy or Advocate
Advocacy is support for people to express their views. An Advocate is someone who helps another person (e.g. a child or their carer) to make decisions and have a voice.
Aids and adaptations
Equipment, or changes to buildings to help people live in their own homes. These can include things like wheelchairs or walking frames, or grab rails, ramps, walk-in showers and stair-lifts.
Annual Review
A review of an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, at least once every 12 months.
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Often just called autism, ASD is a developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.
Appeal
See also Tribunal. A SEND appeal is a formal request for a court to re-examine a decision made by a local authority, about an EHC needs assessment or plan.
Assessment
This is the process of working out what someone’s needs are. An assessment looks at how someone manages everyday activities such as looking after themselves, doing household tasks and getting out and about. You are entitled to an assessment if you have social care needs.
B
Benefits
Payments that you may receive from the government because of your age, disability, income or caring responsibilities.
Budget
A budget gives the details of funding that will be allocated to an individual, in their personal education budget or through Social Care Direct Payments, to meet their eligible needs. The budget allows individuals to create a support plan that will deliver the outcomes to best meet their identified assessed needs.
C
CAMHS
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. These services assess and treat children and young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties.
Care Plan
A record of the health and or social care services that are being provided to meet your care and support needs.
Carer
A person who provides unpaid support to someone who is ill, struggling or disabled and could not manage without this help.
Caseworker
A named person who works for the local authority who will deal with your child’s case and who will talk to you if you have an enquiry or concern.
Child in Care (CIC)
A child or young person who is looked after by a local authority, after a court has granted a care order to place that child in care.
Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD)
CFHD provides children’s health services across Devon.
Children and Families Act 2014
An Act of Parliament setting out some of the laws about adoption, children in care and children and young people with SEND.
Children and Young People (CYP)
A child is anyone under the age of 18. However, there are specific laws protecting young people from 16 upwards. The SEND code of practice states that a young person is someone between 16 and 25 years old.
Code of Practice
The SEND Code of Practice is government guidance for local authorities, health bodies, schools and colleges, that sets out their duties to provide for those with special educational needs. The latest version is June 2014.
Commissioning
Commissioning is what we call the process of planning, agreeing, and monitoring services. It can involve designing services that Devon County Council will provide itself – this is called an ‘in-house’ service. It can also involve Devon County Council buying services from external organisations including the private, voluntary, and community sectors.
Continuing health care (CHC)
A package of care arranged and funded solely by the NHS for individuals aged 18 and over. This care are for those who are not in hospital but have complex ongoing healthcare needs.
D
Devon County Council (DCC)
The local authority for Devon, responsible for the education and social care of all children in its area (this doesn’t include Torbay or Plymouth). If you aren’t sure if you live in the DCC area you can use the Find your local council look-up on the GOV.UK website.
Devon Education Services (DES)
An educational advice service that offers support for a range of issues, including supporting pupils with SEND, to schools, academies and colleges in Devon.
Department for Education (DfE)
The Government department responsible for children’s services and education, including early years, schools, higher and further education policy, apprenticeships and wider skills in England.
Devon Wallet
The Devon Wallet is a new ‘virtual’ platform to deliver direct payments and personal budgets.
DiAS (Devon Information Advice and Support)
There’s an IAS service in every county in England, providing information, advice and support services to parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
The IAS service in Devon is know as DiAS, and offers a confidential, impartial and free service to support, parents, carers, children and young people about SEND issues.
Disabled Children’s Service
A specialist service, providing a range of support and services to disabled children, young people and their families across Devon.
Disagreement resolution
A meeting to resolve a disagreement. The discussion is helped by someone independent. It can be used by parents, carers and young people to try and resolve disagreements with the local authority, the governing bodies of schools and colleges or health or social care services.
Direct payments (DP)
Direct payments is the name given to the funding provided by Devon County Council to a parent or young person for them to purchase the services detailed in their personal education budget plan or Social care direct payments plan.
E
Early Help
Early Help is the first response when a child, young person or family needs extra help. It isn’t a specific service or organisation, it’s about how all services and professionals work together to support the needs of families.
Early Years Settings
Pre-school education provision such as nursery classes and schools, day nurseries, childminders and pre-schools.
Educational Psychologist (EP)
An Educational Psychologist (EP) is trained in psychology and child development. They work in partnership with parent carers, and schools and settings, to understand children and young people’s needs and plan ways to support them.
Education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment
An EHC needs assessment – also sometimes called an EHCNA –
Education, health and care (EHC) plan
An EHC plan – sometimes also called an EHCP – is a single plan which will set out how the health, care, and learning outcomes of the children with SEND are going to be supported. This may include the use of a personal education budget and/or Social Care Direct Payments where this results in the child or young person having Special Educational Needs. Social Care provision will include these details where their support needs cannot be met through mainstream services or targeted support.
EHC hub
The EHC hub is the central place online where the EHC needs assessment process is managed in Devon.
Elective Home Education (EHE)
Choosing to educate your child or young person at home.
Exceptional needs or High needs funding
A block of funding that Devon County Council receive from government as part of their Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). Some of it is passed on to schools to fund the additional provision a pupil needs, where the school’s own resources are not enough to cover the cost.
F
Family Hubs
Family Hubs are a new way of bringing together all the support a family may need. They are a central point of access for all families, including those with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), up to age 25.
Further Education (FE)
Education for young people who have left school (are over 16) but are not at university or studying for a degree. This may be at an FE college, or a school’s sixth form for example.
G
Governors
Governors are a parents, staff and local people who make up a school’s governing board. They help schools, by looking at policies, budget spending, staff recruitment and the way the school is run. The governing board of all mainstream schools is encouraged to have a SEND Governor.
Graduated approach
This is the name given to the process used in nurseries, schools and colleges to assess a child’s special educational needs, plan their support, put the support in place and then review it. Also called Assess, Plan, Do and Review.
H
Health Visitor (HV)
A specialist nurse working in the community to support the health and development of children under five and their families, including giving information, support and care.
HI (Hearing Impairment)
Hearing loss can be mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe or profound, and can affect one or both ears.
I
Information Advice and Support Service (IASS) – See DiAS
K
Key Stage (KS)
The national curriculum is organised into blocks of years called key stages. There are four key stages based around a child’s age.
L
Learning difficulties
Difficulties that someone may have gaining knowledge and skills to the level normally expected of those of the same age.
Learning disability
A reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities, such as household tasks, socialising or managing money, which affects someone for life.
Local Authority (LA)
The council in a local area. See also Devon County Council.
Local Offer
Local authorities in England are required to set out in their Local Offer information about provisions they expect to be available across education, health and social care for children and young people in their area who have SEN or are disabled.
It also includes information on childcare provision, training provision, travel arrangements for children and young people to access education, as well as housing, employment, and leisure opportunities.
M
Mainstream school
Schools that teach pupils of a wide range of abilities and aptitudes. Mainstream schools are not special schools or pupil referral units.
Maintained school
Schools in England that are maintained by a local authority.
Mental capacity
Young people over 16 will be considered to have the capacity to make choices about their plan. In some situations, the Council may need to undertake a Mental Capacity Assessment where we are concerned that they are unable to consent. MCA, Best Interest and DOL (deprivation of liberty) are all terms related to the Mental Capacity Act which ensures that individuals who lack capacity are protected and their rights upheld
N
National curriculum
This sets out clear, full and statutory entitlement to learning for all pupils, determining what should be taught and setting attainment targets for learning.
Non-statutory
Something that is not required by law.
Notional budget
A notional budget is a type of personal budget where all concerned know the amount that is available for it, but no money changes hands.
O
Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision (OAIP)
Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision (OAIP) describes the inclusive provision and practice that all Devon schools, early years, and post 16 settings should be able to provide for all children and young people, including those with SEND.
Ofsted
Ofsted stands for the Office for Standards in Education, Child Services and Skills. They are the government department who inspect services providing education and skills for learners of all ages.
P
Parent Carer Forum
A group of parents and carers of disabled children who work with local authorities, education, health and other providers to make sure the services they plan and deliver meet the needs of disabled children and families. In Devon the parent carer forum is the Parent Carer Forum Devon (PCFD).
Parent Carers Needs Assessment
A Parent Carer Needs Assessment (PCNA) is used to understand how a parent’s caring role affects their wellbeing, feelings and choices about caring.
Pathway Plan
A strategic document required by legislation for children in care, outlining the support they will receive during their transition to adulthood.
Personal adviser
A professional assigned to support young people in care as they transition to adulthood.
Personal budgets
Money that is allocated to you by your local council to pay for care or support to meet your assessed needs. You can take your personal budget as a direct payment or choose to leave the council to arrange services. See also Direct payments.
Plan
A plan is a document highlighting how an individual will spend their personal education budget or social care direct payments to best meet their support needs and achieve their identified outcomes. Plans are created in partnership with Devon County Council to get the life they want and may be written, videoed, or include pictures and sounds. Each plan is different and will detail the outcomes, services, and funding.
PMLD – Profound and Multiple Learning Disability.
This diagnosis is used when a child has more than one disability, with the most significant being a learning disability. Many children diagnosed with PMLD will also have a sensory or physical disability, complex health needs or mental health difficulties.
Portage
The support offered by Devon’s Early Years Complex Needs Service may sometimes still be referred to as portage.
Preparing for adulthood
The planning process that supports a young person with special educational needs get ready for life as an adult. It can include developing skills and knowledge for independence. Planning starts at about age 14.
R
Reasonable adjustments
Reasonable adjustments are changes that can be made by a nursery, school or college, to make sure that children and young people with SEND can take part fully in the education provided, and that they can enjoy the other benefits, facilities and services that the school provides for other pupils. See also OAIP.
Respite care – see Short breaks
Review
A review refers to the re-assessment of people’s needs and circumstances. Reviews are carried out regularly to ensure that a person’s arranged support continues to meet their assessed needs and desired outcomes, as set out in their plan.
S
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is the process of ensuring that vulnerable people, including children and young people, are protected from being abused, neglected, or exploited.
School Nurse
A specialist nurse working in the community who provides information and support to school-aged children and their families who live in Devon or who attend a Devon school.
SEMH
SEMH stands for Social, Emotional and Mental Health – SEMH difficulties is one of the four main areas of SEND need.
SEN and SEND
Since the SEN and Disability Act of 2001, the terms ‘SEN’ (special educational needs) and ‘disability’ have often been put together. This has been even more the case since the 2014 Children and Families Act. The definitions of the two terms are not the same, so sometimes they are used separately, or SEN is used rather than SEND. However, the overlap between the terms is considerable.
SENDCo
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator – sometimes called a SENCO. This is the teacher with responsibility for the planning and monitoring of the special educational provision within a school.
SEND Regulations
The SEND Regulations go alongside the Children and Families Act and provide the detail for some of the legislative changes needed to implement the SEND Reforms. See also Code of Practice.
SENDIASS – see DiAS
Settings
Providers of education other than schools and academies are often referred to as settings, for example post-16 colleges, and anywhere that younger children attend. See also Early Years Settings and Further Education.
Short Breaks
A service giving carers a break by providing short-term care for the person with care needs.
Statutory
Required, permitted or enacted by law (statute).
Specialist providers
The term Specialist providers covers the range of services that are available for children and young people who have SEND and their families. What exactly is covered will vary from area to area, but will include therapies/therapists, specialist teachers and services for diverse types of need and specialist short break centres.
Special school
A school only for children and young people with SEND. To go to a special school a child must have an education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Speech and Language Therapy (SLT or SALT)
Speech and language therapy is a health care profession. Speech therapists aim help children, young people and adults with speech, language, and communications difficulties to reach their maximum communication potential.
T
Targeted services
Targeted services offer support, provision, or services for groups of children who may have additional needs, but have not been individually referred to, or require, a specialist service.
Transition
A time of change, such as moving from one stage of life or service to another. It can include transitions from children’s services to adult services, from school to further education or employment, and from paediatric to adult health services.
Transition Route Map
A guide that outlines the process and steps involved in transitioning to adulthood, ensuring that young people receive the right support at the right time.
Transition Plan
A plan drawn up after the year 9 annual review of an EHC plan that draws together information from a range of individuals to plan for the young person’s transition to adult life. It should take account of the views of young people, parents and carers and the professionals involved.
Tribunal
An informal and independent forum that hears SEN-related appeals in relation to an EHC plan. This includes appeals about refusals to conduct an EHC needs assessment or against the contents of an EHC plan.
Top-up funding
Also known as Element 3 funding. It is the money that schools can request from their local authority when a pupil with special needs requires more to be spent on his or her additional provision.
U
Universal services
Universal services are available to anyone without the need for any referral from professionals and includes things like leisure and cultural services, libraries, transport, mainstream schools, and access to a General Practitioner (GP).
V
Value for money
Value for money is something that is worth the money spent on it. It does not mean cheap; it reflects the balance between quality and affordability. You may see this phrase being used in relation to direct payments.
VI (Visual Impairment)
Used to describe any kind of vision loss, whether it’s someone who cannot see at all or someone who has partial vision loss.
Y
Young person
According to GOV.UK, a person over the age of 14 and under the age of 18.