Glossary of terms - jargon buster
This glossary explains common short words and abbreviations used in SEND. It’s here to help you feel clearer and more confident when reading letters and reports, or talking to professionals.
This list doesn't cover every term. If you see a word or abbreviation you're unsure of let us know and we can add it to the glossary.
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| AAA | Adult ADHD and Autism Service |
| AAC | Augmentative and Alternative Communication |
| ADHD | Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder |
| ADD | Attention Deficit Disorder |
| AMHS | Adult Mental Health Services |
| APDR | Assess Plan Do Review |
| AR | Annual Review |
| AS/ASC/ ASD | Autism / Autism Spectrum Condition / Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| BCHFT | Black Country Healthcare Foundation Trust |
| C&I | Communication & Interaction Difficulties |
| C&L | Cognition & Learning Difficulties |
| CADMUS | CADMUS Inclusive – SEND Advisory Service |
| CAMHS | Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services |
| CBT | Cognitive Behavioural Therapy |
| CDC | Child Development Centre |
| CIC | Child in Care |
| CP | Cerebral Palsy |
| CQC | Care Quality Commission |
| CT | Computed Tomography Scan (imaging that uses X-ray techniques to create detailed images of the body) |
| CYP | Children and Young People |
| DAF | Disability Access Fund |
| DCAYPT | Disabled Children and Young Person Team |
| DCD | Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (Dyspraxia) |
| DCO | Designated Clinical Officer |
| DDSL | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| DLA | Disability Living Allowance |
| DSCO | Designated Social Care Officer |
| DSL | Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| DfE | Department for Education |
| EAL | English as an Additional Language |
| EBSA | Emotionally Based School Avoidance |
| ECG | Electrocardiogram (medical test that looks at electrical activity of the heart) |
| EEG | Electroencephalogram (medical test that measures and records electrical activity in the brain) |
| EHCNA | Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment |
| EHCP | Education, Health and Care Plan |
| EHE | Elective Home Education |
| ELSA | Emotional Literacy Support Assistants |
| EOTAS | Education Otherwise Than At School |
| EP | Educational Psychologist |
| EPS | Educational Psychology Service |
| EWO | Education Welfare Officer |
| EYFS | Early Years Foundation Stage |
| EYSEN | Early Years Special Education Needs Team |
| FFCP | Families First for Children Pathfinder |
| FHC | Family Help Co-ordinator |
| FHLP | Family Help Lead Practitioner |
| FND | Functional Neurological Disorder |
| FSM | Free School Meal |
| GDD | Global Development Delay (not normally used after the age of 5 years) |
| GLD | Global Learning Difficulties |
| HAF | Holidays Activities & Food Programme |
| HCP 0-19 | Healthy Child Programme – 0-19 Team |
| HI | Hearing Impairment |
| HLTA | Higher Level Teaching Assistant |
| ICB | Integrated Care Board |
| IEP | Individual Education Plan |
| IPSEA | Independent Prover of Special Education Advice |
| LA | Local Authority |
| LAC | Looked After Children |
| LDA | Learning and Disability Assessment |
| LO | Local Offer |
| LSAT | Learning Support Advisory Team |
| MASH | Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub |
| MDT | Multi-Disciplinary Team |
| MH | Mental Health |
| MLD | Moderate Learning Difficulty |
| MRI | Magnetic Resonance Imaging (imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the organs and tissues inside the body) |
| MSI | Multi-sensory impairment |
| ND | Neurodiverse |
| NEET | Not in Education, Employment or Training |
| NIAT | North Star Inclusion Advisory Team |
| NT | Neurotypical |
| OCD | Obsessive Compulsory Disorder |
| ODD | Oppositional Defiant Disorder |
| OFSTED | Office for Standards in Education (inspection team responsible for inspecting schools and local authorities) |
| OOB | Out of Borough |
| OT | Occupational Therapist |
| P&SN | Physical & Sensory Needs |
| PB | Personal Budget |
| PCF | Parent Carer Forum |
| PCP | Person Centred Planning |
| PD | Physical Disability |
| PECS | Picture Exchange Communication System (a form of alternative and augmentative communication in which a child is taught to communicate with an adult by giving them a card with a picture on it) |
| PDA | Pathological Demand Avoidance |
| PfA | Preparing for Adulthood |
| PINS | Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools |
| PMLD | Profound and Multiple Learning Disability |
| PR | Parental Responsibility |
| PRU | Pupil Referral Unit |
| QA | Quality Assurance |
| QFT | Quality First Teaching |
| SaLT | Speech and Language Therapy |
| SEMH(D) | Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties |
| SEN | Special Educational Needs |
| SENCO | Special Educational Needs Coordinator |
| SEND | Special Educational Needs and /or Disabilities |
| SEND CoP | Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years |
| SENDIASS | Special Educational Needs and Disabilities - Information, Advice and Support Service |
| SLCN | Speech, Language and Communication Needs |
| SLD | Severe Learning Difficulties |
| SPD | Sensory Processing Disorder |
| SpLD | Specific Learning Disabilities |
| SRP (ARP) | Specialist Resource Provision (Additional Resource Provision) |
| SW | Social Worker |
| TA | Teaching Assistant |
| VI | Visual Impairment |
| VS | Virtual School |
| WMH | Walsall Manor Hospital |
| WHT | Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust |
| YJS | Youth Justice Service |