Jargon Buster
ALL OF THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE NEEDS REVIEWING AND BRINGING UP TO DATE
These are some of the acronyms and phrases you might come across in your role as a parent carer. It’s not an exhaustive list, so if you know of any we can add, please contact us. Thank you.
ABA
Applied Behaviour Analysis, defined as the science in which the analysis of behaviour are applied systematically to improve socially significant behaviour, and in which experimentation is used to identify the variables responsible for change in behaviour.
Aiming High
Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC) was a central government programme to help disabled children, young people and their families.
Annual Review
The process of ensuring that a Statement of Special Educational Needs / Education, Health and Care Plan continues to describe the child’s needs and how they should be met through a meeting held once each year.
Blue Badge
The Blue Badge scheme helps you park closer to your destination if you’re disabled. Apply to your local Council.
CAMHS
Child and Adolescent Mental Health services. Provided in Warrington by the 5 Boroughs Trust.
Carer
A person who is looking after a child but isn’t their birth parent
Carer’s allowance
A benefit you apply for and receive if you are caring for someone for at least 35 hours a week. See gov.uk for more information.
Child Tax Credit
A benefit for families not working. See gov.uk for more details.
Code of Practice
A government document that schools, early years settings and local authorities follow when identifying children with SEN and meeting their needs.
Council Tax Benefit
For those on low incomes, apply to Warrington Borough Council to reduce your council tax bill. If you have a room set aside for use related to your child’s disability, you may be able to go down a council tax band. Apply to Warrington Borough Council.
Differentiation
The way in which the early years setting/school’s curriculum and teaching methods are adapted to meet the needs of a child.
Direct Payments
If you or someone you care for get help from social services, you can apply for direct payments. These let you choose and buy the services you need yourself, instead of getting them from your council.
DLA
Disability Living Allowance. This is being gradually replaced by PIP(Personal Independence Payments) for adults, but children up to 16 still qualify for DLA. Financial assistance for those with disabilities, not means tested. The care component has low, middle and high rates and the mobility component has low and high rates. Can help you qualify for further benefits, see gov.uk for more details.
Early Years
Birth to five years
Early Years Action
Collecting information about a child (0-5) who has special educational needs and requires help which is different from that provided as part of the usual curriculum, and designing a programme (often called an Individual Education Plan or IEP) for them. The programme will be drawn up by the early years practitioner/ teacher who works with the child and the SEN Co-ordinator (SENCO) and shared with parents.
Early Years Action Plus
Seeking advice or support from external specialist services for a child who cannot progress adequately on Early Years Action, and drawing up a new or revised programme to that provided at Early Years Action.
Early Years Settings
All pre-school education provision, such as nursery classes and schools, day nurseries, childminders, portage services, pre-schools and District Specialist Centres.
Early Years Foundation Stage
The framework used by all early years settings which sets out standards and provides a flexible approach which supports learning and development until the end of the reception year at school.
Educational Psychologist (EP)
A professional employed by the local authority to assess a child’s Special Educational Needs and to give advice to schools and settings as to how the child’s needs can be met.
EHC Plan
Education, Health and Care Plans will replace Statements of Special Educational Needs from September 2014. This will be phased in gradually over the next 3 years. Current Statements remain legally binding until a separate EHCP assessment has been carried out.
Employment and support allowance
ESA, benefit for adults unable to work.
Graduated approach
A model which recognises that children may need different levels of support at different stages in their early years or school lives.
Individual Education Plan
A plan written by an early years practitioner/teacher/SENCO, outlining the way the child’s needs are being met, setting SMART targets and shared with parents.
Independent Parental Supporter
Someone who can give support to parents/carers, for example, by going to meetings, encouraging parents to get involved and helping them to understand systems related to special educational needs. Provided by SEND IASS in Warrington.
Key Stages: The different stages of education that a child passes through:
- Early Years Foundation Stage – age 0-5 (Early years setting, Nursery and Reception)
- Key Stage one – age 5-7 (Years 1 and 2)
- Key Stage two – age 7-11(Years 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Key Stage three – age 11-14 (Years 7, 8 and 9)
- Key Stage four – age 14-16 (Years 10 and 11)
- Key Stage five – age 16-18 (Sixth form)
Learning difficulties
Problems or conditions which make learning harder for the individual than it is for most people.
Local authority (LA)
A local government body that is responsible for providing education. For children with special educational needs the LA is responsible for carrying out Statutory Assessments and maintaining Statements. Warrington Borough Council.
Independent living
Support for adults to live in the community rather than in a residential home.
Local Offer
Part of the reforms in September 2014, it is a way of enabling the sharing of information about all services available in the local area. Covers social, health and education services: what is available, how to access it, cost, and reviews. “Ask Ollie” is Warrington’s Local Offer.
Motability
Scheme to rent a vehicle using DLA to cover the costs.
Note in Leiu
A document which the local authority may produce following statutory assessment. It describes a childs special educational needs, explains why a statement is not needed and sets out what help should be provided to support the child. The local authority will ask the parents/carers agreement before sending this document to professionals, including the schools.
Occupational Therapist (OT)
A professional trained to give advice on equipment, adaptations and activities to support the learning/ social development of people with physical, emotional or behavioural difficulties.
Paediatrician (community)
A doctor who specialises in children’s diseases and may be responsible for the continuing care of children with special educational needs both before school entry and in special and mainstream schools.
Parent Partnership Service
A service which provides information and support to parents/carers whose children have special educational needs. Replaced by Warrington Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service (SEND IASS)
Parental leave
Eligible employees can take unpaid parental leave to look after their child’s welfare, eg to:
- Spend more time with their children
- Look at new schools
- Settle children into new childcare arrangements
- Spend more time with family – eg visiting grandparents
- Their employment rights (like the right to pay, holidays and returning to a job) are protected during parental leave.
Personal budget
Your personal budget is the money you get from Warrington Borough Council, or other health funding, to pay for the help you need.
PIP
Personal Independence Payment helps with some of the extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or a disability if you’re aged 16 to 64. It is being phased in for adults over the next few years.
Portage
Home-based educational support for pre-school children with special educational needs.
Preparing for Adulthood
Formerly known as Transition, The Preparing for Adulthood programme will provide knowledge and support to local authorities and their partners, including families and young people, so they can ensure disabled young people achieve paid work, independent living, good health and community inclusion as they move into adulthood.
Respite
The provision of short-term, temporary relief to those who are caring for family members who might otherwise require permanent placement in a facility outside the home. Can include residential provision, or Short Breaks.
School Action
Collecting information about a child who has special educational needs and requires help which is different from that provided as part of the usual curriculum, and designing a programme (often called an individual educational plan or IEP) for them. The programme will be designed by teachers who work with the child and the SENCO.
School Action Plus
Seeking advice or support from external specialist services for a child who cannot progress adequately on school action, and drawing up a new or revised program to that provided at school action.
SEMH
Social Emotional and Mental Health.
‘SMART’ targets
Targets which are Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic and Timed. This is what targets for individual children should be like.
Short breaks
Short breaks can last from just a few hours to a few days – from daytime and evening activities to weekend and overnight or maybe longer. They can take place in a community setting, the child’s own home, the home of an approved carer or in a residential setting. They also provide parents and families with a necessary and valuable break from caring responsibilities.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The needs of children who have a learning difficulty, which means that they require special educational provision to be made for them. Children who have a learning difficulty find it harder to learn than the majority of children of the same age, or they have a disability which prevents or hinders them from accessing the education provided for other children.
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO)
The person responsible for the planning of special educational needs within school or early years settings.
(SENDIST) Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal
An independent body that hears appeals against decisions made by the local authority on Statutory Assessments and Statements.
Special School
A school which is specially organised to make special educational provision for pupils with special educational needs.
Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)
Learning difficulties in specific areas, such as dyslexia or dyspraxia.
Speech & Language Therapist (SALT)
A professional trained to give specialist assessments, advice and treatment for children with communication difficulties.
Statement of Special Educational Needs
A legal document that sets out a child’s needs and the extra help he/she should get.
Statutory Assessment
A very detailed assessment of a child’s special educational needs. It includes parental, educational, psychological and medical advice and also the advice of any other professional involved with the child. It may lead to a Statement of Educational Needs / Education, Health and Care Plan.
Supported living
Supported living is a type of residential support that helps vulnerable adults, including people with learning disabilities, to live independently in the community.
Surestart
The children’s centres are open to all parents, carers and children and many of the services are free. You can get help and advice on child and family health, parenting, money, training and employment. They provide learning and full day care for preschool children and advice and support for parent carers of disabled children.
Transition plan
A plan drawn up during the Year 9 Annual Review of a Statement. It should take account of the views of the young person, his/her parents and all the professionals involved with the young person. It must involve the Connexions Personal Adviser. The plan sets out the steps that need to be taken to move from school to adult life.
Abbreviation List
The following list contains abbreviations that you may see written in relation to a child’s Special Educational Needs.
ADD
Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
AEO
Assistant Education Officer
ASD/C
Autistic Spectrum Disorder/Condition
BESD
Behavioural, Emotional and Social Development – This term is no longer used, but may appear on historical documentation.
BSL
British Sign Language
CAF
Common Assessment Framework
CoP
Code of Practice
DfE
Department for Education (Government)
EA
Equality Act
ECHP
Education, Health and Care Plan
ENT
Ear, Nose and Throat
EO
Education Officer
EOTAS
Education Other Than At School
EP
Educational Psychologist
EWO
Educational Welfare Officer
EY
Early Years
FE
Further Education
GP
General Practitioner – Doctor
HI
Hearing Impairment
IEP
Individual Education Plan
IPS
Independent Parental Supporter
LA
Local Authority
MLD
Moderate Learning Difficulties
NAS
National Autistic Society
NC
National Curriculum
NHS
National Health Service
OT
Occupational Therapist
PMLD
Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties
PSHE
Personal Social and Health Education
SALT
Speech and Language Therapist
SCD
Social Communication Disorder
SEN
Special Educational Needs
SENCO
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator
SENDIST
Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal
SLD
Severe Learning Difficulties
SpLD
Specific Learning Difficulties
TA
Teaching Assistant
TAC
Team Around the Child meeting
TR
Transition Review
VI
Visual Impairment