A–Z SEND & Tribunal Acronym Guide for Parents and Carers
This guide has been produced by Spectrum Sisters to help parents and carers better understand common SEND terminology. It is intended as an information resource and should not be relied upon as legal advice.
A
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
A neurodevelopmental condition affecting attention, impulsivity and/or hyperactivity.
Alternative Provision
Education provided for children who cannot attend mainstream school due to exclusion, illness or other reasons.
Annual Review
A yearly review of an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to ensure it continues to meet a child’s needs.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
A neurodevelopmental condition affecting communication, social interaction and sensory processing
B
The section of an EHCP describing a child’s special educational needs.
C
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
NHS mental health services for children and young people.
Cognitive Abilities Test
An assessment used by many schools to measure reasoning and learning potential. It is not an IQ test.
SEND Code of Practice
The statutory guidance that schools, local authorities and health services must follow when supporting children and young people with SEND.
D
Developmental Coordination Disorder (Dyspraxia)
A condition affecting movement, coordination and motor skills.
Disability Discrimination Act (largely replaced by the Equality Act 2010)
Older legislation that protected disabled people from discrimination.
Department for Education
The government department responsible for education in England.
E
Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment
The legal assessment used to decide whether a child requires an EHCP.
Education, Health and Care Plan
A legally binding document setting out a child’s educational needs and the support they must receive.
Embedding refers to the process of integrating or including one type of content or technology within another. It involves taking an element from one source and placing it into a different context, allowing it to be displayed or used within the new environment.
Educational Psychologist
A specialist who assesses how a child learns and recommends support.
F
G
General Practitioner
Your family doctor.
I
J
Judicial Review
A legal process used to challenge whether a public body’s decision was lawful.
L
Local Authority
The council responsible for education services, EHCPs and SEND provision.
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
Investigates complaints about local authorities.
M
Multi-Disciplinary Team
Professionals from different services working together to support a child.
O
Ordinarily Available Provision
The support schools are expected to provide without an EHCP.
Occupational Therapist
Supports children with daily living skills, sensory needs, fine motor skills and independence.
In simple terms it is like a see-through layer that appears on top of something else, often used in websites or apps. It shows extra information or options without replacing what’s already there, like a pop-up window or a message that appears on the screen.
P
Pathological Demand Avoidance (also known as Persistent Drive for Autonomy)
A profile associated with autism where anxiety leads to an extreme avoidance of everyday demands.
Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools
A programme supporting inclusive education for neurodivergent pupils.
R
Right to Choose
An NHS pathway allowing families to choose an approved provider for autism or ADHD assessments.
Responsive design is an approach used in web development to create websites that adapt and display effectively on various devices and screen sizes, such as desktops, tablets, and mobile phones. It involves designing and building websites to ensure that the layout, content, and features adjust and look good regardless of the device being used.
S
Speech and Language Therapy
Supports children with speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties.
In simple terms, a “sticky menu” is a navigation bar that stays in one place on a webpage, even when you scroll up or down.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
The legal term used for children and young people who require additional educational support.
Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal
The tribunal that hears appeals relating to EHCPs and disability discrimination in schools.
Special Educational Needs
A child has SEN if they need additional educational provision because they learn differently from most children of the same age.
Special Educational Needs Assessment and Review Team
The Local Authority team responsible for managing Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments, EHCPs and Annual Reviews (the name may vary between councils).
Special Educational Needs Coordinator
The qualified teacher responsible for coordinating SEND provision within a school.
Senior Management Team
The senior leadership team within a school.The qualified teacher responsible for coordinating SEND provision within a school.
T
V
Visual Impairment
A sight impairment requiring specialist educational support.
Common EHCP Sections
Section A – Views, wishes and aspirations of the child and family.
Section B – Special Educational Needs.
Section C – Health needs.
Section D – Social care needs.
Section E – Outcomes.
Section F – Special educational provision (legally enforceable).
Section G – Health provision.
Section H1 & H2 – Social care provision.
Section I – School or educational placement.
Section J – Personal Budget.
Section K – Advice and reports used to prepare the EHCP.
Common Legal Terms
Appeal – Asking the Tribunal to review a Local Authority decision.
Bundle – All documents used as evidence during a Tribunal.
Case Management Order (CMO) – Directions issued by the Tribunal.
Evidence – Reports, letters and documents supporting your case.
Mediation – An opportunity to resolve disagreements before appealing to the Tribunal.
Reasonable Adjustments – Changes schools must make under the Equality Act 2010 to avoid disadvantaging disabled pupils.
Section 19 Duty – A Local Authority’s legal duty to arrange suitable education when a child cannot attend school because of illness, exclusion or other reasons.
Working Document – A version of the EHCP used during Tribunal proceedings to show proposed amendments.