Glossary of SEND terms

Here is a glossary of special education needs and disability (SEND) terms

Abbreviation

Meaning

ASD/ASC

Autistic spectrum disorder - no longer used by some professional due to the connotations of disorder. Some professionals e.g. speech and language therapist use autistic spectrum condition.

ADD/ADHD

Attention deficit disorder / attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

CAF

Common assessment framework

CAMHS

Child and adolescent mental health services

CoP

Code of practice

CI

Communication and interaction

CL

Cognition and learning

CP

Child protection

DDA

Disability Discrimination Act

DME

Dual and multiple exceptionality

Dual exceptionality (sometimes referred to as twice exceptionality or 2e) is the term used to describe a child who is not only exceptionally able but also has an additional learning difficulty or a disability.
Multiple exceptionality is the term used to describe a child with high intellectual ability and more than one special need or difficulty.
Put them together and the term used is dual or multiple exceptional or DME.

EAP

Ealing Alternative Provision

ECIRS

Ealing Children’s Integrated Response Service

EHCP

Education and health care plan. Replaced old statements (Statutory assessment of a child’s special educational needs) and involves 3 agencies schools, health and social care.

EP

Education psychologist

EPC

Ealing Primary Centre outreach service

GLD

Global learning difficulties

Gross Motor

Large movements e.g. Running, jumping and climbing

HLTA

Higher level teaching assistant

LAC

Looked after children

HI

Hearing impaired

IEP

Individual education plan (no longer used by some schools following introduction of CoP 2015)

LD

Learning difficulties

LSA

Learning support assistant

MAC

More able child (child working a year above age-related expectations)

MLD

Moderate learning difficulties

ODD

Oppositional defiant disorder

OT

Occupational therapy/therapist

PEP

Personal education plan (for looked after children)

PD

Physical disability

P Levels

Type of assessment used for pupils working below level 1.

PMLD

Profound and multiple learning difficulties profound and multiple learning difficulties - Pupils with PMLD are those with severe and complex learning needs, usually a combination of learning difficulties and sensory impairments or medical conditions. They may only be able to communicate by gesture, eye movement and/or simple language. Often, they cannot manage their own personal care. PMLD pupils need a high level of adult support and sensory stimulation and they are usually educated in special schools or hospital units.

SAFE

Supportive action for families in Ealing

SaLT

Speech and language therapy

SEN(D)

Special educational needs (and disabilities)

SENCo

Special educational needs co-ordinator

K

SEND Support (replaces SA & SA+) As part of the graduated response this may include targeted or specialist support, when outside agencies become involved.

SLCN

Speech, language and communication needs

SLD

Severe learning difficulties

SM

Selective mutism (formerly known as elective mutism)

SpLD

Specific learning difficulties

SPDs

Sensory processing disorders

SPM

Sensory, physical, medical

TA

Teaching assistant

TAC

Team around the child

TAF

Team around the family (when CAF is about whole family)

VI

Visually impaired

Code for key stage assessment

Abbreviation

Meaning

BLW

Below the standard of the pre-key stage (assessed P1 – 4)

PK 1 - 6

Pre-key stage – growing development of the expected standard (NB – KS1 PK 1 – 4)

A

Absent for long periods or recently arrived

D

Disapplied from the national curriculum

L

Pupil has left the school

HNM

Has not met the expected standard

WTS

Working towards the expected standard

EXS

Working at the expected standard

GDS

Working at a greater depth within the expected standard

F

Pupil will complete the key stage in the future

P

Pupil completed the key stage in the past

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Last updated: 30 Aug 2023

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