SENDIASS GLOSSARY
In SEND, you may come across many words, terms, and acronyms. We’ve created this glossary to help you understand them in a clear and simple way.
Common Terms You May Hear
Academy
A publicly funded school that operates independently of the local authority.
Admissions
The team responsible for arranging places for children in primary and secondary schools.
Age Weighted Pupil Unit (AWPU)
This is the basic amount of funding a school receives for each child on its roll. The amount depends on the child’s age and varies between local authorities.
Annual Review
A yearly meeting to review and update an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.
Appeal (also see SEND Tribunal)
A formal process to challenge decisions made by a local authority about an EHC needs assessment or plan.
CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)
Support services for children and young people who have mental health needs.
Carer
Someone who provides unpaid support to a family member or friend who would struggle without their help.
Children and Families Act 2014
The law that introduced significant changes to the way children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities are supported.
Child in Care (CIC) or Looked After Child (LAC)
A child looked after by a local authority, either through a court order or by agreement with their parents.
Child in Need (CIN)
A child who requires extra support from local authority services to achieve their full potential.
Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
A group of healthcare professionals who plan and fund health services in a local area.
Direct Payment
Money given to a parent or young person to buy specific support outlined in their EHC plan.
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
This act was replaced by the Equalities Act 2010 for education-related provisions.
Disagreement Resolution
A service that helps families and local authorities resolve disagreements about SEND without needing to go to a tribunal.
Early Help
Support offered early to families who need extra help, bringing together services to prevent issues from escalating.
Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment
A detailed assessment to find out what support a child or young person with SEND may need.
Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan
A legal document that describes a child or young person’s SEND and the support they need to achieve their goals.
Educational Psychologist (EP)
A professional who assesses children’s learning needs and advises on how best to support them.
Graduated Approach
A step-by-step method used by schools to provide and review SEND support.
Graduated Support Pathway (GSP)
A Shropshire-specific framework that allows schools to request additional funding to meet the needs of pupils requiring targeted or specialist educational support.
Health Visitor (HV)
A community nurse who supports the health and development of children under five and their families.
Local Offer
Information published by every local authority about the support available for children and young people with SEND and their families.
Mainstream School
A school that is open to all children, including those with special educational needs or disabilities.
Multi-Disciplinary Assessment (MDA)
An assessment involving professionals from different areas of expertise. It provides a holistic understanding of a child’s needs and helps prioritise goals.
Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)
A government body responsible for inspecting and regulating schools and services to ensure quality and standards are met.
Parental Choice
Parents have the right to express a preference for their child’s school. However, a place at the preferred school is not guaranteed.
Personal Budget
Funds allocated to a child or young person with an EHC plan, giving them choice over how their support is provided.
Personal Education Plan (PEP)
A plan designed to support the education of children in public care or ‘looked after’ by the local authority.
Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD)
A term describing pupils with very severe learning difficulties, often combined with other challenges such as physical disabilities, sensory impairments, or medical conditions. These pupils require significant support for both learning and personal care.
Reasonable Adjustments
Changes made by schools or services to ensure children with SEND can access education and activities equally.
SEND Code of Practice
Statutory guidance that explains how children and young people with SEND should be supported.
Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD)
Pupils with severe intellectual impairments that impact their ability to engage with the school curriculum. These pupils often require personalised teaching and support in independence and social skills.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
A learning difficulty or disability that requires additional or different support to help a child succeed.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
A term used to describe children and young people with learning difficulties, disabilities, or health needs that impact their ability to learn.
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO)
A teacher who oversees and organises support for children with SEND in schools.
Special Educational Provision (SEP)
Additional support provided to meet the needs of a child or young person with SEND. This can be offered by the school or local authority.
Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST)
A legal body that hears appeals from parents or young people about decisions made regarding Education, Health, and Care (EHC) needs assessments or plans.
Special School
A school that specialises in teaching children with SEND.
Teaching Assistant (TA)
A member of school staff who works with the teacher to support children’s learning and development.
Universal Services
These are services available to all children and young people, such as schools, GPs, and health visitors.
Voluntary Exclusion
When a parent or carer agrees with a school that their child will stay at home for a temporary period. This is not the same as an official exclusion.
Work Experience
A planned, short-term placement with an employer to give a young person a chance to learn about a particular job or industry.
Zero Tolerance Policy
A school policy where certain behaviours are not tolerated and lead to immediate consequences, such as exclusions.
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Shropshire SENDIASS 2025