SEND Jargon Glossary

The SEND world is full of acronyms and jargon that nobody explains. This glossary translates every term into plain English so you can understand reports, letters from school, and your rights without needing a dictionary.

A

AAC — Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Any method of communication used alongside or instead of speech. This includes picture exchange systems, sign language, communication apps, and speech-generating devices. Where assessment shows AAC is necessary special educational provision, it can be specified in Section F of an EHC plan.
ABA — Applied Behaviour Analysis: A structured approach to teaching skills and reducing challenging behaviour, based on the science of learning. ABA is widely used internationally but remains debated in the UK. Some autistic adults have raised concerns about certain historical practices. Modern ABA focuses on positive reinforcement and building functional skills.
ADHD — Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A neurodevelopmental condition affecting attention, impulse control, and activity levels. ADHD can be primarily inattentive, primarily hyperactive-impulsive, or combined, and can co-occur with autism. Kent waiting times vary by service, age, area and stage. Ask the responsible service for a current estimate and ask the GP whether patient-choice rules apply to the particular referral.
Annual Review: The statutory review of an EHCP. The first must take place within 12 months of the plan being made and each later review within 12 months of the previous review. For a child attending school, the education setting normally arranges the meeting and the parent or young person must be invited. KCC must notify its decision to maintain, amend or cease the plan within four weeks of the meeting; that decision letter explains any appeal right. See our annual review guide.
ASD — Autism Spectrum Disorder: The clinical term used in diagnosis for autism. You will see this on diagnostic reports and in NHS letters. Many autistic people and families prefer simply "autism" or "autistic" rather than the disorder framing. SENDPath uses identity-first language throughout.

B

BSL — British Sign Language: The sign language used by the Deaf community in the UK. BSL is a complete language with its own grammar, not a signed version of English. Since 2022, BSL has legal recognition in the UK under the BSL Act. Children who use BSL may have this specified as provision in their EHCP.

C

CAMHS — Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: NHS services for children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties. In some areas these services also include neurodevelopmental pathways. Waiting times and referral criteria vary: ask the responsible Kent service which pathway and stage apply, and ask the GP whether patient-choice rules apply to the specific referral.
Care Component: One of two parts of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). The care component is based on how much extra help your child needs with personal care, supervision, and watching over, compared to a non-disabled child of the same age. It comes in three rates: lowest, middle, and highest.

D

DLA — Disability Living Allowance: A tax-free benefit for children under 16 who meet qualifying care or mobility conditions because of a disability or health condition. A formal diagnosis is not a stated eligibility requirement. DLA has two components: care and mobility. See our full DLA guide for autistic children and non-scoring DLA criteria reflection tool.

E

EHC Needs Assessment: The formal process where the local authority gathers advice and evidence. A parent, a young person over compulsory school age or a person acting on behalf of an education setting can make a statutory request; other people can bring a child to the local authority's attention. KCC normally has six weeks to decide whether to assess and, if it decides to issue a plan, the final plan is normally due within 20 weeks, subject to statutory exceptions. See our step-by-step guide.
EHCP — Education, Health and Care Plan: A statutory plan describing special educational, health and social-care needs, outcomes and provision. Duties attach to particular bodies and sections: under section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014, the local authority must secure the special educational provision in Section F and the responsible commissioning body must arrange the health care provision in Section G. Other sections have different duties and remedies. See our EHCP application guide and checklist.
EP / EdPsych — Educational Psychologist: A psychologist who specialises in how children learn and develop. EP reports are often used to support EHCP applications, as they provide evidence of a child's cognitive profile, learning needs, and recommendations for provision. Local authority EPs are free but may be limited in scope; private EPs cost around £800-£1,500. See our Kent EP directory.
EYFS — Early Years Foundation Stage: The statutory framework for children from birth to age 5 in England. It sets standards for learning, development, and care. If your child has SEND in the early years, they may receive support through an EHCP or SEN Support within their nursery or reception class.

F

FE — Further Education: Education after secondary school, typically from age 16 to 18 or beyond. This includes sixth forms, colleges, and specialist provisions. An EHCP can continue in further education up to age 25 if the young person needs it. See our transition to adulthood guide.

H

HCPC — Health and Care Professions Council: The regulator for health professionals including occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and educational psychologists. If a professional is HCPC-registered, it means they meet national standards of training, conduct, and competence. Always check registration before commissioning a private report.

I

IASK — Information, Advice and Support Kent: Kent's free, impartial SEND information and advice service (formerly Parent Partnership). IASK can help you understand the EHCP process, attend meetings with you, and advise on appeals. They work for parents, not the council. Every local authority must provide this service by law.
IEP — Individual Education Plan: A document used by some schools to set short-term targets for children on SEN Support. IEPs are not a legal requirement and have largely been replaced by provision maps and SEN Support plans. If your child has an EHCP, the EHCP itself replaces the IEP.
IPSEA — Independent Provider of Special Education Advice: A national charity offering free legal advice on SEND law. IPSEA can help with EHCP applications, appeals, and exclusions. They also run a tribunal support service for parents who are representing themselves. Website: ipsea.org.uk
ISP — Individual Support Plan: A new type of plan proposed in the 2026 SEND reforms for children who need support beyond SEN Support but may not meet the threshold for an EHCP. ISPs are not yet in force and details are still being developed. See our SEND reforms guide.

K

Key Worker: A named professional who coordinates services for a child or family. In SEND, a key worker may be assigned through early support programmes or specialist health services. They act as a single point of contact so you do not have to repeat your story to every professional.

L

LA — Local Authority: Your council. In Kent, this is Kent County Council (KCC). The local authority is responsible for deciding whether to carry out EHC needs assessments, issuing EHCPs, naming schools, and providing the support set out in the plan. They are also responsible for school transport and social care.
Local Offer: Every local authority must publish a "Local Offer" — a directory of all SEND services, support, and provision available in the area. Kent's Local Offer is published on the KCC website. In practice, Local Offers can be hard to navigate, which is one reason SENDPath exists.

M

Makaton: A communication programme that uses signs, symbols, and speech together. Unlike BSL, Makaton uses signs alongside spoken English in the same word order. It is widely used in schools and early years settings with children who have speech and language difficulties or learning disabilities.
Mediation: A meeting run by an independent mediator to try to resolve an EHC-plan disagreement. Taking part in a meeting is optional. Most EHC appeals require contact with a mediation adviser and a certificate first, but a placement-only Section I appeal is exempt. The usual appeal deadline is the later of two months from the date on the decision letter or one month from the mediation certificate. Kent's current mediation page links to Global Mediation.
Mobility Component: The second part of DLA. It has lower and higher rates with different legal tests. DWP considers the individual child's mobility needs, including applicable guidance or supervision needs; autism does not predict entitlement or a rate.

N

NAS — National Autistic Society: A UK charity for autistic people and their families. It provides information and training, campaigns for better support, and offers a non-urgent Parent-to-Parent emotional-support callback requested through its website.

O

OT — Occupational Therapist / Occupational Therapy: A therapist who helps children develop the skills needed for daily life — including fine motor skills, sensory processing, self-care, and handwriting. OT can be provided through the NHS, through school, or privately. OT reports are valuable evidence for EHCP applications. See our Kent OT directory.

P

PECS — Picture Exchange Communication System: A form of AAC where children communicate by handing over picture cards. PECS teaches children to initiate communication, starting with simple requests and building to sentences. It is widely used with autistic children and those with limited speech. Training for parents and schools is available through the PECS UK website.
PIP — Personal Independence Payment: The adult equivalent of DLA, for people aged 16 and over. When your child turns 16, they will need to transition from DLA to PIP, which has a different assessment process. Start planning early — see our transition guide.
PMLD — Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities: A term used for children and adults who have severe learning disabilities alongside other significant difficulties such as physical disabilities, sensory impairment, or complex health needs. Children with PMLD will almost always have an EHCP and may attend specialist schools.
Portage: A home-visiting educational service for pre-school children with SEND. Portage workers visit your home to help your child learn through play, and they support parents with strategies. The service is free through the local authority, though availability varies across Kent.
PRU — Pupil Referral Unit: A type of school for children who are unable to attend mainstream school, often due to exclusion, medical needs, or behavioural difficulties. PRUs provide short-term education with the aim of returning children to mainstream or special school. If your child has SEND and is at risk of exclusion, seek advice before any move to a PRU.

S

SALT / SLT — Speech and Language Therapist / Therapy: A therapist who helps children with communication difficulties — including speech sounds, understanding language, using language, stammering, and social communication. A relevant SALT assessment can provide evidence for an EHC needs assessment or review. NHS availability varies; ask the responsible service for current information. See our Kent SALT directory.
SEN — Special Educational Needs: A child has SEN if they have a learning difficulty or disability that means they need educational provision that is different from or additional to what is normally available. SEN is the educational term; SEND adds "Disabilities" to include physical and health conditions.
SENCO — Special Educational Needs Coordinator: The teacher in a school who is responsible for managing SEN provision. The SENCO coordinates support for children on SEN Support, liaises with outside professionals, and contributes to EHCP applications. Every mainstream school must have a SENCO. If you are concerned about your child, the SENCO is usually the first person to speak to at school.
SEND — Special Educational Needs and Disabilities: The umbrella term used in UK law for children who have learning difficulties, disabilities, or health conditions that affect their education. The SEND Code of Practice (2015) sets out the legal framework for how schools, local authorities, and health services must support these children.
SENDIST — Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal: An older name and acronym still found in some documents. The current name is the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability), usually shortened to the SEND Tribunal. See the official GOV.UK appeal guide and our tribunal guide.
SEND Tribunal: The independent First-tier Tribunal that hears appeals about specified EHC decisions, including refusals to assess or reassess, refusals to issue a plan, Sections B, F and I, and decisions to cease a plan. The current online and paper routes are on the official SEND35 page. See our EHCP Tribunal guide for Kent.
Sensory Integration / Sensory Processing: The way the brain organises and responds to information from the senses. Many autistic children experience sensory differences — being over-sensitive or under-sensitive to sounds, textures, light, or movement. Sensory integration therapy is delivered by occupational therapists. Sensory Processing Disorder is not a standalone diagnosis in the UK but sensory needs should be addressed in an EHCP.
SLD — Severe Learning Disability: A term used when a child has significant intellectual difficulties that affect all areas of learning. Children with SLD usually need support throughout their lives and typically attend special schools. An EHCP is almost always in place.
SOS!SEN — SOS Special Educational Needs: An independent charity that provides free advice and support to parents of children with SEND. SOS!SEN can help with EHCP applications, appeals, and attending meetings. They run a helpline and offer one-to-one casework. Website: sossen.org.uk

T

Transition Plan: A plan for moving from one stage of education to another — for example, from primary to secondary school, or from school to further education. For children with EHCPs, the annual review in Year 9 (age 14) must include planning for adulthood. See our transition to adulthood guide.

W

Working Document (EHCP): A version of the EHC plan used during a contents appeal to show each party's proposed wording, what is agreed and what remains disputed, according to the Tribunal's directions. It is not the same thing as the pre-finalisation draft EHC plan. Parents and young people normally have at least 15 days to make representations on a draft plan; deadlines for a Tribunal Working Document come from the case directions.