Glossary of relevant legal terms

Unsure about any legal jargon?  See if we've explained it in our glossary.

ADD

Attention Deficit Disorder
A psychiatric disorder, common in children aged 6 - 12 characterised by inattentiveness, a lack of concentration and impulsiveness which is inappropriate for the child’s age.

ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
A psychiatric disorder, common in children aged 6 - 12 characterised by inattentiveness, a lack of concentration and impulsiveness which is inappropriate for the child’s age.

AR

Annual Review
A review of a child’s Statement of Special Educational Needs that takes place on an annual basis in order to review the provision contained within the Statement of Special Educational Needs.

ASD

Autistic Spectrum Disorder
A general term used to describe a number of symptoms and behaviours which affect the way that people understand and react to the world around them.

BACP

British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
The regulatory body for Counsellors and Psychotherapists.

BDA

British Dental Association
The professional association for dentists that assists with professional development.

BESD

Behaviour, emotional and social difficulty
A term used to describe a collective of difficulties found in children, often characterised by aggressive behaviour or difficulties understanding the world.

BPS

British Psychological Society
The professional association for psychologists that registers approved psychological courses of study.

CAF

Common Assessment Framework
Process for gathering and recording information about a child for whom a practitioner has concerns in a standard format, identifying the needs of the child and how the needs can be met.

CAMHS

Child and Adolescent Mental Heath Services
A service that provides advice and support to children and adolescents with mental health issues.

EAL

English as an additional language

EBD

Emotional and behavioural difficulties
A term used to describe a collective of difficulties found in children, often characterised by aggressive behaviour or difficulties understanding the world.

EHCP

Education Health and Care Plan
A plan provided by a Local Authority for children with special educational needs, detailing the child’s needs, the educational provision required to meeting.

EP

Educational Psychologist
A psychologist that specialises in identifying provision for children with special educational needs.

EWO

Education Welfare Officer
Officers who work with children, parents and families to ensure and support regular school attendance.

FHE

Further and Higher Education
The stage of education studied immediately after completion of secondary education (further education) such as in sixth form and college before continuing to study at University (higher education).

FTP

Fitness to Practise
The procedure by which a regulatory body investigates whether a student or professional is an able and proper person to practise the relevant profession.

GDC

General Dental Council
The regulatory body for dentists.

GDD

Global Developmental Delay
A child may be described as having GDD if they have not reached developmental milestones in two or more general areas.

GMC

General Medical Council
The regulatory body for doctors.

HI

Hearing Impairment
A person with a hearing impairment has difficulty hearing correctly.

IEP

Individual Education Plan
A plan set up for children on school action or school action plus to assist monitor their educational progress and to set educational targets.

LA

Local Authority
A Borough, District or County Council.

LAC

Looked After Child
A child for whom a care order has been granted and who are cared for by a Local Authority.

LSA

Learning Support Assistant
A member of school staff who assists children within a school’s learning support centre.

MA

Master of Arts
A degree above a Bachelor degree, generally in a humanities based subject such as English or History.

MLD

Moderate Learning Difficulties
A child with MLD will have significant delay in reaching developmental milestones and often has difficulties with literacy and numeracy.

MPhil

Master of Philosophy
A degree higher than a Bachelor Degree, generally studied to facilitate study at PhD level.

MSc

Master of Science
A degree above a Bachelor degree, generally in a science based subject such as Physics or Chemistry.

MSI

Multi Sensory Impairment
Impairments in both hearing and vision.

NCTL

National College for Teachers and Leadership
The regulatory body for teachers.

NMC

Nursing and Midwifery Council
The regulatory body for nurses and midwives.

OCD

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
A psychiatric disorder characterised by feeling the need to check things repeatedly or the performance of routines or rituals repeatedly.

ODD

Oppositional Defiance Disorder
A frequent and persistent pattern of anger, irritability, arguing, defiance or vindictiveness towards parents and other authority figures are the characteristics of ODD.

OH

Occupational Health
The body designed to ensure health, fitness and wellbeing at work.

OIA

Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education
The Ombudsman established in 2004 to adjudicate on student’s disputes with their university after the internal processes are completed.

OT

Occupational Therapist
A therapist specialising in the use of assessment to assist people maintain daily ‘normal’ living for those with disabilities.

PD

Physical Difficulties
A limitation on a person’s physical functioning.

PhD

Doctor of Philosophy
A higher level of degree than a Bachelor or a Masters’ Degree, characterised by independent research.

PSHE

Personal, Social and Health Education
A subject studied at school designed to teach children about how to maintain good personal, social and health practices.

PSP

Pastoral Support Plan
A school programme designed to assist children develop their personal, social and health skills.

RCS

Royal College of Surgeons
A professional membership organisation set up for surgeons.

ROA

Record of Achievement
A record of a pupils achievements whilst at school.

SALT

Speech and Language Therapy
Therapy designed to assist those with speech difficulties.

SEN

Special Educational Needs
Where a child has learning difficulties that causes them to need extra assistance, not needed by other children, they are considered to have special educational needs.

SENCo

Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator
The person responsible in school for supporting children with special educational needs.

SEND

First Tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal)
The Tribunal set up to hear appeals to Statements of Special Educational Needs.

SENDIST

First Tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal)
The Tribunal set up to hear appeals to Statements of Special Educational Needs.

SLCN

Speech Language and Communication Needs
Difficulties with speech, language and communication are described as SLCN.

SLD

Severe Learning Difficulties
A child who requires substantial support and assistance with learning due to severe and significant developmental delays may be described as having SLD.

SpLD

Specific Learning Difficulties
Learning difficulties associated with specific elements such as dyslexia (difficulty reading and writing) or dyscalculia (difficulty understanding and using numeracy).

SSEN

Statement of Special Educational Needs
a legally binding document outlining what educational support must be put in place by a Local Authority in school for children with special educational needs.

TA

Teaching Assistant
A member of school staff who assists children within a classroom environment.