Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Acronyms
An acronym is a word formed from the first letters of a name or phrase, such as SEND which stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
While they are often used to simplify long terms, acronyms can be particularly complicated in the world of SEND because of the sheer volume of them. Each local authority, school, and health service may use a different set of acronyms for specific departments, documents, or support plans. This can create a confusing "alphabet soup" for parents and carers, making it difficult to understand official communications and create a barrier to navigating the support system for their child.
Acronym | Meaning |
|---|---|
ADD | Attention Deficit Disorder |
ADOS | Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule |
ADHD | Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder |
AP | Alternative Provision |
APD | Auditory Processing Disorder |
APDR | Assessment, Plan, Do, Review |
AR | Annual Review |
ASC | Autistic Spectrum Condition |
ASD | Autistic Spectrum Disorder |
ATS | Alternative Tuition Service |
AU | Activities Unlimited |
CAF | Common Assessment Framework |
CAMHS | Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service |
CAPP | Commissioning and Procurement Panel |
CBT | Cognitive Behavioural Therapy |
CDC | Child Development Centre |
CIN | Child In Need |
C&I | Communication and Interaction |
C&L | |
CIC | Child In Care |
CIF | Community Inclusion Forum |
CoP | Code of Practice |
CP | Child protection |
CYP | Children and Young People |
DD | Disability Discrimination |
DfE | Department of Education |
DSR | Dynamic Support Register |
DSL | Designated Safeguarding Lead |
EAL | English as an Additional Language |
ED | Eating Disorder |
EHE | Elective Home Education |
EOTAS | Educated Other Than At School |
EOD | End Of Day |
EYFS | Early Years Foundation Stage |
EHC | Education, Health and Care |
EHCNA | Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment |
EHCP | Education, Health and Care Plan |
EP | Educational Psychologist |
EWO | Education Welfare Officer |
FAS | Foetal Alcohol Syndrome |
FE | Further Education |
FSM | Free School Meals |
GAD | Generalised Anxiety Disorder |
HE | Higher Education |
HT | Head Teacher |
HV | Health Visitor |
HI | Hearing Impairment |
ICB | Integrated Care Board |
IPSEA | Independent Providers of Special Education Advice |
KS | Key Stage |
LA | Local Authority |
LAC | Looked-After Child (old term) |
LAP | Local Area Partnership |
LAIP | Local Area Inclusion Partnership |
LD | Learning Disability and Autism |
LGO | Local Government Ombudsman |
LGSCO | Local Government Social Care Ombudsman |
LO | Local Offer |
LSA | Learning Support Assistant |
MASH | Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub |
MDT | Multi-Disciplinary Team |
MH | Mental Health |
MLD | Moderate Learning Difficulties |
ND | Neurodiversity / Divergence |
NSFT | Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (mental health service) |
NTAS | National Training and Advisory Service |
OAP | Ordinarily Available Provision |
OCD | Obsessive Compulsory Disorder |
ODD | Oppositional Defiant Disorder |
OT | Occupational Therapy / Occupational Therapist |
PB | Personal budget |
PBS | Positive Behaviour Support (SPCF does not support the use of PBS) |
PDA | Pathological Demand Avoidance |
PFA | Preparing For Adulthood |
PINS | Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools |
PMLD | Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties |
PP | Pupil Premium |
PRU | Pupil Referral Unit |
RSD | Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria |
SALT | Speech and Language Therapy |
SC | Social Care |
SCC | Suffolk County Council |
SEMH | Social Emotional and Mental Health |
SEN | Special Educational Needs |
SEND | Special Educational Needs and / or Disability |
SENDIASS | Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Information & Advice Service Suffolk |
SENDIST | Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal |
SENCO | Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator |
SI | Sensory Impairment |
SI | Supported Internship |
SES | Special Education Service |
SLCN | Speech, Language and Communication Needs |
SLD | Severe Learning Difficulties |
SLT | Senior Leadership Team |
SPCF | Suffolk Parent Carer Forum |
SpLD | Specific Learning Difficulties |
SLT | Speech and Language Therapy |
SW | Social Worker |
TA | Teaching Assistant |
TAC | Team Around the Child (old term) |
TW | Trigger Warning |
VI | Visual Impairment |
YP | Young People / Young Person |
Have you got an education or health acronym you think we should add to the list?
Email info@suffolkpcf.co.uk