Jargon buster
This jargon buster explains language and abbreviations that may be used in these content pages, in meetings, letters, reports, or conversations.
If there are more words, abbreviations and phrases that are not in this jargon buster that you would like added, contact The Local Offer team at localoffer@swindon.gov.uk.
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A / B / C / D / E / F / G / H / I / L / M / N / O / P / R / S / T / V / Y
A
Abuse - Harm that is caused by anyone who has power over another person. It can include physical harm or neglect, and verbal, emotional or sexual abuse.
Adult social care - Care and support for adults who need extra help to manage their lives and be independent. These adults include older people, people with a disability or long-term illness, people with mental health problems, and carers.
Academy - A state-funded school that is independent from the local authority.
Access to Work - A state-funded employment support programme. It aims to help disabled people start employment or, if already in employment, remain employed. It can provide practical and financial support if you have a disability or long term physical or mental health condition.
Adult Services/Adult Social Care - A local council department responsible for providing care and support to adults who need extra help to manage their lives and be independent.
Advisory Teacher - An advisory teacher provides specialist advice to schools in order that they can improve support for a child with SEND.
Advocacy - Support for people to express their views.
Advocate - Someone who helps another person (e.g. a child or their carer) to make decisions and have a voice.
Aids and adaptations - Personal aids and home adaptations are equipment and changes to your home designed to support independent living.
Annual Review - Under the Children and Families Act 2014, local authorities must carry out a review of every Education, Health and Care plan (EHC Plan) at least once every 12 months.
Appeal - A SEND appeal is a formal request for a court to re-examine a decision made by the local authority.
Assessment - The process of working out what your needs are in order to understand what support might be helpful.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is defined as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - a spectrum condition that affects how people communicate and interact with others. It is not an illness or a disease, but a lifelong difference in brain function.
B
Benefits - Payments you may receive from the government because of your age, disability, income or caring responsibilities.
C
C&YP or CYP - Child and Young People.
Capacity - The ability to understand information and use this information to make decisions.
Care Plan - A detailed plan that lays out the care a person needs, how it will be provided, and by who.
Carer - A person who provides support to someone who is ill, struggling or disabled and could not manage without this help.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) - Independent regulator of health and social care in England.
Caseworker - A named person who works for the local authority who will deal with your child's case and who will talk to you if you have an enquiry or concern.
CDC - Council for Disabled Children.
CHAT - Comprehensive Health Assessment Tool.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) - These services assess and support children and young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health challenges.
Child in Need (CIN) - A child who requires support from Children’s Services to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development.
Child Protection (CP) - A process that focuses on keeping children safe from harm, including abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Children and Families Contact Swindon - The initial contact point to access services from Swindon Borough Council’s Children’s Services
Children’s Services/Children’s Social Care - A local council department responsible for supporting and protecting vulnerable children. They provide a range of services, from offering early help to families in need to intervening when a child is at risk of significant harm.
Children We Care For - A child who is in the care of the local authority. This typically means the child is not living with their parents and is being looked after by the state, often in a foster home.
Community health services - Health services that are provided, outside hospitals.
Compulsory school age - Generally speaking, a child from 5 to 16 years old. A child is of compulsory school age from the beginning of the term following their 5th birthday until the last Friday of June in the year in which they become 16, provided that their 16th birthday falls before the start of the next school year.
Consent - permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.
Continuing and Complex Care (CCC) – Specialist health care for children and young people under 18 who have complex health needs arising from disability, accident or illness that cannot be met by existing universal or specialist health services.
Continuing Health Care (CHC) – A package of health care that is arranged and funded by the NHS for adults who are not in hospital but have complex ongoing healthcare needs.
Co-production - Means working together, in equal partnership, with the people who use services and their carers.
Core Group – A multi-agency team responsible for developing and implementing a Child Protection Plan to ensure a child’s safety and wellbeing. Core group members meet to check how the plan is working and to make changes to it, if changes will help the child.
D
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) - An individual within a school, college or other educational setting who takes lead responsibility for safeguarding.
Department for Education (DfE) – Government department responsible for children’s services and education in England.
Direct payments - Money that is provided by the local council to an individual who has been assessed as in need of services. The money is paid directly to the individual (or someone acting on their behalf) instead of being used to arrange services, so they can arrange their own support.
Disabled Children Team - A team of social workers who work with children with significant and enduring disabilities and their families.
Disabled Students Allowance - Financial support for university students who have a disability or long-term health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty, which affects their ability to study.
Disagreement Resolution - A meeting to resolve a disagreement. The conversation is supported by someone who is independent and can be used by parents / carers and young people to try and sort out disagreements with the local authority, schools, colleges or health and social care around the services they provide.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) – A legal framework for protecting people who lack capacity to consent to their care and treatment.
Dynamic Support Register (DSR) - A register of people with a diagnosis of learning disabilities and/or autism who may need additional support to keep living well at home and avoid mental health or hospital admission.
E
Early Help Assessment – A voluntary process that helps families, children, and young people identify strengths, concerns, and needs, and then develop an Early Help Plan for support.
Early Help Plan – A plan which details the help and support required to meet needs identified in an Early Help Assessment. It is used to address issues that may require multiple agencies to work together and is designed to provide early help and support to stop problems from escalating.
Early Help Review - A process used to assess the effectiveness of the Early Help Plan. Reviews aim to understand what's working well, what needs improvement, and how to better meet the needs of children and their families.
Early Years Settings - All pre-school education provision such as nursery classes and schools, day nurseries, childminders and play groups.
EBD - Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties.
Edge of care - Refers to children and young people who are considered at imminent or potential risk of needing to become cared for by the local authority.
Educational Psychologist - Someone who helps in assessing your child’s special educational needs and giving advice to schools.
Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan or EHCP) - An EHC plan is for children and young people aged up to 25 who need more support than is available through SEND Support within their school or college, or educational setting. The EHC plan is drawn up by the local authority after an EHC needs assessment has determined that an EHC plan is necessary.
EHC Needs Assessment - A detailed assessment of a child or young person's educational, health, and social care needs. It's the first step in determining whether an Education, Health, and Care plan (EHC plan) is necessary and, if so, what support is required to meet those needs.
EHCP Coordinator - A named person who works for the local authority’s SEND department and coordinates with your child's EHC needs assessment or EHC plan.
EET – Education, Employment or Training, often used in relation to young people aged 16-24.
Elective Home Care (EHE) - When a parent or carer chooses to educate their child at home.
Education other than at school (EOTAS) - Educational provision that meets the needs of children and young people who, for whatever reason, are unable to attend a mainstream or special school.
Exclusion - When a child is removed from school by the head teacher for either a fixed period of time (suspension) or permanently (expulsion).
F
Family worker - A family worker provides support to families facing multiple challenges, with a focus on empowering parents and ensuring the wellbeing of children. Family workers take the Lead Professional role in coordinating Early Help Assessments, Plans and Reviews around the family.
Fine motor skills - The small, precise movements we make with our hands, fingers, feet and toes.
Fine motor skills - The ability to make movements using the small muscles in our hands and wrists.
Further Education (FE) College - A college offering education to young people over the compulsory school age of 16.
G
Gross motor skills - The ability to make movements using the large muscles in your arms and legs. So crawling, running and jumping are gross motor skills. Fine motor skills are smaller actions.
H
Home care - Care provided in your own home by paid care workers to help you with your daily life. It is also known as domiciliary care.
Hearing Impairment (HI) - Refers to any degree of hearing loss, mild to severe.
I
Independent school - A school that is not looked after by a local authority. Independent schools will be approved by the Secretary of State as being suitable for the admission of children with EHC plans.
Independent Supporter (IS) – Someone who does not work for the local authority and is trained to provide advice and support for families with children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They support families during the EHC needs assessment and planning process.
Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP) – A detailed document that outlines a child's specific medical needs, care requirements, and emergency protocols for school environments. It's created collaboratively between healthcare professional, the child and their family and is shared with school staff to ensure the child's health need are met while at school.
Integrated Care Board (ICB) - An organisation responsible for planning and commissioning local health services.
L
Lead Professional – An individual who takes the lead in coordinating and reviewing a child's plan when multiple professionals and services are involved. They act as a single point of contact.
Legislative - Having powers to make law.
Local Authority - The council.
Local Offer - Local authorities in England are required to set out in their Local Offer information about services that are available across education, health and social care for children and young people in their area who have SEN or are disabled.
M
Maintained school - Schools in England that are maintained by a local authority.
Mainstream school - A school that provides education for the majority of students; other than those who are placed in specialist schools or alternative provision.
Mediation - A service to helps parents, young people and local authorities resolve disputes over EHC needs assessments and plans.
Mild Learning Difficulties - A student with mild learning difficulties is usually able to hold a conversation and communicate most of their needs and wishes.
Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD) - Someone who displays significant delay and greater difficulty than their peers in acquiring basic literacy and numeracy skills. They may also have associated speech and language delay, low levels of concentration and under-developed social, emotional and personal skills.
N
National curriculum - This sets out clear, full and statutory entitlement to learning for all pupils, determining what should be taught and setting attainment targets for learning.
NHS England - An independent body which aims to improve health outcomes for people in England by driving up the quality of care.
Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) - Refers to young people, typically aged 16 to 24, who are not currently taking part in these three core activities.
Non-maintained special school - Schools in England approved by the Secretary of State as special schools, which are not maintained by the state but charge fees on a non-profit-making basis. Most non-maintained special schools are run by major charities or charitable trusts.
O
Occupational Therapist (OT) - A qualified health care professional who provides practical support to help people overcome barriers that stop them doing activities and help them become more independent. Occupational therapists in health settings focus on helping individuals manage daily living activities and regain functional abilities after illness, injury, or disability. Social care occupational therapists work to improve individuals' ability to participate in everyday activities, while also addressing environmental and equipment needs.
OFSTED - Office for Standards in Education, Child Services and Skills. A government department inspect services providing education and skills for learners of all ages.
Orthotic Service - A service that offers assessment, prescription and supply of devices to support the lower limbs in regard to posture, standing and walking.
P
Parent Carer Forum - A group of parents and carers who work with local authorities, education, health and care providers to make sure the services they plan and deliver meet the needs of disabled children and families. In Swindon the parent carer forum is Swindon SEND Families Voice.
Panel - A meeting where different organisations come together to share information, coordinate their efforts to help and support individuals, and make joint decisions.
Pathway Plan - A document created with a care leaver (usually between 16 and 21) to help them prepare for leaving care and transition to independent living. It outlines the support they'll need and their future goals, covering areas like education, employment, health, and finances.
Personal Budget - An amount of money allocated by a local authority to support a child or young person's needs as outlined in their Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan). This budget is used to purchase education, health, and/or care services. Parents or young people have more control over how their support is provided.
Portage - Home-based educational support for pre-school children with complex needs. It focuses on child-led play, family focus, and structured teaching within the child's home.
Profound and Multiple Learning Disability (PMLD) - This diagnosis is used when a child has more than one disability, with the most significant being a learning disability. Many children diagnosed with a Profound and Multiple Learning Disability (PMLD) will also have a sensory or physical disability, complex health needs or mental health difficulties.
Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) - The process of supporting children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) in their transition to adulthood. It involves planning and preparing for the future, including education, employment, independent living, health, and community participation.
Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) - Pupil Referral Unit. A specially organised school, which provides education for pupils who would otherwise not receive suitable education because of illness, exclusion or any other reason.
R
Reablement - A way of helping you remain independent by giving you the opportunity to relearn or regain some of the skills for daily living that may have been lost as a result of illness, accident or disability.
Respite Care (also known as Short Breaks) - A service giving carers a break by providing short-term care for the person with care needs.
S
Safeguarding - The action taken to protect vulnerable people from harm, abuse, and neglect, and to promote their well-being, including children, young people, and adults.
Section 17 – A section of law which outlines the general duty of every local authority to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need; and so far as it is consistent with that duty, to promote the upbringing of such children by their families.
Section 20 - A part of the law which outlines a voluntary arrangement where a local authority provides accommodation for a child who is in need.
Section 31 – A part of the law which outlines the circumstances under which a court can make a care order or supervision order, placing a child in the care of a local authority or putting them under the local authority's supervision.
Section 47 - A part of the law which outlines the duty for local authorities (and sometimes police) to investigate allegations or suspicions of significant harm to a child.
Self-funding - When you arrange and pay for your own care services and do not receive financial help from the council.
SEN Code of Practice - A government document which provides practical advice to those carrying out their statutory duties to identify, assess and make provision for children's special educational needs.
SEND - Special Educational Needs and / or Disability. A learning difficulty and / or a disability that means the individual needs special health and / or education / training / employment support (including individuals with or without an Education, Health and Care Plan and / or any specific diagnosis).
SEND - Services any providers offering help, advice, guidance and support for children and young people aged 0 to 25 years with special educational needs and disabilities. This could be an educational setting, a health care provider, social care, a local charity, a community group or an individual.
SEND Service - A council service that completes Education, Health and Care needs assessments and annual review processes for Education, Health and Care plans (EHC plans).
SEND Information Advice and Support Service (SIAS) - A service that provides free, independent and confidential information and support to children, young people, families and professionals about special educational needs and disabilities.
SEN Provision - The additional or different help / support given to children with special educational needs, designed to help them access the national curriculum.
Severe Learning Disability (SLD) - Profound developmental challenges in acquiring and using skills across various areas of learning.
Short break - A short break is time spent apart between a disabled child or young person and their main carer.
Short Breaks Statement - A statement that sets out the criteria for accessing short breaks and the services available.
Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) - A wide range of social and emotional difficulties which present in withdrawal or challenging behaviours. These behaviours may reflect underlying mental health difficulties such as anxiety or depression, self-harming, substance misuse, eating disorders or physical symptoms that are medically unexplained. Other children and young people may have disorders such as Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or attachment disorder.
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) - The teacher with responsibility for the planning and monitoring of the special educational provision within your child's school.
Special School - A school that is organised to make special educational provision for pupils with special educational needs and available for children with Education, Health, and Care plans (EHC plans).
Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) – Helps children and young people build their communication skills, including speaking, understanding, and expressing themselves. It also supports safe and confident eating, drinking, and swallowing when needed.
State-funded - financed by the government, either nationally or locally.
Statutory - Required, permitted or enacted by statute law.
Statute - A written law passed by a legislative body.
Strategy Meeting/Discussion - A meeting organised by Children’s Services when there is reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm. Its main purpose is to determine the child's welfare and plan for rapid action, potentially including starting a Section 47 enquiry.
T
Team Around the Family (TAF) - A meeting in which a child, their family, and professionals working with them come together to deliver and review progress against an Early Help Plan.
Telecare - Technology that enables you to remain independent and safe in your own home.
Transition - Any change a student experiences as they move from one stage or setting to another. This can include moving from early years to primary school, primary to secondary school, or from school to further education. It is also used to describe a young person’s transition to adulthood and Adult Services when they turn 18 years.
V
Visual Impairment (VI) - A condition where a person's vision cannot be corrected to a normal level using glasses or contact lenses
Y
Young carer - Children and young people under 18 who provide, or intend to provide, practical and/or emotional care, assistance or support to another family member. They carry out, often on a regular basis, significant or substantial caring tasks and assume a level of responsibility that would usually be associated with an adult.
Young person - According to GOV.UK, a person over the age of 14 and under the age of 18.
Youth Justice - A part of the criminal justice system that deals specifically with children and young people (typically under 18) who have committed offenses. Its main goal is to prevent offending by children and young people, prioritise their welfare, and ensure they get the help needed to reintegrate into society.
