Children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) may require additional support to achieve their potential. In the great majority of cases, this can be supported from within resources available in early year’s settings, schools, and colleges, this is often referred to as SEN Support.
For a small proportion of children or young people with more significant needs’ schools can apply for additional funding from the Local Authority or require specialist placements such as a Designated Specialist Provision or Special School. Many of these children have Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) issued by the Local Authority. This plan identifies needs, provisions, and desired outcomes. A child or young person’s EHCP will be administered by the local authority where they live.
SEND Glossary
| ADD | Attention Deficit Disorder – A term used for people who have difficulties with concentration, without the presence of other symptoms. |
| ADHD | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – A behavioural disorder that includes symptoms such as impulsiveness, inattentiveness, and hyperactivity. |
| ASD | Autism Spectrum Disorder – A group of developmental disabilities that can cause social, communication, or behavioural challenges. |
| CAMHS | Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services – The term for the services which support young people with emotional or behavioural challenges. |
| EHCP | Education, Health and Care Plan – Outlines any educational needs that a child may have, and the provisions put in place to help them by the local authority. |
| HI | Hearing Impaired or Hearing Impairment – The partial or total inability to hear. |
| IEP | Individual Education Plan – A school-based document which records, tracks and reviews the support received by a young person with SEND. |
| LDD | Learning Difficulties and Disabilities – Difficulties in acquiring knowledge or skills, largely due to a physical or mental disability. |
| MLD | Moderate Learning Difficulties – Children who have cognitive ability and attainment levels significantly lower than that of their peers. |
| PEA | Personal Education Allowance – Funding for children in care to support with activities outside of school to promote wellbeing and skills. |
| PEP | Personal Education Plan – Records how children in our care are supported in their educational outcomes and achievements. |
| PMLD | Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties – Young people who may have complex learning needs alongside other physical disabilities or impairments. |
| SEMH | Social, Emotional and Mental Health – Children who may have difficulties in regulating their behaviour or emotions. |
| SEND | Special Educational Needs and Disabilities – The term for children who have a learning difficulty and/or a disability, and therefore need extra support. |
| SENCo | Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator – The teacher who is responsible for this area within a school. |
| SLCN | Speech, Language and Communication Needs – A language impairment or secondary communication difficulty resulting from another condition. |
| SLD | Severe Learning Difficulties – Learning disabilities that refers to ongoing problems in one of three areas: reading, writing or mathematics. |
| SpLD | Specific Learning Difficulties – An umbrella term used to cover a range of difficulties including Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Dyscalculia. |
| VI | Visually Impaired or Visual Impairment – A child who cannot see at all or has partial vision loss. |
Website Links
The Local Offer is an information resource for:
- children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities
- their parents or carers
- practitioners and professionals.
Greenwich Parent Carer Participation Forum – Championing the voice of SEND families
Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Service
Greenwich Virtual School work in partnership with schools, social workers and Greenwich Assessment and Review Service to support all children with SEND and secure school places for children and young people with EHCPs following statutory SEND processes across Greenwich and local authorities where our children in care live.
SENCO Newsletters
Our SENCO newsletters include information leaflets, referral forms to local agencies, training for professionals/parents and carers, web links to SEND organisations and resources across all categories of need.