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This website is only one part of the Local Offer; we also have a directory which you can visit at 1space.eastsussex.gov.uk/localoffer

Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms

A professional checking a letter. A mobile phone and a hot drink are either side of the letter.

This page explains the meanings of some of the terms used on this website and throughout East Sussex.

If there are any terms used on this website that are not explained on this page, please contact us on:

Some Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) terms on this page may only be relevant in East Sussex. There may also be some terms used surrounding SEND that we haven't used on this website. You can visit the IASK website, that outlines lots of other SEND terms:

Terms Beginning with a Number, or the Letter A, B, C, D and E

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1Space (also known as East Sussex 1Space):

1Space is East Sussex County Council's online directory. It’s free to use and brings together groups and organisations that offer:

All services are available in-person or online for residents in East Sussex. It was set up in 2012 by Adult Social Care & Health and expanded in 2021 to include the East Sussex Local Offer.

A

Access Arrangements:

Access arrangements are special arrangements, or reasonable adjustments. Some disabled students are entitled to these in their public exams. They allow students to show their ability without their disability being a barrier.

Additional Needs Plan:

This is a written plan. Schools use it to set out what support they will offer a child or young person with SEND. SEND is a short way of saying Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Other names for these plans include:

Alternative Provision (AP):

An AP teaches children and young people who are not able to attend a mainstream school. This could be because they have:

Amaze:

Amaze are local charity that specialises in advising on and supporting SEND.

Annual Review:

Local Authorities must carry out a review of every Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). This must take place at least once every 12 months. This is in line with the Children and Families Act 2014.

Areas of Need:

Areas of Need is the name for the four broad categories used to describe a pupil’s SEND. They are: 

Assess, Plan, Do, Review:

This is also known as the Graduated Approach. This is the approach taken to all support of SEND. The process includes:

Assessment and Planning Officer (APO):

Assessment and Planning Officers (APO) are a part of the Assessment and Planning (A&P) team. Each family / child is assigned an APO when they apply for an EHCP. The APO will be the main point of contact within the council during the EHCP process. APO's work with schools and health professionals to gather information on the child. This helps to identify any areas of need in the child, and how best to progress.

If you already have an APO, you will find their direct telephone number on any of the letters you have received.

B

Broad Areas of Need:

Broad Areas of Need is the name for the four broad categories used to describe a pupil’s SEND. They are: 

C

Child Development Clinic:

This is the East Sussex Health Care NHS Trust clinic. This is where medical assessments for SEND are carried out.

Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS):

CAMHS assess and treats children and young people (CYP) with difficulties, including:

You can visit the CAMHS website to find out more:

Children and Families Act 2014:

The Children and Families Act 2014 became law on 1st September 2014. Part 3 of the Act sets out the new law on SEND. The SEND Code of Practice: 0-25 Years supports this act.

Children and Young People's Additional Needs Register:

This register is a list of children and young people in East Sussex who have SEND. We use the information to help build a picture about the need for services in East Sussex. It can also help with planning. All local authorities in England have a duty to keep a children’s disability register. The register used to be the Children's Disability Register. Our register is part of i-go:

Co-production:

Co-production is the process of different groups working together to create a service that works for everyone. Co-production can take place when:

You can find lots of examples of co-production on this site:

We continue to seek feedback from all residents to further improve all aspects of SEND in East Sussex.

D

Direct Payment:

A payment made direct to a parent or young person to buy specific services. A direct payment may be made as part of a Personal Budget. This is so that the parent or young person can buy certain services that are specified in their EHC plan.

Disagreement Resolution:

Local Authorities must provide independent disagreement resolution about SEND duties and provision. This is to help parents and young people resolve disputes with:

Dual Registration:

Dual registration occurs when a pupil is registered both:

This can be for some or all of their learning. The purpose is to identify and provide extra support to the child. This will enable them to engage with and make the most of learning. The end goal is to help them to achieve the best outcomes possible.

E

Early Help:

Early Help is the name of an assessment and offer of support for a family. It aims to help identify needs and offer intervention at an early stage. In East Sussex this is via the Early Help Service 0-19.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS):

The EYFS begins when children reach the age of three. Many children attend an early education setting soon after their third birthday. The foundation stage continues until the end of the reception year. It is consistent with the National Curriculum. It prepares children for learning in Year 1 when programmes of study for Key Stage 1 begin.

East Sussex Parent Carer Forum (ESPCF):

ESPCF are a forum for parent carers of children and young people with SEND. They make sure services meet the needs of disabled children and families by working with:

You can learn more by visiting the ESPCF website:

Education East Sussex:

Education East Sussex is a division within East Sussex County Council's Children's Services. They work together with schools and families to deliver excellence and inclusion in education. Education East Sussex is a combination of previous services known as:

Education Front Door:

The Education Front Door is the referral pathway to accessing SEND services. Educational settings make these referrals. This includes nurseries and schools:

Education Funding Agency (EFA):

The EFA is a government agency that funds education for learners between the ages of 3 and 19. It includes those with learning difficulties and disabilities up to the age of 25.

The EFA allocates funds to Local Authorities (LA). The LA then provide the funding for maintained schools. The EFA directly funds academies and free schools.

Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA):

The initial assessment carried out by the Local Authority. This assessment decides whether a child or young person needs an EHCP.

Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP):

An EHCP/EHC plan describes:

It also includes the health and care provision that they may need. It is a legal document written by the Local Authority. It is for children and young people who have high support needs.

Education Otherwise Than at School (EOTAS):

EOTAS is a formal special education provision package. It's made under an EHC Plan. It is for children and young people where:

Under a formal EOTAS arrangement, the child or young person is not required to be:

Instead, the Local Authority will provide a package of support. This may be delivered:

EOTAS is different to Elective Home Education (EHE).

Elective Home Education (EHE):

Elective Home Education (EHE) is the official term for home education. EHE refers to the choice by parents to provide full-time education for their children. This is instead of sending them to school. This might be through:

Elective Home Education is the term used for both journeys.

ELSA / Emotional Literacy Support Assistant

ELSAs are teaching assistants who support the emotional development of children and young people in school. To do this, they have had specialist training. This training / supervision is ongoing to help them in their work. Contact an education setting directly to find out if they have an ELSA.

Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA):

Some children and young people might not attend school due to emotional factors. This is often known as EBSA. 

Other terms include:

Terms Beginning with the Letter F, G, H, I and J

F

First Tier Tribunal (SEND):

The First-tier Tribunal (SEND) is a legal body. The Tribunal hears appeals from parents of children and young people with SEND. The appeals are in relation to EHC needs assessments and EHC plans.

The Tribunal also hears claims of disability discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.

G

Graduated Approach (also known as Graduated Response and Assess, Plan, Do, Review):

Schools should follow a graduated approach when providing SEN support. This is stated in the SEND Code of Practice. It is based on a cycle of:

H

High Needs Funding and High Needs Top-Up Funding:

High needs funding is the funding the LA use to pay for special school places. 

High needs top-up funding is extra funding paid directly by the LA for some high needs pupils.

Homeschooling:

See ’Elective Home Education'.

I

i-go:

i-go is a register and free leisure discount card. It is for people 0-25 with additional needs living or studying in East Sussex:

Independent School:

A school that is not maintained by a local authority. These schools can be mainstream, also called non-maintained, fee-paying or private schools. They might also be specialist independent schools funded through an EHC plan. These are also called non-maintained specialist schools.

Individual Education Plan (IEP):

A document that schools can use to outline and monitor the support they provide to a child or young person. It is a non-statutory document meaning that schools can choose if and how they use it. They can also have different names. This includes:

J

Judicial Review

A Judicial review is asking a court to:

The court does not look at whether it agrees with the public body’s decision. It instead looks at the way the decision was taken. It can order the public body to re-make its decision, or order the public body to take a particular action if it finds the decision taken was:

You can find out more on the IPSEA website:

Please note, East Sussex County Council aim to deal effectively with any concerns or complaints about our services. If we have got something wrong, we’ll apologise, and try to put things right. We learn from complaints to help improve our services. If you have any concerns about a decision or anything else, please email:

Terms Beginning with the Letter K, L, M, N and O

 K

Key Stage:

A key stage is a stage of education. They are as follows: 

L

Local Authority/Authorities:

Local Authorities are administrative offices that provide services within their local areas. There are 152 across England which are education authorities.

Local Offer:

The Local Offer informs you what support is available for children and young people with SEND, and their families. Every Local Authority must publish a Local Offer. It includes information for children and young people with SEND about:

Our Local Offer consists of this site, and a directory on East Sussex 1Space.

Looked After Children (LAC):

The term ‘looked after’ refers to children (under 18) who have been provided with care and accommodation by Children’s Services.

M

Mainstream School:

This is a school that provides education for all children, whether they have SEND or not. Mainstream schools include maintained schools, academies and free schools. Mainstream school does not include private schools, fee-paying schools or special schools. Schools that you can access through the standard admissions process are 'mainstream'. Schools that manage their own admissions process are 'non-mainstream'.

Maintained School:

Schools funded by a Local Authority who keep a management relationship together. This excludes academies, free schools, and private schools. These schools control their own budget and management.

Mediation:

A form of disagreement resolution for parents and young people. It is for those who want to appeal decisions about EHC needs assessments and plans at the tribunal.

Every Local Authority must provide independent mediation. This helps parents and young people resolve disputes with Local Authorities about:

The health and social care elements of an EHC plan must also provide mediation.

Mediation Advice:

The purpose of mediation advice is to give information about what mediation involves. Parents or young people who wish to register an appeal with the First Tier Tribunal (SEN and Disability) must first seek mediation advice. The advice must be factual and unbiased. After they receive mediation advice, the parent or young person can choose whether they wish to go to mediation.

It is not necessary to seek mediation advice if the appeal is only about:

O

Outcome:

Outcomes describe the difference made to a child or young person as a result of:

It must be:

This can be shortened to SMART.

Terms Beginning with the Letter P, Q, R, S and T

P

Parent Carer Forum (PCF):

A Parent Carer Forum is a forum for parent carers of children and young people with SEND. They make sure services meet the needs of disabled children and families by working with:

Our PCF is East Sussex Parent Carer Forum (ESPCF).

You can learn more by visiting the ESPCF website:

Parental Responsibility (PR):

Section 3 (1) of the Children Act 1989 defines what parental responsibility is. It outlines what parents have in respect to their child and their child's property. This includes their:

Pastoral Support (Pastoral Care):

The Support offered at school that is separate from teaching. This can include support for SEND. It can also include social and emotional support. 

Performance Levels/Scales (P Levels/Scales):

P Scales or P Levels are used to assess the progress of:

Personal Budget:

A Personal Budget is money set aside to fund support. It is part of an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for a child or young person with SEND. It can include funds from Education, Health and Social Care.

Phase Transfer:

Phase transfer is the term used in Education, Health and Care Planning. This is where a child or young person is transitioning to a new 'phase' of education. For example, from primary school to secondary school.

Preparing for Adulthood (PfA):

A programme providing expertise and support to Local Authorities and their partners. This enables them to embed preparing for adulthood from the earliest years. PfA ensures that young people with SEND achieve:

Pupil Premium:

Maintained schools in England get extra funding from the government. This is to help improve the attainment of disadvantaged pupils.

Schools get pupil premium funding based on the number of pupils they have in January each year who:

Pupil Referral Unit (PRU):

A setting which provides education for pupils who would otherwise not receive suitable education. This may be because of:

This is also called an alternative provision.

Q

Quality-First Teaching:

This is the provision of high-quality teaching. It is usually enough to meet most children and young people's learning needs. It means extra input or adjustments might not be necessary.

R

Reasonable Adjustments:

These are changes schools and other settings need to make. This could include changes to physical features such as:

S

Sec 41 Schools:

These are independent schools. The Government has approved them for the provision of SEN teaching. This is under Sec 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

SEND:

SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. You can find out more by visiting our page, 'Does My Child Have SEND?'.

SEND Code of Practice:

This is the statutory guidance that supports Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014. It tells settings what they must and should do for children and young people with SEND. This includes what they should do to:

The SEND Code of Practice covers:

SEN Information Report:

All schools must publish a Special Educational Needs (SEN) information report. Schools must publish this report on their website. The report outlines their policy and arrangements for supporting children with SEN. Schools must review this policy each year.

SENDIST:

For more information, see ‘First Tier Tribunal’ above.

Significant Need:

This is a way of referring to higher levels of need that requires higher levels of input. As each child's needs are different, there is no specific level this refers to.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities:

This is often shortened to SEND or SEN and Disabilities. This term describes things that make it harder for a child to learn compared to children of the same age. This includes:

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo/SENCo):

A SENCo is a qualified teacher who has responsibility for co-ordinating SEND provision. Every school or maintained nursery school has a SENCo.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS):

SENDIASS provides information, advice and support. They help children and young people (CYP) with SEND, and their families. They provide impartial advice on the SEN system. This aims to help the CYP and their parents to play an active and informed role in their education and care. SENDIASS run either at arm’s length from the Local Authority, or by a voluntary organisation. This is to ensure children, young people and their parents have confidence in them. Local Authorities fund SENDIASS.

Amaze SENDIASS is the SENDIASS for East Sussex. You can find out more by visiting the Amaze website:

Special Educational Provision:

Special education is any educational or training provision which is extra to or different from what other people of the same age need. This covers many different things including:

Some children and young people may need extra help. It is not always known as special educational provision. For example, having medication at school. As this is not support with education or training, it is not special educational provision.

Special School:

A special school is a school which is set up to provide education for pupils with SEND.

Specialist Facility:

Some mainstream schools have a specialist facility within them. These facilities provide extra support for children and young people with SEND. For example, a facility that helps children with Autism.

Statement of Special Educational Need:

Statements of SEN are for children where normal school provision does not meet their needs. Local Authorities issued these statements, under the Education Act 1996.

The Children and Families Act 2014 has replaced Statements with EHC Plans.

Statutory Guidance:

This is guidance that Local Authorities and other local bodies have a legal duty to follow.

T

Transition Planning:

Preparation for moves between phases of education. It also includes moving from education into adult life.

Tribunal:

The First-tier Tribunal (SEND) is a legal body. The Tribunal hears appeals from parents of children with SEND and young people with SEND. Appeals are about EHC needs assessments and EHC plans.

The Tribunal also hears claims of disability discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.

Terms Beginning with the Letter U, V, W, X, Y and Z

U

Universally Available Provision:

This is a way of describing the SEND support you can expect from:

V

Virtual School:

The Virtual School supports the education of children in care. It supports children from pre-school up to age 19 (or age 25 for those still in full-time education).

The child remains the responsibility of the school where they are enrolled.

The Virtual School works in partnership with the child or young person's:

They support each child to fulfil their potential at all stages of their education. This gives them the best opportunity to be successful in their adult lives. 

You can find out more on the Czone website:

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