School and education
- SEND — Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
- SEN Support — school-level support, below an EHCP
- EHCP — Education, Health and Care Plan (legal document, up to age 25)
- SENCO — Special Educational Needs Coordinator (in school)
- SENDIASS — SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (free, impartial)
- LA — Local Authority (council)
- AP — Alternative Provision
- EOTAS — Education Otherwise Than At School
- EHE — Elective Home Education
- PEP — Personal Education Plan (looked-after children)
- TAF / TAC — Team Around the Family / Child
- CAF — Common Assessment Framework
- EWO — Education Welfare Officer
- PRU — Pupil Referral Unit
- PEX — Permanent Exclusion
Diagnoses and conditions
- ASD / ASC — Autism Spectrum Disorder / Condition
- ADHD — Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- PDA — Pathological Demand Avoidance
- DLD — Developmental Language Disorder
- DCD — Developmental Coordination Disorder (dyspraxia)
- SPD — Sensory Processing Disorder/Difference
- OCD — Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- PTSD — Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- ARFID — Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
- FASD — Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
- EDS / HSD — Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes / Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder
- PMLD — Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities
- SLD / MLD — Severe / Moderate Learning Disability
- GDD — Global Developmental Delay
Health and therapy
- OT — Occupational Therapist
- SALT / SLT — Speech and Language Therapist
- PT — Physiotherapist
- CAMHS — Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
- CYPMHS — Children and Young People's Mental Health Services
- GP — General Practitioner
- HV — Health Visitor
- MDT — Multi-Disciplinary Team
- AHP — Allied Health Professional
- CCG / ICB — Clinical Commissioning Group / Integrated Care Board
- CHC — Continuing Healthcare
Social care, benefits and law
- DLA — Disability Living Allowance (under 16)
- PIP — Personal Independence Payment (16+)
- UC — Universal Credit
- EA 2010 — Equality Act 2010
- CFA 2014 — Children and Families Act 2014
- CA 2014 — Care Act 2014
- MCA 2005 — Mental Capacity Act 2005
- DoLS — Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
- LPA — Lasting Power of Attorney
- CIN / CP / LAC — Child in Need / Child Protection / Looked After Child
- MASH — Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub
Communication
- AAC — Augmentative and Alternative Communication
- PECS — Picture Exchange Communication System
- Makaton — sign and symbol communication
- BSL — British Sign Language
Good to remember
Acronyms are gatekeeping. You are allowed to stop any meeting and ask "what does that mean?" That is not rude. That is good practice.