Glossary

These definitions relate to terms used in the Code.  In the case of terms defined in legislation, the definitions given here are simplified and the full legal definitions can be found in the legislation referred to.

Annual review:  the review of a statement of special educational needs which an LEA must make within 12 months of making the statement or, as the case may be, of the previous review.

Carer:  for the purpose of this Code, a carer is a person named by a local authority to care for a child for whom the social services department has parental responsibility, ie a child who is the subject of a care order and who has been placed in a residential or foster placement.  The carer may qualify as a parent for the purposes of the Education Acts because he or she has care of the child (see the definition of Parent below).  If so, he or she will have a role to play in the consideration of a child's special educational needs.

Child protection register:  in each area covered by a social services department, a central register must be maintained which lists all the children in the area who are considered to be suffering from, or are likely to suffer, significant harm and for which there is a child protection plan.  This is not a register of children who have been abused but of children for whom there are currently unresolved child protection issues.

Children 'in need':  a child is deemed to be 'in need':

_ if he or she is unlikely, or does not have the opportunity to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development without provision made by the local authority; or

_ his or her health and development are likely to be significantly impaired, or further impaired, without the provision of services by the local authority; or

_ he or she is disabled. (Section 17(10), Children Act 1989)

Disapplication:  removal or lifting of a programme of study, attainment target, assessment, or any other component of the National Curriculum, or any combination of these including entire subjects or the entire National Curriculum. (See also Modification, below.)

Education supervision order:  an order that LEAs, under section 36 of the Children Act 1989, can apply for to put a child of statutory school age who is not being properly educated under the supervision of the LEA, with the intention of ensuring that he or she receives efficient full-time education suited to his or her age, aptitude, ability and any special educational needs, and that sufficient support, advice and guidance are provided to the parents.