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.

OFSTED - Office for Standards in Education/OHMCI - Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector (Wales):  non-Ministerial government departments established under the Education (Schools) Act 1992 to take responsibility for the inspection of all schools in England and Wales respectively.  Their professional arm is formed by Her Majesty's Inspectors (HMI).

Parent:  this is defined in section 114 (1D) of the Education Act 1944, as amended by the Children Act 1989.  Unless the context otherwise requires, parent in relation to a child or young person includes any person:

_ who is not a natural parent of the child but who has parental responsibility for him or her, or

_ who has care of the child.

Section 114(1F) of the 1944 Act states that for the purposes of sub-section (1D):

_ parental responsibility has the same meaning as in the Children Act 1989, and

_ in determining whether an individual has care of a child or young person any absence of the child or young person at a hospital or boarding school and any other temporary absence shall be disregarded.