Definitions - Department of Education, Northern Ireland

Definitions for A guide for parents

This page provides a table of common terms used throughout the Special education needs guide for parents.

Common Term

Definition

Code of Practice

A guide which schools and Education and Library Boards must have regard to when they deal with a child with special educational needs.

Education and Library board board

The body responsible for providing education and for making statutory assessments and maintaining statements.

Learning difficulty

A child has learning difficulties if he or she finds it much harder to learn than most children of the same age or has a disability which makes it difficult to use the educational facilities in the area.

Note in lieu of a statement

A note in which the Board will set out the reasons for its decision not to make a statement after a statutory assessment.

Special educational needs (SEN)

A child has special educational needs if he or she has learning difficulties that need special educational provision.

Special educational provision

The special help given to children with special provision educational needs.

Special Educational Needs Tribunal

An independent body that hears appeals against decisions made by Boards.

Special school

A school which is specially organised to give help to pupils with special educational needs.

Statement of special educational needs

A document that sets out a child's needs and the extra educational needs help he or she should get.

Statutory assessment

A very detailed examination of a child's special educational needs. It may lead to a statement.

Transition plan

A plan drawn up at the first annual review of a statement after a child's 14th birthday.It sets out the steps needed for him or her to move from school to adult life.