Glossary
ACEs Adverse Childhood Experiences
ADD Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ASD Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Autism)
Attachment Disorder A broad term used to describe a series of emotional and behavioural problems that can develop in young children who struggle to form expected bonds to primary caregivers, usually their parents
C&L Cognition and Learning
Colourful Semantics A system for colour coding sentences according to the role of different words. It can help children to break down sentences and understand the individual meaning of each word and its role in the sentence. It can help children to better understand word order.
DLD Developmental Language Disorder
Dysfluency An involuntary disruption in the flow of speech that may occur during normal childhood development of spoken language or during normal adult speech. Commonly known as stammering.
EBSNA Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance
Expressive Language How a child/young person uses words to express themself
FASD Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Fine Motor Skills Ability to make movements using small muscles in hands and wrists e.g., writing, using rulers/scissors and getting dressed
Gross Motor Skills Abilities that allow tasks which involve large muscles in torso, legs and arms e.g., walking, running and jumping
Growth Mindset A belief that you can develop your skills and talents through hard work, the right strategies, and guidance from others
Habilitation Specialist A trained mobility and independence specialist for blind and partially sighted people
Makaton A unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate
Manipulatives Concrete materials to support learning e.g., Numicon
MSI Multi-sensory Impairment
Multi-sensory involving or using more than one of the senses. Multi-sensory approach to teaching is a way of teaching that engages more than one sense at a time.
Neurodiversity The range of differences in individual brain function and behavioural traits, regarded as part of normal variation in the human population.
Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits.
OCD Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OPAL Outdoor Play and Learning. Programme designed to improve the quality of play
PECS The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is an augmentative and alternative communication system (i.e., a communication method other than speech) that involves the physical exchange of pictures to communicate with another person for the purpose of requesting or commenting.
Phonological Awareness Understanding that spoken words are made up of sounds and recognising how they come together to form words.
Pre-teach The more we know about a word the easier it is to remember. A multi-sensory approach using mainly semantic (meaning) and phonological (sound) cues introduces a selection of key topic vocabulary in a simplified and controlled way
Reasonable Adjustment Reasonable adjustments ensure a disabled student is not discriminated against. These changes could include extra support and aids
Receptive language How a child/young person understands language
Relational Practice A way of working where establishing and maintaining a helpful interpersonal relationship is the priority
Restorative Practice Term used to describe behaviours, interactions and approaches which help to build and maintain positive, healthy relationships, resolve difficulties and repair harm where there has been conflict
SALT Speech and Language Therapy
Scaffolding Support to allow practice and consolidation e.g. writing frame, word bank
Selective Mutism Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder where a person is unable to speak in certain social situations (NHS)
Self-Regulation The ability to control one’s behaviour, emotions and thoughts
SEMH Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Shape Coding The SHAPE CODINGTM system uses a visual coding system to show the rules for how words are put together in sentences, to develop the child’s understanding and use of grammar, so that they can communicate more effectively
SLCN Speech, Language and Communication Needs
Social Communication Social communication refers to the use of verbal (spoken language) and nonverbal (eye gaze, facial expression, gestures) communication in social situations, to tell other people what you want, express feelings, relate to other people and develop meaningful relationships
Social Stories Social stories were created by Carol Gray in 1991. They are short descriptions of a particular situation, event or activity, which include specific information about what to expect in that situation and why
SpLD Specific Learning Difficulty
Stimming A self-stimulatory behaviour that is marked by a repetitive action or movement e.g. spinning, hand flapping and rocking
Thrive Approach Training, online assessments, and expert strategies for working with pupils to improve attendance, behaviour and learning outcomes, and align with Public Health England's eight principles for a whole school and college approach
Total Communication Approach Finding and using the right combination of communication methods to enable students to communicate their wants and needs in their preferred mode
Transition This may refer to a range of situations including activities, lesson, year groups and schools
Trauma An emotional response to distressing, stressful or frightening events
VI Visual Impairment
Visual Timetable A visual timetable shows what is happening over a certain period of time in a visual way. It might use real photographs, cartoon pictures or symbols
Working Memory Allows us to work with information without losing track of what we are doing. It’s like a temporary sticky note in the brain!
WRAP Wellness Recovery Action Plan
Zones of Regulation A curriculum geared toward helping students gain skills in consciously regulating their actions, which in turn leads to increased control and problem-solving abilities