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Jargon Buster A - C

Academy

Publicly funded independent schools that are free from local authority control. Other freedoms include setting their own pay and conditions for staff, freedoms concerning the delivery of the curriculum, and the ability to change the length of their terms and school days.
ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Advice

Written reports from parents, teachers and other professionals on a pupil’s special educational needs.
ASC

Autistic Spectrum Condition.
AP or Alternative provision

Education arranged by a local authority or school for pupils of compulsory school age outside of mainstream or special schools, including pupils: with behaviour problems, health needs preventing school attendance or without a school place. It may include full or part time placements in pupil referral units, AP academies, AP free schools or FE colleges; provision in hospital schools and independent schools; and other provision such as home tuition services and voluntary or private sector providers.
Area reviews

Area reviews are the mechanism by which BIS and DfE are reviewing the provision of post-16 education and training in England, so that it is tailored to the local context, meeting the needs of learners and employers, and is designed to achieve maximum impact.
Base or core funding

Level of funding that is allocated from the local authority or EFA to individual schools and other institutions, usually based on pupil or place numbers.
CAF

Common Assessment Framework. A method of assessment which can be used by social services, health or education. It is non statutory, i.e. it does not replace statutory assessment.
CAFA

The Children and Families Act 2014.
CMHS

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Capital funding

Funding allocated to meet capital expenditure for creating new school or college places and to carry out significant maintenance and repair work to existing buildings.
Care plan

A record of the health and/or social care services being provided to a child or young person.
Children and Families Act 2014

Part III of the Act introduces significant changes to the SEN and disability system including new assessment arrangements, joint commissioning duties, a local offer, and increased engagement with children, young people and families.
Code or CoP

The Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice 2015. This contains statutory guidance on the Children and Families Act 2014.
CP

Cerebral Palsy. physical impairment that affects movement. People with CP may have mobility problems which vary from barely noticeable to extremely severe. Those with CP may also have sight, hearing, speech, perception and learning difficulties. Between a quarter and a third of children and adolescents with CP, and about a tenth of adults, are also affected by epilepsy.
CSDPA

The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970. This is one of the main Acts of Parliament which entitle disabled people to social care.