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SEND Explained: Must-Know Terms for Parents & Teachers

10th February 2025

Special education terms frequently appear in discussions, paperwork, and education plans. They can feel overwhelming at first. Many parents and teachers struggle to understand these important words and phrases. To understand these terms better, the best option is to pursue a Special Education Courses in UAE. However, this blog makes things easier for you. We will walk you through the most important SEND terms in clear, simple language. We'll help you understand everything you should know about supporting children with special needs.

What is SEND?

SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disability. This term covers a wide range of learning differences and challenges that children may face in school.

Special Educational Needs can show up in many ways during a child's school journey. Some children might learn at a different pace than their classmates. Others might need extra support with reading or writing tasks. Many students find it challenging to stay focused during lessons, while some struggle to make friends or join group activities. Speaking clearly or understanding instructions can also be difficult for some children.

The importance of SEND support cannot be overstated. Every child deserves the chance to get a good education and reach their full potential. With the right support, children can gain confidence in their abilities and enjoy their time at school. They can develop new skills, make friends, and work toward personal goals.

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About the SEND Terms

The SEND terms may seem complicated to understand but not when you are reading this blog. We are breaking down the terms and concepts in the simplest ways possible.

1. Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHC Plan)

An Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Planworks like a detailed roadmap for a child's education journey. This important document describes all the support a child needs to succeed in school. It covers everything from classroom help to healthcare needs. You can think of it as a complete guide that helps everyone work together to support the child.

Getting an EHC Plan involves several steps:
 

• Parents or schools can ask the local council to assess a child's needs.
• Experts then meet with the family to understand how best to help.
• Together, they create a plan that lists all the support the child should receive.
• This plan gets checked every year to make sure it still works well for the child.

An EHC Plan ensures that children with SEND receive personalized support to help them succeed in school and beyond.

2. The Golden Thread

The Golden Thread is a way of linking a child's needs, support, and goals in a clear and structured manner. It helps ensure that every part of learning and development is connected. This approach prevents gaps in support and keeps everyone focused on the child’s future.

The Golden Thread includes:
 

• Aspirations: What does the child want to achieve in life?
• Needs: What challenges does the child face in learning and daily activities?
• Outcomes: The progress expected from the support provided.
• Provision: The services and strategies put in place to help the child.

By following the Golden Thread, teachers and caregivers can provide meaningful support that benefits the child's education and personal growth.

3. SEN Support

SEN Support refers to the help given to children with special educational needs who do not have an EHC Plan. It ensures they get the right support in school so they can learn effectively.

Schools and teachers follow a four-step process called the Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle:
 

• Assess: Identify what challenges the child is facing.
• Plan: Create a plan for providing support.
• Do: Implement the strategies.
• Review: Check if the support is working and make changes if needed.

SEN Support may include:
 

• Extra help from teachers or teaching assistants.
• Special teaching materials.
• Small group work.
• Emotional and social support.

The goal of SEN Support is to help children overcome challenges and make good progress in school.

4. Graduated Response

A Graduated Response is a structured way of providing SEND support in schools.

It involves three levels of help:
 

• Universal Provision: Support for all students through good teaching methods, different learning strategies, and classroom adjustments.
   

• Targeted Provision: Extra support for children who need additional help, such as small group teaching or individual instruction.
   

• Specialist Provision: Intensive support for children with significant needs. This may involve external professionals such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, or SEND specialists. In some cases, it can lead to applying for an EHC Plan.

The Graduated Response ensures that children receive the right level of support based on their unique needs. Schools use this approach to provide help early before issues become bigger.

5. SMART Outcomes

SMART Outcomes are clear and structured goals set for children with SEND. These help track progress and ensure the support provided is effective.

SMART stands for:
 

• Specific – Clearly defined goals that focus on a particular skill or area of improvement.

• Measurable – Progress can be tracked with clear evidence.

• Achievable – Goals should be realistic and within the child's ability.

• Relevant – They should relate to the child's needs and future aspirations.

• Time-bound – There should be a deadline for achieving them.

An example of SMART would be:

Instead of saying, "Get better at reading" a SMART outcome would be: "Read 20 words correctly by next month."

By setting SMART outcomes, teachers, parents, and professionals can measure progress effectively and make necessary adjustments.

Why Understanding These Terms Matters?

Parents and educators often feel overwhelmed by SEND terminology. Understanding these five key terms can help in the following ways:

• Better Communication: Parents and teachers can have more productive discussions about a child’s needs and support.
• Stronger Advocacy: Knowing these terms empowers parents to request the right support for their child.
• Effective Support: Schools and professionals can use these frameworks to provide personalized and structured assistance.
• Improved Outcomes: When everyone understands and follows these concepts, children with SEND are more likely to succeed academically and personally.

Success Tips for Parents and Educators

The best way to understand SEND is to stay informed. Read about SEND policies and rights to advocate for proper support. Ask questions and if a term or process is unclear, ask professionals to explain it in simple words.

Collaboration between parents, teachers, and specialists leads to the best results so try to work together as a team. Monitor progress and keep track of the child’s development and discuss any concerns early. Celebrate every small wins as progress may be slow, but every step forward is important.

Bottom Line

SEND terms are not merely words- they represent structured approaches that make a real difference in children's lives. Remember, every child learns differently, hence the Learning Disabilities Courses in UAE are a great choice. The right support makes a big difference, so help your students succeed.

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