UK · Northern Ireland · Reference
Northern Ireland SEN glossary
Plain-English explanations of common terms used in Northern Ireland’s special educational needs system.
Northern Ireland terminology · 27 terms · Last reviewed 12 September 2026
Northern Ireland only.
England, Scotland and Wales use different statutory plans and terminology. A Statement of SEN is not the same document as an England EHCP, Wales IDP or Scotland CSP.
A
- Annual Review
- The statutory yearly review of a Statement of SEN to check needs, provision and placement remain appropriate.
C
- Code of Practice
- Statutory guidance used by schools and the Education Authority when identifying, assessing and making provision for pupils with SEN. The 1998 Code and 2005 Supplement remain operative.
D
- DARS
- Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Service: a free, independent and voluntary service that helps resolve SEN disagreements involving parents, schools or the Education Authority.
- Draft Statement
- The version of a Statement of SEN sent to parents before finalisation so they can comment and express a school preference.
E
- EA
- Education Authority: the Northern Ireland public body responsible for services including statutory SEN assessment, statements, placements and support services.
- EA Connect
- The Education Authority online portal. Since January 2026 it is used for statutory-assessment requests/referrals and gives parents progress information.
- Educational Psychologist
- A psychologist with specialist expertise in learning and development whose advice can form part of statutory assessment and school support.
H
- HSCT
- Health and Social Care Trust. Health professionals may contribute advice, treatment or services relevant to a pupil’s SEN.
I
- IEP
- Individual Education Plan: a school planning document that can record targets, provision, responsibilities and review arrangements for a pupil with SEN.
L
- Learning Support Coordinator (LSC)
- A school role often used alongside or instead of SENCO terminology for coordinating support for pupils with SEN.
- Local IMPACT Team
- An Education Authority local multidisciplinary support model intended to provide earlier advice and support to pupils and schools at the pre-statement stages.
P
- Personal Learning Plan (PLP)
- A planning document schools may use for pupils on the SEN register. Department guidance says the relevant 2016 Act provision is not yet commenced, but schools that have training or guidance may use PLPs.
- Placement
- The school or educational setting named or arranged for a pupil, including placement decisions made through the Statement of SEN process.
R
- Reasonable Adjustments
- Changes made to reduce disability-related disadvantage in education. Disability duties sit alongside the SEN framework.
S
- SARS
- Statutory Assessment and Review Service: the Education Authority service responsible for statutory SEN assessment, statements, annual reviews and related placement work.
- SEN
- Special Educational Needs: educational needs that call for special educational provision.
- SEN Register
- The school record of pupils identified as having SEN and receiving special educational provision.
- SENCO
- Special Educational Needs Coordinator: a school staff member who helps coordinate identification, planning and provision for pupils with SEN.
- SEND
- Special Educational Needs and Disability. The term is commonly used for the wider area covering SEN and disability.
- SENDIST
- Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal: the tribunal that hears specified appeals against Education Authority SEN decisions and disability-discrimination claims relating to pupils.
- Special Educational Provision
- Educational provision additional to or otherwise different from provision generally made for children of the same age, used to meet identified SEN.
- Stage 1
- School-delivered special educational provision. The school is primarily responsible for the provision and review.
- Stage 2
- School-delivered provision plus external provision or support, such as input from the EA or a Health and Social Care Trust.
- Stage 3
- The stage for a pupil with a Statement of Special Educational Needs, involving school and EA provision and relevant health input where applicable.
- Statement of SEN
- The statutory document setting out a child’s special educational needs, required educational provision and placement information.
- Statutory Assessment
- The formal Education Authority assessment process used to decide whether a child needs a Statement of SEN and what provision is required.
T
- Transition Planning
- Planning for a move between schools, education phases or towards adult life. For pupils with statements this should be considered through the review process.
Official and authoritative sources
Department of Education NI — SEN Code of Practice
Education Authority — SEN Code of Practice and three stages
Education Authority — Special Educational Needs (SEN)
nidirect — Special educational needs