In 2016, Surrey County Council introduced Surrey-specific acronyms and language to describe the types of special educational needs (SEN) provision in mainstream schools and specialist schools across the county.
This language is unique to Surrey and differs from the national acronyms and language used across England and by the Department for Education.
Since this change was implemented, we have recognised that the difference in language can be confusing for families and young people in the SEND system. It can also be confusing for schools and trusts, and the wider SEND system.
As a result, the Council has made the decision to formally move away from Surrey-only language and instead align with the Department for Education (DfE) terms used nationally.
How will the language around SEN provision be changing?
Over the coming months, we will be taking action to phase out the use of Surrey-only acronyms and language.
These changes will be fully implemented by September 2025, in time for the start of the 2025–2026 academic year.
It is important to note that this change is with regard to language only. It will not change or have any effect on:
- The content of children and young people’s Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
- Where children and young people are currently placed by the Commissioning Authority when the placement is named by institution or by type in Section I of EHCPs.
- Schools, colleges and Further Education providers’ existing offers to children and young people with EHCPs.
- How the needs of children and young people with additional needs and disabilities are identified and categorised
- The designation of existing SEN Provision across Surrey
The changes to language will be as follows:
Current Terminology | New Terminology |
|---|---|
Surrey Definition of SEN Provision/ Designation and Acronym | National Types of SEN Provision/ Designation and DfE Acronym |
High Communication and Interaction Needs (COIN) - (HIGH COIN) Complex Social Communication Needs (CSCN) | Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) |
Low Communication and Interaction Needs (LOW COIN) | Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) |
Learning and Additional Needs (LAN) | Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD) |
Severe Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (SLDD) | Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) |
Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH) | Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH) |
Visual Impairments (VI) | Visual Impairments (VI) |
Hearing Impairments (HI) | Hearing Impairments (HI) |
Multi-Sensory Impairments (MSI) | Multi-Sensory Impairments (MSI) |
Physical Disabilities (PD) | Physical Disabilities (PD) |
Whilst the terms used to refer to SEN provision is changing, we recognise the importance of language. We are committed as a partnership to embedding the language set out in the Surrey ATLAS Preferred Terminology report. This includes the use of “Additional Needs and Disabilities” rather than “Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)”, and “Specialist Schools” rather than “Special Schools”, wherever possible. However, we will sometimes need to continue to use the terms ‘SEN’, 'SEND' and ‘Special School’, while these are the terms used in national legislation.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at schoolorg@surreycc.gov.uk.
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- Join our Education Health and Care Plan Portal user testing group!
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- SEND and AP Capital Programmes to deliver 3,000 new school places
- New nurturing school's programme
- Sign up to Surrey’s latest Additional Needs and Disabilities updates
- New mainstream Special Educational Needs (SEN) Units in Surrey
- Response to Local Area SEND Inspection Report – Improvement Plan
