Jargon Buster
We hope this glossary of common education and related terminology is helpful...
Academies - Academies are independent state-funded schools.
AfL - Assessment for Learning - Day-to-day assessments to include effective questioning; observations of children during teaching and while they are working; holding discussions with children; analysing work and reporting to children; conducting tests and giving quick feedback.
DfE - The Department for Education - They responsible for education and children's services in England.
EAL - English as an Additional Language - Refers to children whose first language(s) is/are not English and who may not yet be speaking English fluently or even at all.
EBD - Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties
ESOL - English for Speakers of Other Languages or English as a Second or Other Language - If English is not your main language you can take part in a course to help you improve your English. These courses are called ESOL.
EWO - Education Welfare Officer - Person employed by the Local Authority to help parents and the LA meet their statutory obligations in relation to school attendance.
EYFS - Early Years Foundation Stage - A framework for care and education of children from birth to five years of age.
FSM - Free School Meals
G & T - Gifted and Talented
HLTA - Higher Level Teaching Assistant
ICT - Information and Communication Technology
INSET - In-Service Education and Training - Training for teachers which takes place during the school year.
ITT - Initial Teacher Training
KS1 - Key Stage 1 - 5-7 years old
KS2 - Key Stage 2 - 7-11 years old
LA - Local Authority
LSA - Lunchtime Support Assistant
MFL - Modern Foreign Languages
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulties
NQT - Newly Qualified Teacher
Ofsted - The Office for Standards in Education is an independent organisation, reports to Parliament.
PE - Physical Education
PPA - Planning, Preparation and Assessment Time is a statutory requirement for teachers and they are entitled to have 10% of their teaching time out of class
PSHEC - Personal, Social, Health Education and Citizenship
QTS - Qualified Teacher Status
RE - Religious Education
SATs - Standard Attainment Tests/Tasks - National Curriculum Tests and Tasks which take place at the end of Key Stage 1 (Y2) and at the end of Key Stage 2 (Y6).
SEN - Special Educational Needs Provision - Support for pupils with learning difficulties.
SENDCO - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulties
SLT - Senior Leadership Team
SMSC- Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
TA- Teaching Assistant