Academies

Academies are independent state-funded schools. These schools have more freedom over their finances, the curriculum they teach and teachers’ pay and conditions. These schools are funded directly by central government rather than by the local authority. We are proud to be part of EQUA Multi-Academy Trust. 

Achievement

Describes both attainment, i.e. the level achieved, and the progress you have made from a starting point.

APP - Assessing

Pupils' Progress

APP is a structured approach to periodically assessing maths, science, reading, writing and speaking and listening skills.

Attainment

The actual level attained and/or results.

CAMHS

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Catchment area

A defined geographical area from which a school takes its pupils

CPD

Continuing Professional Development – the training upon which staff embark to further their knowledge, skills and understanding.

DBS

Disclosure and Barring Service – a criminal record check which is required for anyone who teachers or supervises children

DfE – The Department

for Education

The government department which is responsible for education and children's services in England.

Differentiation

This is the way in teaching methods and the curriculum are adapted to meet individual learning needs of pupils.  Although it is often found in the context of learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, differentiation applies to all teaching contexts where learners have different needs and abilities.

Early Learning Goals

Early Learning Goals set out the learning and development skills most children should have achieved by the end of the Reception year.

EHC Plan

Educational, Health Care Plan – a document that states what support a child who has

special educational needs should be receiving.

EWO

Education Welfare Officer – an employee of the Local Authority who works with schools to help them meet their statutory obligations in terms of school attendance.

EYFS – Early Years

Foundation Stage

A framework for the care and education of children from birth to five years of age.

FSM

Free School Meals

HLTA

Higher Level Teaching Assistant – a teaching assistant who is further qualified to support the class teacher in undertaking specific roles such as teaching the whole class during PPA time or delivering whole class areas of learning such as Letters and Sounds.

ICT

Information and Communication Technology

Inclusion

Inclusion recognizes the importance of catering for different needs.  Inclusive principles highlight the importance of meeting individual children’s needs.

INSET

In Service Education and Training – training for staff which takes place during the school year.

KS1

Key Stage 1 – children from 5 – 7 years old (Years 1 and 2)

KS2

Key Stage 2 – children from 7 – 11 years old (Years 3 to 6)

LA

Local Authority

LAC

Looked After Children – children who are the responsibility of the Local Authority

MAT

Multi Academy Trust

MDSA

Midday Supervisory Assistant – our dinner ladies who supervise lunchtimes

MFL

Modern Foreign Languages

NQT

Newly Qualified Teacher. A teacher in their first year of teaching after qualifying (when they get additional support and supervision)

Ofsted

The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is an independent organisation, which reports directly to Parliament. Ofsted inspects and regulates services which care for children and young people and those providing education and skills for learners of all ages. Ofsted sets out to raise standards in British schools through regular inspections.

PAN

Published Admission Number – the maximum number of children the Local Authority will admit to each year group.

Pedagogy

The art of teaching.

Phonics

Phonics is a system of breaking down words into smaller components of sounds. Synthetic phonics involves breaking words down, then teaching children to blend these sounds together to form words.

Plenary

A part of the lesson where the teacher reviews what has been learnt, usually through questioning the pupils.

PP

Pupil  Premium  – this  is  additional  funding from  the government which  all schools receive for disadvantaged pupils. The aim of the funding is to ensure these pupils benefit from the same opportunities as all other children.

PPA

Planning, Preparation and Assessment Time – teachers are entitled to 10% of their weekly teaching time out of the classroom. During this time teachers will plan future lessons, mark children’s work, undertake small assessment tasks or work alongside a

colleague to target a specific area of learning.

PSHE

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

QTS

Qualified Teacher Status

SALT

Speech and Language Therapy

SATs

Standard Attainment Tests – National Curriculum Tests and Tasks which take place at the end of Key Stage 1 and at the end of Key Stage 2.

SEND

Special Educational Needs and Disability

SIA

School Improvement Advisor – an external education advisor whose role is to challenge and support the school in achieving the best outcomes for its pupils.

SIP

School Improvement Plan – this is a whole school plan, based on self-evaluation and data analysis, which identifies key areas and priorities for school improvement.

SLD

Severe Learning Difficulties

SLT

Senior Leadership Team

SMSC

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development

SPaG

Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Test

TA

Teaching Assistant

Teacher Assessment

This is the teachers’ judgement about the progress and attainment of a child. This judgement will be made based on evidence gathered over a period of time and from a range of pieces of work, together with test results. It is usually a more reliable judgement of a child’s attainment than a test result alone.