Jargon Explained

This page lists most of the terms that are used in government and specialist documentation, in terms of the education process.  Please contact us if something is not here.

Source Teachernet, used with kind permission.

ASD

Autistic Spectrum Disorder. This includes the milder form of ASD, Aspergers Syndrome through to full blown Autism.

Baseline Assessment

An assessment of your child's skills and abilities usually made by a teacher within the first seven weeks of starting primary school. It shows teachers what your child can do when starting school and helps them to plan lessons and measure progress. Areas covered include language and literacy, maths and personal and social development.

Behaviour Support Plan

A Statement which sets out local arrangements for schools and other service providers for the education of children with behavioural difficulties.

Catchment Area

Some admission authorities give priority to children who live in an area around the school.

DfES

Department for Education and Skills.

Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership

Plans education locally for children below compulsory school age, and childcare for children from 0 to 14 years. One Partnership for each local education authority area. Draws up a Plan each year which explains what local early education and childcare services will be provided and includes a list of all local providers of free early education.

Early Years Development and Childcare Plan

A local plan which sets out how early education and childcare services will be provided.

Family Literacy and Family Numeracy Courses

Offered by most Local Education Authorities, these courses let you and your child learn skills together, and separately, in small courses run in co-operation with local schools.

Home-School Agreements

All state schools are required to have written home-school agreements, drawn up in consultation in parents. They are non-binding statements explaining the school's aims and values, the responsibilities of both school and parents, and what the school expects of its pupils. Parents will be invited to sign a parental declaration, indicating that they understand and accept the contents of the agreement.

IEP

Individual Education Programme, these programmes are drawn up by the class teacher and/or special needs co-ordinator within a school to provide individual support for children deemed to have needs over and above that of other children within the class either through learning difficulties or because they are considered to be exceptionally bright or gifted children.

KS - Key Stage

A child's progress through school is measured in Key Stages. Each Key Stage covers a number of school years. Starting at Key Stage 1 and finishing at Key Stage 4.

• Key Stage One Infant School (3-7 years).
• Key Stage Two Junior School (7-11 years).
• Key Stage Three Lower Secondary School (12-13 years).
• Key Stage Four Upper Secondary School (14-16 years).

LEA - Local Education Authority

The term "local education authority" (or LEA) describes a type of council which has responsibility for providing education to pupils of school age in its area. Their overall education remit also includes early years, the youth service and adult education. An LEA is responsible for promoting high standards of education. It is responsible for contributing to the spiritual, moral, mental and physical development of the community by ensuring that efficient primary and secondary education is provided and ensuring that there are enough primary and secondary places with adequate facilities to meet the needs of pupils living in the area.

League Tables

See Performance Tables.

Literacy Hour

An hour of learning to read and write in school, broken down into various activities.

National Curriculum

Covers what pupils should be taught in state maintained schools. The National Curriculum provides a balanced education for your child covering 11 subjects overall, and is divided into four Key Stages according to age.

National Numeracy Strategy

A government initiative which aims to raise standards of numeracy for all children in infant, primary and junior schools. It tries to involve parents as much as possible.

Nursery Classes in State Primary Schools

These take children from the age of three or four and are open during school term time. They usually offer five half-day sessions a week. There must be one adult for every 13 children and staff are qualified teachers and assistants.

Performance Tables

The DfES publishes comparative secondary and 16-18 performance tables each year. The tables report achievements in public examinations and vocational qualifications in secondary schools and FE sector colleges. Primary school performance tables are published by local education authorities and report the achievements of pupils at the end of Key Stage 2.

Pre-school Playgroups

These generally take children between the ages of three and five and most offer half-day sessions. Usually non-profit making and managed by volunteers and parents. There must be at least one adult for every eight children and at least half of the adults must be qualified leaders or assistants.

Private Nursery Schools

These take children between the ages of two and five and offer half or full-day sessions and some stay open in the school holidays. There must be at least one adult for every 13 children and at least half of the staff must be qualified teachers.

Pupils with statements of special educational needs (SEN)

These statements describe any learning difficulties which pupils have, and specify the extra help or equipment they need. Around 3% of school pupils nationally have statements. Some pupils with special educational needs are academically able. But schools face challenges in achieving Level 4 at Key Stage 2 for many pupils with SEN. The information on the numbers of pupils with SEN in each school helps you take this into account when looking at the school's results.

Pupils without statements

These are other pupils registered as having special educational needs but whose schools meet the pupils' needs without statements. Some pupils with special educational needs are academically able. But schools face challenges in achieving Level 4 at Key Stage 2 for many pupils with SEN. The information on the numbers of pupils with SEN in each school helps you take this into account when looking at the school's results.

Reception Classes in State Primary Schools

These take children at four and five, some starting children off with half-day sessions. There must be at least one adult for every 13 children. Staff are qualified teachers and assistants.

SEN - Special Educational Needs

This denotes any child that has been identified as having some form of educational need either as a result of learning difficulty or if they are deemed as particularly bright or gifted. These children receive additional support either from within the school or outside agencies. Consult the DfES booklet 'SEN: A Guide for Parents' if you think your child may have special educational needs.

SENCO

Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator

SLD

Severe Learning Difficulties.

Special Schools

State schools in England and Wales which are provided by LEAs for certain children with special educational needs.

State Nursery Schools

These take children from the age of three or four and are open during school term time and normally offer five half-day sessions a week. There must be at least one adult for every 13 children. Staff are qualified teachers and assistants.

State Schools

Otherwise known as publicly funded schools and attended by over 90 per cent of pupils. Parents do not pay any fees. Scottish state schools are maintained and controlled by the Local Education Authority.