Cressing Primary School

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.

AfL

Assessment for Learning is the process of seeking and interpreting evidence for use by learners and their teachers to decide where the learners are in their learning, where they need to go and how best to get there.

ASD

Autistic spectrum disorder.

Attainment

The actual level attained and/or results.

Attainment targets

A general defined level of ability that a pupil is expected to achieve in every subject at each key stage in the National Curriculum.

Blending

To draw individual sounds together to pronounce a word, e.g. f-l-a-p, blended together, reads flap.

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.

EAL

English as an additional language.

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.

ECT

Early career teacher.

EHC Plan

Educational, Health Care Plan – a document that states what support a child who has special educational needs should be receiving.

EP

Educational psychologist.

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.

G & T

Gifted and Talented – Gifted are those with high ability in one or more academic subject and the talented are those with high ability in sport, music, visual or performing arts.

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.

IWB

Inter-active whiteboard.

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.

LSA

Learning support assistant.

LAC

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

MAT

Multi Academy Trust.

MDA

Midday Assistant – our dinner ladies who supervise lunchtimes.

MFL

Modern Foreign Languages.

MLD

Moderate learning difficulties.

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.

NC

National Curriculum.

NOR

Numbers on roll.

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.

RSE

Relationships & Sex Education.

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.

Transition

The movement of pupils from Key Stage to Key Stage or school to school and the procedures associated with it.

VLE

Virtual Learning Environment.