Jargon Buster

Glossary of common education and related terminology.

DfE - The Department for Education - They are responsible for education and children's services in England.

Early Years - Birth to five years.

CAMHS - Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service

DDA - Disability Discrimination Act

EP - Educational Psychology Service

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.

EYFS - Early Years Foundation Stage - A framework for care and education of children from birth to five years of age.

FSM - Free School Meals

ICT - Information and Communication Technology

LA - Local Authority

AIS – Additional Inclusion Support (support to enable a child to access their educational rights, if they have additional needs) – funded by the local authority.

Joined up - When services work together to plan what services people in the local area need.

Key Person - Someone who works with children and families to help them get the best early years education.

Local Offer - A document to say what services and support are available in local areas for disabled children, young people and families.

Occupational Therapist - A professional trained to give advice on equipment, adaptations and activities to support the learning/ social development of people with physical, emotional or behavioural difficulties.

Portage - Home-based educational support for pre-school children with special educational needs.

Statutory - The Law.

Transition - When a young person moves from pre-school to another setting or primarty school.

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.

PPA - Planning, Preparation and Assessment time

EYPP – Early Years Pupil Premium

PSED - Personal, Social, Emotional Development

SEND - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Provision - Support for pupils with additional needs.

SENCO - Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator

EHC Plan – Education and Health Care Plan. A document that will set out what support children with additional needs should get in Pre-school. This will replace a ‘statement’ and will follow the child or young person from the point of issue until 25 years of age, unless the young person no longer continues in education. In the new Plan, an “All About Me” fact sheet about the needs, wants, aspirations of the child will have to be included.