Word or Acronym

Definition

A

Abuse

A deliberate act of ill-treatment that can harm or is likely to cause harm to a child's safety, well-being and development.  If you are concerned about a child, contact the First Response team.

Academies

Academies are publicly funded independent schools set up and run by sponsors, who provide up to 20% of the capital costs for each Academy, with the Government providing the balance and funding the recurrent costs. Academies will provide free education to secondary age pupils of all abilities, including provision for children with special educational needs and have state-of-the-art facilities, through which they will offer a broad and balanced curriculum including a specialism.

Accommodated

Where a child is being cared for by Social Services with the agreement of parents.

Accommodation Panel

Panel of Senior Managers who scrutinise all requests for children and young people (10 years plus) to be accommodated.

ACL

Adult and Community Learning.  Find out more about ACL.

ACPC (Area Child Protection Committee)

Multi-agency group which develops and monitors child protection procedures/policy.

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

ABI is an impairment of brain function. Common causes are brain lesions caused by such traumas as car accidents, falls, assaults or sports injuries. Brain lesions that cause ABI can also be due to tumours, bleeding and infections of the brain or to poisoning from alcohol, drugs or through exposure to toxic chemicals.

ACRE

Assessing Cemetery Records

ADEO

Assistant District Education Officer

ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - a medical diagnosis related to the child's behaviour and attention span which can affect their ability to concentrate and learn.

Admissions Authority

Local Education Authorities (LEA) are admissions authorities with responsibility for admissions to community and voluntary controlled schools. Schools that handle their own pupil applications are also admissions authorities. They send out information about the school and pupil application forms, giving a deadline for receipt. Find out more about the Staffordshire Admissions Service.

AFL

Assessment for Learning

Agency

An organisation in the statutory or voluntary sector where staff, paid and unpaid, work with or have access to children and/or families.

Agreed Syllabus

A syllabus of religious education that is not specific to one religion adopted by an LEA for teaching in community and controlled schools. The course is developed by the SACRE .

Aids and Adaptations

Equipment/assistive technology and alterations to the home to help people with disabilities to retain their independence within the community.

Aimhigher

Aimhigher is a programme designed to increase the numbers of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who apply for and enter higher education. For more details visit the AimHigher West Midlands web site.

AMP

Asset Management Plan

Annual Review

The Statutory yearly review of a statement. A meeting where the people involved in the education of a child with a statement of Special Educational Needs talk about whether or not these needs are being met. This meeting might decide that the child still needs the support he or she is getting, that they are making progress and so need less support or that they are not making progress and it will suggest new programmes. By law a meeting must be held each year.

Annual Stock take

Stock take of progress on pupil attainment targets in collaboration with the DFES.

APA

Annual Performance Assessment

APEX

Extended supported work experience placements for students within learning difficulties in Year 10/11).

APEX

Used for quality standards, stands for Achieving Professional Excellence.

Appraisal

The process of assessing how well a member of staff is carrying out his or her job.

Aspergers Syndrome

Aspergers syndrome is a type of autism. People who suffer from Aspergers Syndrome may have difficulty in communicating, difficulty in social relationships and a lack of understanding of how other people feel. Most people who have Aspergers Syndrome don't have the severe learning difficulties which are often associated with autism.

Assessment and Action Records

A national framework designed to assist in assessing the child's developmental needs in an age appropriate manner - a planning and review framework to be used with looked-after-children.

Assessment Framework

A national framework to systematically analyse, understand and record what is happening to children and young people within their families and the wider community in which they live. It is based on three domains:

• Child's Developmental Needs
• Family and Environmental Factor
• Parenting Capacity

Assessment Officer

An officer of the County Council Education Service who is responsible for making sure that a statutory assessment of a child's needs is carried out within the timescales set down in law.

Associate Member

A person who is appointed by the governing body as a member of a committee established by it, but who is not a governor.

AST

The role of Advanced Skills Teacher was devised to reward excellent teachers who wished to remain in the classroom and spend the equivalent of one day a week supporting other teachers in developing their skills and experience through the sharing of best practice ideas and approaches.  Find out more about ASTs in Staffordshire. 

ATL

See under Professional Associations

Attainment Targets

The knowledge, skills and understanding which pupils of differing ability and maturity are expected to have by the end of each Key Stage of the National Curriculum, i.e. assessed at ages 7, 11, 14 and 16.

Audit Commission

Independent body set up by Government to monitor the use of funds by local authorities and certain other bodies.

Autism

Autism is a lifelong developmental disorder. It affects how a person communicates with and relates to the people around them. People with autism are unable to relate to others in a meaningful way. Their ability to develop friendships is impaired as is their capacity to understand other people's feelings. Unlike Aspergers Syndrome many people with autism have accompanying learning difficulties. Find out about the Autism Outreach Programme.

Back to the top

B

Ballot

A method of voting, normally secret.

Baseline Assessment

An assessment of a child's skills and abilities usually made by a teacher in the first weeks of starting school to help them plan lessons and measure progress. Areas covered include language, reading, maths and social skills.

BDA

British Dyslexia Association.  Visit the BDA web site.

Beacon Schools

Beacon schools are schools which have been identified as amongst the best performing in the country and represent examples of successful best practices which are to be brought to the attention of the rest of the education service with a view to spreading that effective practice to others. They are expected to work in partnership with other schools to pass on their particular areas of expertise and so help others to reach the same high standards as themselves.

BECTA

British Educational Communications and Technology Agency. Visit the BECTA web site.

Behaviour Support Plan

A statement that sets out local arrangements for schools and other service providers for the education of children with behavioural difficulties.  Read more about Behaviour Support.

Better Metrics

A project supported by the NHS 'top team' (Strategic Health Authority Chief Executives and the NHS Chief Executive, Sir Nigel Crisp), Better Metrics addresses the concern that clinicians and practitioners in the NHS and related agencies need to engage with targets and other indicators used to assess performance in the NHS. The project aims to develop more clinically relevant and meaningful ways of assessing performance. The new measures are termed 'metrics' to avoid confusion with targets, indicators and benchmarks - 'metrics' can be used for any of these purposes. The project has also produced criteria for what makes a 'good metric' to help local services develop their own metrics. Find out more about Better Metrics.

BeTogether

A Staffordshire district partnership for progressing young people into work. Visit the BeTogether web site.

BIP

Behaviour Improvement Programme. Find out more about the BIP on the DCFS web site. 

BME

Black Minority Ethnic

Budget Share

The amount of money delegated to each school, which has been calculated in accordance with the Local Management of Schools Formula and scheme of delegation.

BLIS

Baseline Implementation Survey

BLP

Building Learning Power.  Find out more on the BLP web site.

Business Relationship Manager

Work on behalf of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) to support local areas in planning and implementing their local change programmes. They work with DfES strategic education advisers and the 10 regional change advisers who have been appointed jointly by the DfES and the Department of Health.

BV

Best Value

BVPI

Best Value Performance Indicator.  Read more about BVPIs.

Back to the top

C

CAF

Common Assessment Framework.  Find out more.

CAFCASS

C&LL

Children & Lifelong Learning

CAMHS

Capital Expenditure

Spending on building projects and large items of equipment.

Care Leaver

Term used to refer to those young people 16+ who are due to leave the care of the Authority e.g. residential care or care order being terminated as they reach 18.  Are you a Care Leaver? 

Care Order

Given by the court to protect a child if it is satisfied the child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm if he or she were not in the care of the Local Authority.

Care Pathway

The different stages that patients who are living with the consequences of a medical condition pass through, from the time they first suspect something might be wrong to the end of their life.

Care Plan

For all looked-after-children - is used to decide how a child should be looked after, for how long and what type of placement is required to best meet his/her needs.

Care Plan (Court)

A key document submitted by the Local Authority to the Court in 'care proceedings' stating what the Local Authority proposes to do should the Court grant the care order. Also refers more generally to the on-going 'care plan' for a 'looked-after-child' and which is reviewed every six months.

Carer

Person who cares for the child or young person, this could be a parent/parents. The SEN Code of Practice (see entry Code of Practice) defines a carer as a person nominated by a Local Authority to care for a child for whom the Social Services Department has Parental Responsibility.

CARS

Children's Advice and Representation Service

Casting Vote

An additional vote to be used by the chair of governors if an equal number of votes are cast for and against a motion.

Catchment Area

A geographical area from which the LEA proposes a school will draw its pupils. Find out what schools are in your catchment area by using the 'Where's My Nearest? ' facility.

CDRPs

Crime Disorder Reduction Partnerships.  Find out more on the CDRPs web site. 

CEG Software

Careers Education Guidance software

Change for Children

Overall national strategy for children

Child

Person under the age of eighteen; the term 'young person' is interchangeable but 'child' is the term defined in law.

Child Health Promotion Programme

The Child Health Promotion Programme is delivered by multi-agency child, young person and family support services, and addresses the needs of children from pre-conception through to transition to adulthood. It offers a structure for the provision of essential activities to promote the health and development of children.

Child Protection Plan

A 'care plan' developed for each child placed on the child protection register focusing on what needs to be done to ensure that the child is protected and the risk factors are reduced.

Child Protection Register

A central record of all children being given support by inter-agency planning who are considered to be at risk of abuse or neglect. The register is maintained by Social Services under the responsibilities of a custodian.

Children's Centres

Locally based service providing all services for children e.g. childcare, education, health services.  Find out more about Children's Centres in Staffordshire. 

Children's Commissioner

Independent person to represent and champion the interests of children. Find out more about the Children's Commissioner for Staffordshire.

Children's Fund

Provides a responsive approach to developing services that address the difficulties faced by some children and their families. Visit the Staffordshire Children's Fund web site.  

Children's Information Service

A service to keep parents and carers well informed about the range of childcare facilities in Staffordshire.  The Children's Information Service is now called Parent Direct.  Visit the Family Information web site for more information.

Children in Need

The child is defined by Children Act as being in need if:

a)      He/she is unlikely to achieve or maintain, or have the opportunity of achieving, a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision for him/her of services.

b)      His/her health or development is likely to be significantly impaired, or further impaired without the provision for him/her of such services.

c)      He/she is disabled.

Children's National Framework NSF

The national framework supports the joining up of services so that every child can achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes. The ten key elements of the national framework are:

1.      The duty to cooperate to promote the well-being of children and young people

2.      The duty to make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people

3.      The development of statutory local safeguarding children boards (LSCBs) to replace non-statutory area child protection committees (ACPCs)

4.      The appointment of local directors of children services

5.      The National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services

6.      The Outcomes Framework

7.      The development of an integrated inspection framework

8.      The appointment of a Children's Commissioner

9.      The development of a Common Assessment Framework

10.  Workforce reform to help develop skills and ensure staffing levels

Children's Service

Children's Services means all services provided to achieve the five outcomes for children and young people in Staffordshire - regardless of the provider. Achieving a coherent Children's Service is the aim and we are the lead Authority charged with ensuring coordination of planning and delivery. This needs to be distinguished from the specific services delivered for children and young people by or on behalf of the County Council and from the Children and Lifelong Learning Directorate which delivers, commissions and monitors specific services for children.

Children's Trust

Children's trusts bring together all services for children and young people in an area, underpinned by the Children Act 2004 duty to cooperate, to focus on improving outcomes for all children and young people. For more information visit www.staffordshirechildrenstrust.org.uk

Children & Young People's Plan

A single children and young people's plan that local authorities were required to have in place by April 2006. The Plan will cover all the services available to children in Staffordshire. View the current Children and Young People's Plan.

Circular

Policy statement issued by a government department, which does not have the status of law, but which gives guidance on interpretation and implementation of the law.

CISS

Client Information Social Services

City Learning Centres

City Learning Centres are a key element of the Excellence in Cities programme. They are located in the main on secondary school sites and provide state of the art ICT-based learning opportunities for pupils at a network of local schools and for the wider community.

City Technology College (CTC)

Independent all ability non fee paying schools for pupils aged 11-18. There are 14 CTCs and one CCTA - City College for the Technology of the Arts, in urban areas across England. CTCs teach the national curriculum to pre 16 year olds with a focus on Science, Mathematics and Technology. They offer a wide range of vocational qualifications and part of their role is to innovate in the development, management and delivery of the curriculum.

CJB

Criminal Justice Bureau

CL

Consultant Leaders

Clerk to the Governing Body

A person appointed to carry out administrative duties for the governing body such as preparing an agenda, minuting meetings and dealing with correspondence. Advises the governing body on legal and procedural matters.

CLLD

Children and Lifelong Learning Directorate

Club 180

A Connexions initiative in partnership with the Leaving Care Team to help 19-year-old care leavers into education, employment or training.

Code of Practice

In full this is the SEN Code of Practice but will often be referred to as the Code of Practice or Code. This is a set of guidelines published by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) which gives practical guidance on how to identify and assess children who may have special educational needs.  View the Code of Practice.

Cognition (Cognitive ability)

The ability to think, remember and understand.

Collaboration

Where 2 or more governing bodies may arrange for any of their functions to be discharged jointly, by holding joint meetings and/or having joint committees.

Common Assessment Framework for Children and Young People (CAF)

The CAF is a nationally standardised approach to help practitioners in any agency assess and decide how to meet the unmet needs of a child. As part of a wider programme of work to provide more integrated services to families, the CAF will support earlier intervention, improve multi-agency working, and reduce bureaucracy for families, reducing the number of inappropriate inter-agency referrals, separate assessments and different agencies working with the child. Where the child has urgent or complex needs, requiring specialist assessment and intervention, the common assessment information will feed into the specialist assessment process. Find out more about CAF.

Community Governor

A person appointed as a governor, who lives or works in the community served by the school or, in the opinion of the governing body, a person who is committed to the good government and success of the school.

Community Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation in the person's own home or local community.

Community Safety Partnership

District partnership including police, local businesses, the borough and County Council representatives.  Read more about Community Safety Partnerships. 

Complication

Problem resulting from an illness or injury.

Connexions Service

A service aimed at helping 13 to 19 year olds prepare for the move from school/education to work and adult life. Visit the Connexions Staffordshire web site.

Community School

A state school in England and Wales which is wholly owned and maintained by the LEA.

Community Special School

A state school in England and Wales which is wholly owned and maintained by the LEA providing for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

Connexions

Consult8

Software programme / questionnaire to identify the needs of looked after children.

Contact

Between a child and another person includes visits, stays, outings and communication by letter and telephone. Under Section 34 of the Act the Local Authority has a duty to allow a child in care reasonable contact with a number of persons, including the child's parents.

Contingency Fund

Money set aside within a school budget to meet unexpected demands.

Continuing Education

Education for young people and adults beyond statutory school age, i.e. beyond 16 years.  Find out about Adult and Community Learning.

Contracture

Deformity leading to restricted range of movement in a joint due to shortening of soft issues such as muscles or tendons.

Core Assessment

An in-depth assessment involving other agencies or independent professionals who will either provide information they hold about the child or parent, or contribute specialist knowledge or advice to Social Services or undertake specialist assessments. Time scale for completion is 35 working days.

Core Curriculum

English, Mathematics and a Science - those subjects which must be studied by all pupils.  Find out more about curriculum subjects on the Staffordshire Learning Net.

Core Group

A small inter-agency sub-group of the child protection conference members, who meet more frequently with the family to develop, implement and monitor the child protection plan and reports back to the child protection reviews.

Corporate Democracy Group

A County Council group which leads cross cutting initiatives in relation to democracy and decision making, including the involvement of young people. The group is currently exploring the use of information technology to facilitate young people's involvement with the County Council.

Corporate Parents

A term coined by Frank Dobson, when he was Secretary of State for Health and launched the Government's Quality Protects Initiative. It refers to the responsibilities held by every Council's - with Social Services Responsibilities - Elected Members in respect of the Council's looked-after-children.

CP (Child Protection)

Measures taken to reduce risks, report concerns and respond appropriately to any allegations, occurrences or suspicions including investigations.

CPD

Continuing Professional Development

CPR

Child Protection Register

CPS

County Psychological Service. All members of the CPS are qualified Educational Psychologists who are not only involved in the Statutory Assessment process but are also able to provide advice and support on how to address a child's needs.  Find out about the Special Educational Needs (SEN) service.

CRB

CRM

Customer Relationship Management

CSA

Children's Services Authority

CSCI

CSMT

Children's Service Management Team - A management group consisting of Senior Managers in Social Services & Children and Family Services.

CSSRs

Councils with Social Services Responsibilities

CSW

A Communication Support Worker for sensory impaired pupils.

CTC

City Technology Colleges.  Read more about CTCs on the DfES standards web site. 

Current Expenditure

Spending on the day to day running of schools, including staff costs, heating and lighting, consumables etc, sometimes also called recurrent expenditure.

Customer First programme

The key aim of this programme will be to introduce new and different ways of working which make us more accessible to customers and identifying ways to re-direct resources into front-line services.

CYPP

Children and Young People's Plan.  View the current CYPP on the Staffordshire Children's Trust web site. 

CYPSP

Children & Young People's Strategic Partnership

Back to the top

D

DAT

Drug Action Team.  Find out more about DATs.

DCD (Dyspraxia)

DCD stands for Developmental Co-ordination Disorder, which is a type of Dyspraxia. It affects the way a person's ability to plan and carry out physical tasks. It is sometimes called 'Clumsy Child' Syndrome.

DCMS

DDA

Disability Discrimination Act.  View the DDA 1995.

D of E

Duke of Edinburgh.  Visit the Duke of Edinburgh Award web site. 

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Surgical procedure used to treat patients with a variety of disabling neurological symptoms that cannot be adequately controlled with medications.

Delegation

A process where one body or person gives another body or person authority to take decisions on a particular matter.

Delegation of Powers

Where power and authority is exercised by a person or group on behalf of another person or group, e.g. the chair is delegated the power to act on behalf of the governing body on urgent or minor matters arising between meetings.

Department for Education and Skills (DfES)

Designated Teacher

Advocate who liaises with other services on behalf of young people in care.

DEO

District Education Officer

DfES

DH

Department of Health.  View the official Department of Health web site. 

DI

District Inspector

Diocese

The area over which a bishop has jurisdiction.

DIP

Directorate Improvement Plan.  View Staffordshire County Council's DIPs.

Direct Payment

An option of offering cash payments to families to purchase their own care package as an alternative to traditional services provided by or commissioned by Social Services. Find out more about Direct Payments. 

Disabled

A child is disabled if 'he/she is blind, deaf or dumb or suffers from a mental disorder of any kind or is substantially and permanently handicapped by illness, injury or congenital deformity or such other disability as may be prescribed" (from National Assistance Act 1948).

Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG)

Grants available from local councils designed to make the homes of people with disabilities more accessible.

Disagreement Arrangements

Arrangements to help prevent or resolve disagreements between parents of children who have Special Educational Needs and the LEA or school.

Disapplication

Term used where parts of the National Curriculum requirements are lifted or modified in relation to a pupil in specified cases or circumstances.

Discretionary Exceptions

These are budgets managed by the LEA so that support services can be provided for the schools e.g. home to school transport.

Disinhibition

A loss of inhibition that some people experience due to damage to the brain.

DMSS

DMT

DMYP

Deputy Member of Youth Parliament.  Find out more about Youth Parliament. 

Domiciliary Care

Practical support and personal care services to help people to continue to live in their own homes.

Drug Action Team

Local partnerships charged with responsibility for delivering the National Drug Strategy at a local level, with representatives from the local authority (education, social services, and housing) health, probation, the prison service and the voluntary sector. The DATs ensure that the work of local agencies is brought together effectively and that cross-agency projects are co-coordinated successfully. DATs take strategic decisions on expenditure and service delivery within four aims of the National Drugs Strategy; treatment, young people, communities and supply. Their work involves:

• Commissioning services, including supporting structures
• Monitoring and reporting on performance 
• Communicating plans, activities and performance to stakeholders

Find out more about DATs.

DSIMs

District Strategic Improvement Managers

DVD (Dyspraxia)                        

Dyscalculia

Dyslexia

A disorder affecting a person's ability to process written language. Dyslexia is sometimes referred to as a Specific Learning Difficulty or SpLD.  Find out more on the British Dyslexia Association web site.

Back to the top

E

EAL

English as an Additional Language

Early Implementers

Staffordshire Children's Trust Early Implementation areas

Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership

Plans education locally for children below compulsory school age, and childcare for children from 0 - 14 years. One Partnership in each LEA 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. Find out more about Early Years & Childcare in Staffordshire.

Early Years Forums

To identify and meet needs of special needs children.

EBSD

Emotional, Behavioural and Social Difficulties

ECM

Eco-Schools

Education Improvement Advisor/Officer

An Education Improvement Officer supports the work of an education improvement partnership which works to local need and the following framework of objectives:

1. School improvement: raising attainment and improving behaviour and attendance in all schools within the partnership;
2. Personalisation of provision for children and young people;
3. Delivering on the outcomes of Every Child Matters in all schools and through childcare and extended services.

EDP

Education Development Plan.  Find out more about EDPs on the TeacherNet web site.  

Education Action Zones

EAZs were set up to raise standards, share best practice and develop local relationships. For more details see Zones Explained at http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/eaz/zones_explained/ 

Educational Psychologist

Expert who works with children who have behavioural or learning difficulties.

EHE

Elective Home Education. Parents provide an appropriate full time education for their child that is suitable to their age, ability and aptitude, and to any special educational needs, other than in school.  Find out more about Elective Home Education in Staffordshire. 

EJITU

Education Joint Information Technology Unit.  EJITU is now known as Staffordshire Learning Technologies.  Visit the SLT web site. 

Electronic Assistive Technology

Covers electronic products designed to increase the independence of people with disabilities and older people.  Examples include telecare alarms, communication aids and environmental controls.

Eligibility Criteria

The criteria set by local authorities to determine who is in need and may receive services under the National Health Service and Community Care Act.

EMAG

Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant

EMAU

Ethnic Minority Achievement Unit.  Find out more about the Staffordshire EMAU.  

ENGAGE

ENGAGE is an interagency collaboration using Local Authority CAMHS Grant monies. Established in 2003 in response to an initiative by the Department of Health, it is designed to improve the access of young offenders aged between 10 and 18 years to mental health services.

Environmental Interventions

Changes to living, work and leisure environments to reduce possible disabling effects of these environments. These can range from structural alterations to buildings to providing aids that control devices (e.g. doors, TVs) remotely,

EP

This stands for Educational Psychologist. EP's are employed by Local Education Authorities to help in the assessment of children's needs and to advise schools and parents about how to meet those needs. There are also independent Educational Psychologists who provide a similar service on a business basis.

EPD

Ethnic Partnership Division

Epilepsy

EPS

Education Psychology Service

ERA

Education Research & Analysis

ESCR

Electronic Social Care Record

ESD

Education for Sustainable Development.  Visit the ESD pages on the Staffordshire Leanring Net (SLN).

ETE

Education Training and Employment

Ethics

A code of behaviour agreed to be correct, especially that of a particular group, profession or individual.

EWO

This stands for Education Welfare Officer. EWO's are officers of the County Council Education Service. They work with families and schools when there is a problem with attendance or a concern about the welfare of a child at school.

EWS

This stands for the Education Welfare Service. This is the part of the County Council Education Service that EWO's work for. Visit the EWS web site.

Excellence in Cities

Excellence in Cities (EiC) is a targeted programme to bring additional resources to schools in urban areas. It both increases the diversity of provision for pupils and encourages schools to co-operate to raise standards. There are 6 key strands to the EiC programme: Learning Mentors; Learning Support Units; City Learning Centres; Beacon and Specialist schools; EiC Action Zones; and Gifted and Talented.  Find out more about EiC on the DFeS Standards site. 

Exclusion

Banning a pupil from school by the head teacher, temporarily or permanently, on disciplinary grounds.

Ex-officio Governor

Someone who is automatically a governor/able to attend meetings by virtue of the office they hold e.g. head teacher, parish priest, vicar i.e. the position of governor comes with the job.

Expert Patient Programme

Series of programmes dedicated to developing people's confidence and motivation to use their own skills and knowledge to manage their condition.

Extended School

A school that recognises that it cannot work alone in helping children and young people to achieve their potential, and therefore decided to work in partnership with other agencies that have an interest in the outcomes for children and young people, and with the local community. In doing so, it aims to help meet not only the school's objectives but also to share in helping to meet the wider needs of children, young people, families and the wider community.

EY

Early Years.  View the Childcare and Early Years pages.

EYDCP

Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership Plan

EYCU

Back to the top

F

Failing School

A school found by an Ofsted inspection team to be failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education.

Fair Funding

The term that describes the system of funding for schools introduced in April 1999 which sets the framework for the financial relationship between schools and the LEAs.

Family Conference

Meetings convened where cases are referred to the Family Support team and there is a serious risk of a young person being accommodated. A Family Conference will explore the dynamics of the situation and attempt to identify resolutions.

Family Support Teams

There are 4 Family Support Teams based on Area Managers responsibilities. The primary aim of these teams is to reduce the number of children to become looked after. Following family conference, family support workers from these teams will undertake time-limited (usually up to six weeks) work with the families.

Fast Tomato

An interactive website for learners aged 13-19 years, which aims to promote better career planning and future learning choices by students. It also provides teachers and advisors with a useful management tool to better oversee students' career development needs. Staffordshire is currently piloting the use of the website on a two-year trial from September 2004 to July 2006. The website, www.fasttomato.co.uk, is managed by a private company, the Morrisby Organisation.

Federation of Governing Bodies

The coming together under one governing body of not more than 5 maintained schools.

FE

Further Education

FFT

Fischer Family Trust

Feeder School

A school that transfers pupils to another school, e.g. a primary school will 'feed' a secondary school. Sometimes referred to as a 'partner' school.

Formula Funding

The method by which funds for school budgets are calculated. The most important factor is the number of pupils.

Foundation Governor

A person appointed to be a member of a school's governing body, otherwise than by the LEA, to ensure that the school preserves its particular religious character or that it is conducted in accordance with the terms of a trust deed (or, if a school has neither religious character nor a trust deed, is appointed as a foundation governor).

Foundation School

A type of state school introduced on 1.9.1999 by the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, which has more freedom than community schools to manage their school and decide on their won admissions. At foundation schools the governing body is the employer and the admissions authority. The school's land and buildings are either owned by the governing body or by a charitable foundation - funding comes from the local education authority (LEA) which also pays for any building work.

Foundation Special School

A type of state school introduced on 1.9.1999 by the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, which has more freedom than community schools to manage their school and decide on their own admissions. At foundation schools the governing body is the employer and the admissions authority. The school's land and buildings are either owned by the governing body or by a charitable foundation - funding comes from the local education Authority (LEA) which also pays for any building work. It differs from a foundation school, in that it caters for children with Special Educational Needs.

Foundation Stage

The first part of a child's formal education which, for many children, starts when they are 3 years old. This stage continues until the end of the reception year in school and prepares children for the start of Year 1.

Formula Funding

The method by which funds for school budgets are calculated. The most important factor is the number of pupils.

Fresh Start

A school is given a 'Fresh Start' when it is closed and reopened on the same site. Schools eligible for Fresh Start must be in special measures, serious weaknesses, subject to a formal LEA warning or (for secondary) have less than 15% of their pupils achieving 5 A*-C at GCSE/GNVQ level. The DfES provides Fresh Start schools with additional revenue and where applicable, capital funding as part of a support programme.

FSM

Free School Meals. Find out more about Free School Meals in Staffordshire. 

FSP

Foundation Stage Profile

FST

Family Support Team.  Find out more about FSTs in Staffordshire.

FSW

Family Support Worker - social care workers who undertake a range of direct work with children and families under the guidance and supervision of social workers. Find out more about FSWs in Staffordshire.

FTE (Full time Equivalent)

Part-time staff or pupils may be counted as a fraction of a full-time employee or pupil, e.g. 40 nursery pupils admitted for half days only = 20 FTE.

Functional Restrictions

Limitations on an individual's ability to carry out everyday activities.

Back to the top

G

GCSE

General Teaching Council (GTC)

Generalist

A doctor or clinician who provides care for a range of general conditions, as opposed to a specialist who cares for specific conditions. GPwSI: 'General practitioners with a special interest' who have particular training in a specific field of medical practice. Could apply equally to a range of professionals more generally and is increasingly referred to as 'practitioners with a special interest' (PwSI).

GERI & CEG Survey

Gender Equality and Race Inclusion to promote equality and diversity, and tackle gender and ethnic stereotypes. Careers Education Guidance.

GNVQ

Golden Thread

The encouragement of County Council Chief Executive, Nigel Pursey, to senior managers to relay important information to all staff, via established lines of communications.

Governors

• Co-opted - this category is co-opted by the other appointed and elected governors. It is intended that they will represent a wide variety of interests, bringing different skills and expertise to the governing body.
• Foundation - these governors are appointed by the foundation or trust of a voluntary school and have a particular responsibility to see that the school is run in accordance with the beliefs of the foundation organisation
• Head teacher - the head is a member of the governing body unless he or she chooses otherwise. In either case, the head has the right to attend all meetings of the governing body.
•  Local Education Authority - LEA governors are appointed by the Education Committee of the local council. Minor
• Authority - Minor Authority governors are appointed by the relevant authority i.e. district, borough or parish council.
• Parent - these governors are elected by the parents of the school. They are not delegates and do not have to vote as instructed by parents.
• Teacher - they are elected by, and from among, the teachers at the school.

GovernorLine

GovernorLine is the professional helpline offering email and telephone support across all aspects of school life, to school governors, clerks and individuals involved directly in school governance in England. www.governorline.info Telephone freephone 08000 722 181.

GovernorNet

A website providing up to date information on all aspects of school governance. www.governornet.co.uk 

GP

General Practitioner

Graduated Response

A way of working with children who have Special Educational Needs (SEN). A graduated response means that a school will, at first, try to support a child themselves. However after working with the child for some time they may feel that they need outside advice to help the child properly (see also School Action and School Action Plus).

A primary or secondary school previously financed through the Funding Agency for Schools (FAS) after parents had voted to opt out of the LEA control.

Group Education Plan

A plan for a group of children in the same group, class or subject lesson. This will set out targets for the children to achieve and say how they are going to reach them (see also IEPs).

Back to the top

H

HE

Higher Education

Health Act Flexibilities

Aim to improve services by enabling greater flexibility in the pooling of resources and the commissioning and provision of services between the health service and local authorities.

Healthy Care Programme

Programme for looked after children when leaving care.

HEFCE

Higher Education Funding Council for England.  Visit the HEFCE web site.

HI

This stands for Hearing Impaired.  People who are hearing  impaired have some difficulty hearing.  His might be relatively mild or may mean that the person cannot hear at all.

HIP

Head-teacher Induction Programme

HLTA

Higher Level Teaching Assistant.  Find out about HLTA standards. 

HMCI

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools

HMI

Her Majesty's Inspectors (all references in this Guidance to HMI include Additional Inspectors, who are given powers under section 2 of Schedule 1, School Inspections Act 1996). HMI will carry out monitoring visits once the school has been found to need special measures or has serious weaknesses

Holistic

Holistic medicine is a system of health care, which fosters a co-operative relationship among all those involved and emphasises the need to look at the person as a whole.

Home School Agreement

All state schools are required to have written home-school agreements, drawn up in consultation with 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.

Home Tuition

Teaching provided by the LEA at home for children unable to attend school.

Home Ventilatory Support

Equipment provided in the home setting to help with breathing difficulties. In most instances this is non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), i.e. the person does not have a tracheostomy and support is provided via a mask for periods throughout the day. In rare cases the individual may have a tracheostomy and need 24-hour support on a ventilator.

Hospice

An institution that provides a centralised programme of palliative and supportive services to people at the end of their life and their families, in the form of physical, psychological, social and spiritual care. Hospice services are provided by an interdisciplinary team of professional and volunteers who are available at home and in specialised inpatient settings.

HR

Human Resources

H&S

Health & Safety

HSE - Heath & Safety Executive

HR

Human Resources

Back to the top

I

IAG

Information and Adult Guidance. 

ICS

Integrated Children's System - a Department of Health (now DfES) initiative to develop a standardised system of children's records which can be accessed via computer and form the basis of routine statistical data returns, local management information and contribute towards the development of electronic social care records by 2005/06. Find out more on the Every Child Matters web site.

ICT

Information and Communication Technology

IDEA

IEP

This stands for Individual Education Plan. This is a document that sets out what a child needs to achieve and how he or she will be helped to do so (see also Group Education Plan).

IIP

Inclusion

Allowing children to become involved in all areas of the life of their local school.

Identifying, understanding and breaking down barriers to participation and involvement.

Independent Parental Supporter

A person who supports the parents of children with SEN. This support might be as someone to talk to who can explain what should be happening to help the pupil or they might offer more direct support by going with parents to meetings (see also Parent Partnership Service).

Independent School

Any school which provides full time education for 5 or more pupils of compulsory school age, which is not maintained by an LEA or a non-maintained special school. As these are schools which are not funded by the state, they obtain most of their finances from fees paid by parents and income from investments. Some of the larger independent schools are know as public schools, while most boarding schools are independent. Further information is available from the ISCiS -Independent Schools Council Information Service.

Information Commissioner

Information Sharing and Assessment Strategy previously IRT

Initial Assessment

A brief assessment of a child referred to Social Services with a request for services to be provided. Designed to determine whether a child is in need, the nature of any services required and whether a further or more detailed core assessment is required. To be completed in 7 working days.

Inter-agency

Involving more than one agency.

Information Sharing

Passing on relevant information to other agencies, organisations and individuals that need it in order to deliver better services to children and young people.

INSET - In-Service Education and Training of Teachers

In-service training courses provided for staff to develop and update their professional skills, expertise and competence.

In-Service Training Days

Five days compulsory in-service training for practicing teachers. Governors need to approve the dates annually.

Instrument of Government

Legal document detailing the composition of a governing body of a school.

IQM

IRO

Independent Reviewing Officers (also know as Independent Chairs) - a team of senior officers in Children and Families who are independent of the care management of cases who chair child protection case conferences and reviews and reviews of looked-after-children.

IRT

Identification, Referral and Tracking - an integral part of the Local Preventative Strategy and designed to enable a multi-agency network to identify and monitor vulnerable children and ensure that appropriate intervention can be in place at the earliest opportunity in a child's life.

IS

Information Sharing

ISA

ISP

Intensive Schools Support

ISSP

Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme delivered by the Youth Offending Service.  

IT

Information Technology, for example the internet and email.

Back to the top

J

JAC

Joint Advisory Committee

JCC

Joint Consultative Committee

JNC

Joint Negotiating Council

JAR

Member Working Group: Set up by Cabinet on 23 February. The role of this group will be to oversee the CPA and JAR preparations while detailed project management will be undertaken by the Performance Management Group for CPA and the new Strategy Steering Group set up for the JAR.

JAR Strategic Group: Will grade overall performance. Intended that external consultants will be involved in moderation. Consists of Peter Traves, Keith Cackett, Julia Almond, Sally Rees, Alan Lotinga/Richard Jarrett, Ian Leivesley, Melanie Swanwick.

JAR Support Team: Meet weekly, role is to locate, assemble, and collate significant data and evidence for the leaders of crosscutting teams, who will grade overall performance. Consists of Pam Harvey, Catherine Powell, Sandra Harmer, Phil Lewis, Ann-Marie Davidson, Melanie Swanwick.

Evaluation Groups: Will be cross cutting across the directorate, involving partners.

JSPD

Joint Schools Property Division.  This is now known as Capital Development and School Planning.  Find out more about this division.

Back to the top

K

Key Stage

A description and measurement of pupils' progress through school: - Key Stage 1: pupils aged 5 to 7 - Key Stage 2: pupils aged 7 to 11 - Key Stage 3: pupils aged 11 to 14 - Key Stage 4: pupils aged 14 to 16

Key Worker

A worker, who, with the person's consent and agreement, takes a key role in co-coordinating the person's care and promoting continuity across all agencies. The key worker is also the individual's first point of contact for information and advice.

KII

Key Improvement Indicator

KLC

This stands for Key Learning Centre. A KLC is a school that can offer support and advice to other schools in how to help children with a Special Educational Need.

Knowledge

Awareness experience or understanding gained through learning.

KS

Key Stage

KT

Key Threshold

KTI

Key Threshold Indicator

Back to the top

L

LAAs

LAB

Leader's Advisory Board

LAC (Looked-after-Children)

Children who are either "accommodated" voluntarily or "in care" as a result of a court order. Find out more about the LAC service in Staffordshire.

Lay Inspector

Every school inspection team must have one. Lay inspectors must have no paid experience of teaching or managing a school, but are fully trained to take part in inspections. A governor can be a lay inspector.

Lay Member

A member appointed to a panel hearing appeals against non-admission or exclusion, being a person without personal experience in managing or providing education in any school (other than as a governor or on a voluntary basis). He or she must not have, or have had, any connection with the school, or any person who is a member of, or employed by, the governing body if that might raise doubts about his or her ability to act fairly.

LDD

Learning Difficulties & Disabilities

LEA

Local Education Authority - a city, borough or county council that is also the education authority for the area it serves.

LEA Governor

A person appointed as a governor by the LEA.

LEA Maintained School

A school for which an LEA have financial and administrative responsibility.

Leaders Advisory Body

The Leaders Advisory Body gives young people, on a quarterly basis, the opportunity to meet with the Leader of the County Council, elected members and officers to discuss policy and service developments. These meetings are co-chaired by young people and enable young people to be involved in decision-making related to service development.

LEAP

Collaboration between local College of Further Education, local Children's Centre and Early Years & Childcare Unit to encourage/support parents to return to education/work.

LEC

Life Education Centre

LGA

LGA/NYA

Local Government Association/National Youth Agency

LGPS

Local Government Pension Scheme.  Read more about the scheme. 

LGR

Local Government Reorganisation - took place in April 1977, when Stoke on Trent became a Unitary Authority.

LID

Local Improvement Development

LIG

Leadership Incentive Grant

LIS

Libraries Information Services.  Read more about LIS. 

LM

Learning Mentors.  Visit the Learning Mentors pages on the SLN to find out more.

LMS

Local Management of Schools - the delegation of financial and management decisions to schools.

Localities agenda

Staffordshire County Council's aim to focus on people and communities.

Low-awareness state

A person who has very limited thinking abilities and little awareness of their surroundings.

LPS

Local Preventative Strategy - an overarching, multi-agency preventative strategy developed by a Local Authority's Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership - a multi-agency body charged with preparing a multi-agency Children and Young People's Strategic Plan.

LPSA

LPSA2

2005/2008 Local Public Service Agreement

LPSH

Leadership Programme for Serving Heads

LSA

Learning Support Assistant

LSC

LSCB

LSP

LSU

Learning Support Unit

M

Maintained Nursery School (MNS)

A school providing education for children from 3 to 5, maintained by the LEA.

Maintained School

See LEA maintained school.

Maintained Special School

A special school, that caters wholly or mainly for children with statutory statements of special educational needs, for which an LEA has financial and administrative responsibility.

Maintenance programme/therapy

Treatment where the aim is to prevent deterioration or complications and maintain skills and abilities, rather than bringing about improvement or a cure.

MAPPA

Multi Agency Public Protection Agency

Midland SEN Mediation

An independent organisation that helps if there is a dispute between parents and the LEA about how a child with SEN is being supported.

M&FS

Management and Financial Service

MLD

Moderate Learning Difficulties

MOP (Management Overview Panel)

A panel of senior managers who scrutinise and monitor all requests for funding of external placements.

Motor Functions

The operation of a muscle, nerve or nerve centre that affects or produces movement.

Motor Neurone Disease (MND)

A rapidly progressing, disabling neurological disease, which affects the motor neurones (nerve cells) in the brain and spine.

MTFS

Medium Term Financial Strategy

Multi Agency working

A holistic approach to meeting the needs of children and young people. A better coordination of the work of agencies that traditionally have provided discrete services.

Multidisciplinary/ Interdisciplinary Teams

Multidisciplinary teams are made up of a group of professionals who work alongside one another to meet the needs of the patient. Their interventions are parallel but not necessarily made in close collaboration. Generic therapy teams within a district general hospital typically adopt this approach. Interdisciplinary teams take a more integrated approach. They work together towards a single set of agreed goals and often undertake joint sessions (for example, a specialist team working on a neuro-rehabilitation unit or a community neuro-rehabilitation team would typically adopt this approach). (Health and social care professionals on either team can include doctors, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, pharmacists, dieticians, psychologists, podiatrists, orthoptists, music and art therapists, clinical scientists, prosthetists, orthoptists and councillors. This list is not exhaustive.)

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

A disabling neurological condition occurring because of damage to myelin, a protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres of the central nervous system.

Muscular Dystrophy

A group of diseases characterised by progressive degeneration and/or loss of muscle fibres without nervous system involvement. All, or nearly all of them, have a hereditary origin, but the kind of genetic defect and the prognosis for the disease vary from type to type.

MYP

Member of Youth Parliament.  Find out more about Youth Parliament in Staffordshire. 

Back to the top

N

NACE

NACRO

NAGTY

NAHT

See under Professional Associations.

Named LEA Officer

An LEA Officer who will work to keep parents informed about the progress of a statutory assessment or a statement.

NAO

NASUWT

See under Professional Associations.

National Curriculum

A government document that sets out what subject areas a school must teach. Go to the National Curriculum Online web site. 

NBC

NCB

NCH

NCS

National Childcare Strategy.  Find out more about the NCS on the '10 Downing Street' web site. 

NCSC (National Care Standards Commission)

NCSL

National College for School Leadership.  Visit the NCSL web site. 

NECT(P)

National Evaluation of Children's Trusts (Pathfinders)

NEET

Not in Education, Employment or Training

Network

A group of services that work together in close co-ordination that collectively meet the needs of the whole population.

This is a process whereby the council tests the potential of their policies and functions to impact positively or negatively on one group within the Community.  You should carry out an impact assessment whenever you are preparing any policies, procedures, guidance, strategies and/or plans, and when you are designing, commissioning or setting up a new service. The impact assessment should be brought in at an early stage and integrated into your work, so that it will inform any consultation processes, and information or data collection that may be required. As functions and policies are reviewed, or new ones developed, an Impact Assessment should be carried out to demonstrate that equalities and inclusion have been fully addressed.  The Impact Assessment forms are designed to help us to ask the right questions to ensure that our actions promote equal opportunities and inclusivity.  Impact assessments are required:

• to meet the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000;
• to ensure compliance with Sex Discrimination Acts, the Equal Pay Act, the Race Relations Acts, the Gender Recognition Act, and the Disability Discrimination Act.
• to help implement the Employment Equality Regulations on Sexual Orientation and Religion and Belief; and
• to help the County Council to meet the Equalities Standard for Local Government.

NFER

NGA

National Government Association

NGFL

NHS

National Health Service.  Visit www.nhs.uk to find out more.

NJC

National Joint Council

NMI

Neighbourhood Management Initiative

NMPP

National Mentoring Pilot Project.  Visit the NMPP web site to find out more. 

NOF

New Opportunities Fund

Non Teaching Staff

Members of school staff employed by the governors to provide services in a school other than teaching, such as classroom assistants, cleaners and school secretaries.

NPQH

National Professional Qualification for Headship

NQT

Newly Qualified Teacher - the first year of service during which the new teacher has the benefit of a more experienced teacher or mentor to help him/her develop professionally.

NSPCC

NUT

See under Professional Associations

NVQ

NYA

National Youth Agency.  Visit the NYA web site.

Back to the top

O

Occupational Therapy

Using play and other activities to help a child gain confidence and independence.

OD

Organisational Development

OECs

Outdoor Education Centres.  Find out more about OECs in Staffordshire. 

OFSTED

OHP

Overhead Projector - an electrical teaching aid which projects written images onto a screen

OHU

Occupational Health Unit - the specialist doctor and occupational health trained nurses provide expert advice on all aspects of health, safety and welfare in the work environment.

Open Enrolment

All schools must admit pupils up to their standard number (see below) which is calculated according to the physical capacity of the school to accommodate pupils.

Outturn

Statement of what the school actually spent by the end of the financial year.

Back to the top

P

PAF

Performance Assessment Framework

PANDAs

Annual statistics produced by Ofsted on school performance and assessment. They form part of the autumn package statistics. Find out more about PANDAs on the TeacherNet web site.

PAN

Planned Admission Number. The maximum number of pupils it is intended to admit into any year of a school. This may be a higher figure than the Standard Number but cannot be lower.

Parent

Includes any person having all the rights, duties, powers, responsibility and authority (see Parental Responsibility) which a parent of a child has by law, or who has care of him or her.

Depending on the circumstances, therefore, a 'parent' may include not only the child's natural parents but also others such as step-parents, relatives, co-habitees of either natural parent or foster parents.

Parent Governor

A parent elected by other parents of children at a school to serve on the governing body.

Parent Partnership Service

Provides support to parents / carers of children with learning difficulties and disabilities through the provision of a telephone helpline, information packs, surveys, learning/sharing opportunities and trained independent supporters. Find out more about the Staffordshire Parent Partnership Service.

Parental Choice

Parents have the right to express a preference for the school they would like their child to attend. They are not, however, guaranteed a place at their preferred school, e.g. admission could not be granted if the school was already full.

Parental Responsibility

The rights and powers of a mother, father or others to make decisions about a child. Where a child is looked after because of a care order, Social Services share parental responsibilities with the child's parents.

Partnership Governor

Where a school does not have a foundation or equivalent body, foundation governors are replaced by partnership governors who are appointed by the governing body after a nominations process.

Pathway Plan

Incorporates all of the planning for ensuring that the needs of those leaving Care are addressed.

PCT

Primary Care Trust - health agency charged with commissioning and purchasing health services for its geographical population and the provision of primary health care services.

PD

This stands for Physical Disability or Physical Difficulty.

PDC

Professional Development Coordinator

PDR

Personal Development Review

PD Service

Physical Disability Service

PEP

Personal Education Plan - an individual plan for looked-after-children developed in partnership with the child's school and which focuses on their educational needs and is reviewed alongside the child's care plan.

Performance Tables

The Department for Education and Skills publishes comparative secondary and 16-18 performance tables each year. The tables report achievements in public examinations and vocational qualifications in secondary schools and Further Education sector colleges. Primary school performance tables are published by LEAs and report the achievements of pupils at the end of Key Stage 2.

Peripatetic Teacher

A teacher who works in a number of schools, e.g. a teacher of a musical instrument.

Personal Advisor

Developed under the leaving care arrangements in the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 as a support person for every young person leaving care and implementing a pathway plan. (Not to be confused with the Personal Advisor role provided by the Connexions Service).

PFI

Public Funding Initiative

PI

Performance Indicator

Placement Plan

A written plan for a child's daily life in a residential home, respite unit or with foster carers. The plan specifies how the child's needs will be met.

Placement Unit

Residential placements for looked after children

PLP

Primary Leadership Programme

PLS

Public Library Standard

PLUS

Public Library User Survey

PM

Performance Management

PNS

Primary National Strategy.  Further information is available on The Standards Site. 

Pooling Budgets

A crucial element of service integration will be the pooling of budgets and resources.

Portage

The Portage Service provides home-based education for pre-school children who have special needs.

PPA

Planning, Preparation and Assessment time. Part of the National Agreement on Workforce Reform under which Teachers are guaranteed a minimum 10% of their teaching timetable for planning, preparation and assessment purposes from September 2005.

Practitioners

Staff who work directly or indirectly with children, young people and/or families and can include (but is not exclusive to) police officers, doctors, nurses, teachers, nursery staff, social workers, therapists, dentists, youth leaders, leisure and recreational workers, housing staff, and staff who work in criminal justice, mental health or drug and alcohol services. It can also refer to volunteers who come into contact with children.

Priorities conversation

Professional Associations

Some of the recognised trade unions/associations who represent the interests of employees on individual or collective issues.

• ATL - Association of Teachers and Lecturers.
• NAHT - National Association of Head teachers.
• NAS/UWT - National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers.
• NUT - National Union of Teachers.
• PAT - Professional Association of Teachers.
• SHA - Secondary Head teachers' Association.
• UNISON - trade union for public sector workers formed by the amalgamation of NALGO (National and Local Government Officers' Association) and NUPE (National Union of Public Employees).

Professional Executive Committee

Responsibility & composition Responsible for running the trust; deciding policies, investment planning and developing priorities for the trust. It is made up of local health care professionals and is responsible for providing health care in a geographical area.

Prospectus

This is the information which schools must legally provide annually to all parents. It will include details of school policies and National Curriculum statutory assessment results.

PRU

Pupil Referral Unit

P&SS (Pupil and Student Services)

Pupil and Student Services provide a range of services related to SEN identification, assessment and support and social inclusion and child protection.

PSE

Personal Social Emotional

PSHE

Personal, Social and Health Education.  Visit the PSHE site on the SLN to find out more. 

PSS

Priority Schools Support

PSU

Pupil Support Unit

Pupil Referral Unit

An establishment maintained by an LEA, which is specially organised to provide education for children who are excluded, sick or otherwise unable to attend mainstream school and is not a community or special school.

Pupils on Roll

Pupils registered at a school.

Back to the top

Q

QCA

Q&P

Quality & Performance Section

QTS

Qualified Teacher Status

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority

See QCA.

Qualified Teacher

A certificated teacher or a graduate with a Post-Graduate Teaching Certificate.

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

The professional status required to teach in state maintained schools in England and Wales. QTS is normally awarded after successful completion of an Initial Teacher Training course.

Quality Protects

A five year Government initiative launched in 1999 focusing on looked-after-children and children in need and designed to bring about a transformation in the quality of services provided to these two groups of children through a concentration on 11 national objectives.

Quorum

The minimum number of governors who must be present at a meeting in order to take decisions.

Back to the top

R

RAMG

Raising Achievement Management Group

Reception classes

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

Recidivism

Habitual relapse into crime

Regional Change Adviser

Responsible for coordinating and monitoring developments towards Children's Services and have been appointed nationally. Kay Whyte-Bell has been appointed for the West Midlands.

Regulations

Subordinate legislation deriving its authority from an Act of Parliament, legally binding on governing bodies and others (see also Statutory Instrument).

RELATE

Parenting programme delivered by the Youth Offending Service

Resolution

A proposal made formally at a meeting which has been voted on and agreed.

ROLAC

The ROLAC Project aims to address specific behaviours and issues relating to offending and re-offending by 'looked after children' in Staffordshire. It actively promotes the welfare and citizenship of young people in care by extending the values and boundaries of the care system into their communities. It supports improved relations with looked after children, their carers and residents within the community.

RTA

Road Traffic Accident

R&D

Research and Development

Referral

A request for a service to be provided by the Social Services Department. A decision should be made within 1 working day about what response is required; the response may include no action.

Registered Inspector

A Registered Inspector is an individual who has been approved by HMCI to carry out inspections in any school under section 10 of the School Inspections Act 1996.

Restraint

Reasonable physical intervention to prevent serious injury or harm.

Reviews

These are held for looked-after-children (LAC) or Child Protection (CP). These are meetings to assess how well plans in place for the child are working, and to decide if any changes should be made to the plan. Their frequency is statutorily determined by regulations.

Back to the top

S

SACRE

Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education. Find out more about SACRE in Staffordshire. 

SAGERS

Staffordshire Assisted Gymnastic Equipment Replacement Scheme

SAMS

Staffordshire Arts and Museum Service.  Visit the SAMS web site. 

SAP

Systems Application Product

SATS

Standards Assessment Tasks - national tests to ascertain the level of attainment reached by pupils at the key stages of the National Curriculum, i.e. at 7 years at the end of KS1; at 11 years at the end of KS1; at 14 years at the end of KS3.

SCC

Staffordshire County Council

SCIP

Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention. An approach for understanding and managing challenging behaviour, which includes prevention, de-escalation and training in physical intervention techniques. Used in Staffordshire special schools and units.

SC&H

Social Care and Health.  Find out more on the Health pages. 

SCVYS

Staffordshire Council for Voluntary Youth Service.  Visit SCVYS the web site for further information.

School Action

The first level of the graduated response taken by school if they have concerns about a child's progress when the child's teacher or SENCO identify that he/she has special educational needs. View further information on School Action.

School Action Plus

This is the next level up from School Action in the graduated response. School Action Plus means that it has been recognised that a child has not made progress as Early Years Action. The place where that child was being educated would now ask for help from outside specialists. View further information on School Action Plus.

School Teachers Review Body (STRB)

A body appointed by the Prime Minister to examine and report on such matters relating to the statutory conditions of employment of school teachers including teachers' pay.

School with serious weaknesses

Not as bad as a failing school but found by inspectors to have problems that need help. The action plan will have to set targets to remove all causes of weakness within a year and there will be re-inspections during that time to act as a backstop or confirm recovery. Ofsted will also monitor action plans and local authority statements to ensure they are adequate.

SDA

Service Delivery Agreement

SDP

School Development/Improvement Plan

Secondment

The release of staff on a temporary basis to work in another establishment, or for another organisation.

Section 20

Where a child is in care "voluntary" i.e. with the permission of the parents or those who have parental responsibility.

Section 47 investigation

Legal term used for a Child Protection Investigation.

SEF

Self Evaluation Form

SEN

Special Educational Needs.  Find out more about the SEN service. 

SENCO

This stands for Special Educational Needs Coordinator. Every school must have a SENCO. They are a teacher within the school. Their job is to monitor SEN arrangements in schools. In many primary schools the head teacher acts as the SENCO.

SENDA

Special Educational Needs and Disability Act. View the SENDA.

SENDIST

Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. A panel set up to arbitrate when disagreements occur between parents and the LEA regarding a pupil's Special Educational Needs, or a parent alleges educational discrimination.

SENSS

This is the Special Educational Needs Support Service. SENSS provides support and advice to schools and to parents about teaching children with SEN.

Serious Weakness

The term applied following an Ofsted inspection when a school is deemed to have significant weaknesses in one or more areas which need to be addressed but which is providing an acceptable standard of education overall

Service Plan

This refers to a plan that is developed around the assessed needs of 'children in need' and their families and is subject to six monthly review in line with other plans e.g. Child Protection Plan, Care Plan.

SFSS

Schools Formula Spending Share

SHA

Strategic Health Authority.  Staffordshire is part of the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority.

SID

School Improvement Division

SIMS

Schools Information Management System - a computer system to assist schools in managing its finances, pupils, staffing and curriculum. For more information visit the SIMS Advisory web pages.

SIO

School Improvement Officer

SIP

School Improvement Partner

SHA

See under Professional Associations.

SLA

SLC

Student Loans Company.  Visit the official SLC web site.

SLD

Severe Learning Difficulties

SLN

Staffordshire Learning Net.  Visit the SLN web site. 

SLT

Senior Leadership Team

SO

Senior Officer

SOC

School Organising Committee

SoCH

Social Care and Health.  Visit our Social Care and Health web site.

Social Inclusion

A commitment by the Government to breaking down barriers which exist in society which prevent people from full participation.

SOP

School Organisation Plan.  View the Staffordshire School Organisation Plan 2007 - 2012. 

SPA

Staffordshire Performing Arts.  Visit the SPA web site. 

Speak Out

The "Speak Out" initiative supports the work of Youth Advisory Kouncil, District Youth Forums, the Leaders Advisory Body and specific consultation events.  Visit SpeakOut Online.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Learning difficulties for which a child needs special educational help. Visit the SEN service web pages.

Specialist Measures

The term applied following an Ofsted inspection when a school is deemed by HMCI to be failing to provide an acceptable standard of education to its pupils.

Specialist School

Specialist schools are required to develop a particular specialist character and ethos and through that character to raise standards in their chosen specialism, and more generally across the school. This should be in partnership with their sponsors, other schools and the community at large. Schools are required to be a resource for other local schools and the community, and to disseminate good practice. There are eight specialisms: technology, languages, arts, sports, business & enterprise, engineering, science, and mathematics & computing.

Specialist Support Services

Specialist services which support children with sensory, physical or autistic difficulties.

Special School

A school catering for children with Special Educational Needs which cannot be met in the mainstream sector.

Speech and Language Therapy

A health care profession, the role and aim of which is to enable children with speech, language and communication difficulties to reach their maximum communication potential.

SPLD

Sponsor Governor

A person appointed by the governing body, who gives or has given substantial financial assistance (including assistance in kind) to the school.

SRB

Single Regeneration Budget

SRE

Sexual Relationship Education

SS

Sure Start

SSA

Standards Spending Assessment

SSD

Social Services Department.  Visit the Social Care and Health web site. 

SSFA

School Standards and Framework Act 1998.  View the SSFA in full.

SSI (Social Services Inspectorate)

Regulating Body who inspect Local Authority Social Services and assess and report how well they are performing and publish reports on this and produce star ratings to compare performance with other Local Authorities.  Find out more about the SSI.

SSMT

School Improvement Division Senior Management Team

SSPI

Staffordshire Sporting Playground Initiative

SSSP

SSP (Statutory Sick Pay)

The sickness benefits payable under the state scheme to employees on sick leave.

SST (Senior Staff Team)

The Director, Deputy Directors and managers responsible for the seven service divisions of the Directorate.

Staff Governors

The head teacher and/or people working at the school who are elected as a governor, by people who are paid to work at the school.

Staffordshire Learning Net

Children and Lifelong Learning school website. A main method of communicating to schools and throughout services in the Directorate. Visit the SLN.

Staffordshire Partnership

Providers a variety of educational workshops to young people and children in Staffordshire.

Standard Number

Refers to the number the school can admit to the relevant age group in any one year.

Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE)

STAR

Strategic Area Review

Statement

A document drawn up by the LEA which outlines the Special Educational Needs of and provision for individual children with more severe learning difficulties.

Statutory Assessment

The assessments required before a statement of Special Educational Needs can be drawn up.

Statutory Instrument

Subordinate legislation made under the authority of an Act of Parliament, usually authorised by the Secretary of State or one of his ministerial team and which is normally laid before Parliament. It has the same force in law as an Act of Parliament.

Strategy Meeting

A meeting of key professionals in agreeing actions to be taken in making enquiries where there are child protection concerns identified in relation to a child (parents are not invited).

Supporting People

An initiative which helps young people in need due to homelessness, family breakdown or who are care leavers.

Supply Teacher

Temporary teacher who takes the place of an absent teacher or to fill a temporary vacancy.

Sure Start

Suspension

A process where a member of staff is told to stop working at the school temporarily, usually while a problem involving him or her is being investigated.

SYOS

SYOS Chief Officers Group

Steering group for Youth Offending Service

Back to the top

T

TA

Teaching Assistant. A widely used job title for an assistant providing in-school support for pupils with Special Educational Needs

The Training and Development Agency for schools.  For more information visit www.tda.gov.uk

TES (Times Educational Supplement)

TLRs

Teaching and Learning Responsibility payments. Payments for additional responsibilities where a teacher is accountable for a significant, specified responsibility, focused on teaching and learning, that is not required of all Classroom Teachers and requires the teacher's professional skills and judgement. Introduced from January 2006.

TP (Teachers Pensions)

The agency which deals with enquiries relating to the Teachers Pension Scheme.

Transition Plan

A plan devised following the Year 9 annual review and updated at subsequent annual reviews. The plan draws together information from a range of individuals in order to plan coherently for the young person's transition to adult life.

TSF

The Standards Fund

Back to the top

U

UKYP

UK Youth Parliament.  Find out more about UKYP in Staffordshire. 

UNISON

See under Professional Associations.

Back to the top

V

Value Added (VA)

The progress that schools help individuals to make relative to their different starting points is usually referred to as value added. Value added measures are intended to allow comparisons between schools with different pupil intakes.

Viewpoint

Software package for gathering young people's opinion.

VI

Visual Impairment.

Voice project

The Children and Young People's Voice Project aims to help children and young people have their say about their care, the services they receive and plans that are being made for their future. This is done via a variety of consultation methods which includes Consult8 a computerised package.

Voluntary Aided School

A school set up and owned by a voluntary body, usually a church body, largely financed by an LEA. The governing body employ the staff and control pupil admissions and religious education. The school's land and buildings (apart from playing fields which are normally vested in the LEA) will normally be owned by a charitable foundation.

Voluntary Controlled School

A school set up by a voluntary body, often a church body (generally Church of England). Totally funded by an LEA. The LEA employs the staff. The school's land and buildings (apart from the playing fields which are normally vested in the LEA) will normally be owned by a charitable foundation.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

Staffordshire County Council's Central Telephone Network.

Vulnerable Children

A relatively new definition of children - children at risk of social exclusion and the target group for the development of a Local Preventative Strategy.

Back to the top

W

WMAC

West Midland Affiliated Centre

Working Together

Multi Agency Conference held in Staffordshire late in 2004.

Back to the top

Y

YAK

Youth Action Kouncil.  Find out more about YAK in Staffordshire. 

YIP

Youth Initiative Programme

YISP

Youth Inclusion Support Panel Run by Barnardos and Children's Fund project. Between 8 and 12 years. Prevent offending behaviour. Read more about YISP.

YJB

Youth Justice Board

YMCA

Young Men's Christian Association.  To find out more visit the YMCA's web site. 

YOS

Youth Offending Service.  Visit the Staffordshire YOS web site. 

YOT

Youth Offending Team

Young Carer

A child or young person who assumes caring responsibilities for adults or siblings.

Youth Offending Team (YOT)

Youth Offending Team

Youth Forums

Organised by the Youth Service, these are small, local groups made up of young people, with the aim of giving them a platform for their opinions on local issues.  Find out about the District Youth Forums in Staffordshire.

1 - 9

4US

A forum for young people leaving care.