There are many acronyms used in education and by staff in schools. Hopefully, the list below will help demystify some of them for you.

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.

EBD - Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties

EWO - Education Welfare Officer - Person employed by the Local Authority to help parents and the LA meet their statutory obligations in relation to school attendance. 

ESOL - English for Speakers of Other Languages or English as a Second or Other Language - If English is not your main language you can take part in a course to help you improve your English. These courses are called ESOL.

FSM - Free School Meals

G & T - Gifted and Talented

GTP - Graduate Teacher Programme

HLTA - Higher Level Teaching Assistant

ICT - Information and Communication Technology

INSET - In-Service Education and Training - Training for staff which takes place during the school year.

ITT - Initial Teacher Training

KS1 - Key Stage 1 - 5-7 years old

KS2 - Key Stage 2 - 7-11 years old

LA - Local Authority

LSA - Learning Support Assistant

MFL - Modern Foreign Languages

MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulties

NQT - Newly Qualified Teacher

PE - Physical Education

PPA - Planning, Preparation and Assessment Time

PSHE - Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

QTS - Qualified Teacher Status

RE - Religious Education

SATs - Standard Attainment Tests/Tasks - 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 - The Code of Practise 2014 states ‘A child has SEND where their learning difficulty or disability calls for special educational provision, that is provision different from or additional to that normally available to pupils of the same age.'

SENDCO - Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator

SLD - Severe Learning Difficulties

SLT - Senior Leadership Team

DSL - Designated Safeguarding Lead