--- title: "Jargon Buster" url: "/information/jargon-buster" school: "Â鶹ÊÓƵ" --- Parental Newsletters [Click here to view](/information/letters) # Jargon Buster We all use abbreviations and acronyms without thinking if the person we are communicating with knows what they mean. Hopefully, on our website we have eliminated or explained any used, but just in case, here is a list of the common abbreviations and acronyms associated with school life. If you think there are any we've missed or should include **[please get in touch](/contact)** and we will gladly add them to our list. ## ***A*** **AO** Attendance Officer **ACE** Advisory Centre for Education **ACS** Average Class Size **ADD** Attention Deficit Disorder **ADHD** Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder **AfL** Assessment for Learning **AQA** Assessment and Qualifications Alliance **ASSC** Autistic Spectrum and Social Communication Service **AT** Attainment Target # ***B*** **B&A** Behaviour and Attendance **BTEC** Business and Technology Education Council # ***C*** **CAMHS** Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service **CAT** Cognitive Ability Test **CFR** Consistent Financial Reporting **CMHT** Community Mental Health Team **CPD** Continuing Professional Development **CVA** Contextual Value Added # ***D*** **DfE** Department for Education **DBS** Disclosure and Barring Service **D&T** Design and Technology # ***E*** **EAL** English as an Additional Language **EBD** Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties **EHWB** Emotional Health and Well-Being **EP** Educational Psychologist # ***F*** **FE** Further Education **FOI** Freedom of Information **FS** Foundation Stage **FSA** Family Support Adviser **FSM** Free School Meals **FTE** Full Time Equivalent ## ***G*** **GCSE** General Certificate of Secondary Education **GNVQ** General National Vocational Qualification **GRE** Grant Related Expenditure **G&T** Gifted and Talented **GTTL** Guide to the Law ## ***H*** **H&S** Health and Safety **HE** Higher Education **HI** Hearing Impaired **HLTA** Higher Level Teaching Assistant **HMI** Her Majesty’s Inspectorate **HSA** Home-School Agreement **HSI** Healthy Schools Initiative ## ***I*** **IB** International Baccalaureate **ICT** Information and Communication Technology **IEP** Individual Education Plan **IiP** Investors in People **INSET** In-Service Education and Training ## ***J*** **JE** Job Evaluation ## ***K*** **KS** Key Stage **KPI** Key Performance Indicator ## ***L*** **LA** Local Authority **LAC** Looked After Children **LSA** Learning Support Assistant **LSCB** Local Safeguarding Children Board **LSU** Learning Support Unit ## ***M*** **M&E** Monitoring and Evaluation **MARAT** Multi Agency Referral and Assessment Team **MFL** Modern Foreign Languages **MLD** Moderate Learning Difficulties **MSI** Multi-Sensory Impaired ## ***N*** **NAHT** National Association of Headteachers **NASEN** National Association of Special Educational Needs **NASUWT** National Association of School Masters/Union of Women Teachers **NC** National Curriculum **NCSL** National College for School Leadership **NEET** Not in Education Employment or Training **NGA** National Governors Association **NHSS** National Healthy Schools Standard **NLS** National Literacy Strategy **NoR** Number on Roll **NPQH** National Professional Qualification for Headship **NQT** Newly Qualified Teacher **NUT** National Union of Teachers **NVQ** National Vocational Qualifications ## ***O*** **OfSTED** Office for Standards in Education **OT** Occupational Therapist ## ***P*** **PAN** Planned Admission Numbers **PCSO** Police Community Support Officer **PAT** Professional Association of Teachers **PCT** Primary Care Trust **PEP** Personal Education Plan **PFI** Private Finance Initiative **PGCE** Postgraduate Certificate in Education **PHSE** Physical Health and Social Education **PIB** Pre Inspection Briefing **PLASC** Pupil Level Annual School Census **PM** Performance Management **PMR** Performance Management Report **PMLD** Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties **PPA** Planning, Preparation and Assessment time **PRP** Performance Related Pay **PRU** Pupil Referral Unit **PSHE** Personal, Social, Health and Economic **PSP** Pastoral Support Programme **PTA** Parent Teacher Association **PTR** Pupil Teacher Ratio **PYOP** Preventing Youth Offending Programme ## ***Q*** **QCA** Qualifications and Curriculum Authority **QT** Qualified Teacher **QTA** Qualified Teaching Assistant **QTS** Qualified Teacher Status ## ***R*** **RAISE** Reporting and Analysis for Improvement through School Self Evaluation **RE** Religious Education **RS** Religious Studies **ROA** Record of Achievement ## ***S*** **SACRE** Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education **SATs** Standard Assessment Tests **SALT** Speech and Language Therapy **SDP** School Development Plan **SEAL** Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning **SEF** Self-Evaluation Form **SEN** Special Educational Needs **SENCO** Special Educational Needs Coordinator **SEN&D (SEND)** Special Educational Needs and Disability **SENDA** Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 **SENDIST** Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal **SI** School Improvement **SIP** School Improvement Plan **SLA** Service Level Agreement **SLD** Severe Learning Difficulties **SLT** Senior Leadership Team **SRE** Sex and Relationship Education ## ***T*** **TA** Teaching Assistant **TDA** Training and Development Agency **TES** Traveller Education Service **TLR** Teaching and Learning Responsibility ## ***U*** **UCAS** University and College Admissions Service **UPN** Unique Pupil Numbers **UPS** Upper Pay Scale ## ***V*** **VA** Voluntary Aided **VC** Voluntary Controlled **VI** Visually Impaired **VLE** Virtual Learning Environment ## ***Y*** **YOT** Youth Offending Team **YS** Youth Service ### Parents - [Admissions](/admissions) - [Anti-Bullying](/information/Anti-Bullying) - [Awards](/_information/awards) - [Disabled Access](/information/disability) - [E-Safety](/information/esafety) - [Early help offer](/information/blackpool-aspire-academy-early-help-offer) - [Helpful information for parents and carers](/Helpful-information-parents-carers) - [Jargon Buster](/information/jargon-buster) - [Letters and Newsletters](/information/letters) - [Raise My Concern](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXiofy7yAVPx3wnNaLE1ABjM_Xc2j9ZE90WE_-UoS7HjEXTg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0) - [School Day](/information/school-day) - [School Prospectus](/information/prospectus) - [Term Dates](/information/term-dates) - [Uniform](/information/uniform) ![Â鶹ÊÓƵ](https://files.schudio.com/blackpoolaspireacademy/images/logo/Award_logos2.jpg) **Â鶹ÊÓƵ** Blackpool Old Road Blackpool Lancashire FY3 7LS Tel: 01253 353155 Email: - [CEOP](https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/) - [ePlatform Library](https://blackpoolaspireacademy.eplatform.co/) - [Evolve](https://evolve.edufocus.co.uk/evco10/evchome_public.asp?domain=fyldecoastacademytrust) - [Privacy Statement](/files/files/privacy-policy.pdf) - [Raise My Concern](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSekNkSicBdiUClrE3qB71MX3EkBZMotT5dpIivYmO03_lXZdw/viewform?usp=sf_link) - [SENDgateway](http://www.sendgateway.org.uk/) - [SISRA Analytics](https://www.sisraanalytics.co.uk/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2f) ### Social Media - [X](https://twitter.com/blackpoolaspire) - [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClg0mDn9889ACxNeBdCkm-w) ### Newsletter ### Translation © Copyright 2014–2026 Â鶹ÊÓƵ School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](/img/logo/dark.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)