Jargon Buster

Education is full of acronyms it would be impossible to list them all and people invent new ones almost every day!  Here's a selection of the most common and useful ones:

• AfL – Assessment for Learning
• AHT – Assistant Headteacher
• APL – Accreditation of prior learning
• APP – Assessing Pupil Progress
• AST – Advanced skills teacher
• CAF – Common Assessment Framework
• CPD – Continuing professional Development
• DCSF – Department for Children Schools and Families
• DDP – Department Development Plan
• DHT – Deputy Headteacher
• EAL – English as an Additional Language
• ECM – Every Child Matters
• EWO – Education Welfare Officer
• EYFS – Early Years Foundation Stage
• FE – Further Education
• FSPs – Foundation Stage Profile points
• GTCE – General Teaching Council for England
• HE – Higher Education
• HOD – Head of Department
• HLTA – Higher Level Teaching Assistant
• ICT – Information Communication Technology
• IEP – Individual Education Plan
• INSET – In-service Educational Training
• ITT – Initial Teacher training
• KS – Key Stage, e.g. KS2 Key Stage 2
• LA – Local Authority
• LSA – Learning Support Assistant
• NC – National Curriculum
• NQF – National Qualification Framework
• NVQ – National Vocational Qualification
• OFSTED – Office for Standards in Education
• PPA – Planning Preparation Assessment
• QCDA – Qualification Curriculum Development Agency
• QTS – Qualified Teacher status
• SATs  - Standard Assessment Tasks
• SDP – School Development Plan
• SEAL – Social & Emotional Aspects of Learning
• SEF – Self Evaluation Form
• SEN – Special Education Needs
• SENCO – Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator
• SLT – Senior Leadership Team
• SMT – Senior Management Team
• TA – Teaching Assistant