In case you need to know what some of the acronyms on our website mean - see the list below for explanations. If you find an acronym that we have missed - please let us know by email office@thornhillsch.net and we'll add it on.
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.
FSM - Free School Meals
G & T - Gifted and Talented
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
MFL - Modern Foreign Languages
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulties
ECT - Early Career Teacher
PE - Physical Education
PPA - Planning, Preparation and Assessment Time
PSHE - Personal, Social and Health 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.'
SENCO - Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulties
SLT - Senior Leadership Team