A (Confusing) Story for EYFS Professionals…
CAUTION: Attempting to read this story if you don’t work in the Early Years may lead to severe confusion* and a possible headache! You have been warned…
*If you need a bit of help, scroll down for a glossary or download our Early Year Acronyms Cheat Sheet!
Are you sitting comfortably? Let’s begin…
So, FYI, J4F, BY&M…
This is a story for all EYFS professionals whether you are an APW, GSW, PTGF, PW, SPW, AST, DHT, HT, EXECHT, EYP, EYT, HLTA, QTS, NQT, TA, EYC, SENCO or DSL etc.
Once upon a time there was an EY professional working in an EYFS setting. She was reflecting at the end of a challenging year…
As ever, she thought about the children in the setting; there were 80 FTE in the setting and it was full to the PAN. Many of the children were in receipt of EEE funding with a significant number entitled to EYPP and in receipt of FSM. With 29 languages spoken, there was a high proportion of children with EAL.
Several referrals to the CASS/MASH had been made during the term by the OSCC manager, who had recently undertaken DSL training. Advice had also been sought from the LADO.
The setting was supporting children with CP and CIN plans where children had experienced several ACE’s. The practitioner also noted how much safeguarding training the setting had undertaken and was pleased that everyone, including the ADMIN team, had knowledge of KCSIE and had completed the RHRT training, as well as sessions on CSE and FGM. All staff had an up to date DBS recorded on the SCR.
Still with us?
In considering the SEND information in her role as SENCO, she noted that there were children with a range of additional needs in the setting including HI, VI, SpLD, as well as ASD. Consequently, several professionals and agencies, including the CAT team, EP, CAMHS, NHS, CDC, OTs and SaLT had supported the setting in writing ILPs and with requests for ISEY funding, EHCPs and DLA.
In the middle of the term there had been an OFSTED inspection undertaken by HMI. The RgI noted that the setting practitioners had a good understanding of the EYFS and used it to support their practice with strengths in CL, PD, PSED and UW. He commented that children were well on their way to achieving a GLD in the FSP at the end of YR and would be well prepared for KS1.
The setting’s CPD was noted as a strength. He had spoken at length with the NQT, previously a TA with a NNEB qualification and a BA, who had recently completed her QTS/PGCE via the SCITT programme with CREC.
Partnership working with the TSA, LA, BEYN and BEP were also highlighted as areas of strength.
Have we lost you yet?
The inspector had scrutinised the SIP which outlined future plans – RRSA (UNCRC), MD and working with the BEYN steering group represented by PVI, EYCs, Area SENCOs and CC’s reps to improve CL development across the city via Wellcomm, ELKLAN, LIVERLEY, ICAN and working with EE.
For the practitioner, this reflection had a purpose. She had decided to undertake FE, possibly a MA, and wanted to focus on Acronyms in the EY - meanings, use and purpose.
And this was a test piece to see if there were any! LOL!
If you followed the above piece you must work in Early Years!
Acronyms
An acronym is an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word. They can enable us to communicate more quickly in both the written and spoken form.
We all use acronyms in all areas of life and they have a place, but do we consider how we use them, especially in our practice?
Do you remember when you started your current role? Did you speak the ‘language’? You may have been familiar with some ‘EYFS’ acronyms, but what about the acronyms that were unique to the culture of the organisation? For example, some nursery schools used the word ‘Bubble’ to refer to a document to record and share children’s learning; in the current climate the word ‘Bubble’ has quite another meaning!
If you work in partnership with other professionals and agencies they may use a completely different ‘language’ to the one you’re used to. If we as professionals struggle to understand the many acronyms used in our own work environment, how might this feel for a parent at a meeting?
Acronyms, while they have their uses, can make life harder. People often feel uncomfortable asking – what does that mean, especially when everyone else seems to know what’s going on. The truth is they probably don’t know themselves but won’t admit it!
Sometimes the acronym doesn’t relate to actual meaning – EEE, for example, is often referred to as Triple E but that still doesn’t tell us that EEE actually means Early Education Entitlement; in fact we might still not be sure what that is unless we work in early years! (EEE refers to a child’s entitlement to free early years hours in a setting).
Pause for Reflection
Try not to use acronyms any more than necessary – they can create a barrier to communication. Remember your audience – parents vs practitioners in training vs colleagues; these different groups will have different levels of understanding of certain acronyms and abbreviations, adjust your language (bother verbal and written) accordingly!
Young people and children have their own acronyms – it’s part of growing up, but as professionals and parents are we aware of the acronyms and shorthand used by young people and their meaning?
Remember: not all organisations/groups share the same acronyms and some acronyms/abbreviations may have completely different meanings – SLT, for example, can mean Senior Leadership Team or Speech and Language Therapy! So, ask and keep asking if you can’t follow the anonyms.
BFN!
GLOSSARY
ACE - Adverse Childhood Experience
ADMIN - Administrator
APW - Assistant Playworker
Area SENCO - Area Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
AST - Assistant Headteacher
BA - Bachelor of Arts
BEP - Birmingham Education Partnership
BEYN - Birmingham Early Years Networks
CAMHS - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
CASS - Child Advice and Support Service
CAT - Communication and Autism Team
CC - Children’s centre
CDC - Child Development Centre
CIN - Child in Need
Cl - Communication and Language Development
CP - Child Protection
CPD - Continuing Professional Development
CREC - Centre for Research in Early Childhood
CSE - Child Sexual Exploitation
DBS - Disclosure and Barring Service
DHT - Deputy Headteacher
DLA - Disability Living Allowance
DSL - Designated Safeguarding Lead
EAL - English as an Additional Language
EE - Early Education
EEE - Early Education Entitlement
EHCP - Education and Health Care Plan
ELKLAN - Speech and Language Trainers
EP - Educational Psychologist
EXECHT - Executive Headteacher
EY - Early Years
EYC - Early Years Consultants
EYC - Early Years Co-ordinator
EYFS - Early Years Foundation Stage
EYP - Early Years Professional
EYPP - Early Years Pupil Premium
EYT - Early Years Teacher
FE - Further Education
FGM - Female Genital Mutilation
FSM - Free School Meals
FSP - Foundation Stage Profile
FTE - Full Time Equivalent
GLD - Good Level of Development
GSW - Group Support Worker
HI - Hearing Impairment
HLTA - Higher Level Teaching Assistant
HMI - Her Majesty’s Inspector
HT - Head Teacher
ICAN - ICAN Charity, Helps Children Communicate
ILP - Individual Learning Plan
ISEY - Inclusion funding for Early Years
KCSIE - Keeping Children Safe in Education
KS1 - Key Stage 1
LA - Local Authority
LADO - Local Authority Designated Officer
LIVERLEY - Leading and Improving Vocabulary, Early Reading and Language in the Early Years
MA - Master of Arts
MASH - Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub
MD - Mathematical Development
NHS - National Health Service
NNEB - National Nursery Nursing Board
NQT - Newly Qualified Teacher
OFSTED - Office for Standards in Education
OSCC - Out of School Club/ Childcare
OT - Occupational Therapist
PAN - Planned Admission Number
PD - Physical Development
PGCE - Post Graduate Certificate in Education
PSED - Personal, Social, and Emotional Development
PTGF - Parent and Toddler Group Facilitator
PVI - Private Voluntary and Independent
PW - Playworker
QTS - Qualified Teacher Status
RgI - Registered Inspector
RHRT - Right Help Right Time
RRSA - Rights Respecting Schools Award
SaLT - Speech and Language Therapist
SCITT - School Centred Initial Teacher Training
SCR - Single Central Record
SENCO - Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator
SEND - Special Educational Needs and Disability
SIP - School/Setting Improvement Plan
SpLD - Specific learning Disability
SPW - Senior Playworker
TA - Teaching Assistant
TSA - Teaching School Association
UNCRC - United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children
UW - Understanding the World
VI - Visual Impairment
WellComm - Speech and Language Tool Kit
YR - Reception Year
Non-Educational Acronyms
FYI - For your information
J4F - Just for fun
BY&M - Between you and me
BFN - Bye for Now
Download our FREE Early Years Acronyms Cheat Sheet