Who ’ s who
Senior Leadership Team ( SLT ): Responsible to the Governing Body for the leadership and management of the school . Their team may include :
Headteacher / Principal Deputy Head / Vice Principal Key Stage Leaders
Pastoral care : Supports the social and emotional health and wellbeing of children at school . Hopefully your child ’ s school blends pastoral care throughout teaching , but there may also be a separate dedicated team .
Family support : Extends pastoral care to parents , offering help with issues you may have in supporting your children at home or in school . Their team may include :
Parent Support Advisers Family Liaison Officers Education Welfare Officers
The ABCs of school lingo
ARE : Age related expectations Circle time : The teacher brings the children together to share news or discuss values – the class sit in a circle on chairs or on the floor Early Learning Goals ( ELGs ): Curriculum learning goals set for the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage ( end of reception ) Fine motor skills : Skills that involve smaller muscles of the hands , like using a pencil , building with LEGO ® and doing up buttons Free play : Children choose their own play activities ( indoors or outdoors ) with little adult direction or intervention Golden time : Children stop work and spend time doing special , enjoyable activities for a period of up to an hour , usually on a Friday – used to promote positive behaviour Gross motor skills : Skills that involve whole body movement like standing , walking , running and jumping – also includes hand-eye coordination skills like throwing , catching and kicking Guided reading : A method of teaching that involves reading with children in small groups INSET day : In-Service Education and Training days for teachers – also known as staff development days . A day off for the children ! Learning objective ( LO ) or We Are Learning To ( WALT ): Describes what children are expected to learn or achieve from a task or activity Phonics : A method for teaching reading and writing by developing the ability to hear , identify , and manipulate units of sound Reception Baseline Assessment ( RBA ): A short assessment to measure language , communication , literacy and maths skills
SENCO / ALNCO : The Special Educational Needs Coordinator or Additional Learning Needs Coordinator . SENCOs / ALNCOs work with the families of children with special educational / additional learning needs to make sure they get the support they need .
Support in class
Your child ' s teacher will likely be supported by a Teaching Assistant ( TA ), Higher Level Teaching Assistant ( HLTA ) or Learning Support Assistant ( LSA )
Don ’ t be afraid to put up your hand
You ’ ve probably said this yourself , but if you don ’ t understand something , ask the teacher ! You ’ re not expected to know everything
How your school might get in touch
Notices on the classroom door
Forms , letters and reports
Emails from teachers , headteachers and governors
Updates on their website ( there may be a page for each year group or class )
Apps and social media groups for the school and / or your child ’ s class
How you can stay in touch
Write your child ’ s name , class and what ' s inside on any envelopes sent in with your child
For a quick chat , try to catch the teacher at the door before or after school . For more in-depth discussions , book an appointment
Go to any meetings the teacher holds to update parents on what children will be learning ( if you can ’ t make it , ask for notes )
Attend parents ’ evenings
Photos / illustration : SolStock / istock . com , Freepik
PARENTKIND . ORG BE SCHOOL READY 2024 15