Some useful words and terms explained

If you have clicked a word or words to get here, look down the page to see what the word or words mean, then click the Back button on your web browser to go back to where you were. The words are listed in bold in alphabetical order.

Professionals working with children often use terms that you may not be familiar with. This page can help with what they mean.

A

Absconding running away

Abuse there are four kinds of abuse:

1. Neglect – when any of the basic needs are not met. It may include failure to provide food, shelter, clothing and access to appropriate medical care
2. Physical abuse – may include hitting, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, attempted drowning, suffocating or causing physical harm in any other way
3. Emotional abuse – persistent emotional ill-treatment that may cause damaging effects on the child’s emotional development, including degrading punishments, threats, constant criticism, and undermining confidence and self-esteem through not giving love and affection
4. Sexual abuse – includes forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. It can involve physical contact or involving children in looking at pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in inappropriate ways

The contacts page of this website lists organisations like ChildLine that you can phone if you are worried about abuse MORE > >

Accommodated where a child is being cared for by the Social Services with the agreement of the parents

Advocate someone independent who visits, or assists in stating views

Agency staff (also known as locum or bank staff) temporary staff covering an absence or to maintain required levels of staffing

Ancillary staff support staff in the office, cleaning, catering, repairing, gardeners

ACPC Area Child Protection Committee, multi agency group for policy/procedure (likely to be replaced by Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards)

B

Behaviour Management plan planning for supporting and intervening in ways that will meet the needs of children

C

Care order given by the Court to protect a child if it is satisfied the child 'is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm' if he or she was not in the care of social services

Care plan (for all looked after children) is used to decide how a child should be looked after, for how long and what type of placement will best meet his or her needs

Child protection measures taken to reduce risks, report concerns and respond appropriately to any allegations, occurrences or suspicions including investigations

Children's Rights Director makes sure that inspectors listen to you, and do their best to make sure you are being looked after well MORE > >

Communication Plan contains a child’s preferred methods of communication

Contact time spent communicating or meeting with a child

Continuum of care how a school ensures care runs throughout all of the day

Criminal Records Bureau carries out checks on staff to see if they are suitable to work with children

H

Head of Care responsible for care aspects throughout a school

Head of Education responsible for educational aspects throughout the school

Head teacher has responsibility for education and care (also called Principal)

Health plan states a child’s health needs and how they are to be met

I

Independent Visitor see Advocate. Also can have the role of befriending a child, for example where a family cannot keep in touch

Individual Education Plan the plan for a young person, arising from their Statement of Special Educational Needs, which is reviewed at least annually

Induction training and guidance given to new people living or working at the school.

Inspector visits the school to check that you are being looked after properly MORE > >

K

Key worker staff member who has particular responsibility to support a child or children

L

Looked after a term referring to children who are either accommodated or in care

N

Negotiation, arbitration, mediation methods of sorting out disagreements

O

On call where staff are nearby so that they can help you or sort things out

P

Parental responsibility the rights and power of parents to make decisions about a child. Where a child is looked after because of a care order, social services is given parental responsibility by the courts and can alter how much involvement the parents can have in making decisions about a child

Pathway plan involves all the planning for leaving care

Personal adviser to support and plan for children leaving care

Personal Education Plan the assessment and plans to meet these needs of a child

Physical intervention part of the Behaviour Management plan for supporting your children during times when they may be a danger to themselves or others

Placement plan a written plan for a child’s daily life at the school that states how needs and difficulties will be met

Placing authority the local authority who made and oversee the placement

R

Reparation and restitution doing something to make good any damage done

Restraint reasonable physical intervention to prevent serious injury or damage to property

Reviews meetings to assess how well a child’s Statement of Special Educational Needs or Care Plan is working and to decide if any changes should be made to the plan

Risk assessment a written document that identifies hazards and any action necessary

S

Sanctions punishments or disciplinary actions following unacceptable behaviour

Sleeping-in staff responsible for children overnight, asleep but on call and woken if needed

Special Educational Needs (SEN) needs-inhibiting learning requiring particular support that can lead to a Statement of SEN that states the needs and how they will best be met

Standards a set of rules. The rules on this website have been set by the government to make sure that you are properly looked after while you are living at school

Statement of Special Educational Needs see Special Educational Needs

Statement of Purpose details of the school including the aims and objectives, policies and procedures followed, facilities and services provided

T

Transitional plan for children with Special Educational Needs at age 14, details what will happen in the last years at school and plans for after, for example, college or a job

Twenty four hour curriculum how a school creates learning opportunities for children throughout every day

V

Vulnerable where a child is at risk of harm