The education system is full of jargon - and we offer this page as a way of understanding education jargon - a glossary of key educational terms.

Key Stage

This refers to a block of years in your child's education:

• Key Stage 1 (5-7 year olds)
• Key Stage 2 (7-11 year olds)
• Key Stage 3 (11-14 year olds)
• Key Stage 4 (14-16 year olds)

SATs

The National Curriculum tests the government has devised for all 7,11 and 14 year-olds.

Levels

Are measures that teachers use to assess how much your child knows, understands and can do.

Attainment target

Each National Curriculum subject has one or more attainment targets to help teachers guage how well children are doing.

Breadth of Study

Teachers should use a variety of techniques in addition to textbooks. For example, in science your child should be given the chance to carry out experiments.

DfES

The Department for Education and Skills.

ICT

Information and Communication Technology.

Inclusion

The aim, set out by the government, for all children (as far as possible) to have the opportunity to be taught the National Curriculum.

Programme of Study

This refers to what your child will be taught.

PSHE

Stands for Personal Social and Health Education and is taught to promote pupils' good health and well-being.

SEN

Special Educational Needs. Kids with specific learning difficulties: physical, emotional or behavioural.

OfSTED

Office for Standards in Education, responsible for ensuring high standards of teaching.

National Curriculum

The National Curriculum is a framework the government has devised for teachers which sets out what children should learn in school. It intends that all children are taught in a balanced and manageable way, yet are still challenged by what they learn. It also gives standards so teachers can measure how well children are doing, and can help them plan according to the needs of the children they teach.

For more information, take a look at these websites:

• www.dfes.gov.uk The Department for Education and Skills (DfES)
• www.parentscentre.gov.uk Invaluable information for all parents
• www.nc.uk.net The National Curriculum Online
• www.qca.org.uk The Qualification and Curriculum Authority