Making sense of the Jargon

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The Good, Bad and Ugly of School Moves

Not every school crisis has to end with permanent exclusion. Managed moves can work brilliantly when done properly – planned transitions with everyone on board, giving your child a fresh start with proper support.

But watch out for off-rolling. That’s when schools quietly encourage families to “find somewhere better suited” – essentially pushing out pupils to protect their own statistics. It’s happening more than schools admit, and it leaves vulnerable kids without the education they’re entitled to.

What Therapeutic Education Actually Looks Like

Therapeutic education sounds fancy, but it’s really about recognising something obvious: kids can’t learn when they’re stressed, scared, or carrying baggage from bad school experiences.

Instead of separating “learning time” from “feelings time,” therapeutic approaches weave emotional support into everything. At Tubers, this happens naturally through creative work. Collaborative projects build social skills. Individual digital art gives space for processing emotions. It’s therapy and education rolled into one.

Why This Matters

Knowing these terms changes everything. When professionals start throwing around acronyms, you’ll know what they’re actually talking about. When decisions get made about your child’s future, you’ll be equipped to ask the right questions and push for what they need.

Alternative provision done right isn’t about warehousing problem kids. It’s about recognising that some young people need different approaches to flourish. Your child isn’t broken – they just need an education system that works with their strengths instead of against them.

Key Terms Glossary – Making Jargon easy!

Alternative Provision (AP): Educational settings outside mainstream schools that provide education for children who cannot attend regular school for various reasons, including exclusions, medical needs, or other circumstances.

Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP): A legally binding document that outlines a young person’s individual needs and the specific support they require across education, health, and social care areas.

Managed Move: A planned transfer of a pupil to another school with the support and agreement of all parties involved, designed as an alternative to permanent exclusion.

Off-Rolling: The controversial practice where schools remove pupils from their rolls for the school’s benefit rather than the pupil’s, often leaving vulnerable young people without appropriate education.

SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health): One of the four main categories of special educational need, covering difficulties with emotional regulation, social interaction, and mental health that impact learning.

SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities): The legal framework covering all forms of additional support needs in education, including learning difficulties, disabilities, and other barriers to learning.

Therapeutic Education: An approach that integrates therapeutic principles with learning, recognising that emotional wellbeing and academic progress are interconnected and addressing both simultaneously.

Annual Review: The yearly meeting where your child’s EHCP gets reviewed and updated. Everyone involved in your child’s support should attend, and it’s your chance to discuss what’s working and what needs changing.

DfE (Department for Education): The government department that sets education policy and regulations. When new rules about SEND or alternative provision come out, they’re usually from the DfE.

EHCP Assessment: The formal process of getting an Education, Health and Care Plan for your child. It involves gathering evidence from various professionals and can take up to 20 weeks (though often takes longer).

FTE (Fixed Term Exclusion): A temporary exclusion from school, usually lasting a few days. Multiple FTEs often signal that a child needs different support or a different educational setting.

LA (Local Authority): Your local council, which has legal responsibilities for ensuring children in their area get appropriate education and SEND support. They’re often the ones commissioning alternative provision places.

LAC (Looked After Children): Children in care or who have been in care. They’re often over-represented in alternative provision and have additional legal protections around their education.

Ofsted: The government body that inspects schools and alternative provision settings. Their reports can tell you a lot about the quality of education your child might receive.

PEX (Permanent Exclusion): When a school permanently removes a pupil from their roll. The school must arrange alternative education, and you have the right to appeal the decision.

PRU (Pupil Referral Unit): Traditional alternative provision settings run by local authorities. They’re often the first option offered when children can’t attend mainstream school.

SEN (Special Educational Needs): The older term for additional support needs in education, now officially called SEND but still widely used in conversations and some documentation.

SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator): The person in a school responsible for coordinating SEND support. They should be your main point of contact for discussing your child’s needs.

Statutory Assessment: The formal legal process where a local authority decides whether a child needs an EHCP. It’s called “statutory” because the LA has a legal duty to complete it within set timescales.

Why digital media skills matter for children with special needs