Helpful information
We know how challenging this process can be. To make things a little easier, here’s some helpful information to help guide you.
Term dates - England
Autumn 2026
| Autumn term 1 | 2nd Sep 26 – 23rd Oct 26 |
| Half Term break | 26th Oct – 30th Oct 26 |
| Autumn term 2 | 2nd Nov – 18th Dec 26 |
| Christmas break | 21st Dec 26 – 1st Jan 27 |
Spring 2027
| Spring term 1 | 4th Jan 27 – 12th Feb 27 |
| February half term | 15th Feb – 19th Feb 27 |
| Spring term 2 | 22nd Feb – 26th Mar 27 |
| Easter holidays | 29th Mar – 9th Apr 27 |
Summer 2027
| Summer term 1 | 12th Apr – 28th May 27 |
| Bank Holiday Monday | 3rd May 27 |
| Half term | 31st May – 4th Jun 27 |
| Summer term 2 | 7th Jun – 21st Jul 27 |
Term dates - Isle Of White
Autumn 2026
| Autumn term 1 | 1st Sep 26 – 16th Oct 26 |
| Half Term break | 19th Oct – 30th Oct 26 |
| Autumn term 2 | 2nd Nov – 18th Dec 26 |
Spring 2027
| Spring term 1 | 4th Jan 27 – 12th Feb 27 |
| February half term | 15th Feb – 19th Feb 27 |
| Spring term 2 | 22nd Feb – 25th Mar 27 |
Summer 2027
| Summer term 1 | 12th Apr – 28th May 27 |
| Half term | 31st May – 4th Jun 27 |
| Summer term 2 | 7th Jun – 28th Jul 27 |
Glossary of terms
There’s a lot of acronyms in this field and we want to help provide you with clarity and simplicity as part of the process. Here’s some commonly used terms and acronyms with their meanings:
ADHD
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder and covers a range of behaviour aspects including poor concentration, hyperactivity and learning difficulties
Associate
Associate refers to any staff member contracted by SENse Learning including volunteers
CL
CL stands for Case Lead. A Case Lead manages the overall package of education for our students knew they made an excellent team. Together Lucy and Sophie turned SENse Learning into a company in 2019.
CPI
CPI stands for Crisis Prevention Institute. This is the training programme that teaches management and intervention techniques to help a person cope with escalating behaviour in a professional and safe manner
DSL
DSL stands for Designated Safeguarding Lead. This person has the authority and status within SENse Learning to carry out the duties of the post including committing resources and, where appropriate, supporting and directing other Associates
EHCP
EHCP stands for Education, Health and Care Plan. It outlines any special educational needs a child has, and the provision a local authority must put in place
LA
LA stands for Local Authority, the Local Authority is responsible for all the public services including education in a particular area
LADO
LADO stands for Local Authority Designated Officer, who works with Children’s Services and provides advice to SENse Learning
EM
EM stands for Education Mentor, they support the learning of the students at SENse Learning
NCFE
NCFE is a Functional Skills awarding body and provider of educational services in the UK
PDA
PDA stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance; it was first documented in the 1980s and is characterised by an extreme avoidance of everyday demands and an anxiety-driven need to be in control
The WILL Framework™
This is SENse Learning’s curriculum framework and stands for Wellbeing, Interaction, Learning and Life skills
Helpful resources
Reaching Families is a parent-carer led, grassroots charity which aims to support parents and families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in their daily lives, in particular through the delivery of information, training and peer support.
The B&NES Parent Carer Forum is a CIC run by parent carers of children and young people from birth to 25 years living in BANES. Through feedback and consultations with parent carers, we work in partnership with service commissioners and providers to help advocate for and raise the voice of parents and carers.
Mental Health Natters (MHN) supports children, young people and their parent carers with mental health and educational outcomes. We support families struggling with mental health and school attendance. We offer 1:1 therapeutic mentoring, 1:1 tuition, group sessions and drop in sessions. The basis of our support is kindness, empathy and acceptance of everyone.
West Sussex Minds change minds across England and Wales by making mental health an everyday priority. By standing up to the injustices – in healthcare, in work, in law – which make life harder for those of us with mental health problems.
The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people. We are here to help you take on any challenge you’re facing – from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs.
YoungMinds is leading the movement to make sure every young person gets the mental health support they need, when they need it, no matter what.