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
Autumn 2025
| Associate INSET training day | Tues 2nd Sep 25 |
| Autumn term 1 | 3rd Sep 25 – 24th Oct 25 |
| Half Term break | 27th Oct – 31st Oct 25 |
| Autumn term 2 | 3rd Nov – 19th Dec 25 |
| Christmas break | 22nd Dec 25 – 2nd Jan 26 |
Spring 2026
| Spring term 1 | 5th Jan 26 – 13th Feb 26 |
| Associate INSET training day | Fri 30th Jan 26 |
| February half term | 16th Feb – 20th Feb 26 |
| Spring term 2 | 23rd Feb – 27th Mar 26 |
| Easter holidays | 30th Mar – 10th Apr 26 |
Summer 2026
| Summer term 1 | 13th Apr – 22nd May 26 |
| Bank Holiday Monday | 4th May 26 |
| Half term | 25th May – 29th May 26 |
| Summer term 2 | 1st Jun – 21st Jul 26 |
| Associate INSET training day | Mon 8th Jun 26 |
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.
PACA MK is an independent and voluntary group of parents and carers of children and young people with disabilities or additional needs. The group is open to parents and carers of children and young people aged 0—25 years old with disabilities or additional needs who live in the city of Milton Keynes.
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.