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This page will offer a non exhaustive list of some of the most common abbreviations that you may encounter in your role.

 

ASC/ASD Autism Spectrum Condition/Disorder  
APT Authority Proforma Tool  A tool used by the LA to calculate budget allocations and report these to the DfE
AWPU Age Weighted Pupil Unit  The Basic Entitlement funding each pupil in a mainstream school receives 
CCC Cambridgeshire County Council  
CFR Consistent Financial Reporting  A return collected ny the DfE categorising income and spend consistently across England and Wales. Informs DfE benchmarking reports.
CIPFA Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy  
CPF Cambridgeshire Pension Fund  
DFC Devolved Formula Capital  Capital allocations to schools sine the DfE formula.
DfE Department for Education  The government department that has responsibility for education.
DSG Dedicated Schools Grant  The allocation given to LA's for education funding. Comprised of Schools Block, High Needs Block, Early Years Block and Central School Services Block.
EAL English as an Additional Language  A formula factor that identifies children whose first language is not English to allocate funding.
ERB Enhanced Resource Base  A specialist facility at a school designed to support children with additional needs
ESFA Education and Skills Funding Agency   This organisation was disbanded on 31/03/2025 and its duties were absorbed by the DfE
FMS6 SIMS Financial Management System   Finance Lesger software used by schools. 
FSM Free School Meals   A factor in formula funding driven by pupils in receipt of FSM.
FSM6 Free School Meals Ever 6    A factor in formula funding driven by pupils in receipt of FSM for at least 1 day in the last 6 years.
FTE Full Time Equivalent A metric that equates an employee’s workload to that of a full-time worked.
HMRC His Majesty's Revenue and Customs   
HLTA Higher Level Teaching Assistant  
ICFP Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning  
IDACI Index of Deprivation Affecting Children Index  A factor in formula funding based on the deprivation attached to the address of pupils.
IEB Interim Executive Board  The emergency measure available to the LA to replace a Governing Body.
ISB Individual Budget Share  The formula funding allocation of a school
LA Local Authority  
LEA Local Education Authority  
LGPS Local Government Pension Scheme  Pensiuon scheme for non teaching staff.
MFG Minimum Funding Guarantee  A formula funding factor to ensure that schools get a prescribed mimimum amount when compared to the previous year budget allocation.
MPPFL Minimum Per Pupil Funding Level A formula funding factor to ensure that school recieve a prescribed mimumum amount of funding per pupil. 
NFF National Funding Formula  The DfE directed formula for calculating and allocating school budgets.
NJC National Joint Council  The negotiating committee representing non teaching staff for pay and conditions. 
NoR Number on Roll  
NQT Newly Qualified Teacher  
PAN Pupil Admission Number  
PRU Pupil Referal Unit  
PTA Parent Teacher Association  
PVI Private, Voluntary and Independent (Nursery Provision)  
QTS Qualified Teacher Status  
SCP Spinal Column Point  Pay points on the pay scales.
S251 Section 251  The overarching legislation that governs funding for children's and education services.
SBSG School Budget Support Grant The grant to assist with increased pay costs in 2025 
SEN Special Educational Needs  
SDP School Development Plan  
SFA School Financial Advisor  
SFVS Schools Financial Value Standard An annual self asssessment return completed by schools.
SLA Service Level Agreement  
TLR Teaching & Learning Responsibility A pay supplement to recognise additional responsibility.
UPS Upper Pay Scale  
UQT Unqualified Teacher  
VA Voluntary Aided Faith schools with close links to Diocese which impact finance decision making (such as DFC).
VAT Value Added Tax  
VC Voluntary Controlled Faith schools with close links to the Diocese but have less impact on finance decision making.