Why terminology mode exists
A British-curriculum nursery calls a group of children a "class". A Nigerian government primary school calls it a "class" too, but they probably call their year groups "Primary 1" rather than "Year 1". An IEYC international school might call the same group a "cohort" or "room". School Vault uses a single terminology mode to make the platform feel native to your school type.
The three modes
| Label in School Vault | Early Years mode | Primary mode | International mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year group | Room / Nursery level | Primary 1–6 / JSS | Year 1–6 / Reception |
| Educator | Key Person / Teacher | Teacher / Class Teacher | Teacher / Key Person |
| Child record | Child | Student / Pupil | Learner / Student |
| Daily record | Daily Report / Diary | Daily Record | Daily Report |
| Assessment | Observation / Assessment | Score / Assessment | Observation / Evidence |
Terminology mode affects labels only. It does not change which features are available, which curricula you can install, or how data is stored. The underlying system is identical across all three modes.
How to change the terminology mode
- Go to Settings → Terminology.
- Select Early Years, Primary, or International from the options.
- A preview panel shows how key labels will change before you commit.
- Click Save Terminology Mode. Labels update across the platform immediately, no refresh required.
Terminology settings screen showing the three mode options with a side-by-side label preview
Which mode should I choose?
- Early Years, Creche, playgroup, nursery, pre-nursery. Children aged 0–5. EYFS, NERDC (early years), Montessori, Reggio, HighScope, Waldorf, British-Nigerian Hybrid frameworks.
- Primary, Primary 1–6, JSS 1–3. Nigerian NERDC primary curriculum, standard CA/exam grading. Report cards, timetables, homework.
- International, IEYC, Cambridge Early Years, international curriculum blends. Mixed terminology that suits schools following UK or IB frameworks.
Mixed schools (e.g. nursery + primary on the same campus): choose the mode that matches your oldest year group. Most staff will be familiar with primary terminology even if they work in the nursery section.