Healthy lifestyles, in particular tackling obesity, can be promoted through extended schools. Nick Holt considers some practical approaches
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Roger Smith considers the important role that parents play in supporting their children and asks what more schools can do to support them
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As a child and family support worker at Kingfisher Primary School in Smiths Wood, Solihull, Debbie Todd explains what her role involves
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A holistic approach to supporting young people's health is led by the school-based health adviser at Newall Green School, Manchester, who embraces the whole child and the family. Neil Wilson, headteacher, discusses
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This story of a 14-year-old who was being groomed and in danger of sexual exploitation illustrates the importance of multi-agency child protection
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Building links within learning communities — collaborations with other schools, parents, groups and agencies — can have wide-ranging benefits, says Alan Gough. Here he outlines the Better Together programme, which is aimed at collaborative working at local level
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A youth intervention officer, Bruce Newman, discusses his work with Schools Multi Agency Resource Team (SMART) and the approaches he uses to work with young people, including restorative justice
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Jane Golightly previously discussed why home-school partnerships are valuable and how to build one with parents. In this issue, she discusses the importance of sustaining and developing these relationships throughout the child's primary years
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Independent schools with international pupils on roll are now required to have a more active involvement in immigration administration. Mark Blois and Helen Rideout discuss
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Complex legal guidance on exclusion and reintegration has been updated to take Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) into account. Ingrid Sutherland thinks the detail is worth reviewing
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It is important to highlight e-safety when it comes to traveller or fairground children, who depend on ICT to keep up with their education. Roger Feltham hightlights the success of Surrey County Council's e-safety programme
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An effective home-school partnership is vital for giving learners the best opportunities possible. Jane Golightly discusses why it matters and how it can be built in Primary Leadership Focus
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Close working between primary school staff and parents is vital for the identification of children's learning needs, making an effective home-school partnership essential
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Michael Segal discusses a case where religious dress was thought to interfere with teaching, clarifying a school's legal position in this situation somewhat
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Upholding a school's uniform policy can be difficult legally, in terms of religion and race discrimination of pupils. Richard Gold looks at some example cases, in order to explain the relevant legislation
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Building links between a child's school and home is an excellent way to approach their behaviour and emotional literacy, says Virginia Robinson
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The needs of families that move can be overlooked. Philip Jones examines the importance of a thorough background investigation on mobile families, in order to effectively support the children involved
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What is a school's legal position when it comes to the education of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children, and how do teachers protect their education? Michael Segal discusses
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Wearing religious symbols in school has become a sensitive and increasingly public issue, in relation to correct school uniform. Mark Blois looks at a recent case and explains the legal position and the implications for schools
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Parents have a duty to know the whereabouts of their child for the first five days of exclusion, and schools and LAs should provide suitable full-time education from the sixth school day of exclusion, states statutory guidance
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Do you know your way around educational employment law? Does your school's pay and remuneration package meet or exceed minimum standards? Tamara Ludlow gives a legal overview of essential information for both leadership teams and staff
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As a behaviour and education support team (BEST) coordinator, Tony Nicholson has a wide and varied role. Here he gives an insight into his role and the work of the BEST team
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Having an in-school social worker offers informed on-hand support to children and families all year round, says headteacher Neil Wilson, who here discusses the multi-agency teams that his school uses
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Michael Segal looks at a legal case where the parents' religious beliefs demanded that their children have home schooling
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It's the dilemma every secondary school faces: how do you set an amount of homework that satisfies parents across the board? Roy Tarleton, headteacher of South Dartmoor Community College, thinks he's cracked it
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How do you create meaningful and sustainable relationships with parents? Dr Jean de Rijke, developer of the Effective Partnerships with Parents (EPPa) strategy, shares her expertise
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Jo McShane invite readers to consider multi-agency or multi-professional working with schools from the perspective of an enthusiastic apprentice, who realises the value that 'joined-up thinking' offers
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Author: Julie McGrane
The Engaging Parents Toolkit aims to help you to raise achievement in school through better communication with parents, by focusing on the type of parental involvement that has been proven to impact on pupil achievement the most; talking at home
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New technology has made virtual schooling an option for pupils unable or unwilling to attend the 'real' thing. Sal McKeown discovers what's on offer
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For headteachers the new Children's Plan poses yet more new challenges, with possible changes to the primary curriculum, flexible school start and greater involvement between school and family. Angela Youngman investigates
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This free resource is part of a series to help to increase parental involvement in the learning process, here looking at the benefits of developing a formal whole-school policy to encourage parental participation
Starting school is an anxious time for both early years children and parents. School leaders and home-school coordinators need to be aware of their anxieties in order to ease the transition process
What are schools' legal obligations regarding school uniform? Legal Expertise answers your questions
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Whose opinion takes precedence in a dispute over provision, asks Michael Segal - parent or local authority?
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Planning, coordinating, managing, sustaining, networking and facilitating; these are all key aspects of an extended school manager's role. Fran Shelley discusses these different aspects of her role as extended schools manager at Downside Middle School in Newport
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How effective is wraparound childcare provision in addressing issues in areas of deprivation? Therese Allen, head at Mychall Primary in Birmingham, dicusses why it plays such a key role in her school
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Why have previous attempts at community schooling largely failed? Pam Woolner from the Centre for Learning and Teaching at the University of Newcastle discusses, and sets out possible implications for the current initiative
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As an extended school, Chesnut Lodge School in Halton provides inclusive after-school and holiday provision for children with additional needs and mainstream children. Heather Austin, their deputy head, explores why it has been a success
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Re: A (a child)(adoption) [2008] 1 FCR55, CA
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In March 2008, a four-year investigation into whether Glaxosmithkline had withheld negative information about the effects of Seroxat on under-18s ended with a decision that there was insufficient evidence to mount a successful prosecution. Special Children reports read more
How can outreach work effectively engage hard-to-reach community members? Partnership working and forward thinking has been successful in breaking down barriers to participation, as Nazia Hussain, project manager for Keighley extended schools cluster in Bradford, explains read more
Multi-agency working to support vulnerable young people can be an important strand of extended school provision, says Lisa McClarence, who gives an overview of the counselling work she does in schools
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An new report on child deaths and serious injury examines the problems of inter-agency working. Jenni Whitehead looks at some of the implications for schools read more
The idea of extended schools has a long history, says Pam Woolner, and we can learn from ideas that have been tried in the past
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Are you building good relationships with parents of gifted and talented pupils, or do you see them as interfering and 'pushy'? Lyn Bull provides some practical tips to help you establish real 'parent partnership' read more
The role of family link workers is to encourage parents' participation and interest in school life. Fiona Taylor shares her school's experience in the benefits of developing this role read more
Jenny Barton, lead learning mentor at Norham Community Technology College, shares her experience of developing and facilitating a support group for parents of teenagers read more
Headteacher Bernadette O’Brien describes the core themes of extended provision at Priory School and Sports College
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Headteacher David Dixon takes a close look at the philosophy behind elective home education, enshrined in a recent consultation document on guidelines to cover this parental option
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Having found himself in a governors' free-for-all on the subject of homework, Roger Smith describes that experience and shares his own thoughts and that of researchers on the subject read more
