Parent

A quick roundup of the main political parties’ school manifesto points

scameron — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:58:34 +0100

With the 2010 general election looming, if you want to know more about what the main political parties want to do with education should they get the chance, this information sheet excavates the relevant sections of their manifestos for an at-a-glance guide.

Building positive parent-school relationships

scameron — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:48:24 +0100

Support for SENCOs

Talking to parents about child protection

scameron — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:49:09 +0000

I have just finished running the first of this term’s two-day named persons’ course and on reflection I realised just how much concern there was about talking to parents about concerns of possible abuse. Some of the questions that came up are listed in the box below, right. The majority of participants on this course were brand-new named persons so it was important to address these very real concerns in detail and the debate that followed was really very useful and interesting in terms of the different views shared.

Education employment law: statutory leave and pay entitlements

scameron — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:02:10 +0000

One of the defining features of the last 11 years of New Labour government has been its apparent commitment to, and promotion of, measures designed to encourage a work-life balance and to facilitate what is termed a family friendly working environment.

‘Good’ employers, therefore, have taken the view that the remuneration and benefits package should in some way exceed the statutory minimum requirements in terms of leave and pay.

Effective partnerships with parents

scameron — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:48:59 +0000

How can schools already struggling with over-crowded timetables find time to build productive partnerships with parents and carers? How can schools engage parents to raise pupil attainment and improve behaviour?

The EPPa strategy was designed to explore these questions and the potential of closer partnerships between schools, families and communities.

Successful individual behaviour plans

scameron — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:28:31 +0100

Although the title of this article refers to ‘individual behaviour plans’, it should be noted that these same plans might have different labels in your school or service:

Promoting healthy eating in children

scameron — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:36:55 +0100

We don’t always have to agree with her, but the first sentences of Janet Street Porter’s column in the Independent on Sunday 24 February 2008 are useful starting points when looking at healthy eating in schools. She suggests that: ‘A whopping number of kids – around a quarter – are now officially overweight before they’ve even started primary school, according to new statistics released by the Department of Health.

Should 'suitable education' be defined by parents or LA?

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:21:01 +0100

QUESTION:

Whose opinion takes precedence in a dispute over provision – parent or local authority?

ANSWER:

in the case of R(R) v Kent County Council [2007] ELR 648, a boy of 14, S, started his local school, the W School in September 2004. He was called names, and bullied. His father met the headmaster, who took the complaint seriously.

An investigation into the effects of Seroxat

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:59 +0100

Tim Whattler was just 17 when he hanged himself in February 2006. It wasn’t his first attempt. Diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and ADHD he had spent much of his short life in a variety of psychiatric units or being cared for by his parents at home. Their story, which appeared in the Telegraph last July, is an unsettling one. Typically, as part of Tim’s treatment he had been prescribed anti-depressants. These included Seroxat (a brand name for paroxetine), which he had been prescribed in his teens.

Meeting the community's needs

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:58 +0100

Background

Promoting healthy early years settings

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:55 +0100

The National Healthy Schools Programme (NHSP), a joint initiative between the Department of Health and the DCSF, aims to ‘support the development of healthy behaviours among children and young people, help raise their achievement and help promote health equality and social inclusion.’ By the end of 2009 all primary and secondary schools should have achieved, or be working towards, Healthy Schools status.

The Children's Plan: raising emotional literacy

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:54 +0100

Underlying principles

The Children’s Plan lays out the government’s strategy for ensuring that ‘all children have access to a world-class education which supports their cognitive, social and emotional skills development so that no child is left to fall behind.’

Principles

The five principles underpinning this strategy are that:

all children have the potential to succeed and should go as far as their talents can take them

Supporting parents and carers of children who have been sexually abused

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:53 +0100

Child sexual abuse: The family’s story

Making provision for how boys learn best

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:53 +0100

I was always in trouble at school; infants, juniors and secondary. How would I describe myself? Bright, but bored probably sums me up as a pupil! One of my former teachers said, when he heard that I had gone into teacher training, ‘Well, at least he knows all the tricks!’

Working with parents to raise additional funds for your school

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:52 +0100

As the role of bursar increasingly changes to become the school business manager (SBM) the list of tasks and roles a school may wish you to undertake becomes ever more varied. One task that a headteacher may be very keen to pass on to you is leading the school’s fundraising activities. These could be for a capital project, a specialist schools bid or in some cases providing much needed revenue to employ additional staff to deliver school improvement initiatives.

The Children's Plan: key points for early years

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:52 +0100

The Children’s Plan sets out the government’s strategy for improving the wellbeing, health and opportunities available to children and young people in England.

How to approach 'failure to educate' claims

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:52 +0100

Compensation claims alleging negligence by education professionals in schools and local authorities are less common these days. And where cases do come to trial, there are usually positive outcomes for the school or local authority, as two recent decisions show.

This article will analyse the two cases and explain how local authorities and schools should now approach ‘failure to educate’ claims.

Kendall v Southwark LBC (June 2007)

Reviewing your school complaints procedure

scameron — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:52 +0100

QUESTION:

How often should we review our complaints procedure and associated staff training?

ANSWER:

Provision for pupils with moderate learning difficulties

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:51 +0100

Definitions

Building Schools for the Future: Involvement for governors

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:49 +0100

Governors, the oft-repeated mantra goes, play a pivotal role in the ‘strategic management’ of schools in England and Wales.

Photography and filming in school: when the Data Protection Act applies

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:48 +0100

End of term productions, certificate presentations, nativity plays...these are some of the occasions when a school has to decide whether or not to let parents take photos or videos of the event. In Christmas 2007, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) decided to make a statement about the Data Protection Act and parents’ rights in respect of recording their child’s involvement in productions.

Can parents smack their children?

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:48 +0100

The report, Review of Section 58 of the Children Act 2004, brings together findings on the effects of the legislation which limited the availability of the ‘reasonable punishment’ defence in cases involving alleged assaults by parents on their children. Consultations were held with parents, children and young people and other groups including, children’s charities, police and the crown prosecution service.

Parent governor representatives

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:47 +0100

A research study into the work of Parent Governor Representatives has concluded that the role is ‘both necessary and worth doing’, but the researchers warn that, ‘at present it is hard to avoid concluding other than that PGRs are being sent into battle with one arm strapped behind their backs’.

The report was commissioned by the charity Research and Information on State Education (RISE) and carried out by the Centre for Successful Schools at Keele University, and Create Consultants.

Parents as partners in children's early learning and development

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:47 +0100

Overview of the PEAL programme
The Parents, Early Years and Learning (PEAL) project was funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) for two years from April 2005 to April 2007 to gather and assess existing knowledge and best practice in working with parents to involve them in young children’s learning. A training programme was then designed to support and inspire practitioners working in children’s centres to increase parent partnership work.

SEN past the age of 16: where do limits of responsibility lie?

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:46 +0100

Many young people, including those with special educational needs, leave school at the age of 16, the earliest age that they may do so. However, young people with special educational needs would often benefit from staying on in a formal school environment beyond that age.

Ensuring that this happens — and that a suitable school place is obtained, with the necessary support in place — is not always straightforward. For children who, before reaching 16, have statements of special educational needs, the position can give rise to complex legal questions.

'Racism' challenge to exclusion decision

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:46 +0100

The case of Appiah and Another v Governing Body of Bishop Douglass Roman Catholic High School [2007] ELR 217, CA, concerned a fight in the sixth-form common room between two black pupils and two white pupils.

The black pupils, R and F, were in their final year, and were due to complete their GNVQ courses in the summer. One of the white pupils sustained a head injury, and had to be taken to hospital.

Can happiness be taught?

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:46 +0100

I was on BBC local radio at the start of the month, talking about the roll-out of SEAL to secondary schools. My appearance was sandwiched between discussions of speed signs in rural villages and how there is a national shortage of coat hangers (not in my house there isn’t!).

Mixed responses
The interviewer, who came to my house, seemed genuinely supportive of the whole agenda. However, the phone-in discussion afterwards was mixed. There were those who thought ‘happiness’:

'Pressure is good for me' says one Year 10 gifted pupil

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:42 +0100

How do you feel when people refer to you as gifted and talented?

New exclusion rules (part 1): the head teacher's decision

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:39 +0100

2007 saw some important changes to the law on pupil behaviour and school discipline. The changes, in summary, were:

Exclusion of a violent pupil who has SEN

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:39 +0100

When is a local authority in breach of its human rights duties to a pupil with SEN?

Athe case of A v Essex County Council [2007] All ER(D) 213 (Jul) concerned a child with SEN. He suffered from severe autism, epilepsy, and learning difficulties. He also self-harmed, and had 10 to 15 short epileptic fits every day.

How far does a pupil's right to privacy stretch?

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:35 +0100

In Leeds City Council and Others v Channel 4 TV Corp. [2007] 1 FLR 678, Channel 4 had made a documentary about three state schools. Pupils said privacy was breached and applied for an injunction to prevent the film being shown.

The judge described the film as 'shocking'. It gave him the impression that a significant proportion of the pupils, through their own misbehaviour, were not being properly educated, and that those who did want to learn were being denied a proper education because of the uncontrolled misbehaviour of some.

The statutory requirements of the EYFS

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:35 +0100

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a central part of the government’s 10-year childcare strategy Choice for Parents, The Best Start for Children and the Childcare Act 2006. The EYFS replaces the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage, Birth to Three Matters and the National Standards for Under 8s Daycare and Childminding and becomes statutory from September 2008 for all schools and early years providers.

The importance of healthy eating for young children

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:32 +0100

‘Good nutrition is important for all, especially for those younger than five years as these years are demanding for the developing child. They are the years in which children acquire many of the physical attributes and the social and psychological structures for life and learning’. (British Medical Association 2005)

National organisations for gifted and talented

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:31 +0100

The CfBT's plans are ambitious and will help practitioners to access the rich and diverse services now available from a number of different sources. In the meantime however, we have collected together information to provide readers with an overview of what is on offer from different quarters – this month, national organisations.

NACE: National Association for Able Children in Education
www.nace.co.uk

Your responsibilities for administering medicines (part two)

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:28 +0100

See also part one in this series

A better start is not always sure for children with SEN

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:26 +0100

Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs) support children under four and their families by integrating early education, childcare, health care and family support services in disadvantaged areas. Providing services to families where there were special needs and disabilities was one of the
core tasks that the programmes were required to carry out. A new research study* has looked at how they tackled it.

Differences between primary and secondary governance

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:26 +0100

Recently I met a brave parent governor who believed in seeing the job through to the end.

When her child moved on to secondary school she again stood as a parent representative in the hope that she would enjoy it as much, feel just as involved, be just as sure of doing a relevant and rewarding job. Sadly she was disappointed.

She had felt part of the primary school:

Top tips for test success

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:24 +0100

Coping well with the demands of examinations and attaining optimum personal performance are key factors in achieving success at school and university.

Babysitting: an Irish Red Cross project

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:24 +0100

What is babysitting?

Domestic violence and parental substance misuse

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:24 +0100

There is a considerable body of research which shows children who grow up in families where there is domestic violence and/or parental alcohol or drug misuse are at increased risk of significant harm.

Getting parents on board with GCSE coursework

ewtemp — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:22 +0100

Camborne Science and Community College is an 11-18 mixed comprehensive school in Cornwall with 1,450 students on role. The area suffers from considerable deprivation with high unemployment and low aspirations. 21% of students are eligible for free school meals, 15 % have special educational needs and 5.4 % have a statement (well above the national average). However, the school has a history of innovative curriculum development.

The importance of windows on the school

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:12 +0100

One might conclude from studying these that we had our finger on the pulse of schools: making key appointments, framing the agenda, monitoring standards, setting targets, promoting good behaviour and occasionally providing an informal ‘fair trial’ for staff and students in trouble. The reality for many typical school governors falls ludicrously short of this fantasy despite their goodwill, their commitment and the skill of their trainers.

School transport: basic law and best practice

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:05 +0100

The main school transport duties pertain to local authorities (LAs). But schools must be aware of the duties because they have to give LAs information, advise parents of their rights and responsibilities, and draw up a school transport policy and travel plan.

In this article, there is a summary of the law on school transport, with guidance on how to interpret it. Then we look at government initiatives for improving home-school travel arrangements.

THE LOCAL AUTHORITY DUTY

Truancy: when should the LA prosecute?

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:05 +0100

A: YES. In Graves v London Borough of Islington [2004] ELR 1, the non-attendance of a child at school led to the local authority seeking and obtaining an education supervision order under the Children Act 1989.

Although the object of an education supervision order is to help, not punish, an inadequate parent, persistent failure to comply with such an order is an offence.

Analysing and uprooting the prejudice against giftedness

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:04 +0100

Shortly after the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth was set up in 2002, a primary school teacher went on to the Times Educational Supplement website and wrote:

Internet and mobile technology security

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:04 +0100

The internet can be enormously beneficial for children. Its huge richness and diversity is part of the attraction. But as the mass media have sadly reminded us, all too often there are hazards associated with internet use. A failure to take reasonable steps to make oneself aware of these hazards, or a failure to take reasonable steps to minimise or avoid them, could put children at risk and therefore expose an individual teacher and the school to potential legal liabilities.

Fire safety concerns

jlee — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:20:01 +0100

Warren Ellison, a serving fire-fighter with the West Yorkshire fire service, started the petition in response to widespread concerns for pupil's safety.

To view or sign the petition, visit http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/sprinklers/

For information about fire safety education, visit the Government Fire Safety Education Programme.

Attachment theory

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:19:57 +0100

Attachment theory focuses on how attachments are formed in the very earliest months and years of life. These have a significant influence on emotional development as well as providing a template for the child as he or she grows into adulthood and into parenthood. Researchers have explored these early developments.

Appropriate and affordable childcare for all

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:19:57 +0100

Changes to working patterns and family life have affected the way that we raise our children. Research has shown us that children’s life chances are affected by their early experiences. With these two factors in mind, this government has placed a great emphasis on the early years agenda, introducing policies and systems designed to improve the availability of childcare and early education opportunities. Equal Access?

Encouraging men to enter the childcare workforce

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:19:53 +0100

How do you get more men into childcare? This is a perennial question in an industry in which less than 3% of the workforce is male. Possible solutions are beginning to surface and it is clear that it will be a long, hard journey.

Data from National Daycare Trust indicate that: