December 2001

   

 

 

Education Bill 2001

The White Paper Schools - achieving success, which was published in September, set out proposals for supporting   teachers to raise standards in secondary schools.  A quantitative report on the consultation, which ended on 7 November, is available on the DfES website:

www.dfes.gov.uk/achievingsuccess/download.shtml#response

  The Government is now legislating to achieve the aims set out in the White Paper.  The Education Bill was introduced to   Parliament on 22 November and will put in place a major reform  of the education system.  The Bill is available to view at

www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/pabills.htm

Copies of the Education Bill, priced at £12, may be purchased from the Stationery Office: Tel: 0845 702 3474 Fax:  0870 600 5533 E-mail: book.orders@theso.co.uk

Performance Pay Progression grant - 31/12/01 deadline    www.dfes.gov.uk/teachingreforms/rewards/funding/

Please note that the deadline for returning funding claim forms   for the Performance Pay Progression Grant for September 2001 - March 2002 is 31 December 2001. The claim form was included  in the threshold funding claim pack sent to schools by LEAs, and can also be downloaded from the above web page.

Health & Safety: Responsibilities and Powers

www.teachernet.gov.uk/visits

DfES/0803/2001 This document explains who, under health and safety legislation, is responsible for the health and safety of school staff, pupils and others whilst on school premises or involved in school activities.   It sets out related responsibilities and powers under education legislation, and the key elements that should be included in a health and safety policy.

SEN Code of Practice 2001

DfES/0581/2001

www.dfes.gov.uk/sen

The revised SEN Code of Practice, available from January 2002, provides practical advice to Local Education Authorities, maintained schools, early education settings and others on carrying out their statutory duties to identify, assess and make provision for children's special educational needs.

Further information can be obtained from: Andrew Taylor,

Nigel Fulton, John Gormley or Gill Neville by telephoning

020 7925 6363/5887/5543/6435.


CONSULTATIONS

Building A Strategy for Children and Young People: Consultation Document

www.cypu.gov.uk

Proposals for a new strategy for all children and young people covering all services have been published. Consultation events will take place over the next few months. Copies are available from the Children & Young People's Unit in English and alternative languages: 020 7273 1120

Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000: Code of Practice & Consultation Document www.cre.gov.uk

 

The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 places a statutory duty on public authorities, including schools and LEAs, to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and promote equality  of opportunity and good race relations between people of different racial groups.  

 

The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) is producing a Code of Practice and Guidance for schools on their responsibilities under the Act and consulting widely on the draft Code and Guidance - a sample of schools will be involved in this.  

Copies of the draft are available from the CRE website www.cre.gov.uk or telephone  0207 828 7022.

Excellence Fellowship Awards www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations

 

This document invites views on a proposal to set up a pilot scheme of Awards (Excellence Fellowships) to run over two academic years starting 2002/03.

Launched on 06 November 2001, the closing date is 14 December 2001.

Proposals arising from the Treasury Review of Ill Health Retirement  www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations

The Treasury review covered human resource policies that affect levels of ill health retirement, and best practice in the management of pension schemes.  This consultation considers:

-  what more DfES and employers might do to reduce illness amongst members of the Teachers’ Pension    

Scheme (TPS) which leads to ill health retirement; 

- whether the roles and responsibilities of employers, teachers and the Scheme’s medical advisors should    

change; 

-  whether more flexibility is needed in the Scheme’s benefit structure. 

Available from Pensions Policy and Contracts Team, Tel: 01325 392291 or the website. Launched on 02 November 2001, the closing date is  25 January 2002.


GUIDANCE & INFORMATION

Curriculum Examination & Assessment

KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4

NLS Early Literacy Support Programme - session materials for teaching assistants  DfES/0651/2001 www.standards.dfes.gov.uk

This is the essential guide for teaching assistants. It includes a full script for each of the 60 ELS sessions and a sheet for each week listing all the resources needed and details of the preparation for each session. There are also notes for parents and carers and weekly activity sheets for children to take home.

Watching and Learning 2 - Evaluation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies

www.standards.dfes.gov.uk 

                                                                                                  DfES/0617/2001

The Department commissioned external researchers to evaluate the implementation of the Strategies. This report, the second of three annual reports, supplements and complements the internal evaluation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies being carried out by OfSTED..

The National Numeracy Strategy, Springboard 6, Lessons for use in booster classes

www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/numeracy

                                                                                  DfES/0778/2001

The Springboard 6 materials are a series of lessons designed to provide additional support for children in Year 6 who need intensive targeted support to achieve level 4 in the Key Stage 2 National Tests.  The publication contains 12 half hour lessons designed for use during the Spring term of Year 6.  A further 10 lessons will be available on request from February 2002.  

To reserve copies of the further 10 lessons, which will be sent to you next year, quote reference DfES/0778/2001A

Euro Notes and Coins - And How it will Affect You www.europe.gov.uk/euro

Information about the introduction of Euro notes and coins in some European countries next year.  It explains what this means for people when they next travel to Europe on holiday or business from next January - and what steps can be taken to prepare for it. This could be used in teaching citizenship.

Secondary School Councils Toolkit

This DfES sponsored resource is a step-by-step guide to setting up effective class and school councils and accompanying training sessions, handouts and worksheets. It is intended for use by both students and teachers and includes up to date citizenship curriculum information and guidance.

For secondary schools, the pack is available at a discount bulk rate of six copies and the 'Voices of    Reason' Video for £110 including postage and handling.  Contact School Councils UK on 020 8349 2459 or email: info@schoolcouncils.org

Post 16 education

External qualifications to be approved under Section 96 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 for pupils, students and work-based trainees under the age of 19.                                      DfES/0796/2001 www.dfee.gov.uk/section96

      www.dfes.gov.uk/qualifications

A redesigned website will be launched at the end of December, listing external qualifications that will be

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approved for use by learners under 19 (including those of compulsory school age) from 1 August 2002. The provisions replace will apply to pupils of maintained schools, learners in other publicly funded secondary   and further education and work-based training. 

The current S96 website at: www.dfee.gov.uk/section96

  which incorporates the Supplementary list issued in July 2001, will continue to be available until 31 July 2002. A link to both websites will be available  through the Department’s Qualifications website at: www.dfes.gov.uk/qualifications

 

Participation in Education and Training by Young People Aged 16 and 17 in Each Local Area and Region, England 

www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics/DB/SBU/index.html

Offers information on participation in education and training by sex and by region in 1999/00.  Participation  in education and training by local Learning and Skills Council (LSC) area is shown for 1998/99 and   1999/00.  Participation in full-time and part-time education by LEA is shown for 1995/96 to 1999/00.  For further information please contact Emma Copeman, tel: 020 7925 6372 or Phil Emmott, tel: 020 7925 6269.

This is available on the internet from 21 December 2001, or printed copies of the bulletin are available at a cost of £6.95 from: The Stationary Office, PO Box 29, Norwich, NR3 1GN,  Telephone orders/General enquiries: 0870 600 5522  Fax orders: 0870 600 5533

Raising Standards in Post-16 Education www.met.mmu.ac.uk/raising-standards

 

Raising Standards in Post-16 Education is a multi-media resource pack produced in partnership with the first Beacon Sixth Form Colleges - Greenhead College, (Huddersfield), Carmel College (St Helens), John Leggott College (Scunthorpe) and St Charles Catholic College (London). Raising Standards allows management teams and teachers in schools and colleges to learn from and build upon proven best practice. 

·       DVD Overviews - (4 hours) - a one-hour programme on each college with management and staff

analysing their most successful innovations. 

·       DVD Case Studies - (3 hours plus) - extended coverage of activities in areas such as Lesson

Observation, Student Target Setting, Educational Support, Quality Assurance and Leadership & Management initiatives.

·       Website - working documents from the colleges arranged topic by topic. Policy statements, tutorial

guidance notes and day-to-day proforma, all available to be adopted or adapted to suit the user's own context. 

Available January/February 2002. Price £350 (before Jan 14th). 

Pupil Support  

Health & SEN

Special Educational Needs: A guide for parents and carers                                            DfES/0800/2001  www.dfes.gov.uk/sen

The Guide contains information for parents and carers to help them understand what special educational needs are, what they can do if they are worried that their child may have difficulties at school, how they can help them, what their rights are and what schools, LEAs and others can do to help their child.

It will be available from DfES Publications in January 2002  in English and in Urdu, Bengali, Gujerati, Punjabi, Hindi, Chinese, Greek, Turkish, Vietnamese. Also in audio cassette and Braille 


Dyslexia: Pathways into Training                                                                                        DfES/0079/2001 www.vtc.ngfl.uk/dyslexiapathways

 

This 4-page leaflet, produced jointly with the Dyslexia Institute, the British Dyslexia Association, and the Reading Recovery National Network, offers basic guidance and information on various pathways to professional development and training opportunities. The leaflet also signposts links to on-line material available at the Dyslexia Pathways area of the Virtual Teacher Centre at the National Grid for Learning at: www.vtc.ngfl.uk/dyslexiapathways

    

It is designed to help raise awareness of the kinds of training courses available to support the teaching of children with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties.

Inclusive Schooling - Executive Summary                                                                         DfES 0788/2001 www.dfes.gov.uk/sen

 

A summary of the statutory guidance provided in ‘Inclusive Schooling - Children With Special Educational Needs’ (DfES 0774/2001) on the practical operation of the new statutory framework for inclusion. It is available from the beginning December.      

Equal Opportunities

Show Racism the Red Card - Anti-racist schools competition 2002

The charity Show Racism the Red Card uses footballers as anti racist roles models to tackle racism and raise awareness amongst young people. Competitions can be an extremely useful way of engaging young people in their campaign. Their latest competition requires pupils to produce a poster, poem or short story  against racism and offers the winning school a prize of £1000. Registrations for the competition will need to be in by 25th January. 

To enter, send a contact name, school name (and telephone number and address) with a cheque for £15 made payable to “Show Racism the Red Card” to PO Box 141, Whitley Bay, NE26 3YH. A video, which has to be viewed by the pupils entering the competition, and a CD-ROM will be sent. 

There can only be one entry per school so the school will have to choose their winning entry, which will   need to be sent to the address above by 28th February. Winning schools will be informed by 1st March and prize-giving ceremonies will take place at football stadiums nationally.

Organisation & Management

School Performance Management

Audit Commission Learning from Inspection report - Schools’ views of their LEA www.audit-commission.gov.uk/publications/schoolsviews.shtml

 

The report is based on the surveys carried out by the Audit Commission of the views of nearly 10,000 schools as part of the evidence base for the inspection of 97 LEAs between Autumn 1999 and Summer 2001. Although the schools’ responses have been used as a source of inspection evidence and shared  with the LEA, this is the first time a full analysis of the extensive database has been carried out. To order a copy of the report please telephone 0800 502030. 

The school survey data used in the analysis for the report can be downloaded from the Audit Commission’s website: www.audit-commission.gov.uk/publications/schoolsviews.shtml


Financial Management

Liabilities and funding changes for Voluntary Aided schools www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/sor/sor.cfm?CONID=74

 

Consultation on these changes has now ended, with over 90% of the responses being in favour of the proposals.  In the light of this support we have laid a draft Order, in accordance with the Regulatory Reform Act 2001, before Parliament, with a view to seeking approval to implement the changes from April 2002.   The draft Order is available from the Department's Website at www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/sor/sor.cfm?CONID=74

, together with the Department's response (153  pages) to the issues raised in consultation, and we are arranging for an update report to be available on the Website.  You can also request copies of these documents by e-mail to va.liabilities@dfes.gsi.gov.uk

.

Staff Management

Threshold Certificates   www.dfes.gov.uk/teachingreforms

 

Certificates for the great majority of teachers in England who met the threshold standards in the first round (2000) of assessments are being sent to schools and LEAs in December. The certificates will be accompanied by guidance on what to do about any queries. If you have any queries, please contact the Threshold Certificates help line, tel: 01909 512456.      

                                             

Laptops for new Headteachers www.ncsl.org.uk

The National College for School Leadership is offering a free laptop to all new Headteachers who have taken up their first substantive headship post between January and December 2001.  In exchange for the laptop new heads are expected to participate in the Talking Heads online community.  If you are eligible you can apply online at www.ncsl.org.uk

The Role of Induction Tutor: Principles and Guidance

New guidance to help schools give new teachers the top quality induction they need to build a firm foundation for their future careers has been published by the Teacher Training Agency (TTA).  The booklet summarises how schools can support new teachers to help them meet the induction standards, and offers example of good practice they can use.  It also underlines how schools can benefit from preparing and supporting tutors to help new teachers through their induction period.  The booklet is available free from the TTA Publications Unit, tel: 0845 606 0323.

 

Administration & Management

Health & Safety on Educational Visits: Draft Work in Progress www.teachernet.gov.uk/visits

In response to recent concern about health and safety on educational visits, DfES has drawn up guidance   to supplement the Good Practice Guide “Health & Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits”.  Work in progress has been placed on the internet at www.teachernet.gov.uk/visits  to enable LEA and school staff to take account of the developing guidance when planning visits, and to provide the opportunity to comment    directly to DfES on the current drafts.

Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Education Training package for Teachers - Guidance to LEAs www.dfes.gov.uk/lea/guidance/drug_alcohol_tobacco

The Guidance has been produced to enable LEAs to implement professional development activities in schools as part of the Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Education Training Package. It includes specific guidance on Teacher Observations, Teaching Networks, training courses for teachers and PSHE Co- ordinators and training for School Drugs Advisers (SDAs). Some LEAs bid and have received funding to support the package. The Guidance can however support all LEAs in their drug education. 


Setting school level targets for reducing unauthorised absences

From September 2002 all schools whose unauthorised absence rate is currently above the average for    their sector, will, by law, have to set targets for improvement in discussion with their local education  authority. Education Development Plans 2002-2007 Guidance For Local Education Authorities asked Local Education Authorities to make absence targets a central part of their Education Development Plans and set authority targets for overall absence as well as agreeing targets with schools whose levels are above average. 

If you have want to know more about the general policy of setting absence targets you can contact Hannah Pugh at The Department of Education and Skills on 0207-925-6327.

Internet Safety                                                                                                                       DfES/0807/2001   www.safety.ngfl.gov.uk/

 

  

Safe use of the internet is a priority of the Department for Education and Skills. Now that you are connected to the Internet, what safety issues do pupils need to consider? What can the school do to promote safe surfing?  What are filtering systems?  Is it safe to give out any personal information on the net?  

For answers to these questions, get the latest information on Internet safety at our website or order a free copy of the Superhighway Safety pack.

Building Bridges for the New Millennium                                                                           DfES/0063/2001   www.dfes.gov.uk/indstatepartner

The final report of the Successor Advisory Group on Independent/State School Parterships sets out progress and achievements of the group, in relation to 14 recommendations made by the first advisory group, and suggests ways forward.  The report also contains case studies which highlight the benefits of working in partnership.

Building Bridges for the New Millennium  - Government Response                               DfES/0797/2001   www.dfes.gov.uk/indstatepartner

 

Government Response to the Final Report of the Successor Advisory Group on Independent/State School Partnerships. It accepts the 4 recommendations made by the group, and sets out the Government’s current thinking.

Science and Engineering Ambassadors www.scienceyear.com &   www.setnet.org.uk

To be launched UK-wide at the end of January, Ambassadors will provide a local resource to support teachers of science, design and technology, mathematics and ICT.  

With skills in science, technology, engineering and maths and practical experience in industry or a university, Ambassadors will be able to help teachers in setting the curriculum in a work-based context.   This may be by giving talks or through helping to set up and run experiments, project work, or out of school activities.  They will also be able to provide up-to-date information about work in their field to teachers.  Ambassadors may be recent graduates, technicians or leading researchers and will be employed in a  variety of occupations.  

The essential requirement is that Ambassadors be able to support teachers in informing and enthusing students.  To ensure that Ambassadors are able to support schools they will be required to successfully complete an approved induction programme.  They will then be covered by personal liability insurance funded by the Department of Trade and Industry. 

For more details please see our websites  www.scienceyear.com

  and   www.setnet.org.uk 

 

The programme is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for Education and Skills.


Governors

Inclusive Schooling - Governors Information Sheet                                                         DfES 0789/2001 www.dfes.gov.uk/sen

 

Sets out the key information governors need to know about the changes made by the SEN and Disability Act 2001 to strengthen the right to mainstream education for children with special educational needs from January 2002.  

 

General Interest

Global Teachers Millennium Awards: Launch of round two www.lcd.org.uk

Link Community Development has recently launched Round 2 of the Global Teachers Millennium Awards. They will recruit up to 60 teachers from UK schools who will spend 5 weeks during their summer break in 2002 living and working in a rural community in Uganda or South Africa. The lucky teachers selected for Awards, which are worth around £5000 each, will receive a thorough training programme, flight to Africa, accommodation during placement, a cash grant for UK follow up work and ongoing support.  

Award winners will work in rural primary and secondary schools supporting local staff during their five week placement. They will also learn from their African colleagues and develop now personal and professional skills. The scheme aims not only to help improve education in Africa and give Award winners a once-in-a- lifetime experience, but also to benefit UK communities. On their return the teachers will spend a year using their experiences in Africa to raise awareness of global issues in their local schools and communities, building support for international development and enriching the leaching of the curriculum for children, The Award winners will build partnerships between African and UK schools, fostering mutual respect and understanding. 

For further information and a Global Teachers Millennium Awards application pack please contact Anna Campbell, Millennium Awards Assistant, Link Community Development, Unit 39 Kings Exchange Business Village, Tileyard Road, London N7 SAH. Tel: 020 7681 8763 Email: globalteachers@lcd.org.uk or visit our website www.lcd.org.uk

 The closing date for applications is 7 January 2002.

Better Services-Better Working Lives

A report by the Cabinet Office suggesting Government action and encouraging schools and local authorities to consider the report’s good practice case studies when taking forward local action on health and education services for women.

A-Z of School Leadership and Management

From management and finance to curriculum and standards, the A to Z of School Leadership and Management (www.dfes.gov.uk/a-z) is all you need to be kept up to date with school management issues.

New Topics:

Reports to school leavers aged 16 or over School Meals and Milk

The following topics have been updated:

Annual reports to parents                                                  School achievement award scheme European and international links                                       School age parents

Foreign language assistants                                             Sensory difficulties

Inspection of denominational religious education             Specialist schools programme  Mobile phones and base stations                                      Teaching assistants

Prospectus


PRICED PUBLICATIONS

The Stationery Office publications are priced and available from The Stationery Office, 51 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW8 5DR;   Tel: 0870 242 2345;   email: Customer.Service@ukstate.com    www.tsonline.co.uk/

The Education (School Teachers' Pay and Conditions) (No. 7) Order 2001                          SI3435/2001 Stationery Office :  November 2001                                                                                  ISBN 0 11 038797 X

The Education (City Academies) Order 2001                                                                           SI3445/2001  Stationery Office :  November 2001                                                                      ISBN 0 11 038701 5 : £1.50

The Education (School Performance Information) (England) Regulations 2001                  SI3446/2001 Stationery Office : November 2001                                                                       ISBN 0 11 038759 7 : £3.50

The Education (Inspectors of Schools in England) (No. 3) Order 2001                                 SI3496/2001 Stationery Office : November 2001                                                                       ISBN 0 11 038740 6 : £1.50

The Education (Inspectors of Education and Training in Wales) (No. 2) Order 2001           SI3505/2001 Stationery Office : November 2001                                                                                   ISBN 0 11 038735 X

Education (City Academies) (Subject Areas) Order 2001                                                       SI3631/2001 Stationery Office : November 2001                                                                       ISBN 0 11 038809 7 : £1.50


Spectrum Order Form

To order any of the publications listed, please:

  return form to DfES Publications, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley,

Nottinghamshire, NG15 0DJ (cheques, if needed, payable to ‘DfES Priced Publications’); or    telephone 0845 60 222 60; 

  fax the order sheet to us on 0845 60 333 60; or 

e-mail us at dfes@prolog.uk.com 

quoting the relevant publication numbers.

REQ’D

TITLE

ORDER CODE

NLS Early Literacy Support Programme - session materials for teaching assistants  

DfES/0651/2001

Special Educational Needs: A guide for parents and carers                        

DfES/0800/2001

Watching and Learning 2 - Evaluation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies

DfES/0617/2001

Building Bridges for the New Millennium       

DfES/0063/2001    

Building Bridges for the New Millennium  - Government Response            

DfES/0797/2001    

Superhighway Safety                                         

DfES/0807/2001   

Health & Safety: Responsibilities and Powers  

DfES/0803/2001

The National Numeracy Strategy, Springboard 6, Lessons for use in booster classes

DfES/0778/2001

External qualifications to be approved under Section 96 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 for pupils, students and work-based trainees under the age of 19.                                      

DfES/0796/2001

Inclusive Schooling - Governors Information Sheet 

DfES 0789/2001

Inclusive Schooling - Executive Summary     

DfES 0788/2001

SEN Code of Practice 2001                                 

DfES/0581/2001

Dyslexia: Pathways into Training                                                                            DfES/0079/2001                                  

ICT in Subjects Literacy Links Numeracy Links Art & Design Links New NC ICT in Subjects ICT Development Plans Key Stage 3 Links Key Stage 4 Links Courses Search Engines Documents Articles Company