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Delivering Results is a new strategy
document. It sets out, in a single document, the aim, objectives
strategic priorities, targets and ways of working, of the Department
for Education and Skills.
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Delivering Results emphasises
the need for a world-class workforce and modern infrastructure to
underpin the delivery of all our policies and describes the necessary
programme of investment. It is aimed at everyone who has a stake
in the Department’s agenda for education and skills. By clearly
laying out our strategic direction and ways of working, we are providing
the platform for ongoing dialogue and engagement with others on
how best to achieve the goals that we share and to achieve the best
possible outcomes.
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To review the head’s objectives and agree new objectives for the
next cycle of performance management the governing body will need
to arrange for an External Adviser visit.
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A booking should have been arranged before 10 November to guarantee
a visit in 2001. If you have not already done this please contact
CEA as soon as possible.
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To do this please complete and
return the pink form, that was sent to the Chair of Governors last
term, to Cambridge Education Associates (CEA), alternatively contact
CEA on 01223 578 500.
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Expert support for the development of Foundation Stage Practice
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The DfES is seeking the views
of Early Years and Childcare Development Partnerships (EYDCPs),
Local Education Authorities (LEAs) and early years organisations
and commentators on a proposal to establish nationally directed
training and development support for Foundation Stage practice.
Closing date is 29 December 2001.
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City Academies: Arrangements for pupils with SEN and disabilities
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The consultation sets out arrangements
for ensuring that City Academies are inclusive schools which cater
for the needs of pupils with SEN and disabilities on a comparable
basis to mainstream schools in the maintained sector. Closing date
is 29 December 2001
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A new special grant will be paid in financial years 2002-03 &
2003-04. Schools will be able to use it to support the costs of
rewarding high quality performance by post-threshold teachers, leadership
group members, advanced skills teachers and high performers on the
main pay scale. To have your say please access the above internet
site.
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Building A Strategy for Children and Young People: Consultation
Document
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A consultation on the developing
overarching strategy for all children and young people (0-19).
Copies of the document will be available from the Children &
Young People's Unit, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H
9NA. Tel: 020 7273 1120, email new.strategy@cipu.gsi.gov.uk
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Consultation on proposals arising
from the Treasury review of ill health retirement DfES 0677/2001
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The Treasury review covered the
range of human resource policies which affect the levels of ill
health retirement, and best practice in the management of pension
schemes. The consultation considers:
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- what more DfES and employers
might do to reduce illness amongst members of the Teachers’ Pension
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Scheme (TPS) which leads to ill health retirement;
- whether the roles and
responsibilities of employers, teachers and the Scheme’s medical
advisors should
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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.
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2001 Autumn Package of Pupil
Performance Information for GCSE/GNVQ DfES/0769/2001
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The 2001 Autumn Package of Pupil
Performance Information for GCSE/GNVQ target setting and school
improvement. GCSE/GNVQ data
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Closing date is 25 January 2002.
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for use with the 2001 Interactive Autumn Package will be available
to download from the Standards Website.
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For all other enquiries, please telephone 0870 000 2288 or email
autumn.package@dfes.gsi.gov.uk Secondary
Schools will also receive their PANDAs from OFSTED during November.
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Planning for learning in the
foundation stage QCA/01/799
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This supplementary guidance should
be read alongside the core reference document, Curriculum guidance
for the Foundation Stage. It provides a clear and simple approach
to planning that can be applied across a range of different settings,
recognising their varying needs. Some examples illustrate the different
approaches of early years practitioners.
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Education Action Zones (EAZ)
Newsletter Issue 4
DfES/0766/2001
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The EAZ newsletter is a termly publication for teachers and Headteachers
in EAZ schools. Contributions are sought across the country with
the aim of allowing them to share their experiences and pass on
examples of developing best practice.
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EiC Newsletter Issue 8
DfES/0757/2001
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To raise awareness, and disseminate
information and good practice about the Excellence in Cities programme
throughout England, includes the EiC local partnerships which this
issue focuses on.
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EiC Primary Supplement Issue
8 DfES/0768/2001
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Termly Newsletter Publication for information on the progress
of the EiC Primary Pilot.
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The Fast Track Teaching Programme:
Guidance for Headteachers DFES 0524/2001
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This guidance gives headteachers
and governors information on how to become part of the Fast Track
Teaching Programme by establishing Fast Track teaching posts in
schools. The Fast Track Programme will identify and reward existing
teachers with the greatest ambition and potential, and attract into
teaching the highest quality new graduates and career changers.
It focuses on rapid development of professional excellence in the
classroom as well as school leadership, and offers attractive incentives
in exchange for high levels of commitment.
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Advanced Skills Teachers Poster
DfES/0773/2001
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The poster promotes the Advanced Skills Teacher grade and helps
overcome any misconceptions. Its objective is to help raise awareness
about the ASTs and to encourage teachers to become ASTs and headteachers
to appoint them.
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Drug, alcohol and tobacco education training package for teachers
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In October DfES announced a drug, alcohol and tobacco education
training package for teachers. This promotes effective drugs, alcohol
and tobacco education in schools through well-planned and relevant
programmes. The initiative takes a whole school approach to drug
issues, and is backed by high-quality professional support. The
package consists of four key components: schools-based learning,
a professional development website, schemes of work and training
for school drug advisers.
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Assessing the Net Capacity
of Schools
DfES/0739/2001
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The capacity of a school is the number of pupil places it can
accommodate. From June 2002, the capacity of all maintained, mainstream
schools in England will be based on the ‘net capacity’ assessment
method. This requires a brief visit to the school by independent
surveyors before June.
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Net capacity will provide a single, robust and consistent method
of assessing the capacity of schools, which will be used for a number
of purposes. Local Education Authorities are responsible for informing
the Department of the net capacity of all their schools, and any
future changes to them.
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Funding under the ‘ongoing commitments’ element of SIPS-extension
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Some schools received funds under the ‘ongoing commitments’ element
of the “Social Inclusion: Pupil Support grant (SIPS)”. This strand
of the Standards Fund addresses problems through proving additional
staff, and reducing levels of truancy and exclusions so that other
school standards initiatives on educational attainment can be delivered
effectively.
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This funding is time limited and
was due to end on 31 March 2002, but has now been extended until
31 March 2003. It is important that LEAs and schools start to
plan as for the future development of these projects after this
date. This should be integrated into the school and LEA planning
and budgeting processes for tackling disaffection.
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School Finance Pack: promoting
benchmarking and accountability in schools DFES/0777/2001
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This guide will help school finance
officers implement Consistent Financial Reporting from April 2002.
The new Consistent Financial Reporting framework has been released
and this guide provides information on each of the headings. It
will be distributed by your LEA shortly, and is available to view
on the Value for Money Unit website. Copies are also available
from DfES Publications.
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How you should consult on your
admission arrangements: a reminder
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The law requires that all admission authorities must consult with
others locally before determining admission arrangements each year.
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Access to Education for children
and Young People with Medical Needs DfES/0732/2001
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This guidance replaces Circular
12/94, the ‘Education of Sick Children’. It sets out minimum national
standards for the education of children who are unable to attend
school because of medical needs.
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Special Educational
Needs Update 8
DfES/0738/2001
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This reports on latest developments in special educational needs.
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GridClub is a safe online fun-filled
educational site for 7 and 11 year olds, which complements their
Key Stage 2 work. Children can only become members with
their teacher’s help, so visit the site and see what GridClub has
to offer.
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Much of the material on the
site is multi-media and includes sound as well as bold and colourful
moving images. Access in Braille format is not currently available.
GridClub has crossed local boundaries such as Scotland and the
developers are considering access to membership of the site to
children of MOD officials stationed in Cyprus and Germany.
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The revised SEN Code of Practice, the new Disability Code and
You! - a practical training day for schools
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A series of 1 day conferences
for Heads and senior managers, SENCOs, school governors and LEA
support services on the two Codes, how they fit together and what
they mean for schools. Speakers include Dr John Visser (Birmingham
University), Tricia Barthorpe (North Lincs SEN Support Services),
Philippa Russell and Philippa Stobbs (Disability Rights Commission).
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Dates of conferences: 23 January
(Cardiff); 28 January (Sheffield); 1 February (Newcastle); 5 February
(Birmingham); 7 February (London); and 8 February (Fareham).
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Bookings and further details from
NASEN, NASEN House, 4/5 Amber Business Village, Tamworth, Staffs
B77 4RP, tel: 01827 311500 or e-mail: welcome@nasen.org.uk .
Cost is £95 for NASEN members and £125 for non-NASEN members.
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Parents Online showcases some of the most interesting and interactive
educational sites online. Schools can hold their own event at anytime
and enter the competitions unill the end of 2002. Tell us about
your favourite educational sites and join in Parents Online this
year.
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Independent/State School Partnerships
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Towards the end of November the
Department will publish the final report of the Advisory Group on
Independent/State School Partnerships and the Government’s response.
At the same time we will also be announcing the fifth round of partnership
applications for 2002-2003. Both the documents and application
forms will be available from our website.
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This website is a comprehensive
source of information and guidance, designed by and for school governors.
Content is drawn from a wide variety of sources including Government
Departments, National Associations, Educational Charities, Commercial
Providers and contributions of good practice from schools and LEAs.
Information includes an A to Z of Topics and Directories of Government
and other Contacts, Guidance, Good Practice and Publications.
For more information please contact Steve Smith at steve_s@governyourschool.co.uk
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Guide to the Law for School Governors Updates to issue in November
2001
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At the end of November we will
issue the third set of updates for the mainstream versions of the
Guide to the Law. The updates bring the Guide up to date with any
changes made as at September 2001. The main changes to the Guide
include: additional paragraphs within the SEN chapter about the
education of children and young people in public care and sick children,
updated information on performance management and performance threshold
for teachers within the Staffing Chapter, new information about
the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 within the Equal Opportunities
Chapter and details of area inspections in the Inspections Chapter.
There are also some small changes to other Chapters, all of which
are clearly marked in the updates.
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We would like to thank all chairs
of governing bodies in advance for distributing the updates.
As before there will be 21 sets for secondary schools and 14 sets
for primary schools. Please note that these updates will be sent
to the school address.
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10th international Conference on Thinking
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The 10th International
Conference on Thinking takes place from 15 - 19th June
2002 in Harrogate, West Yorkshire. The event is aimed at teachers,
academics and policy makers and will include plenary sessions with
key international speakers, as well as workshop sessions for teachers
both in this country and overseas to share good practice in developing
children’s thinking and reasoning skills. The event could also provide
an opportunity for teachers to present their own work in this area.
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More information about the conference including details about
making a presentation is available on the conference website above.
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Guidance after the events of 11th September
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Guidance on Teachernet reminds schools of existing sources of
information and support they may wish to draw on in handling issues
which arise following the events of 11th September.
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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
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The Education (Funding for
Teacher Training) Designation Order 2001
SI3202/2001 Stationery Office : October 2001
ISBN 0 11 029953 1 : £1.50
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The Education (School Teachers’
Pay and Conditions) (No. 6) Order 2001
SI3243/2001 Stationery Office : October 2001
ISBN 0 11 029988 4 : £2.00
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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.
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Education and Skills: Delivering Results - A Strategy to 2006
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Consultation on proposals arising from the Treasury review of
ill health retirement
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2001 Autumn Package of Pupil Performance Information for GCSE/GNVQ
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Planning for learning in the foundation stage
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Education Action Zones (EAZ) Newsletter Issue 4
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EiC Primary Supplement Issue 8
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The Fast Track Teaching Programme:
Guidance for Headteachers
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Advanced Skills Teachers Poster
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Assessing the Net Capacity of Schools
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School Finance Pack: promoting
benchmarking and accountability in schools
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Access to Education for children and Young People with Medical
Needs
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Special Educational Needs Update 8
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