posted by:  Louise Kirby, YMI Coordinator and Creative Learning Facilitator

Angus Creative Learning Team offers a range of CPDs for primary teachers and EYPs. 

Please book through CPD online. 

Wee Wellie Wander
Target Audience – EYP’s, P1 & P2 Teachers

Site specific CPD sessions designed to develop teachers’ skills and confidence to creatively engage young learners in learning outdoors using art, design, and the natural environment.  Sessions designed around the facilities at Crombie and Monikie Parks but skills are transferable to any outdoor location, including school grounds.  Wee Wellie Wander is a colourful downloadable pack which includes images and descriptors for a variety of learning activities using natural materials.  Session includes pack and all materials.
LTG34-15/16  Wee Wellie Wander (Crombie) 24 September 2015
LTG35-15/16 Wee Wellie Wander (Monikie) 28 September 2015

Liven Up Your Learning with DRAMA
Target Audience – P4 – P7 Teachers

A series of three CPD sessions designed to develop teachers’ skills and confidence to plan and deliver drama at second level.  Ideally teachers will attend all three sessions as there is a progression in learning across the sessions, but sessions can be accessed individually if preferred.

LTG30-15/16 Liven Up Your Learning with DRAMA – Session 1, 22 September 2015
LTG31-15/16 Liven Up Your Learning with DRAMA Session 2,  10 November 2015
LTG32-15/16 Liven Up Your Learning with DRAMA – Session 3, 14 January 2016

Storybox
Target Audience – P1-3 Teachers

A series of three CPD sessions designed to develop teachers’ skills and confidence to plan and deliver drama at first level using stories as the key stimulus.  Storybox engages learners actively in listening and responding to story expressively using a range of drama approaches and techniques, developing literacy across learning while linking to the significant aspects of learning for drama.  Links to bookbug.  (Highlighted by Scottish Book trust as a model of good practice).  Ideally teachers will attend all three sessions as there is a progression in learning across the sessions, but sessions can be accessed individually if preferred.

LTG27-15/16 Storybox – Session 1, 22 October 2015
LTG28-15/16 Storybox – Session 2,  17 November 2015
LTG29-15/16 Storybox – Session 3, 21 January 2016

Introduction to Kodaly
Target Audience – P1-3 Teachers

A simple range of Kodaly techniques to introduce P1-3 teachers to the programme that will be delivered to support experiences and outcomes in music

LTG33-15/16 Introduction to Kodaly, 21 September 2015
LTG26-15/16 Introduction to Kodaly, 30 September 2015

posted by:  Simon Corrie, Andover Primary School

Andover Primary School hosted a STEM Day to allow children to explore science, technology, engineering and maths in a different way, aiming to promote STEM subjects. Dundee Science Centre and staff from the Education Department of the University of Dundee came along and hosted some of the activities in collaboration with Andover staff. The infant area explored space, the middle area investigated hydraulics and pneumatics and the upper area considered chemical reactions. The day was a huge success; children enjoyed the opportunity to work together on new challenges and this exemplified their learning from the day. It was also a valuable opportunity for all staff to experience a hands-on CPD and take the children’s learning on further in their own classrooms.

Brechiner Report: http://www.brechinadvertiser.co.uk/news/school-notes/pupils-learn-about-science-at-stem-day-1-3770575?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Mike (DSC), Richard and Neil (UoD) led an assembly at the start of the day to explore some concepts of space and chemical reactions.

posted by:  Trish Torz Service Manager, Schools and Learning

………An Exciting Opportunity for those Working in the People Directorate of Angus Council 

Are you interested in becoming a primary teacher?  Would you like to find out how to train as a teacher through distance learning while you work?   

If you are a University graduate currently working in any part of the People Directorate of Angus Council and would like to find out more about this exciting opportunity please come along to our drop-in awareness raising session any time between 4p.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday 22 September 2015 at Carnoustie High School.   

I look forward to seeing you there!

posted by Les Hutchinson, Head of Quality and Performance

Within the People DIrectorate we have a consultative group (imaginatively called the People Consultative Group). The PCG brings together unions, staff representatives and managers to look at issues that affect our workforce. We also look at some wider aspects of service delivery. Generally meetings are held every two months. The minutes of the meetings are  published on our Intranet sites (we’ll let staff know when they’re available), but we’d also like to let you know about some of the highlights as soon as possible.

So, yesterday’s highlights included:

• As previously mentioned, we will be visiting staff groups (during the working day) to explain our budget position and to seek input to our future planning.
• We had lively conversations about improving support for staff during service reviews – especially in the implementation phase –  and the level of uncertainty surrounding Health and Social Care Integration.
• We have established a group to look at the key messages from our recent Investors in People assessment. This group will produce an action plan and set of commitments about how managers will support and engage with staff.
• We will be consulting on a set of values that we will all use in our daily work. More details to follow.

posted by Trish Torz, Service Manager, Schools & Learning

Target Audience – Angus school leaders involved in the RAFA programme

Just a wee reminder that our national Improvement Advisor, Kirsty Ellis, will be back in Angus on the morning of Monday 14 September 2015 to help us develop greater confidence and awareness in using data to measure the impact of our small step tests of change.  This session will take place at 9.00 a.m. in Webster’s Theatre, Arbroath. 

At her recent workshop, Kirsty worked with 23 primary schools staff (HTs / DHTs/ PTs) to ensure the cycle of the improvement model was well understood and that our school leaders felt confident to articulate to all staff how to translate actions from school improvement driver diagrams into small step tests of change.

If you plan to come along to the follow-up session on measuring impact on Monday 14 September please ensure you let Morna Duncan (Duncanmh@angus.gov.uk)  know by email no later than Wednesday 9 September 2015.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Trish Torz
Service Manager, Schools and learning