by Les Hutchinson

We realise that some people who find their way here will not be experts in using blogs. So this is a quick guide to ways to keep up with our entries.

The first way is to keep coming back here. If you’ve found us once, and would like to read more or comment, then please visit again. We recommend that you add us as a favourite/bookmark (depending on your web browser) to make life a wee bit easier.

The second way is to follow us on Twitter. You’ll find us at @AngusChildren. Every time we publish a new entry, we’ll tweet about it. So you’ll know when there’s something new to get involved with.

Thirdly, you can add us to an RSS reader. (This is a bit more complicated.) An RSS reader basically brings entries from as many blogs as you like to one place. There are lots of RSS readers available for free. When you’ve picked one, you’ll probably need to visit our homepage and copy the web address to paste into the reader. After that, you can choose when you want to look at your RSS reader to see all of the new entries from the blogs that you follow.

If any of that has confused you, please leave a question in the comments and we’ll do our best to help.

by Lesley Eaton

Brake is encouraging educators to register for Road Safety Week (23-29 Nov), promoting the ‘drive less, live more’ theme. Brake will be encouraging families to consider how they use roads, and if they can switch to walking, cycling or using public transport as much as possible. Educators can teach road safety and active, sustainable travel in their classroom to help to meet goals of compulsory curriculum subjects such as science and geography, and also as part of a citizenship agenda.

Find out more and register online for a free email action pack at www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk.”

by Rodger Hill

Tayside and Fife Teacher Education Partnership – Local Legacy Event
Date:      Saturday 12 September 2015
Time:      10am – 1pm
Venue:    Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee:  http://j.mp/UoDDalhousie

The Tayside and Fife Teacher Education Partnership will host this event to share information about the partnership projects (Early Phase and Masters Level Learning) that teachers have been engaged in over the past year.  There will also be an opportunity to hear about the exciting new developments planned for the coming session and how you can become involved

Angus Council have been allocated 50 places for this free event.  a hot breakfast of bacon rolls with tea and coffee will be provided to welcome you on the day.

If you would like to attend, please email Morna Duncan, Admin Assistant at DuncanMH@angus.gcsx.gov.uk.  Places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.

Hope to see you there.

Rodger Hill
Service Manger, Schools and Learning

by Lesley Eaton

Cycling Scotland have confirmed that the following schools have been successful in the Cycle to School Competition that was held during Give Everyone Cycle Space.

• 1^st place goes to Williamston Primary School, West Lothian who’s P6 class took 84 journeys by bike during the week, resulting in a cycle to school rate of 62%
• 2^nd place goes to Aberdeenshire’s Ellon Primary School’s P6 class with 51%
• 3^rd place to the P6s of Fernielea Primary School in Aberdeen City with 48% of journeys by bike

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by Pauline Stephen

Hopefully most of you managed to find the sun this summer, although it wasn’t an easy task!  Those of us who work in schools can claim two New Years.  The one we all get at the end of the calendar year and the start of a new school session.  There is nothing quite like that new pencil case feeling.  Just like our children and young people who get excited (mostly!) about the start of the session, it is a time of optimism and expectation for many of our staff.  Plans are made, exciting lesson ideas are drafted and there is the fun and sometimes challenge of meeting and getting to know new and not so new young people and colleagues.  We saw some improvements in our exam results this summer and our schools will be keen to build on this success.  Our relentless focus on improving outcomes for our young people hasn’t gone away.  We know that part of ensuring this success, is supporting and developing our staff.  Keep tuned to the Angus Children and Learning Blog for updates on opportunities to learn with colleagues.  The Blog is a great way for us to share ideas and adapt them for our own settings.  There is a lot of great practice going on around Angus that is truly making a positive difference for our children, let’s share it and grow it.

by Pauline Stephen

Do you want to know more about how to turn your driver diagram actions into test of change?

Are you keen to learn more about how to measure impact more effectively?

Kirsty Ellis, the national RAFA Improvement Advisor who has been allocated as a support to Angus will be with us on Wednesday 26 August and Monday 14 September to help support and guide those schools who want to know more about implementing the improvement model outlined in RAFA.  Both sessions will be held between 9 a.m. and 12 noon at Arbroath Library.

The first session on Wednesday 26 August is an Improvement Clinic which will  focus on how we translate our driver diagram actions into tests of change.  Kirsty will give an input into the thinking behind the test of change approach and provide some examples of how to translate actions into tests of change.  Please bring along your own driver diagrams as we want this session to be about your work so that you leave having successfully managed to translate your own schools actions into tests of change.

The second session on Monday 14 September  will focus on how we measure impact and improvement.  Kirsty will show us some simple examples of how to do this and will help you begin to think about the range of ways you can do this in your own schools.  This session will help you gain confidence that data gathering and measurement can be done simply so don’t be scared!

Please confirm your attendance (stating clearly  which session/s you are attending) by email to Morna Duncan (duncanmh@angus.gov.uk) no later than Monday 24 August 2015.

We look forward to seeing you there and to working together to improve our efforts to raise attainment for all of our children and young people.