posted by Jamie McLaren, Active Schools Coordinator

Fair Trade – Fair Play Football Tournament

Links Park, Montrose

Thursday 3^rd March 10am to 12noon

Angus Active Schools are hosting a Fair Trade – Fair Play football tournament at Links Park, Montrose, on Thursday the 3^rd March from 10am to 12noon. Primary schools from across Angus have been invited to enter a boy’s and a girl’s team from P5 to P7 pupils.

The tournament is aimed at promoting the fair trade message and highlighting the use of fair trade products. This is achieved by educating the pupils on fair trade while they attend the tournament, linking in the work already taking place at school. We have been extremely lucky in gaining sponsorship from Scotmid for this event for the 4^th year running. They will be providing a Fair Trade banana and juice for every participant at the festival. We will also be using fair trade footballs for all the matches.

To ensure the fair trade message is enhanced we put the emphasis on fair play at the tournament. Scores will not be taken but the referees will be monitoring every match to look for the best fair play acts. At the end of the tournament fair trade footballs will be presented to individuals and teams who excelled in their fair play attitude.

We would be delighted if anyone wishes to come along and support this event. If you wish to be involved in promoting your fair trade message then please contact Jamie McLaren on the contact details at the bottom of the page.

Many Thanks

Jamie McLaren
Email: mclarenj@angus.gov.uk
Mob:07771506038

posted by Eileen Jackson, Early Years Collaborative Programme Manager

Children and Young People’s Commissioner, Tam Baillie, visited a number of early years services on 14 January 2016) to see some of the outcomes of the Early Years Collaborative in Angus.

The Early Years Collaborative (EYC) was launched in October 2012 and is the world’s first national multi-agency quality improvement programme. Its aim is to make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up in by improving outcomes and reducing inequalities for all babies, children, mothers, fathers and families to ensure that all children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed.

Launched in October 2012, EYC involves all 32 Community Planning Partnerships and a wide range of National Partners.

In Angus there is a multi-agency approach, working to deliver improvement through change at grass roots level across the county. It focuses on what already works well and what needs to happen to develop more effective improvement.

Welcoming the Commissioner, the Council’s Vice Convener of Children and Learning, Councillor Lynne Devine said: “The early years of a child’s life is so crucial to their development and life chances.  For this reason we are trying hard to prioritise the services – health, social work and education – who work together to support families as early as possible.  In the Early Years Collaborative, continual improvements through small tests of change are undertaken to make our services as good as they can be for both the children and their families.

“I’m delighted to welcome Tam to Angus and to be able to show him some of the excellent work being done by staff in the Early Years Collaborative which in the long run will help to close the educational gap which concerns all of us.”

Tam Baillie, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland said: “The early years of children’s lives are the most important; it is their earliest experiences at home, at school and with friends that shape how they will develop. It is also a children’s rights issue. We know that focusing on the early years will have life-long benefits into adulthood. That’s why the work that Angus Council is doing through the EYC is an inspiring example of making real the good intentions of the Children and Young People Act and by doing so, further improve the long-term outcomes for our children.”

Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People said: “There are almost 650 Early Years Collaborative (EYC) Improvement Projects across Scotland and it’s encouraging to see that, through their involvement with the EYC, Angus is strengthening their services to improve outcomes and life chances for children and families.

“They have increased support for expectant mums where there are issues relating to substance misuse; improved sharing of information between health and early learning and childcare so children’s development needs can be identified and responded to as early as possible and they’ve increased children’s library membership through Bookbug to build literacy skills.  This is exactly what the EYC is about – making early year’s services as effective as possible so all children gets the best start in life and have an equal opportunity to thrive and learn.”

The commissioner found out more about the following on his visit:

• Hayshead Playgroup –  as per the Scottish Government’s commitment to improving and increasing high quality, flexible early learning and childcare which is accessible and affordable for all children and families. Visit to playgroup to see how they have managed these new requirements and indeed offering service to vulnerable 2 years olds ( criteria applies) The visit will see best practice of how outcomes have been improved for children, especially those who are more vulnerable or disadvantaged and greater support to parents to work, train or study, especially those who need routes into sustainable employment and out of poverty.

• Development of nurture spaces and cosy corners – Nurture spaces and cosy corners (for nursery aged children) have continued to grow and develop in a large number of primary schools and private providers within Angus. The aims of nurture spaces/ cosy corners are to address social and emotional difficulties in children who have missed out on early years attachment and nurturing experiences.  Staff have been trained in attachment, child development and nurture with a focus on the six guiding principles of a nurture room.
• Pioneer site EYC – The overall aim of the work of the pioneer site is to Increased support for unborn babies where there are issues of substance misuse with the ultimate aim that baby is born without neonatal abstinence syndrome at optimal health (good birth weight and born at full term).   To achieve this parents are supported to attend all antenatal appointments with drug and alcohol services, midwifery appointments and any other health related appointments.  A support person is identified at the early stages of the assessment process and it is this person’s responsibility to co-ordinate the details of all appointments and to remind the parents via text, telephone calls and at meetings of the appointments.  If necessary parents are accompanied to appointments.

• Dads group– Approaches to engage with vulnerable Dads and their child/ren where criminal activity has been or is a factor – Sport and physical activity is used as a medium to help fathers to engage with their children at Just Play.

posted by Lesley Watson, Business Liaison Officer, Schools & Learning

Education Scotland have published a new learning resource which provides support to develop practice related to career education.

This is the first in a suite of learning resources and introduces the Career Education Standard (3-18) together with its context, purpose and expectations in a logical and manageable format. The materials include a self-evaluation tool and contain references to How good is our school? (4th edition).

The resource has been developed to contribute to professional learning for practitioners at all levels working with children and young people in a variety of settings. Engaging with this professional learning resource will help you build on your existing practice.

Learning outcomes

As a result of engaging with this learning you will have:

• an understanding of the purpose and aim of the Career Education Standard (3 – 18) (CES);
• an understanding of the part you are expected to play, along with partners, in the implementation of the CES;
• an understanding of the entitlements for children and young people;
• developed, through self-evaluation, your understanding of the CES expectations in relation to your current practice;
• identified areas of the CES expectations for your professional learning; and
• a plan to take forward manageable changes to your practice.

posted by Marek Rzepecki, Educational Psychologist

“The change process is like moving a load around in a wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow only does its work while we are lifting the handles and pushing. As soon as we put the handles down and take the pressure off, movement stops. This, too, is the case with organisational change.”
Margaret Thorsborne

On 28^th January 2016, Restorative Champions in Angus Schools came together for a network meeting about Implementing and Embedding Change. We had an energising and stimulating session focused on sharing practice across schools and using Kotter’s change cycle to reflect on school implementation of Restorative Approaches.

Colleagues who attended found the event enjoyable and motivating. They left with ideas of how to take forward Restorative in school and the understanding that other schools were also facing similar challenges. Through discussing the change process, colleagues reflected on where their school was in the change cycle and where they needed to focus their efforts.

Here are a selection of comments from those who attended:

“i am leaving feeling motivated again”

“i feel rejuvenated”

“I’ve realised the impace that Restorative has on our school as a whole”

“We’ve realised we need to go back and make a case for change”

“We are all in the same boat”

“I have reaslised the importance of RA and raising the prifile with staff”

“Great benefit of getting together and discussin ideas”

“(We’re going to hold) drop in sessions for new staff”

“What i’ve realised:  We are doing things right.  We are nudging forward”

Colleagues were particularly keen to hold further network meetings, to visit other settings to see how other schools are proceeding with Restorative and to develop Peer Mediation in school.

Lorraine Robertson, Friockheim Primary School HT
Marek Rzepecki, Angus Educational Psychology Service

On behalf of the Restorative Approaches Steering Group

posted by Shabnam Wasim, University of Dundee

March 2016
Women in Science Festival
Brought to you by the University of Dundee
Forensic Events on Saturday 5 March

Title:  Amazing Anatomy, suitable for over 14 year olds
Date and time:  Saturday 5 March, Hourly tours between 11am – 3pm
Venue:  Centre for Anatomy & Human Identification, Medical Sciences Institure building
Dow Street, DD1 5EH
Booking details:  Free, booking essential
Event Details:  What does the inside of a human body look like? Do we all look the same inside? Does hair and nail really continue growing after you die? How does the brain work? You’ve probably been wowed with medical oddities, but why should abnormal bodies get all the attention? The truth about the normal human body can be more interesting than fiction.

Come and join us on a tour of the University of Dundee’s teaching anatomy lab, learn about how students study the human body and ask experts about the body.

Tours will run hourly on the hour. To book your free place on this workshop, please visit www.womeninscience.org.uk

Title:  Fascinating Forensics, Sutable for All/Families
Date and time:  Saturday 5 March, 11am – 3pm
Venue:  Centre for Anatomy & Human Identification, Medical Sciences Institure building
Dow Street, DD1 5EH
Booking details:  Free, non-bookable
Event Details:  Forensic Science and Anthropology is an awful lot more than what we see on TV series – large amounts of evidence often have to be collected and processed, a lot of witnesses may have to be interviewed, and it can take years (sometimes even decades) before the person responsible for a crime is brought to justice.

In the real world, forensic anthropologists and scientists work diligently out of the spotlight to provide the crucial pieces of evidence.
Come and explore the world of Forensic Anthropology and Science at the University of Dundee, meet experts as they open their doors to show you just what happens behind the scenes, and have a go at some of their activities.

Title:  The Grouse and The Mouse, Suitable for 3-8 year olds
Date and time:  Sunday 6 MArch 10am – 11am – Doors open 9.30am
Venue:  Bonar Hall, Park Place, Dundee, DD1 1PB
Booking details:  Free, Booking encouraged
Event Details:  Bagpipe the Black Grouse thinks he’s the most
magnificent animal in Scotland. He feels sorry
for Squeaker, the little brown wood mouse.
But when danger comes, Bagpipe finds he
needs help from his small, brown friend.

Join author Emily Dodd for a journey through
the Scottish countryside with Bagpipe and
Squeaker. Meet some of Scotland’s best-loved
animals, learn about camouflage, and learn
some funky new dance moves along the way.
With sounds, demonstrations, science experiments, dancing, music and a few
surprises. A book signing follows this event.

Booking is encouraged, otherwise please arrive early to avoid disappointment. To book your place on this workshop, please visit www.womeninscience.org.uk

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult

Title:  Love You to the Moon and Back, Sutable for over 7s
Date and time:  Sunday 6 March 3pm – 4pm – Doors open 2.30pm
Venue:  Bonar Hall, Park Place, Dundee, DD1 1PB
Booking details:  Free, Booking encouraged
Event Details:  5, 4, 3, 2, 1… BLAST OFF! Join scientist
and author Emily Dodd for a Mother’s
Day family science show and workshop.
Predict, experiment and discover the
science behind forces as we launch
rockets up into the air. Make your own
straw rocket and aim for the moon in our
rockets competition.

Booking is encouraged, otherwise please arrive early to avoid disappointment.
To book your place on this workshop, please visit
www.womeninscience.org.uk

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Title:  Explore the Universes with Lucy Hawking, Suitable for over 8s
Date and time:  Saturday 19 March, 11am – 2.30pm
Venue:  Bonar Hall, Park Place, Dundee, DD1 1PB
Booking details:  Free, Booking essential

Special Guest Appearance – Lucy Hawking
Event Details:  Do you want to take part in a cosmic treasure hunt and discover the secret key to the universe?

Now you can! Author Lucy Hawking guides us through an out-of-this-universe space adventure, plus exclusive, scientific theories behind each of her four George stories and shares some wonderful animations narrated by her father Stephen Hawking – Perfect for any curious mind.

A book signing follows this event.

Booking is essential. To book your place, please visit www.womeninscience.org.uk

To see the full progamme of events from the festival please visit:  www.womeninscience.org.uk