Category Archives: Partners

Free Connect sessions for Parents and Parent Councils in September

Connect Supporting Partnerships in Education

Connect have a great programme of free online information sessions  in September for parents and Parent Councils.

There is a choice of times for each session, either 1.30pm or 8pm.

Places are free, booking is essential via the links.

 

Parent Councils What’s Our Role Now?

1 September

Parent Councils – What’s Our Role Now?

https://bit.ly/ConnectPCRole1Sep

How can PCs work positively in the current situation? We will offer practical advice on how a Parent Council may help support parents/carers and the school community and find new ways to fulfil their role in the current situation.
Online Q&A How are you doing?

3 September

Online Q&A – How are you doing?

https://bit.ly/ConnectCatch-up3Sep   

We would like to invite parents and parent groups to an informal online chat We’re keen to know how Connect can help your parent group in this current situation. Please tell us about what your parent group needs and about your experiences.

We’d also like to hear about your parent group’s activities, ideas and plans and to share these with other groups. Let’s have a chat about how we can help each other.

Role of Parent Council PTA Chairs

8 September

Role of Parent Council/PTA Chairs

https://bit.ly/ConnectPCChair

For new and more experienced PC/PTA Chairs. Top tips for running effective meetings and dealing with tricky situations.  Advice on holding meetings online, setting agendas, working with other office bearers and working in partnership with your head teacher.
Reaching Out to All Families

10 September

Reaching Out to All Families

https://bit.ly/ConnectReachOut10Sep

Practical help to make sure everyone is included, supported and involved in your school community Who is engaged with the school community?  Who is missing?  What are the challenges faced by some families that make engagement difficult?  How can your PC and school community help to overcome these challenges?  This session will help you to engage more and different families in school and learning.
Role of Parent Council PTA Treasurer
15 September

Role of Parent Council/PTA Treasurer

https://bit.ly/ConnecTreasurer15Sep

For new and more experienced Treasurers Find out how to look after PC/PTA funds, report to meetings/AGM and comply with Connect membership-linked insurance.
Building School & Community Partnerships
17 September

Building School & Community Partnerships

https://bit.ly/ConnectPartnerships17Sep

For parents/carers, school staff, community organisations, working together to improve outcomes for children and young people. Practical ideas for your parent group to help your school move forward with projects around literacy, numeracy, health & wellbeing and many other areas.  We will look at how your school currently engages families and the wider community in children’s learning and how different types of involvement can help to improve outcomes for children and young people in the current situation.

 

Connect + Parenting Across Scotland
24 September

Connect + Parenting Across Scotland

https://bit.ly/ConnectFamilyRelationships  

Looking after yourself and your family The current situation has presented many challenges to parents/carers and a new set of pressures on family relationships. This session looks at things you can do to defuse difficult situations and care for yourself and your family.

 

 

Skills Development Scotland – Foundation Apprenticeships

If you are interested in finding out more information around Foundation Apprenticeships, contact the school and ask to speak with Mr Toal.

Foundation Apprenticeships – COVID-19 update and news

We continue to work closely with awarding bodies, partners and Scottish Government to quickly respond to issues arising from the epidemic to support you and learners in the delivery of Foundation Apprenticeships.

SDS appreciates all the work being done by learning providers and stakeholders at this time to support FAs. 

We remain committed to working with all key partners to build on the success of recent years, maintain delivery for the benefit of learners and employers during this period of uncertainty. 

We recognise that COVID-19 poses challenges for us all and we will work with yourselves to find solutions where required. 

SQA Accreditation

Thank you for submitting the requested information outlining the extent of SVQ completion against each framework for your learners. 

This continues to inform our engagement with SQA as we seek a solution. 

We expect to be in a position to provide a more detailed update on the work with SQA in the coming days.

Recruitment

Cohort 5 recruitment 

We’re contacting pupils who have submitted an expression of interest for a Foundation Apprenticeship via email to establish if they have completed an application with a learning provider or need additional support from SDS.

This is being tested on a small batch before being rolled out more widely.

Recruitment materials 

We’re currently developing new materials to support recruitment over the summer months – these will include social media assets and key messaging.  

Letters to current FAs

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sending a letter to all Foundation Apprentices going into their second year.

The letter will support the “keeping in touch” process by providing additional reassurance from SDS, whilst highlighting the support available from SDS Careers Advisers to all learners.   

A copy of the letter will be shared with all providers.

Careers Information Advice and Guidance service offer

A reminder that SDS has support in place for individual FA learners through our Careers Advisers. 

Advisers are available over the phone or online. To speak to a school Careers Adviser, call the local centre and ask for them by name.  

As part of this enhanced support, SDS Careers Advisers have been contacting FA learners on a one to one basis via existing procedures. 

Find a local careers centre or get more information on myworldofwork.co.uk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please check our COVID-19 FAQs for regular updates. 

We have added an answer on Disclosure Scotland and their capacity to support PVGs going forward this week. 

The FAQ guide for training providers is on the training provider area within the COVID-19 section of the SDS website.

This will continue to be updated to respond to FAQs coming through from you.

Further support

If you have any questions or issues not addressed by the guidance above, please email newapprenticeships@sds.co.uk

We continue to liaise with SQA on measures to support providers through this uncertain period.

We urge you to follow the Scottish Government’s latest information and advice on Coronavirus at gov.scot/coronavirus.

Public health advice can be found at: Coronavirus (COVID-19) on NHS Inform.

Keep up to date with guidance and information about COVID-19 issues on the SDS website.

Connect + Skills Development Scotland Next Steps Q&A 26 May 2020


Connect + Skills Development Scotland Next Steps

Invitation to our FREE online information session for parents

Q&A with Skills Development Scotland Next steps: young people’s options for education, work and training. To be held on Tuesday 26 May Places are free, registration is essential at

https://bit.ly/ConnectplusSDS

Choose from afternoon or evening session

The Skills Development Scotland and Connect teams will share advice and information about options for next steps within and from school. The teams will also share how they can help your young person make the best decisions about work, apprenticeships or other training, college or university as well as the most up to date information about accessing career services because of the impact of COVID19.

After you register, we will send you a link to join the session. If you would like to submit a question in advance, please contact training@connect.scot


Connect + Skills Development Scotland Next Steps

Social Care Course

Ready to make a change in your life and the lives of others?

Ready to start your Professional Career in Social Care?

Ready to study, learn and qualify as a professional, to support people effected by a variety of issues in life?

If the answer is yes, then we have the Social Care course for you:

NQ 6 SOCIAL CARE (National/SCQF level 6) – entry criteria: four National 5 qualifications (including English) & some care work or volunteering experience. Please go to the following links for more information and how to apply.

If you require any more information please contact the school passing on your name to Mr Toal.

Glasgow Clyde College NQ Social Care (Level 6)

Glasgow Clyde College NQ Social Care Level 6

HSBC UK Work Experience programme

The Work Experience programme at HSBC UK offers a five-day shadowing experience to students aged 14-18 years old. The programme has been set up with the idea to help young people from different social-economic backgrounds gain an insight into a professional environment, as well as the banking industry.

Applications to be made via the following links:

HSBC UK Work Experience Programme

HSBC UK Apprenticeships

Our placements will be spread out across Scotland and students can list their location preferences when applying, but please note that only one application should be submitted and we cannot make any guarantees on placing a student in their preferred location as this is subject to availability.

The closing date for applications is the 12th April 2020, however we do offer these on a rolling basis and do reserve the right to close some adverts early if we fill all our spaces. Places are limited.


HSBC UK Work Experience

School Closures 24th March 2020

Following the Prime Minister’s and First Minister’s broadcasts on Monday night, it is very clear that it is even more essential that we minimise the numbers of pupils and staff coming into schools to help reduce the social contact across the country in an attempt to slow down the spread of COVID-19.

Our procedures for supporting Key Workers began on Monday 23rd March.  However with the very small numbers involved, both in St Luke’s High school and across the authority, it has now been decided by the local authority to close all secondary schools with effect from Tuesday 24th March at 3pm.

The arrangements to support  Key Workers will still be in place but any St Luke’s High school pupils will from Wednesday be accommodated in Carlibar Primary as the Hub School for all pupils meeting the criteria.

We will follow strictly the guidelines that this offer is only open when both parents fall into the categories identified by the Scottish Government and only during periods when they are both at work.

Only the pupils identified as meeting the criteria should attend school and even in that case, only as a last resort.

Many of you have already made alternative arrangements and we appreciate your support with this.  If this is not possible, and you do meet the criteria and still require to send your child, please contact the school directly on SchoolMail@st-lukes.e-renfrew.sch.uk so we can plan to have staff present at Carlibar to cover from Wednesday .

If anyone’s requirements change over the next week until the Easter holidays begin, please contact the school directly on school email.

Staff continue to provide learning resources via Google Classroom and faculty websites on a daily basis.  Any pupils who have forgotten their password should alert us through school mail and this can be reset for them.   We would like to thank you for your ongoing support and messages throughout this very difficult time.

Healthier Minds – A Guide for Parents and Carers

Healthier Minds - A Guide for Parents and Carers

Healthier Minds – A Guide for Parents and Carers brings together
information and practical advice that we think you will find helpful when
supporting your child to manage life’s challenges. It includes information
about how low mood, anxiety and stress can affect us, how to develop
resilience, and looks at ways of developing strategies with your child to help
them manage and feel a bit better. There is also information about relevant
local services in East Renfrewshire, and the different roles that professionals
can have in supporting children, young people and families who are
experiencing more chronic and severe mental health needs