The Scottish Guidance Association is holding a Workshop Day at the Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline on March 2nd 2013.
For further details, please visit the Scottish Guidance Association website
Category Archives: Supporting Learners
Opportunities for All
The Scottish Government has published the following documents relating to Opportunities for All. They help to set out the expectations for delivery and processes to support better tracking of young people through the learning system.
Opportunities for All – Implementation Paper–
This publication describes the aim, principles and delivery mechanisms of the Scottish Government’s commitment to an offer of a place in learning or training for all 16-19 year olds who are not already engaged. It has been drafted in collaboration with key delivery partners, Skills Development Scotland, DWP Jobcentre Plus, the Scottish Funding Council and local authorities.
Post-16 Transitions Policy and Practice Framework –
This refresh of the 16+ Learning Choices Policy and Practice Framework positions 16+ Learning Choices within the context of the delivery of both Curriculum for Excellence and Opportunities for All. The Scottish Government would expect local partnerships to use this Framework to guide their detailed strategic and operational planning and to establish more formal agreements across and between services to ensure sustainable local delivery.
Post-16 Transitions Data Practice Framework –
The Framework sets out the roles and responsibilities of partners to effectively share data to support young people as they move through learning and training into jobs. It sets out the framework for data sharing that will allow the Scottish Government and its partners to create a system of working that appropriately supports each and every learning and training transition a young person makes from age 16 up until their 20th birthday. This system of working is central to delivery of ‘Opportunities for All’ and will significantly reduce the risk of a young person disengaging with learning and/or training.
Wise Up Wednesday: Free Bookbug for the Home Training
Bookbug Session for the Home training is suitable for professionals already working with vulnerable families in their homes.
The training will provide professionals with the knowledge, tools and resources to incorporate the core principals of Bookbug sessions (talking, cuddling and sharing books, songs and rhymes) into their home visits. The training focuses on how to sensitively and practically encourage parents and carers to engage with children in the home.
Bookbug for the Home training is available on the following dates and locations.
Dundee
28/11/2012 Education Suite, Dundee Heritage Trust 4-6.30pm
Glasgow
28/11/2012 Blythswood Room, Mitchell Library, Glasgow 10am-12.30pm
05/12/2012 Bridgeton Library, Glasgow 10am-12.30pm
16/01/2013 Bridgeton Library, Glasgow 10am-12.30pm
23/01/2013 Bridgeton Library, Glasgow 10am-12.30pm
West Lothian
19/11/2012 Conference Room 3, Civic Centre, Livingston 2 – 4.30pm
West Dunbartonshire
24/01/2013 Alexandria Library tbc
Bookbug for the Home is being delivered as part of the Bookbug Assertive Outreach programme to reach vulnerable families. This is taking place in the following authorities over 2012/13: Argyll and Bute, East Renfrewshire, Dundee, Glasgow, Inverclyde, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian. Subsequent training dates in all of these authorities will be offered in due course, and the Scottish Booktrust are very happy to put on bespoke dates on request.
To make a booking or for more information contact Kirsty Sinclair, Early Years Outreach Co-ordinator at Scottish Book Trust on 0131 524 0179 or e-mail kirsty.sinclair@scottishbooktrust.com
The Doran Review Report
The Doran Review Report – The Right Help at the Right Time in the Right Place. Strategic Review of Learning Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Additional Support Needs has been published by the Scottish Government.
The report and the Scottish Government response can be downloaded here:
ASN – Support through Educationally Based Theatre
UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES OUTWITH OUR CONTROL THIS EVENT HAS HAD TO BE POSTPONED WE APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.
Meet Engross Theatre who are a registered charity that brings the principles of the Curriculum for Excellence to children with additional support needs, through educationally based theatre.
To do this effectively they meet with teachers of children with additional support needs to discuss the children’s learning requirements. Subsequently a play is written on the topic requested by the teachers. The play’s content, language level and presentation style is tailored to the abilities and needs of the target audience. Audience participation is an important ingredient in all their commissioned plays and to maintain high standards, they employ professional writers and actors.
All their educational outcomes adhere to the principles of the curriculum for excellence. Learning outcomes are measured by question and answer sessions immediately after performances, or through questions incorporated into the plays, and from feedback forms issued to staff after performances.
And as they seek funding there is no charge to the school!!
Why not join us on Thursday 1st November at 3.45pm and find out more about this exciting theatre company along with Teri (Theresa) McIntosh, Development Officer for Expressive Arts and hear from a teacher who has worked with Engross, Ellen Muir – Headteacher of Pilrig Park, School in Edinburgh.
Sign up and join us in Glow TV and if you can’t take part live make sure you watch the recording in Watch Again!
Glow TV – Watch Again!
Have you read about an event in Glow TV and wanted to join in live but were unable to because of other classroom commitments or timetabling? Do you want the ability to view exciting or interesting pupil focused Glow Meets at a time that is convenient to you? Do you want to enhance your Professional Learning at a time that suits you? Well you can in Glow TV’s Watch Again facility!
All Glow TV events are recorded so if the time of the live event isn’t suitable for you and/or your class to join in you can still have the opportunity to watch the recorded version at a time that suits your timetable or other classroom/personal commitments.
Watch Again is available in Glow TV and you can filter all the recordings that have taken place over the past 17 months either by name or by the programme category eg Literacy and English, CPD etc or by the programme tags.Once you have found what you want to watch simply click the Watch Again link which will take you to your chosen programme (and all the others in that channel category too!) and you can then view the recording at your leisure. You can also have the opportunity in our Watch Again Feedback Forum to let us know how useful you found the recording and if/how it enhanced your or your classes learning.
So why not take part in Glow TV when it suits you? You may not be able to ask questions in a live environment but you will still be able to see and listen to experts in their field and have fun in our numerous interactive Glow TV events.
Get to Know the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Scotland Seminar
Wednesday 14 November 2012
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is holding a seminar on Wednesday 14 November from 5pm to 7pm at their offices at Rosebery House in Edinburgh. The aim of this seminar is to:
- Provide an overview of the charities structure and work;
- List current partner organisations that are delivering DofE;
- Provide an overview of the DofE programme and it’s uses in different settings;
- Look at how the DofE is delivering on local and national outcomes;
- Look at opportunities to deliver the DofE as a licensed organisation.
This FREE event is aimed at anyone with an interest in delivering the DofE whether that be a practitioner, manager or volunteer.
Contact: Sarah Hayden at The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, phone: 0131 343 0920 e-mail
West Lothian External School Hub – Partnership Working
West Lothian has set up a forum known as the External School Hub to enable all partnership agencies to come together in a solution-focussed approach to supporting vulnerable young people who require more choices and more chances into a positive pathway. The External Hub adopts a holistic approach to providing maximum support which involves close partnership working (including young people and parents) to enable the young people to benefit from a personalised education and support package either within or outwith the school setting.
Inquiry into decision-making on taking children into care
Education and Culture Committee of the Scottish Parliament is holding an inquiry into the decision-making processes involved in determining whether a child should be removed from the family home and taken into care; and whether these processes are delivering the best outcomes for children and their families.
The Committee is interested in undertaking informal fact-finding visits as part of the evidence-gathering process. Please contact ec.committee@scottish.parliament.uk if you are interested in hosting one of these visits.
Deadline for written evidence: 28 August 2012
Children and Young People Bill
The Scottish Government is consulting on its vision for children and young people’s rights and services. The Bill’s measures include:
- embedding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child across the public sector;
- extending the powers of the Scottish Commissioner for Children and Young People to enable the Commissioner to undertake investigations on behalf of individual children and young people;
- increasing the funded annual provision of pre-school education for 3 and 4 year olds and looked-after 2 year olds;
- fully implementing the Getting it right for every child approach across Scotland so that all children and young people have a Named Person;
- introducing a single planning process to support children and young people needing the involvement of a range of services;
- raising the age at which young people leaving care can ask for help from a local authority from 21 to 25; placing a clearer definition of corporate parenting is put on statute. YouthLink Scotland will consult with our membership on a response to the Bill. Further details will be available in due course.
Further information can be found on the scottish government Website
English as an Additional Language (EAL) – CPD Resource
The new EAL section offers practitioners guidance on supporting bilingual learners. It covers recent developments in EAL, addresses key issues for each sector area, provides reflective questions and links to new examples of good practice from early years, primary and secondary establishments. There are also links to relevant resources across Education Scotland and beyond, including a collection of useful Journey to Excellence videos offering support in dealing with the wide range of issues that can affect bilingual learners.
North Ayrshire-Extended Outreach Case Study- Supporting Young People into Positive and Sustained Destinations
This filmed case study with reflective questions to support planning for choices and changes, MCMC and 16+ Learning Choices is now available on the Education Scotland website.
The case study highlights the support available from a range of partners in planning for choices and change (including 16+ learning choices) to post 16 transition stage. The case study is located in the planning for choices and change/16+ Learning Choices areas of the website. Key themes covered are inclusion, GIRFEC and support for young people with additional support needs. This case study will benefit all partners working with young people in the senior phase and post school.
Schools IT Excellence Group set up
The Scottish Government has announced that Education Secretary Michael Russell has appointed the Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Muffy Calder to convene an ICT Excellence Group to consider the future development of the schools’ intranet ‘Glow’.
The new ICT Excellence Group will draw on the experience and expertise of end-users, and educational technology experts to scope the long-term user-centred future of Glow.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Michael Russell said:
“It is crucial that the next generation of Glow allows schools to harness the power of technology for learning, to keep pace with rapidly evolving developments and speak the language that young people speak online.
“Professor Calder’s group will have the challenge of imagining a future for the service that can be customised to the individual requirements of our young people, is dynamic and can remain relevant for years to come. I look forward to receiving their advice later this year.”
The group members are now announced as follows: Prof Muffy Calder, Prof Ian Sommerville, Prof Mike Sharples, Mr Ewan McIntosh, Mr Charlie Love, Prof Bill Buchanan, Mr Hamish Budge, Prof Jeff Haywood, Mr Neil Winton, Mr Tony Rafferty, Mr Fraser Speirs, Ms Jaye Richards Hill and Mr Martin Dewar who will facilitate the involvement of two school pupils in the group.
See announcement on Engage for Education.
Community Learning and Development: Strategic Guidance for Community Planning Partnerships
The CLD strategic guidance was launched on Monday 11 June on the Engage for Education website. Watch the video blog by Michael Russell, MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning.
Throughout the week of the 11th June there was a series of themed blog discussions covering areas such as: the impact of CLD and how the Guidance will support this work, Curriculum for Excellence, community engagement and empowerment, young people’s transitions from school and the implementation phase of the Guidance.
Following the initial launch, further discussion about the Guidance will take place on our Strategic Guidance Blog on Connect.
Cabinet Secretary announces positive future for Glow
Mr Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, made an announcement today on the immediate and long-term future of Glow.
You can read full details of Mr Russell’s announcement on Engage for Education.
2500 young people to be helped into work
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/06/esf-employment05062012
Leading youth charity The Prince’s Trust will receive £750,000 of European Structural Funds (ESF) to help even more young people into the jobs market.
The investment builds on last month’s announcement by the Scottish Government that £25 million of ESF would be focused on projects designed to get young people into work.
The Prince’s Trust will use the funding to extend their core programmes to help disadvantaged 16-25-year-olds build their confidence and increase their motivation to get their lives working again.
MCMC 16+ Learning Choices newsletter
The April/May 16+ Learning Choices newsletter is available here (Glow log in required)
In addition to articles from Skills Development Scotland, this edition contains news from a number of local authorities, including: Angus, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, Perth and Kinross, Shetland Islands, Western Isles, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh.
1:1 Scotland – a new CPD community on Glow
On Thursday of this week, Derek Robertson of Education Scotland will be introducing a new CPD Community on Glow, 1:1 Scotland. If you are interested in how some schools in Scotland are taking learning forward in a school or class where every student has a computer or other device, then this is for you!
The first online 1:1Meet takes place on Thursday 24th of May at 4pm. More details and sign-up here on Glow
This is the first of several 1:1Meets planned to help build the community. In future opportunities, Ian Stuart of Islay High and Fraser Speirs of Cedar School of Excellence will share their experiences of 1:1 learning.
16+ Learning Choices for young people with additional support needs
16+ LC ASN conferences report provides a summary of the three regional Education Scotland events held in February 2012
Millions for Disadvantaged Communities
Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, has announced the new People and Communities Fund to promote and support community-led regeneration initiatives across Scotland, is open for applications.
The People and Communities Fund will invest in community anchor organisations that deliver local regeneration activity and promote change in our most disadvantaged communities. The fund will have particular focus on supporting initiatives to increase people’s chances of entering employment, from progressing further in current work to help break down any barriers people face when considering employment.
In addition to supporting employability, focus will also be on promoting future preventative spending, such as investing in initiatives that will help improve health now to prevent future illness and hardship.
[ website ]
respectme – training opportunity
respectme, Scotland’s Anti-Bullying Service, provides free training to adults who have a role to play in the lives of chidren and young people. Their next event is ‘Cyberbullying…..are you switched on?’ training on Tuesday 8 May, 2012 in Edinburgh. This training day will increase understanding of cyberbullying, its impacts and provide participants with practical strategies to address it. Full details and online registration can be accessed here
Glowing Thursdays – Passion for Paralympics
Thursday 26/04/2012 @ 10:45
Join us live from the Ottobock and International Paralympic Committee ‘Passion for Paralympics’ exhibition at Glasgow Science Centre for an exciting Glow Meet featuring British Paralympian, Jonathan Paterson from Motherwell, Scotland.
In addition we are also delighted to welcome Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, Shona Robison MSP who will also be taking part in the Glow Meet.
The exhibition is designed to create excitement for the London 2012 Paralympic Games and spread the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality. The exhibition also includes a history of the Paralympic Games, from its beginnings in Stoke Mandeville. It will inspire the nation to get behind the British Paralympic Team and provide an unprecedented welcome for the international athletes who will be in London to challenge them!
During the event viewers will have an opportunity to hear why Ottobock has a ‘Passion for Paralympics, Games Legacy for Scotland as well as being able to hear directly from Paralympian Jonathan Paterson who has just been named as one of the 22 footballers who will represent Great Britain at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
It will be Jonathan’s second Paralympic Games, having helped the seven-a-side team finish seventh in Beijing. Find out more about his experiences and his hopes for the London 2012 Paralympic Games by asking him your own questions live on the day.
Sign up and join us for this exciting event!
BREAKING NEWS- WE WILL ALSO BE JOINED IN THE GLOW MEET BY BOCCIA PLAYING BROTHERS STEPHEN AND PETER MCGUIRE!!
World of Work Wednesdays – Working in Architecture
Wednesday 25th April 2012 @ 14:00
Are you creative? Do you enjoying building and designing? Are you interested in spaces, places and the environment? Ever wonder why buildings are the shape they are? Then join our World of Work Wednesday event about the world of architecture and the built environment.
We will be joined on the day by two architects who will talk through their inspiring careers and answer any questions you may have about joining this exciting and creative profession.
Why not sign up and join us for this interesting event?
16+ Learning Choices newsletter
The February/March 16+ Learning Choices newsletter is available here (Glow log in required)
In addition to articles from Skills Development Scotland, this edition contains news from a number of local authorities, including, Argyll and Bute, Falkirk, Renfrewshire, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Shetland and Fife.
Enquire newsletter
Enquire’s March e-newsletter is now available online.
It includes two useful articles on how Speech and Language Therapists and Learning Assistants work with children who have additional support needs. It also includes a section called ‘ASL Myths’ which aims to clarify and simplify additional support for learning. This month’s myth looks at Co-ordinated Support Plans.
Materialism
Listen to an interesting talk by Carol Craig from the Centre for Confidence and Wellbeing on how materialism has undermined our wellbeing in scotland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQel6t784W0&list=PLD653EAC9A01E75E6&index=6&feature=plpp_video
New Enquire Film Launched
In Enquire’s new film, young people share their views and feelings about how their school experience is affected by being in care, being a young mum, having Asperger’s or other learning difficulties, and the support that has helped them get the most out of their education.
Launched at the 2012 Enquire National Conference, the film looks at a variety of key themes, including: –
- How different staff and agencies work together to support pupils;
- How approaches to learning can be tailored to meet the needs of individuals;
- What young people think is important in terms of planning their learning and support.
You can watch ‘The Learners’ Perspective’ here.
Enquire is the Scottish Advice Service for Additional Support for Learning. They can help you understand children and young people’s rights, to get extra support to enable young people get the most out of their education.
Shakti Roadshows 2012: ‘Honour Based Violence’
Shakti Women’s Aid have organised a series of road shows exploring Honour-based violence and Gender-based violence with a special focus on BME Children and Young People in different cities in Scotland.
The first road show will be held at the Auchterderran Centre in Fife on 13th June 2012
- Pragna Patel (Southall Black Sisters),
- John Fotheringham, (Lindsays Family Solicitors) who will talk about the new Forced Marriage Act
- the FGM charity DARF on Female Genital Mutilation
- Shakti Women’s Aid
The event is free but booking is required: for more information & booking contact Ola on 0131 475 2399 or email info@shaktiedinburgh.co.uk
CHANGE- learning disabilities sexuality resources
The CHANGE sex and relationship pack includes 5 accessible books on a variety of SHRE Topics
The books encourage understanding of sexuality and awareness of safe sex and can be used to support open discussion about all aspects of sex and relationships.
The books are accessible which can be used as a useful tool for people with learning disabilities, people who speak English as a second language or people who find reading difficult.
CHANGE is a leading national human rights organisation, working for the rights of all people with learning disabilities. They also employ people with learning disabilities on an equal, living wage to produce accessible resources and deliver training.
The books are available either as a pack or as individual books from the CHANGE website
The Doran Review
A message from Children in Scotland in relation to the Doran Review
Doran Review: Have Your Say on Complex Additional Support Needs
Children in Scotland is inviting interested parties to a series of free half-day consultation events for parents, carers and support groups and would very much appreciate it if you could pass the information on to any parents, carers or colleagues you know who would be interested in contributing their views.
On behalf of the Scottish Government, Peter Doran is currently chairing a review of how best to provide education for Scottish children and young people with the most complex learning needs. The Doran Review will be providing recommendations to the Scottish Government in June 2012 on how the system can be improved.
These consultation events are to gather the views of both families and parent support groups on the key issues, which will be submitted to the Review.
You will be asked for your views on:
● how satisfied you are with the processes to identify your child’s care, health and learning needs
● how well informed you feel about schools and services that could help your child
● how well your child’s nursery or school and other services such as health and Social Work are meeting his or her needs
● how well supported you and your child feel when he/she is preparing to leave and settling in to a new school or leaving school to go on to adult services.
Dates and locations
22nd March, 12 noon to 3pm
Aberdeen Thistle Altens Hotel
27th March, 9.30am to 1pm
Edinburgh Hilton Grosvenor Hotel
29th March. 9.30am to 1pm
Glasgow Hilton Grosvenor Hotel
The events are open to parents, carers and support groups from across Scotland who have an interest in the provision of education for children and young people with complex additional support needs.
You can book online at www.childreninscotland.org.uk or by phone on 0131 222 2446
All Our Children: Positive Experiences, Successful Outcomes for Looked After and Other Vulnerable Children
Glasgow – 4 to 7 September 2012
CELCIS are organising the 12th European Scientific Association on Residential and Foster Care for Children and Adolescents conference.
The call for papers is open until 23 March and organisers are keen for Scottish practitioners, policy makers and academics to submit contributions of innovative practice, such as effective partnership work that supports young people in care, leaving care, foster care or through care, as this conference is an excellent opportunity to showcase work that is going on in Scotland.
Details of how to submit an abstract can be found here.
Information on the EUSARF 2012 Conference can be found here.
Youth Employment Seminar
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
Did you know that 102,000 16 to 24 year-olds in Scotland were unemployed from October to December 2011? The employment rate was 52.9% in Scotland (50.2% for UK).
FEdS is organising a seminar on Youth employability: The opportunities and challenges of a changing recruitment market on 28 March at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange, involving Education Scotland as a FEdS member and recruitment specialist Bright Purple Resourcing. The seminar coincides with the first National Career Guidance Show to be held in Scotland, organised by Prospects and the Institute of Career Guidance. Follow the link for more information or contact coral.rayfield@feds.co.uk to book your place.
FEdS is a small, specialist organisation that provides a neutral space where senior, experienced people from business, education and government can think creatively and work collaboratively.
FEdS was established in 1996; it has a membership of over 50 organisations and a significant network of associates drawn from a wide range of sectors. FEdS aims to create greater understanding between business, government and education, leading to better policies and practices.
Mental Health Toolkit for Young Carers
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Young Carers Mental Health Toolkit is now available online for anyone working with young carers. The toolkit was developed in direct response to worker requests for more resources around promoting positive mental health and wellbeing. The toolkit also addresses requests made by young carers for more information and help in dealing with emergency situations and building support. The toolkit was developed by Young Carers Mental Health Development Coordinator from Princess Royal Trust for Carers, in partnership with Scottish Young Carers Services Alliance and funded by The Scottish Government. You can access the toolkit here.
Alternatively it can be found on www.youngcarers.net click on Professionals page and then on subheading Health and follow the links to the toolkit.
In addition The Princess Royal Trust for Carers website has excellent information and resources for anyone working with Young Carers.
Scottish Network for Able Pupils event 21 March 2012
Literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing: making the experiences and outcomes work for able pupils
The Scottish Network for Able Pupils is running a one day session for managers and teachers interested in looking at what the experiences and outcomes in numeracy, literacy and health and wellbeing might look like in practice for highly able pupils particularly in P4-P7 years of primary school.
The day will draw on findings from a recent research project undertaken by SNAP. Participants will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced SNAP staff to develop activities linked to the experiences and outcomes. They will hear about current developments in education and what this means for children who are working ahead of their age peers. Participants will leave with ideas and activities that can be put into practice in the classroom. These ideas and activities will not only support pupils who are highly able but will support the learning of all.
Date: Wednesday 21st March 2012
Time: 9.15-3.15pm
Venue: St Andrew’s Building, University of Glasgow, 11 Eldon Street, Glasgow G3 6NH
Cost: £80 for SNAP members and for schools and Nurseries from Associate Tutor Authorities. £90 for non-SNAP Members
The day includes: all materials, tea/coffee on arrival, tea/coffee mid-morning, lunch.
To book a place please contact
Education-SNAP@glasgow.ac.uk
Our address is
SNAP
School of Education
St Andrew’s Building
University of Glasgow
11 Eldon Street
Glasgow
G3 6NH
Or fax :
0141 330 3476
Children’s Mental Health Conference 2012 (Glasgow)
| This conference will aim to refresh and enhance your knowledge on a variety of key topics and current developments in the field of children’s mental health, show examples of good practice and most importantly provide you with practical information which you can apply. It will take place on Tuesday 15th May 2012 at Hilton Glasgow Grosvenor Hotel and costs £197 including lunch and refreshments.
Please click on the following link for information on the conference and booking details – http://www.bipolarscotland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mental-Heath-Troubled-Times.pdf |
December 2011/January 2012-16+ Learning Choices Newsletter
The latest edition of the 16+ Learning Choices newsletter has been published. Click here to read the newsletter.
What are friends for?
The presence of friends mitigates negative experiences, study proves
“Stand by me” is a common refrain when it comes to friendship; however, new research from Concordia University proves that the concept goes beyond pop music: keeping friends close has real physiological and psychological benefits.
The presence of a best friend directly affects children going through negative experiences, as reported in the recent Concordia-based study published in Developmental Psychology. The study was conducted with the collaboration of researchers at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Feelings of self-worth and levels of cortisol, a hormone produced naturally by the adrenal gland in direct response to stress, are largely dependent on the social context of a negative experience.
“Having a best friend present during an unpleasant event has an immediate impact on a child’s body and mind,” says author William M. Bukowski, a psychology professor and director of the Concordia Centre for Research in Human Development. “If a child is alone when he or she gets in trouble with a teacher or has an argument with a classmate, we see a measurable increase in cortisol levels and decrease in feelings of self-worth.”
A total of 55 boys and 48 girls from grades 5 and 6 in local Montreal schools took part in the study. Participants kept journals on their feelings and experiences over the course of four days and submitted to regular saliva tests that monitored cortisol levels.
Concordia psychology professor William M. Bukowski | Photo by Concordia University
Although previous studies have shown that friendships can protect against later adjustment difficulties, this study is the first to definitively demonstrate that the presence of a friend results in an immediate benefit for the child undergoing a negative experience.
These results have far-reaching implications. “Our physiological and psychological reactions to negative experiences as children impacts us later in life,” explains Bukowski. “Excessive secretion of cortisol can lead to significant physiological changes, including immune suppression and decreased bone formation. Increased stress can really slow down a child’s development.”
According to Bukowski, when it comes to feelings of self-worth, “What we learn about ourselves as children is how we form our adult identities. If we build up feelings of low self-worth during childhood, this will translate directly into how we see ourselves as adults.”
The study builds on previous research at Concordia that has shown multiple friendships inoculate against negative outcomes such as bullying, exclusion and other kinds of aggression.
About the study
The paper, “The Presence of a Best Friend Buffers the Effects of Negative Experiences,” published in the journal Developmental Psychology, was authored by William M. Bukowski of Concordia University in Canada, Ryan E. Adams of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and John Bruce Santo of the University of Nebraska at Omaha in the United States.
The Review of the Community Learning and Development Strategy in Scotland
| The Review of the Community Learning and Development Strategy in Scotland |
| The discussion on the review of the CLD Strategy has now been widened and anyone interested can view the discussion paper and engage in the discussions online by going to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7T2R5CJ.
This is the route for formal written responses to the discussion, and is an opportunity to drive forward essential aspects of key agendas including Curriculum for Excellence, the Literacy Action Plan, 16+ Learning Choices, regeneration and community empowerment. The Scottish Government also sees the discussion as a way of developing shared thinking on key issues including post-16 education, college regionalisation and the Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill. |
Scottish Support for Learning Association
Visit the SSLA website for information about their spring conference on 28 April.
Resources for RME – “Amina” Muslim Womens Resource Centre
Amina – the Muslim Women’s Resource Centre is an organisation based in both Glasgow and Dundee that is willing to support schools in the teaching of Islam. They can offer a wide variety of services and workshops. They have worked with a number of schools in Dundee and have been well received and are looking to work with more schools across the country.
Please visit their website to find out more or look at the attached document.
Amazing things 3
Amazing Things 3 – a guide to the youth awards in Scotland – has been published
Launch of new edition of Amazing Things supports youth employment agenda
As Scotland’s youth unemployment figures continue to rise, a new edition of flagship publication Amazing Things highlights the range of opportunities available for young people through Scotland’s youth awards.
The third edition of Amazing Things – a guide to the youth awards in Scotland, has been produced by the Awards Network, a forum of twenty-one providers of non-formal learning awards across Scotland.The Awards Network was established by Youth Scotland as part of the Scottish Government’s Volunteer Action Plan.
Amazing Things (Third edition) and the work of the Awards Network is in alignment with the Scottish Government’s strategy to tackle the national challenges of youth unemployment. Both recognise the significant role youth work has to play in supporting young people to become successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
As well as providing an index of the awards available for young people aged 12 – 25, the publication celebrates the significant voluntary contributions that young people are already making in their own communities. It makes a clear link between use of the youth awards and an increase in young people’s ‘soft’ skills and employability levels.
A key publication for youth work organisations, schools, colleges, universities, and employers, Amazing Things (Third edition), is available to download for free here.
Adolescent Health and Risk Behaviours Symposium
Adolescent Health and Risk Behaviours Symposium
Policy, Research and Practice
Wednesday 29th February 2012
Royal Society of Edinburgh, George Street, Edinburgh
9:30am – 3:30pm
If you would like to register for a place, please complete and return this form to Renee Ingram (renee.ingram@scphrp.ac.uk).
My Oil and Gas Career Website
If you’ve been working with the STEM Central contexts, or perhaps want to find out more about potential careers in the Oil and Gas industry for advising learners, 
OPITO’s new careers website www.myoilandgascareer.com has arrived at the right time. The site is a one-stop-shop for information on careers within the oil and gas industry.
Myoilandgascareer.com is aimed at anyone looking to find out more about entry routes into the sector and details the breadth of careers available. As well as providing information on training and development; the site offers a range of education tools as well as an ‘ask a professional page’ which allows users to post a question to be answered by an industry representative within 5 working days. Filmed case studies focussing on what it’s really like to work in oil and gas (both onshore and offshore) are provided by industry employees – ensuring the site is informed by those who have first-hand experience of working in the sector.
The ‘Future First Survey’ shows 60% of young people choose career advice, work experience or employment skills as issues the education sector should focus on to better prepare students for future careers. This illustrates the vital service myoilandgascareer.com will play in opening up the wealth of opportunities available to young job seekers.
If you are keen to help learners explore their future and plan pathways into oil and gas, or to enhance your understanding of the STEM careers on offer in this industry, why not begin the journey at www.myoilandgascareer.com .
Youth Employment Strategy
The Scottish Government has, today, published its youth employment strategy.
You can access the full document here: http://tinyurl.com/7prjx3r
You can access the full document here: http://tinyurl.com/7prjx3r
Scottish Education Awards
The Scottish Education Awards celebrate the hard work and success which takes place in Scottish education. They recognise the achievements of people who dedicate their lives to children and young people and showcase the valuable work and innovation in Scottish classrooms. Nominations close on Friday 2 March 2012. Visit the Scottish Education Awards website for more information.
New briefing from Enquire – Extra Support at School: The rights of looked after children
New Briefing from Enquire – Extra Support at School: The Rights of Looked After Children
The law says that all looked after children should have the extra support they need to get the most out of their education and achieve their full potential. Enquire has published a new briefing paper that explains the rights of looked after children under the Additional Support for Learning Act. The briefing identifies different reasons why looked after children may need extra support to get the most out of their learning, and gives examples of different ways that support can be provided. It looks at the responsibilities that education authorities have towards looked after children’s education, including their legal duty to consider whether a looked after child requires a co-ordinated support plan to ensure that agencies work together to plan what help the child needs to learn effectively. It also considers issues around school attendance and school exclusion, and the processes by which disputes about support for learning can be resolved.
The briefing will help professionals in education, social work and health in relation to GIRFEC and the corporate parent role, and will be useful for parents and carers in knowing how to ensure their child is getting help when they need it most.
To download a free copy of Enquire’s briefing, visit here
Enquire national conference
The Enquire national conference takes place on 8 March at The Quay in Musselburgh.
As an annual gathering of key people connected to additional support for learning across Scotland, the Enquire conference intends to spark ideas and actions that will further the understanding and appreciation of practice in the field. A report of findings of the conference will be sent to attendees and submitted to the Scottish Government.
Starting in 2012, the Scottish Parliament requires an annual report from Scottish Ministers in order to monitor the implementation of the Additional Support for Learning Act. The mandatory information includes four components the number of children and young people with additional support needs, the main factors giving rise to those additional support needs, the types of support provided and the cost of providing that support.
A vital consideration following this reporting will be what we know about the positive difference being made by additional support for learning and how we can better demonstrate that difference.
Conference participants will be encouraged to share their experiences, ideas and evidence around three broad themes:
● Ensuring positive outcomes from additional support
● Engaging effectively with children and families
● Effective co-ordination across the diverse services and professions in the ASL arena.
Confirmed speakers include:
● Chair, Keir Bloomer, The Commission on School Reform and Vice-convener, Children in Scotland
● Laura Meikle, Senior Policy Adviser, Support and Wellbeing Unit, Scottish Government
● Elizabeth King, Principal Educational Psychologist South Lanarkshire Council
● and film launch – young people from Edinburgh and East Lothian share their views about support that helps.
The following link will take you straight to the relevant section of the Children in Scotland website.
Global Citizenship – JOIN our Glow drop in session
Developing Global Citizens through sustainable development education
Time: 3.45pm – 4.45pm, Thursday 26th January
Where: The shiny new Glow community for global citizenship
2012 is a big year for Sustainable Development Education (SDE):
- World leaders will gather in Rio to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 and decide on further action
- 2012 is the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
- We only have three years until the end of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development Education and there is a buzz of activity happening in schools and local authorities across Scotland.
If you’d like to tune into all that’s happening and are looking for inspiration and ideas to kick start 2012 then this is the Glow meet for you. The Developing Global Citizenship Team will be hosting this informal session open to any practitioner or school leader – just drop into the Glow meet to pick our brains, find out what’s coming up or tell us what you’re up to. If you missed the previous sessions then click here to see how they work.
Note: if you join us with a headset or webcam then it means we can have a good blether. However, if you prefer to type fast with wonky spellng then that’s good too!
One click (then another small one) to take part >> http://bit.ly/DGCdropin3
Consultation “Speak Out for LGB people in school”
A survey is being carried out by researchers in the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge for Stonewall UK. This survey is for young people in England, Scotland and Wales who are aged 11 to 19 and who are lesbian, gay or bisexual (or think they might be). The survey is about their experiences in school or college: Five years ago Stonewall carried out the first big study about LGB young people’s experiences at school: this survey is intended to discover if things have changed, and what action still needs to done to make things better.
Young Scot Extra
Young Scot is working in partnership with the Scottish Government to help increase young people’s confidence in being more financially capable by providing them with the information they need to make informed decisions and choices around money-related issues.
As part of this work, Young Scot is delivering four seminars to demonstrate how Young Scot Extra supports the senior phase of the Curriculum for Excellence, and how it can assist those working with young people post-school and involved in 16+ Activity Agreements in delivering financial capability information to young people. The seminars also aim to provide an opportunity for practitioners to get involved in the discussions around young people and financially capability, and to help shape the services and information Young Scot Extra offers.
The events will take place between 10am and 12pm on:
- 18 January – The Mitchell Library, Glasgow
- 19 January – The Discovery, Dundee
- 20 January – Oasis Youth Centre, Dumfries and Galloway
- 23 January – 6VT Youth Café, Edinburgh
Contact: Rachel Eddington at Young Scot, Tel: 0131 313 2488 [ e-mail | website ]
Promoting Youth Employability and Rights Conference (Glasgow)
This free conference takes place on Tuesday 21st February 2012, 09:30-15:30 at the STUC Centre in Glasgow, and is a partnership conference between BEMIS, the Scottish Refugee Council, the Scottish Trades Union Congress / One Workplace Equal Rights (STUC), the Council for Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations (CEMVO) Scotland, and the Scottish Inter Faith Council. The conference has the following aims:
Details of speakers and a full programme will be available in January 2012. To register interest in attending, please send your details (name, organisation, email address and telephone number) to: conference@bemis.org.uk or contact Tanveer Parnez, BEMIS, Centrum Building, 38 Queen Street, Glasgow G1 3DX, 0141 548 8047 / Fax: 0141 548 8284 |
Making the Difference in Partnership conference, 3rd February 2012, Glasgow
Making the Difference in Partnership is a CPD opportunity exploring collaborative approaches to improving outcomes of young people who are most disadvantaged and may require more choices and more chances.
Delegates will have the chance to participate in practice workshops, hearing how a range of providers are working in partnership to develop young people’s skills for learning, life and work.
Nominations for attending this event are being sought from a wide audience including: education authorities, schools, community learning and development and third sector organisations.
As you may be aware, Building the Curriculum 4 states that:-
Curriculum for Excellence can best be delivered through partnership working. All establishments should work with partners and share a common understanding and language around skills development and application. Together, they should plan and deliver learning and other experiences which meet the needs of individual children and young people.
This event will provide an excellent opportunity for delegates to find out about a range of partnership approaches to delivering this agenda that could be replicated in their area.
Please use this link to complete the online booking form by 20th January 2011. Please note spaces for this event may not be allocated on a first come first served basis.
For more information please contact Neil McIntosh or Sheila Doogan.
Child poverty toolkit
This resource will support the development and implementation of Scotland’s Strategy for Child Poverty. The aim is to provide a single point of reference to assist those involved in tackling child poverty locally throughout Scotland.
View the Child Poverty Toolkit.
ESOL Glow Group
The ESOL Glow Group has now been set up for teachers delivering NQ ESOL in Schools. To access this group, you will need to request membership. If you would like to become a member, please send your Glow user name to Peter Lanigan requesting membership of the group.
