December 2024 News🎄

Please scroll down to view upcoming professional learning, updates and resources.

Upcoming Professional Learning

5^th of December from 4:30 – 5:30pm.

This guide has been developed in collaboration with practitioners, local authorities, third sector partners and learners to support the development and/or review of equalities or related policies in education settings.

During the session we will provide an overview of the guide which contains resources to support settings in developing an equalities policy, ensuring that learners are central to the process and aligning to key priority areas such as UNCRC. We will hear from those who have been involved in the development and design, and some of our pilot schools and settings will share their policies. Finally, you will be given the opportunity to join our Equalities Policy Network, and invited to create and share your own equalities policy to be included as a case study on our guide.

You can sign up for this event via this Eventbrite link.

December Updates and Resources

Call for Young People’s Perspectives: ‘Young Anti-Racist Voices’ Anthology

The Building Racial Literacy team at Education Scotland are so inspired by all the children and young people’s anti-racist voices as we hear from our alumni community about all their work promoting anti-racism. Continuing to keep these voices at the heart of our work, we are working with an amazing illustrator and creating an ‘Young Anti-Racist Voices’ anthology to capture this ripple effect.

We are inviting all children and young people (Ages up to 18 years) to send in submissions. We will be choosing approximately between 30-40 pieces to include in our anthology. Please see guidelines below

Submissions could be poems, artwork, or short stories
Submissions should be around the theme of anti-racism/racism/social justice. This could include experiences of racism or being part of an anti-racist project (e.g. a non-fiction story). They could also be around the theme of hope for an Anti-Racist Scotland.
They can be created individually or as a class, club or youth group
No names or personal data should be included, or any other personal identifiers
500 words maximum
The anthology will be publicly accessible as an e-book on the Education Scotland website and possibly shared in other appropriate media.

You can find more information, as well as inspiration and FAQs, here. You can send in your submission using this form.

Relational Approaches National Network

As part of the work in relation to the BISSR National Action Plan, the Inclusion, Wellbeing and Equalities team are creating a network of Local Authority education leads with responsibility for the following areas: nurture, ACES, relational and restorative approaches, trauma-informed practice and Compassionate and Connected Communities. We recognise the valuable role that national networking can have to share developments, challenges and ideas from our local authorities to improve the support we give to our staff, children and young people. We recognise the inter-related nature of the topics listed and believe that one network will promote greater connectedness across this work.

The plan is to meet online 4 times per year. Breakout rooms will be used to facilitate collaborative discussion. If you are a Local Authority lead in one or more of these areas please complete this short form to sign you up for the network. The first date is the 5th of February 2025 online from 9.30am until 12.30pm.

Many Good Men: Young Scots’ experiences of online misogynistic extremism and radicalisation

This report explores:

incel ideology and behaviour
the experiences and perceptions the play’s creators had of incel culture and misogynistic online radicalisation
how their understanding developed over the course of the project

Please read the new research report, summary, blog, and podcast.

🏅 Success Looks Different Awards 2024/25 🏅

Does your school or early learning centre go the extra mile to celebrate the successes of all pupils? The Success Looks Different Awards are a great opportunity to recognise this and share your inclusive practice with others.

Children in Scotland we are now receiving applications for the Success Looks Different Awards 2024/25. Created by the Inclusion Ambassadors in 2022, the awards are an opportunity for early learning and school communities to share how they celebrate the achievements of all children and young people.

You can find all the information you need and access the engagement pack here: childreninscotland.org.uk/inclusion-ambassadors-success-looks-different

You can also view our recent information webinar here.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday 30 December.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at successlooksdifferent@childreninscotland.org.uk.

Children’s Rights in Practice – Call for Case Studies

The Improvement Service is collecting case studies that highlight how children’s human rights are being put into practice across Scotland’s local authorities with the aim to foster mutual learning and support the integration of children’s rights into everyday practices across Scotland.

Physical intervention in schools: guidance

Guidance on ‘Included, engaged and involved part 3: A relationships and rights-based approach to physical intervention in schools’. This guidance is for education authorities grant-aided and independent schools in Scotland on the use of physical intervention.

School uniform and clothing: a summary of guidance for schools and education authorities

A summary of guidance for schools and education authorities to support the design and implementation of school uniform and clothing policies in Scotland.

Let’s Explore Our Rights – The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland

“Let’s Explore Our Rights” teaches young children about their human rights. The book which features iconic Scots landmarks is aimed at children aged up to five. It was beautifully illustrated by Corinna Campbell and takes readers on a journey to discover rights like having a safe home, being healthy, learning, and playing. The book will support early years practitioners to spark first conversations about human rights with very young children.

Are you trained in SCERTS or using it in your setting?

Did you know that the IWE team facilitate a SCERTS network for practitioners?

Session 1 has taken place this term (a link to the recording of the session can be viewed on the members GLOW page if you missed it), with another 4 planned between now and June 2024. These sessions are aimed at supporting you on your SCERTs journey whether you are just starting out or have lots of experience, all are welcome. The planned sessions will be looking at the various aspects of implementation including observation, using the assessment and planning documents and the evaluating/reviewing process. There are also plans to have some sessions that will allow more networking and chatting amongst members. Members – watch out for a quick survey coming out soon re this!

To join the network and find out more simply complete this form https://forms.office.com/e/1mYZTqGjT7 and you will be added to the mailing list.

If you would like more information about either the SCERTS or the NCNPN – please contact Sam – sam.nicholson@educationscotland.gov.scot

National Complex Needs Practitioners Network (NCNPN)

This network has been busy this term with sessions on everything from ASN Buildings through the alphabet to Planning and PE. Many of the sessions have been recorded and, information and links can be found on the members GLOW site. Discussions on documents and policy changes have kept us up to date with the world of ASN and the GLOW chat is supporting many to be debated or a request being answered.

Next Term, plans are underway for more input/Training sessions (TS) on the Curriculum Improvement Cycle, Supporting Pupils with Downs Syndrome, Using the TEACH approach amongst others as well as the next in the series of inputs on both communication and supporting regulation.

New subgroups (focussed on ASN Planning, Interdisciplinary Learning and Curriculum) will be starting in January with updates (and potential asks) from the current subgroups so watch out for invites and emails giving more details!

If you supporting pupils with complex needs and would like to become a member simply complete this form https://forms.office.com/e/fk1s7CauiX and you will be added to the mailing list.

16 days of Activism

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25th November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10th December, Human Rights Day. Mentors in Violence Prevention programme will be linking to a series of resources and events over this period.