November 2024 News
Please scroll down to view upcoming professional learning, updates and resources.
Upcoming Professional Learning
5th 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.
Emotions and the Brain: What children and young people need to know?
12 November 2024
The Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution (SCCR) have developed free digital resources and professional learning to support practitioners to help children and young people understand difficult emotions, regulate mood, and improve their relationships with others. The resources focus on learning as a means of early intervention. The resources include activities for classes, groups, or for one-to-one discussion. This session is suitable for anyone who supports the wellbeing of learners.
Join us to find out more about the resources and how to access them.
Supporting the Diverse Needs of Pupils from a Variety of Religions and Beliefs
14th November 2024
In this webinar facilitated by Interfaith Scotland, you will have an opportunity to develop your awareness of some of the diverse experiences and needs of pupils from a
variety of religions and beliefs, including dietary needs, fasting, holy days, festivals, prayer, clothing, religious symbols, participating in sport and physical contact.
We will discuss ways in which you might further understand and provide support for these diverse needs in your local settings so that pupils from these religions and beliefs can fully participate in the school community.
You can sign up here: Workshop for Teachers: Supporting the Diverse Needs of Pupils from a Variety of Religions and Beliefs – Scottish Interfaith Week
Glasgow Caledonian University: Online Abuse Modules Pilot
12 and/or 19 November 2024
As part of a European-wide project on innovative solutions to eliminate domestic abuse (ISEDA), Glasgow Caledonian University have created an education programme to be delivered in schools to foster healthy and equal relationships between young people. These lessons will be delivered across 7 countries including Scotland. Professor Nancy Lombard and Dr Kate Butterby will deliver the online training sessions consisting of 4 modules (in two parts) on cyberviolence and abuse. All materials are digitally accessible. The training demonstrate the lesson plan and resources. Each module is accessed as a SWAY.
The session will prepare you to deliver at least one modules below to learners in your school/setting.
Respect for All national guidance: Information Session
14 November 2024
This session will provide an overview of the updated ‘Respect for All: The National Approach to Anti-Bullying for Scotland’s Children and Young People’ guidance published on Wednesday 13th November.
The session is for practitioners interested in learning about the updated guidance and will consider next steps relating to future professional learning that may be required to support its implementation.
Keep the Promise- Pupils Support Staff learning programme
15 November 2024
Free ticketed places on 4 Children in Scotland’s programme events across 2024/25 #KeepThePromise Pupil Support Staff learning programme which is aimed at improving support in school for care experienced children and young people and those on the edges of care includes a range of learning opportunities for Pupil Support Staff. The first one is in Dundee.
Lunch and refreshments throughout the day will be provided
(open to anyone working within pupil support, or line managing others with a pupil support remit)
LGBT Inclusive Education with TIE
20 November 2024
LGBT inclusive education is for everyone. It is needed to foster a safe and supportive environment for all children, young people and adult learners, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender.
This webinar will explore:
- the national approach to LGBT inclusive education and how we can enact it in our settings
- the positive impact of LGBT inclusive education
We’re excited to host alongside Time for Inclusive Education (TIE), Scotland’s LGBT Inclusive Education charity. TIE’s goal is for all young people to grow up in a society free from homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. TIE will share the practicalities and impact of their free national programme, ‘Delivering LGBT Inclusive Education’ which provides support for teaching and learning to create an LGBT inclusive curriculum. We will also share the evidence base for this approach and the positive feedback from parents and carers.
Reflections on a Practice Framework for Restorative Justice with Dr Steve Kirkwood
20 November 2024
As part of CYCJ’s celebration of Restorative Justice Week, esteemed RJ academic Dr Steve Kirkwood, Head of Social Work at the University of Edinburgh, joins us to discuss his work, which critically explores and maps out the connections between values, principles, knowledge assumptions and practice guidelines to offer a Practice Framework for Restorative Justice.
In schools do the rights of the many outweigh the rights of the few?
27 November 2024
Classrooms, Children and Challenging Behaviour: Do the rights of the many outweigh the rights of the few? Join us as Prof Laura Lundy explores how a rights-based approach can be used to help school staff address complex decision making in the classroom, including how to handle exclusions or interventions that reduce learning hours.
Sexual Harm Webinar: AI Generated CSAM
5 December 2024
NOTA Scotland and the Forensic Network are holding a Sexual Harm Webinar: Artificial Intelligence Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material where we will be joined by Stuart Allardyce, Director of Research and Lucy Faithfull Foundation Scotland and DCI Mike Smith, Tactical Lead for Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation– Police Scotland.
Supporting Maths Difficulties 2024/25 Webinar series
Multiple dates 2025
This series of webinars is aimed mainly at practitioners working in ASN, Primary & Secondary who are supporting children who may encounter challenges within mathematics. Anyone who signs up will get access to this year’s Padlet of resources and recordings.
November Updates and Resources
Anti-Bullying Week 2024 (11-15 November) has the theme ‘Respect – What Does It Mean To You?’ and is aligned to the updated guidance. The campaign is encouraging everyone to talk and think about how the power of respectful relationships can help to prevent bullying. Further information and resources can be accessed at: Anti-Bullying Week 2024.
Respectme continues to offer free e-Learning on anti-bullying in line with Respect for All available at respectme’s Learning Academy.
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.
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance Report
The latest report on the UK by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has commended Education Scotland’s Building Racial Literacy programme and Scotland’s approach to LGBT Inclusive Education.
Scotland’s educational initiatives received specific recognition, with praise for the national approach to LGBT-inclusive education, Education Scotland’s Building Racial Literacy Programme, and the human rights education opportunities available to children and young people within the Curriculum for Excellence.
The new report also offered several recommendations for the UK, including implementing an LGBTI action plan for England and improved support services for refugees and asylum seekers.
New anti-racist curricular resources
New anti-racist curricular resources for Early Level, Health and Wellbeing and PSE are now available on this website: antiracisted.scot
Funded by the Scottish Government and developed by WOSDEC and Scotdec, these resources provide practical support to enact the Breaking the Mould Principles for an Anti-Racist Curriculum. They include a range of short videos, workshop materials and padlets to unpack elements of an anti-racist curriculum in an accessible way.
New Scots Integration Strategy and Delivery Plan
The latest New Scots Integration Strategy and delivery plan was launched on Monday 19th August 2024 by the Minister for Equalities and the Scottish Refugee Council. The strategy supports the integration of refugees, people seeking asylum and other forced migrants within Scotland’s communities. The strategy is led jointly by the Scottish Government, COSLA and Scottish Refugee Council.
Ukraine – Updated Public Protection Guidance
The Scottish Government has published updated public protection guidance for all services working with people arriving from Ukraine. This has been amended to reflected updated UK legislation from 1st October 2024.
Understanding Age in Child Protection guidance and Adult Support and Protection Legislation
Earlier this year, the report ‘Understanding age in Child Protection guidance and Adult Support and Protection Legislation’ was published by Iriss, accessible here. This report explores working with 16 and 17 year olds who might be eligible for support through Adult Support and Protection (ASP) legislation and Child Protection (CP) guidance; and discusses the tensions and challenges around supporting this age group. A Guidance and Legislation table is provided as a practical tool for social workers of all levels, and other professionals working with 16 and 17 year olds, to view the policy and guidance options available to them.
You can share your thoughts via the online survey: https://form.jotform.com/242762492182056
You can also share your thoughts at an online drop in session: https://forms.office.com/e/TfyphgsFGx
Mentors in Violence Prevention programme: MVP School Models
A form was shared with MVP practitioners to gain an overview of the model they are utilising to deliver the programme within their establishment. Practitioners also shared benefits & challenges they have experienced. These MVP models have been shared on the MVP Glow blog to help others who are thinking of joining the programme and to create networking opportunities across schools.
This framework sets out a strategic approach to involving children and young people in decisions making.
Child Friendly Complaints Handling Principles
To support compliance with the UNCRC Act it is recommended that public bodies have a complaints process which can be easily followed and understood by children or their advocates. These principles underpin how to handle and investigate complaints from or involving children, in a way that respects their rights under the UNCRC.
Keeping the Promise Award Professional Learning Activities
These PLAs have been developed for individuals who want to work their way through the Keeping the Promise Award as an individual. The PLAs have narrated presentations and links to relevant background learning.
Scottish Government consultations – care experience and foster care
The Scottish Government is consulting on two issues which may be of interest:
Universal and inclusive definition of ‘care experience’ and what the potential impacts of this could be is open until 8th January 2025: Developing a universal definition of ‘care experience’: consultation – gov.scot - Equality and Human Rights Mainstreaming Strategy consultation will is open until 5th February 2025: Equality and Human Rights Mainstreaming Strategy – Scottish Government consultations – Citizen Space
- Future of foster care, is open until 6 February 2025: Future of Foster Care Consultation – gov.scot
Healthy Relationships NSPCC Guidance
NSPCC Learning has published new teaching resources exploring the themes of healthy and unhealthy relationships. The resources include three films and accompanying lesson plans that follow four characters experiencing interpersonal domestic violence, in familial, friendship and intimate partner relationships. The resources are aimed at 11- to 14-year-old schoolchildren and seek to prevent harmful sexual behaviours and coercive control.
It’s Not Love: teaching resources about positive relationships
The Trussel Trust has published a report exploring hunger and hardship within the UK which revealed that a record number of people in Scotland, including 200,000 children, are facing hunger and hardship through struggling to afford food – alongside this, Save the Children and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published findings from a survey it undertook to understand public attitudes to child poverty in Scotland, which revealed that people in Scotland want to see greater action to combat child poverty through tackling the big drivers of poverty itself.
Analysis reveals families and communities impacted by drug-related deaths in Scotland – News – Public Health Scotland
Pilot a new teaching resource for secondary schools
Generation Scotland and SHINE have been collaborating to develop a new teaching resource for secondary schools to increase knowledge of health data research. Scotland’s public health relies on volunteers taking part in research projects to better understand health and well-being in Scotland.
They would like to support young people’s understanding of health research in order to give them more confidence to engage with science. The resource has been designed to be flexible and adaptive to the needs of the class and can be delivered in a range of classes including PSE, Sciences, Maths and Social Sciences. The resource consists of 3 x 40 minute lessons aimed at S1-S3:
- What is health data research?
- What is data linkage?
- What is data ethics and why does it matter?
The free resource is now available on the www.gen.scot website at https://genscot.ed.ac.uk/why-big-data-matters-lesson-plan, if you would like to pilot the resources and provide feedback.
Young people aged 14-19 are invited to take part in a short online survey which is testing a new measure of sexual wellbeing for use in future surveys on young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Current surveys on adolescent mental health often skip over questions on sex and sexuality, even though these topics matter to young people. Link to anonymous 10-minute survey: https://uofg.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cAdbL5FeijEKDQ2
You can find more information about Good Measure on the website or for further questions or to see a full copy of the survey questions, please get in touch with us at goodmeasure@glasgow.ac.uk.
Education Workforce Health and Wellbeing Support Report
This report, overseen by the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES) and the Scottish Government (SG), presents the findings and recommendations of a five-month collaborative project. The report examines how the wellbeing of the education workforce is currently supported by local authorities (LAs) and outlines recommendations for developing a comprehensive and consistent approach to wellbeing support across Scotland.
The I Am Me Scotland October Newsletter! If you are new to the newsletter, please visit page 18 for an overview of I Am Me and the Keep Safe initiative.
