Author: Professional Learning

‘Coffee and a Catch-up’ sessions for Early Career Teachers (ECTs)

Are you in the first 5 years of your teaching career- post-probation?  When did you last make time to catch up with other Early Career Teachers?  Come along to share your ideas, tell us what’s going well and what you would like further support with.  We want to listen and hear your thoughts.

There will be one session per term and the dates and booking information are on the attached flyer.

We look forward to seeing you and will provide tea, coffee and biscuits!

*All sessions will be from 4pm-5pm

Flexible Route Information Session

We have arranged a Teams meeting for NQTs who are on the Flexible Route.  We have sent this invite to Flexible Route NQTs that we are aware of but we would be grateful if you could ensure this is shared with any new members of staff we may not have been in touch with. Please also let us know who these staff are. The meeting will be on Thursday 21st November from 4pm-4.45pm.

The link to join the meeting is Join the meeting now

If you have any queries please contact CLPL@scotborders.gov.uk

Please note down any questions or queries you have before the meeting and we will do our best to provide answers to these on the day.

Bookbug – Jan to March sessions LIVE

Bookbug Session Leader

https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/reading-and-stories/bookbug/bookbug-session-leader-training

 

In-person Bookbug Session Leader – 10am-4pm

  • Thursday 16 January 2025, Edinburgh
  • Monday 3 February, Glasgow
  • Tuesday 25 February, Perth
  • Wednesday 12 March, Galashiels
  • Thursday 20 March, Stranraer

Online Bookbug Session Leader – 9.30am-1pm

  • Tuesday 14 and 21 January, Zoom
  • Wednesday 5 and 12 February, MS Teams
  • Thursday 6 and 13 March, Zoom

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Bookbug for the Home

https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/reading-and-stories/bookbug/bookbug-for-the-home-training

 

Until December 2024

Blended Bookbug for the Home – 9.30am-1pm

  • Monday 2 (Zoom) and 9 December (Falkirk)

From January 2025 onwards

Training will take place in two parts, a self-led online learning module to be completed before a trainer-led module either in person or live online.
The self led online learning module opens 2 weeks before the trainer led module.

Trainer Led In Person Bookbug for the Home – 9.30am-1pm

  • Tuesday 28 January, Edinburgh
  • Tuesday 11 February, Kirkcaldy
  • Tuesday 25 February, Glasgow
  • Tuesday 25 March, Ayr

Trainer Led Online Bookbug for the Home – 9.30am-1pm

  • Wednesday 22 January, Zoom
  • Wednesday 26 February, MS Teams
  • Thursday 6 March, MS Teams
  • Tuesday 18 March, Zoom

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Webinars and workshops

 

Bookbug training webinars

Workshops

  • Book Discovery Workshop – Wednesday, 6 November, 4pm – 5pm
  • Book Discovery Workshop – Toddler – Tuesday 4 February 4-5pm – getting link ready
  • Book Discovery Workshop – P1 – Monday 17 March 4-5pm – getting link ready

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Refreshers

 

Session Leader

Bookbug for the Home

 

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April to June 2025 training dates will be released at noon on Monday 3 February 2025.

Moray House Events

On Friday 1st November, primary teachers can join our in person conference on Exploring Best Practice in Primary Language Education, from 9.30am – 3.00pm. Please see invite attached with booking link.

 

And on 21st November, teacher and leaders are invited to join our online event: AI in Education: Professional Learning Event for Teachers and Educational Leaders, from 4.00 – 5.15pm. Further information and booking link can be found on Eventbrite

Caring for Our Outdoor Spaces guidance, outdoor learning and learning for sustainability

 Caring for Our Outdoor Spaces guidance, outdoor learning and learning for sustainability.

It is taking place between 4:30 – 5:30 pm on Tuesday 29th October 2024.

 You can sign up here

 Through this session we aim to strengthen awareness of our Caring for Our Outdoor Spaces practitioner guidance and to share simple and practical methods to embed Learning for Sustainability (LfS) in Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) settings.  early years

We will hear from practitioners across the sector about how they have been using the guidance within their settings to extend children’s active engagement with the natural world and to reduce the impact on biodiversity as a result of increasing children’s time outdoors. Education Scotland will also contribute, helping to strengthen our understanding of place based outdoor learning and cross-curricular approaches to Learning for Sustainability.

In October 2023 we launched ‘Caring for our Outdoor Spaces’, a resource that was been developed by practitioners in response to feedback from the sector. It complements the current ‘Out to Play’ series that aims to support ELC and School Age Childcare practitioners to provide high quality outdoor play experiences for children.

In this latest chapter we focused on supporting practitioners to create safe, nurturing and inspiring outdoor learning experiences which help foster a true love of the outdoors in our young people that stays with them for a lifetime.  In so doing, the guidance assists practitioners to embed Learning for Sustainability in everyday play and learning which makes an important contribution to the Target 2030 Action Plan. Through the guidance we consider ways to reduce the impact on biodiversity as a result of increasing children’s time outdoors when in ELC or school age childcare and we promote children’s exploration of the natural world.

We hope that practitioners have found this document a useful resource to ‘dip into’ when outside with children.  During the webinar we will shine a light on ways to get the most out of the resource and answer questions from attendees. Please share the information about this webinar widely with colleagues and if you have any feedback then we would welcome your views at outdoorelc@scot.gov.

 

TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACHES – COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE EVENT

Venue: The Roxburgh Suite, SBC Headquarters

Date:     Tuesday 12th November 2024

Time:     10am – 1pm or 2pm – 5pm

Please join us for a morning or afternoon session to learn more about what is currently happening to develop trauma informed approaches to care in the Scottish Borders.

The aims of these sessions are to:

  • learn about national and local trauma action plans,
  • learn about local services supporting people who have experienced psychological trauma,
  • hear from individuals with lived experience of trauma, and
  • find out about current training opportunities in the Scottish Borders.

To book your place please click here – Nb please ensure you chose a time when prompted.

We welcome anyone living or working in the Scottish Borders who works for a service that comes into contact with people who may have experienced Trauma in their lives!

For any enquiries, please email: traumatraining@scotborders.gov.uk

 

See Me. See Change.

With the new term well under way, it’s been great to hear that many of you have started training your ambassadors and staff in See Me See Change and many of you may be in the process of planning delivery of See Me See Change sessions to staff and pupils across your schools as well as getting into action planning and implementation stages too.

Don’t forget we have a range of resources to support you with the delivery of these sessions including a facilitators guide and facilitators videos which can be found here:

Facilitators Guide

Facilitation Videos

We also have our How to Cards which can support pupils to plan their anti-stigma actions for the year ahead, full of lots of ideas of various workshops, campaigns or events that can take place across your school community. Check them out here

Maybe you want some inspiration from other schools too – if so head to our case study page

Finally, if you are just beginning your mental health anti-stigma journey, why not check out our self-assessment tool, which can support you to understand where your school is currently at in terms of tackling mental health stigma and discrimination.
Schools Self-Assessment Tool

Schools Self-Assessment Tool

 
Text: What you've been up to

See Me Schools Spotlight

Alford Academy, Aberdeenshire

Following participating in the See Me See Change Northern Alliance Train the Trainer sessions last year, two school staff at Alford Academy delivered SMSC training to staff and pupils last academic year and were also joined by a parent council member too.

Following the training, a core group met to action plan (with lunch provided!). The school set-up a collaborative space for pupils and staff to work together, enhancing ownership of the action planning activities. The group identified a range of goals as part of their action planning. Some of this built on existing work that the school has rolled out, whilst others were new ideas. Smaller groups of pupils and staff have led on different activities following the action planning.

“…It’s been great for them to see that actually they’ve got ownership of this. You know that it’s their ideas that we’re working on… They came into that group setting where there was staff, but there was no hierarchy, everyone just got stuck in and it’s been managed really well. So, I’m really pleased by it. Really pleased.” Jo Munro, Alford Academy Staff

Pupils were also encouraged to identify short term goals that they could lead on. Recognising the importance of awareness-raising, pupils created and shared positive messages and posters around the school. Pupils reinvigorated the school Talk to Me badges, so that pupils can easily identify staff they can speak to if they are struggling. Finally, they have provided a drop box in the library where pupils can submit a request for some support.

We would love to hear from more schools participating in See Me See Change to share their spotlight stories!  Get in touch with Claire at claire.jennings@seemescotland.org if you would like to spotlight your school.

Upcoming See Me See Change Train the Trainer Sessions

 

See Me will be hosting some free See Me See Change Train the Trainer sessions across Edinburgh and Glasgow from November that are now available to book onto. The training is delivered via a hybrid model with Part 1 taking place online and Part 2 in person in either Edinburgh and Glasgow. You need to be able to attend both part 1 and part 2 of the training to be fully trained. If you know of any colleagues who are looking to be trained in the See Me See Change approach please share the link below for signing-up.

Eventbrite Link – Part 1 – Online

Eventbrite Link – Part 2 EDINBURGH

Eventbrite Link – Part 2 GLASGOW

We are also looking to organise further free training sessions in other locations around Scotland including Highlands and Tayside. If you can recommend any venues that could host Part 2 of the training please drop Claire an email at claire.jennings@seemescotland.org

Why take part in the Train the Trainer?

By taking part in the Train the Trainer programme school staff will have the opportunity to gain a greater understanding about why and how to take a whole school approach to tackling mental health stigma and discrimination. Throughout the two train the trainer sessions, participants will learn more about the content and activities of the SMSC approach, how to plan and prepare for sessions with pupils and staff and the opportunity to share practice and learning from other participants.

Evaluation of previous train the trainer sessions found that participants gained:

  • Significant increases in understanding evidence-based approaches to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination;
  • Increased knowledge of what actions and resources can be used in schools to reduce stigma and discrimination;
  • Increased understanding of the SMSC approach and resources
  • Participants felt a lot more confident to plan and deliver the SMSC sessions after completion of the two sessions.

What’s On Your Mind Posters Available

We have recently had our popular What’s On Your Mind Card resource developed into a A2 poster for schools to add to their walls. If you would like a free copy for your school please get in touch with Claire at claire.jennings@seemescotland.org.

See Me Impact Report 2023-24

There has been lots happening at See Me over the last few months, including the launch of our Impact Report 2023-24. This report provides an overview to the many projects and activities that See Me and the See Me Volunteers have been up to over the last year. From launching campaigns, to a special section on our former Youth Consultants who have been leading the way across the See Me programme for the last couple of years.
Read Impact Report

Read Impact Report

 

Thank-you!

Thanks for taking the time to read the second See Me See Change Newsletter!

If you have any suggestions of further info you would like to include in in future newsletters let us know!

Email smsc@seemescotland.org with photos and information about how you’ve been tackling mental health stigma and discrimination in your school community.

Talking about poverty at school – new activities for Challenge Poverty Week

Talking about poverty at school – new activities for Challenge Poverty Week

Do you know of any schools looking for something great to do this Challenge Poverty Week (7-13 October)?

We have a brand-new set of Cost of the School Day activities designed to get school communities thinking and talking about poverty . Your help to share them with the schools and teachers you work with would be really appreciated.

 Why we want to get everyone talking about poverty

Last year, over 5000 children and young people shared their views in the Cost of the School Day Big Question. They said that it’s important we talk more about poverty to help remove stigma and raise awareness of help that’s available at school – so that’s what we’re doing this Challenge Poverty Week.

Activities

We’ve got four Talking about Poverty activities to try out. Each activity works well on its own or as part of a set.

  1. Talking to politicians and the government Work together to come up with a question or something you would like to tell politicians and the people in charge of education – we’ll pass everything along.
  2. Talking to each other about costs at school Find out what other pupils in your school think about school costs and the help people can get with them. What are things like, and what could be better?
  3. Talking to your headteacher Interview your headteacher to find out what your school is doing to challenge poverty, then work together to come up with a Cost of the School Day pledge for your school!
  4. Talking to your school community Create some eye-catching posters to help everyone in your school community understand what support is on offer and how to access it.

All of these Challenge Poverty Week activities can be found on our website – please share this email throughout your networks.

If you would like to share this information on social media then please feel free to repost: https://x.com/CPAGScotland/status/1838543707022176592.