Registration is now open for the second sessions of the Early Career Teacher Mathematics experience. There will be two separate sessions and these will both take place on Thursday 23^rd January from 4 pm – 5:30 pm.

In the Primary session we will focus on effective questioning approaches in numeracy & mathematics and looks at ways problem solving can be embedded into daily practice.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/primary-early-career-teacher-maths-using-effective-questioning-approaches-tickets-1105314016979?aff=oddtdtcreator

In the Secondary session we will focus on developing mathematical thinkers and will share some our favourite sources of tasks.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/early-career-teacher-secondary-maths-developing-mathematical-thinkers-tickets-1105402070349?aff=oddtdtcreator

Although these sessions are aimed at practitioners in the first few years of their teaching career, we also welcome more experienced practitioners who are looking for a refresher. Please share these links to register with colleagues.

This course will be delivered on Thursday, 16 January 2025 between 9.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m..  It is a face-to-face course and will be delivered at the Langlee Complex in Galashiels.  We currently have places available on this course and to make it viable to run we need to ensure that we increase the number of bookings. The course has been highly rated by those who have already attended.  Please consider your training needs and those of your team and book your place soon.

All our course dates can be found on our MS Bookings site using the above link. We no longer circulate dates for our courses on the flyers or via a Course Calendar. Please note that course dates through to September 2025 are currently open for booking using the following link: Public Protection Committee Training (office365.com).

The flyer has the information you need to book on the course and how to manage your booking at any time through MS Bookings.

You should be aware that the Trainer reserves the right to cancel any course, up to and including on the day of the training, should they decide that the number of delegates attending make it unviable.

As always, we welcome your feedback. If you have any comments, positive or negative, about using the MS Bookings system please email committee.publicprotection@scotborders.gov.uk

University of Edinburgh – Into Headship Cohort 11 Information Session

We will be holding our information session for Cohort 11 of Into Headship on Wednesday 29^th January 2025, 4-5.30pm online. Please pass this on to anyone who might be interested in attending.

There will be an input from Education Scotland, the University and a chance to ask questions.

Please follow the link below:

Join the meeting now

In the meantime, if you have any questions about the programme, you can find details in the national guidance document on our dedicated web page.

 

 

The STEP (Scottish Teachers for Enhancing Practice) Conference 2025 is taking place on Saturday 22nd March 2025 at Stirling Court Hotel and we would like to offer one free place to a probationer in each local authority.  This will be processed on a first come, first served basis by STEP.  Any other probationers or staff members who wish to attend and pay the fee are most welcome to register.

STEP, having evolved from ACTS (Association of Chartered Teachers Scotland), continues to provide all educationists with a forum for career-long professional learning.  ACTS has run a highly successful annual conference since 2010 and the tradition continues, since 2014, with STEP.  This annual event attracts not only classroom practitioners but also school managers, local authority representatives and probationers. The take up of a free place offered to probationers in previous years has been significant and we are pleased to be able to offer a limited number of free places in 2025.  The decision to limit this to one free place to each local authority will hopefully ensure a fairer allocation of the free spaces.

We are delighted that Gillian Hamilton and Mark Priestley have accepted our invitation to be this year’s keynote speakers.   David Cameron will be the conference chair.

We would appreciate if you would share this opportunity and the attached information with staff and probationers within your authority.  Those wishing to secure their place can do so by registering here by 8th March 2025:

http://www.steachersep.org.uk/register

Educations Scotland’s Professional Learning and Leadership team have more self-directed learning introductory webinars planned for early 2025, and you can book a space at these now!

 

Booking links are here ↓

Wednesday 15^th January, 4pm-5.30pm – Enquiry in Education

Thursday 16^th January, 4pm-5pm – Aspiring to Middle Leadership

Wednesday 22^nd January, 4pm-5pm – Middle Leaders Leading Change

Tuesday 28^th January, 4pm-5.30pm – Coaching in Education

 

Click here for a shareable e-poster containing direct booking links

 

Join the sessions for an overview of the learning involved and to find out how to engage with our self-directed resources. Here’s what attendees of our previous introductory webinars had to say about the sessions:

 

Aspiring to Middle Leadership

Aspiring to Middle Leadership | Self-directed professional learning | Professional Learning | Education Scotland

• “Everything was very clearly explained and the resources signposted well. Thank you.”
• “Thank you for clear and concise information. Thank you for detailed explanations of how to access the useful resources.”
• “A clear overview of the course content, expectations and supports. Thank you”
• “It was very informative and really clear on how it runs and how it is completed. Thank you for this.”

 

Middle Leaders Leading Change

Middle Leaders Leading Change | Self-directed professional learning | Professional Learning | Education Scotland

• “Really good session lots of information as well as the opportunity to interact.”
• “It was a very useful starter session, as it told me everything I need to know to get going.”
• “The programme content is exactly what I am looking for in my next steps of my  professional learning.”
• “Thank you for the time, enthusiasm for supporting and the clear way it was all explained”

 

Enquiry in Education

Enquiry in Education | Self-directed professional learning | Professional Learning | Education Scotland

• “An extremely helpful session with great links to research and other professional learning opportunities. It was also great for me to broaden my network within this field.”
• “Interesting session that allowed me to better understand how to use enquiry and the resources as a supportive tool when looking to improve areas and to support decisions that impact the children’s learning and environment.”
• “Thank you, this was an invaluable session.”

 

Coaching in Education

Coaching in Education | Self-directed professional learning | Professional Learning | Education Scotland

• “Enjoyed the session – looking forward to accessing the training materials and supporting colleague with coaching.”
• “This was very useful, particularly the tour of the suite of resources.  Thank you!”
• “Really good workshop and it didn’t feel like an hour and a half, could have listened more.”

 

Why we need a Money Guiders programme​

Much of life is shaped by how we manage our money, including the challenges we face. When people reach out for help, money guidance is often given as part of wider support.​

We created this programme because money guidance, and the skill set needed to provide it, wasn’t clearly defined. Training and resources were patchy, with this side of the job generally undervalued. This meant many practitioners lacked confidence in giving guidance. Yet, facing ​a cost-of-living crisis, the need for good money guidance is greater than ever.

How this programme helps​

Money Guiders helps organisations and practitioners to talk about money with customers confidently, and offer safe, effective guidance.​

• You’ll know what money guidance means, and the boundaries between guidance and regulated advice.​
• You’ll develop the core and technical competencies to support what you do, enhancing your service. ​
• You’ll be part of a community where practitioners learn from each other. ​
• You’ll take your help further. 

Who are Money Guiders?​

They’re busy employees and volunteers with all types of job titles across sectors who help struggling and vulnerable customers daily. ​

They include community, charity, health, mental health and social care workers; social housing, welfare and police officers; student support teams; energy advisers; money mentors; and foodbank volunteers. ​

Some 3.7 million practitioners give some form of money guidance in the UK, reaching millions of people.

Want to find out more about Money Guiders?​

Have a look at our web page: Money Guiders (maps.org.uk)

New practitioner open inductions for Money Guiders training:

• Thursday 5^th Dec 2pm
• Wednesday 11^th Dec 10am
• Thursday 19^th Dec 2pm
• Wednesday 8^th Jan 10am
• Thursday 16^th Jan 2pm
• Wednesday 22^nd Jan 10am

If you or staff in your networks are interested in undertaking this training you can book a place by completing the booking form, noting your preferred date, and returning to Su Campbell, Public Health Service Manager via e-mail:  Health.Improvement@borders.scot.nhs.uk

We look forward to welcoming our Middle Leaders to our next Engagement Day on 26 November. The venue for this session will be Council Headquarters and we will have optional workshops to choose from. It is important that all staff attending complete this form so that we can plan workshops accordingly

Please note that attendance is at Headteacher discretion.

Booking form – https://forms.office.com/e/qVQ3XF5tjc Bookings will close on Wednesday 20 November.

Tea / coffee will be provided but those attending should bring their own cup and snacks if required. A confirmation email will be sent prior to the engagement day to confirm room directions.

 

Leadership+ is offered to anyone in a leadership role in Scottish education, across sectors (this includes classroom practitioners, ELC and CLD practitioners, middle leaders, and school, setting and system leaders). The aims are:

• to enhance leadership learning across pertinent themes
• to encourage critical thinking in leaders at all levels.

Our first Leadership+ webinar will be led by Dr Karen Edge focusing on Leadership for capacity and wellbeing, and is being held on Wednesday 4^th December, 3.30pm – 4.45pm. Further information on Dr Karen Edge can be found on the attached flier. Tickets for this webinar are strictly limited to 300, and we anticipate these will go quickly, so please don’t delay in registering for your ticket. Please click here to register via Eventbrite (you can also use the QR code, or register now button on the flier).

We will be offering more Leadership+ sessions in the near future, and will be publishing a menu of sessions in the new year.

Respect for All updated guidance

The updated ‘Respect for All: The National Approach to Anti-Bullying for Scotland’s Children and Young People’ guidance will publish on Wednesday 13 November. An initial package of support has been developed to support organisations, local authorities and schools to implement the updated guidance. Please share the following support with your networks:

• Training sessions for school staff on the Bullying and Equalities Module recording system within SEEMiS will be held on 28 and 29 November. School staff can register for these sessions on the SEEMiS website.
• A template bullying policy for local authorities based on the new guidance will be available on respectme’s website in time for the launch of the guidance.

respectme continues to offer e-Learning on anti-bullying in line with Respect for All available at respectme’s Learning Academy