Family Child Care

Paradise Where You Are

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrD552Q-cMCZduU5bXDCwnpY_F29PDF5iG8Vzcnw36KAhBDQJBgX71K4rHrEC8Rtj570PyVRQ71ys1I5gaPqFIZCYAqNfApRV5IfUwXi-mzmNsTIiH2U3l_AaCb87R5X8hTEIvHwcgoU/s1600-h/026.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418264155067445378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrD552Q-cMCZduU5bXDCwnpY_F29PDF5iG8Vzcnw36KAhBDQJBgX71K4rHrEC8Rtj570PyVRQ71ys1I5gaPqFIZCYAqNfApRV5IfUwXi-mzmNsTIiH2U3l_AaCb87R5X8hTEIvHwcgoU/s200/026.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" /></a> Here we sit in the snow and cold as another winter is upon us. We recently returned for a trip to Hawaii. How glorious it was to experience 'paradise' and get a break from the cold weather (which has been unseasonably cold this year). As the snow was falling today, I found myself wishing I was back sitting on the Waikiki Beach. Then I remembered, as so often before in my life, that paradise is where you are. It is up to us to create our own paradise and be happy with our surroundings. I have always felt sorry for those people who seem to stumble along daily wishing they were at another place in life. One can waste an entire life wishing for different circumstances. As usual, this always brings me back to the classroom where the same thing applies. Are the children sitting there wishing for a different setting, or are they experiencing paradise? It is up to the educator to make sure it is the latter.

Paradise Where You Are

Here we sit in the snow and cold as another winter is upon us. We recently returned for a trip to Hawaii. How glorious it was to experienc...

4:48 PM

Review of 2009

If it's nearly Christmas, it must be time for the endless 'best of' and 'most important' lists that appear everywhere at the end of each year. So here's a little round up of important events within the early years, education and childcare sectors which occurred during 2009: Surely the biggest education story of the year was the publication in October of the final report from the <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.primaryreview.org.uk/" target="_blank">Cambridge Primary Review</a>; the Review's criticisms of existing provision within primary education made the front page of many newspapers (see <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2009/10/primary-review-final-report.html" target="_blank">previous post</a> for details). Other educational reviews that took place in 2009 included Sir Jim Rose's <a href="http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/primarycurriculumreview/" target="_blank">Independent Review of the Primary Curriculum</a>, Sir Alan Steer's <a href="http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/eOrderingDownload/Learning-Behaviour.pdf" target="_blank">Behaviour Review</a>, and Graham Badman's <a href="http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/PDF%20FINAL%20HOME%20ED.pdf" target="_blank">Review of Elective Home Education in England</a>. Another large-scale project which presented its final conclusions in 2009 was the <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/all_about_us/how_we_do_it/the_good_childhood_inquiry/1818.html" target="_blank">Good Childhood Inquiry</a>, which was carried out by the Children's Society and published its final report in February. This <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2009/02/good-childhood-inquiry.html" target="_blank">previous post</a> gives you a flavour of the coverage which was generated at the time. May saw the launch of ContactPoint, a controversial database with details on every child in England. Try looking at <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2009/05/contactpoint.html" target="_blank">this post</a> for a discussion of the issues involved (although the vote it mentions is now closed.) Child Poverty was a constant theme throughout 2009, as it has been for several years. This year, the government made it a legal duty for the government and local authorities to <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8095775.stm" target="_blank">eradicate child poverty in the UK by 2020</a>. For a list of posts and links to reports on this topic published throughout the year, <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/search/label/Child%20Poverty" target="_blank">click here</a>. November saw the release of <a href="http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/eOrderingDownload/01114-2009DOM-EN.pdf" target="_blank">Building a Safe, Confident Future</a>; this was the final report of the Social Work Task Force, and contains various recommendations for the future direction of the profession. The government have accepted the report's findings in full. There were a number of new versions of annual publications which readers should find useful; if you want detailed information about education, families, social issues and more in the UK, then the 2009 version of <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_social/Social_Trends39/Social_Trends_39.pdf" target="_blank">Social Trends</a> is well worth a look. While for information with a more global focus, UNICEF's <a href="http://www.unicef.org.uk/publications/pdf/sowc10report.pdf" target="_blank">State of the World's Children</a> report makes for interesting reading; the theme for this year's report was a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the <a href="http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/crc.htm" target="_blank">UN Convention on the Rights of the Child</a>. Closer to home, it was also the 20th anniversary of the Children Act 1989, which Community Care marked with a <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2009/11/20-years-of-children-act.html" target="_blank">series of articles assessing its impact</a>. <div> </div><div>In August the 5th annual Playday took place, and <a href="http://www.playday.org.uk/playday_campaigns/2009_make_time/2009_research.aspx" target="_blank">this link</a> gives you access to a number of useful research reports which were released to mark the occasion. On a similar note, November's anti-bullying week saw a flurry of new projects and research from various interested organisations, so <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2009/11/anti-bullying-week.html" target="_blank">click here</a> to find out about some of these initiatives. November also saw the publication of Ofsted's <a href="http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Publications-and-research/Browse-all-by/Annual-Report/2008-09/The-Annual-Report-of-Her-Majesty-s-Chief-Inspector-of-Education-Children-s-Services-and-Skills-2008-09" target="_blank">annual report</a>, which was slightly overshadowed by the release of <a href="http://www.adcs.org.uk/Downloads/Position_Statements/20Nov09-ADCS-position-on-inspection-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">a paper from the Association of Directors for Children's Services</a> arguing that Ofsted needed to make radical changes to their inspection model. And a few random picks from the past year to round things off... A number of students expressed an interest in finding out about Forest Schools, so perhaps <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2009/05/forest-schools.html" target="_blank">this post</a> from May was useful for you...? Sesame Street celebrated it's <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2009/11/happy-birthday.html" target="_blank">40th birthday</a>... The magazine Children and Young People launched a <a href="http://community.cypnow.co.uk/blogs/" target="_blank">series of blogs</a> which are an excellent way of getting different perspectives on issues within the childcare sector... And only last week the newly formed UK Council for Child Internet Safety published <a href="http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/ukccis/download-link.cfm?catstr=research&downloadurl=UKCCIS%20Strategy%20Report-WEB1.pdf" target="_blank">Click Clever, Click Safe: The First UK Child Internet Safety Strategy</a>. Yet bizarrely, for the second year in a row, easily the most visited page on this site (after the homepage) was <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2008/05/warnock-report.html" target="_blank">this post</a> from May 2008, which gives you a link to the full text of the 1978 Warnock Report. Have I missed anything? If you'd like to draw attention to an important event or report from this year then just leave a comment below with details and I'll see about getting it published on here; here's <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2007/06/leave-comment.html" target="_blank">how to do it</a>. The blog will be taking a break for Christmas, but will resume in the second week of January. In the meantime, take a look at the legendary <a href="http://comics.com/peanuts" target="_blank">Peanuts</a> cartoon site, which will surely tell you as much about children's minds as any research. So all that's left is to wish all visitors to the site a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.</div> <div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415164483140379122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdI-GaekIetIAq0tajU5X006BmSeV4XfQ0Q0LUP8TSFY9ZJhlqQbJkN6x-dxXUIXdkXFUT1uCkG1KGYzUpBTZ8IC38tIMUue3PHSd2wFNBCsi_JGKb0ySKaIap_TgPTriSG2PuDBk7Cw/s200/XmasTree.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 170px; height: 200px; text-align: center;" /></div>

Review of 2009

If it's nearly Christmas, it must be time for the endless 'best of' and 'most important' lists that appear everywhere at...

7:11 AM

Lamb Inquiry

Lamb Inquiry

In a year that's produced a string of reviews and inquiries, it seems that there's still time for a final one before 2009 ends. The ...

7:02 AM

New Reports from Becta

<a href="http://www.becta.org.uk/" target="_blank">Becta</a> have recently released several new publications which should be relevant to those of you with an interest in ICT. Or if you are a parent with children at school, then you may also find a couple of the new booklets useful. Links to each one are below: <ul><li><a href="http://publications.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=41243&page=1835" target="_blank">Supporting Your Child's Learning</a> has been developed to provide parents with information on how technology can help them keep in touch with their child's school.</li><li><a href="http://publications.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=41242&page=1835" target="_blank">Parents as Partners in Learning</a> provide schools and headteachers with information on how to use technology to improve communications with parents.</li><li><a href="http://publications.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=41244&page=1835" target="_blank">Schools and Parents: A new Partnership</a> reports on research exploring what motivates, and hinders, successful parental engagement to benefit the child, parents and schools.</li></ul>Finally, <a href="http://publications.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?resID=41339" target="_blank">Becta: Our Work, its Impact</a> is the organisation's annual review of it's actitivities, examining how Becta helps both pupils and staff to make use of ICT within education.

New Reports from Becta

Becta have recently released several new publications which should be relevant to those of you with an interest in ICT. Or if you are a par...

7:00 AM

Child Internet Safety Strategy

The <a href="http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/ukccis/" target="_blank">UK Council for Child Internet Safety</a> was set up in the wake of the Byron Review (see <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2008/03/byron-review.html" target="_blank">previous post</a> for details), and brings together over 150 stakeholders to collaborate in helping children and families with online issues. This week the Council has released its first major publication entitled <a href="http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/ukccis/download-link.cfm?catstr=research&downloadurl=UKCCIS%20Strategy%20Report-WEB1.pdf" target="_blank">Click Clever Click Safe : The First UK Child Internet Safety Strategy</a>. Among the report's recommendations are that lessons in the safe use of the internet should become compulsory in primary schools by 2011, and a framework for an online "green cross code" to enable children to block and report inappropriate content. For more information on the Strategy, take a look at <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8398763.stm" target="_blank">this article</a>, or for the results of a survey on children and parents' attitudes to internet safety, the DCSF has just published some <a href="http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/DCSF-RR183.pdf" target="_blank">new research</a>.

Child Internet Safety Strategy

The UK Council for Child Internet Safety was set up in the wake of the Byron Review (see previous post for details), and brings together o...

6:21 AM

Changes to Children's Play

Changes to Children's Play

Tonight sees the first of two episodes of Hop, Skip and Jump (see previous post for details), which charts the evolution of children's...

4:41 AM

Social Work Task Force

Social Work Task Force

Last week saw the publication of the final report of the Social Work Task Force , which was commissioned by the government to conduct a comp...

5:34 AM

Writing Skills

Writing Skills

The National Literacy Trust have been busy again, with a new investigation which has concluded that blogging and social networking sites ca...

6:02 AM

Hop, Skip and Jump

Hop, Skip and Jump

Next Tuesday (8th December) you might want to tune into BBC4 at 9pm for the first episode of Hop Skip and Jump: The Story of Children's ...

3:01 AM

Going Bowling

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemXjzklI_KgcAUKqrfPSgcv_RFW11IBUypSrXtLt9I9-JVV048Whwfy7G6dN2UZ_WC1f70SunV4TBQ15Q_Tf9Ux7Tqj1DtHCBczLnBO5nf-goTElWS_bdigfrD-2w_3sQrrlxpRCElwc/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+2009+015.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410483885123331218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemXjzklI_KgcAUKqrfPSgcv_RFW11IBUypSrXtLt9I9-JVV048Whwfy7G6dN2UZ_WC1f70SunV4TBQ15Q_Tf9Ux7Tqj1DtHCBczLnBO5nf-goTElWS_bdigfrD-2w_3sQrrlxpRCElwc/s200/Thanksgiving+2009+015.JPG" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <div>We went bowling with the grandkids the other day and it was great. I had forgotten that they have these nifty metal racks for the children to roll the ball down to hit the pins. I wanted one of those (along with the bumper rails!) for my bowling. I'm not a good bowler, but then I only go about every 10 years. As I was watching the children use the bowling rack I was struck with thoughts about the other 'racks' that we can provide for children. Racks that will help children reach their potential. Reaching that potential is just has hard as a small child trying to maneuver a heavy bowling ball. They are much more successful if given a sturdy structure to begin the journey. I think we should all take a minute and go bowling with a child. It is a humbling experience when they get a higher score than you!</div>

Going Bowling

We went bowling with the grandkids the other day and it was great. I had forgotten that they have these nifty metal racks for the children t...

7:45 PM

Family Trends and Policy

A new publication from the <a href="http://www.familyandparenting.org/" target="_blank">Family and Parenti</a><a href="http://www.familyandparenting.org/" target="_blank">ng Institute</a> says that the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8386464.stm" target="_blank">nuclear family is breaking down</a>, with relations outside of the family unit increasingly getting involved with parenting tasks. Other findings in the report highlighted the changing role of fathers, the increase in mothers that work, and a rise in the number of cohabiting couples. Although the full report, entitled Family Trends, is not available online, <a href="http://www.familyandparenting.org/Families2020" target="_blank">this speech</a> from the Institute's Chief Executive summarises its main conclusions. This month actually marks the 10th anniversary of the Family and Parenting Institute, which they have marked by releasing <a href="http://www.familyandparenting.org/Filestore/Documents/publications/10_Years_of_Family_Policy_WEB_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">Ten years of Family Policy: 1999–2009</a>, an excellent introduction to developments in this area in England over the past decade, with a lengthy references list for further reading. Those of our readers already working in this field may also be interested in the Institute's new booklet <a href="http://www.familyandparenting.org/Filestore/Documents/publications/knowing_what_works_for_web.pdf" target="_blank">Knowing what you do Works: Measuring your Own Effectiveness with Families, Parents and Children: a Short Guide</a>, and it's accompanying briefing sheet: <a href="http://www.familyandparenting.org/Filestore//Documents/PW2009/measurement_tools_briefing.pdf" target="_blank">Examples of Effective Measuring Tools</a>. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7njBy3CffEgTuQr54plXsBYqhzEqjsF5FTBB76qcGIKAnsDjL9AjM_Uo2TSjPtNPTiecV3I0VSBtoPJtPGP1TBuoUL1NKJk7HZ96UW8bhmDz1-DOVAU2U2Gx-NWlLPb0mHW24MUDcOQ/s1600/FamPic.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410258330764176226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7njBy3CffEgTuQr54plXsBYqhzEqjsF5FTBB76qcGIKAnsDjL9AjM_Uo2TSjPtNPTiecV3I0VSBtoPJtPGP1TBuoUL1NKJk7HZ96UW8bhmDz1-DOVAU2U2Gx-NWlLPb0mHW24MUDcOQ/s200/FamPic.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" /></a>

Family Trends and Policy

A new publication from the Family and Parenti ng Institute says that the nuclear family is breaking down , with relations outside of the fa...

5:01 AM

Underachievement

Those of you with an interest in the attainment of children from ethnic minorities may be interested in a new review which suggests that <a href="http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletins/Daily-Bulletin/news/969920/?DCMP=EMC-DailyBulletin" target="_blank">teachers underestimate black pupils</a>. The report - <a href="http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/DCSF-RR177.pdf" target="_blank">Black Children’s Achievement Programme Evaluation</a> - was commissioned by the DCSF, and argues that teachers need to understand that different strategies must be employed to raise the attainment of different ethnic groups. On a similar(ish!) note, another new research publication from the <a href="http://www.cps.org.uk/" target="_blank">Centre of Policy Studies</a> states that teachers are being asked to spend <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/mortarboard/2009/nov/27/too-many-iniatives-not-enough-teaching" target="_blank">too much time fulfilling government initiatives</a> with a detrimental effect on teaching quality; the report argues that white working class and black Caribbean boys are particularly affected. You can read the full text of <a href="http://www.cps.org.uk/cps_catalog/WASTED.pdf" target="_blank">Wasted</a> online now.

Underachievement

Those of you with an interest in the attainment of children from ethnic minorities may be interested in a new review which suggests that tea...

3:29 AM

Improving Safety, Reducing Harm

Improving Safety, Reducing Harm

The Department of Health has recently published Improving Safety, Reducing Harm: Children, Young People and Domestic Violence . This is a pr...

3:37 AM

A Quick Catch Up

Children's rights, mental health issues and family intervention are all covered in today's bumper post, which covers a number of recent publications... <ul><li>The parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights has criticised the government's <a href="http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletins/Daily-Bulletin/news/968423/?DCMP=EMC-DailyBulletin" target="_blank">record on protecting children's rights</a>; issues highlighted in their Children's Rights report included the treatment of young offenders and media treatment of children. You can read the <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt200809/jtselect/jtrights/157/157.pdf" target="_blank">full text</a> online now.</li></ul><ul><li>A new publication from the <a href="http://www.scmh.org.uk/" target="_blank">Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health</a> claims that up to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/nov/23/uk-crime-behavioural-problems-study" target="_blank">80% of crime is committed</a> by individuals who had behavioural problems as a child. The report, entitled <a href="http://www.scmh.org.uk/pdfs/chance_of_a_lifetime.pdf" target="_blank">The Chance of a Lifetime</a>, argues that the cost of introducing parenting support for problem families at an early age is easily offset by the savings from a reduced crime rate in later years.</li></ul><ul><li><a href="http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/eOrderingDownload/DCSF-RBX-09-16.pdf" target="_blank">New research</a> into the government's Family Intervention Projects (FIPs) suggests that they are helping to <a href="http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletins/Daily-Bulletin/news/968700/?DCMP=EMC-DailyBulletin" target="_blank">reduce anti-social behaviour and enforced evictions</a>.</li></ul><ul><li><a href="http://publications.education.gov.uk/eOrderingDownload/DCSF-RR170.pdf" target="_blank">Improving Educational Outcomes for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Pupils What Works?</a> is a new piece of DCSF research which takes a fresh look at a topic which has attracted plenty of attention in recent years. </li></ul>

A Quick Catch Up

Children's rights, mental health issues and family intervention are all covered in today's bumper post, which covers a number of rec...

3:24 AM

Ofsted Under Fire

Today sees the publication of <a href="http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Ofsted</a>'s annual report (<a href="http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Publications-and-research/Browse-all-by/Annual-Report/2008-09/The-Annual-Report-of-Her-Majesty-s-Chief-Inspector-of-Education-Children-s-Services-and-Skills-2008-09" target="_blank">click here</a> for links to the report and various supporting documents and summaries), which contains information about Ofsted's findings from the past year, grouped around the themes of looked-after children, teaching and learning, and skills for employment. In particular, a need to <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8376014.stm" target="_blank">tackle inadequate teaching</a> has been highlighted. However, this year's report has rather been overshadowed by the publication of <a href="http://www.adcs.org.uk/Downloads/Position_Statements/20Nov09-ADCS-position-on-inspection-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">this paper</a> by the <a href="http://www.adcs.org.uk/" target="_blank">Association of Directors of Children's Services</a>, which argues that the inspection models which Ofsted currently uses are flawed and need to change. Further press reaction to this controversy is available in this <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8375380.stm" target="_blank">BBC article</a> and <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/nov/23/reform-ofsted-schools-watchdog-critics" target="_blank">this piece</a> from the Guardian.

Ofsted Under Fire

Today sees the publication of Ofsted 's annual report ( click here for links to the report and various supporting documents and summari...

3:15 AM

State of the World's Children

State of the World's Children

Last week saw the publication of UNICEF 's annual State of the World's Children report. This year the publication has a special them...

2:32 AM

EYES Search

EYES Search

Another slow news day so another appeal for feedback from users... From looking at the stats of visitors for this site, it seems that in rec...

8:57 AM

Information Workshop 2

Information Workshop 2

Just a reminder (see previous post for details) that if you'd be interested in being introduced to useful techniques to staying on top ...

2:34 AM

Anti-Bullying Week

This week is National Anti-Bullying Week, which means that a number of organisations are seeking to raise awareness of issues surrounding all forms of bullying. This year seems to have a particular emphasis on cyber-bullying, with the appearance of a number of new reports and resources devoted to this subject. The <a href="http://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/" target="_blank">Anti-Bullying Alliance</a> sends out a resource pack containing various materials to schools at this time each year, and all of the contents can be downloaded from <a href="http://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/get_involved/anti-bullying_week_2009/support_for_schools/anti-bullying_week_2009_pack.aspx" target="_blank">this link</a>. Meanwhile, Bullying UK has launched a <a href="http://m.cyberbullying.co.uk/" target="_blank">mobile version of its cyber-bullying site</a>, which enables children to access advice and information while on the move. For new research, take a look at <a href="http://www.beatbullying.org/pdfs/Virtual%20Violence%20-%20Protecting%20Children%20from%20Cyberbullying.pdf" target="_blank">Virtual Violence: Protecting Children from Cyberbullying</a>, a new report from the <a href="http://www.beatbullying.org/" target="_blank">Beatbullying</a> charity; the study aims to highlight the true extent of cyberbulling in the UK. Also, <a href="http://www.teachers.tv/" target="_blank">Teachers TV</a> has commissioned a new programme entitled <a href="http://www.teachers.tv/video/38151" target="_blank">The Bullies Playground</a>, which conducts a detailed study of cyberbullying. For official guidance on tackling all types of bullying, the <a href="http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Teachernet</a> website has compiled <a href="http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/behaviour/tacklingbullying/" target="_blank">this list of links</a> to various documents and sources which have been issued in recent years. Or for further information, you could just click on the 'Bullying' link in the 'Hot Topics' menu in the right-hand column of this page, which will give you a list of all blog posts which have dealt with this topic.

Anti-Bullying Week

This week is National Anti-Bullying Week, which means that a number of organisations are seeking to raise awareness of issues surrounding al...

5:21 AM

Happy Birthday

If you've looked at any of the entertaining logos on Google's homepage during the last week, you've probably realised that <a href="http://www.sesamestreet.org/home" target="_blank">Sesame Street</a> is celebrating its 40th birthday. To mark the occasion, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2009/nov/10/michelle-obama-sesame-street-debut" target="_blank">Michelle Obama is making a guest appearance</a>, while newspapers and magazines from <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/09/sesame-street-40" target="_blank">the UK</a> to <a href="http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2009/11/10/sesame-street-raising-little-media-critics-for-40-years/" target="_blank">the US</a> and beyond are publishing articles which (mostly!) praise the impact that it has had. Some facts about Sesame Street (courtesy of www.imdb.com) <ul><li>The highest number of the day has been 21, the lowest has been 0</li><li>The series was originally designed for inner-city children to help them formulate phrases in standard English; the Sesame Street neighbourhood reflects the areas where these children would be growing up</li><li>Following the death of the grocer Mr Hooper, a special episode was commissioned to help children deal with the loss of a loved one</li><li>The Snuffleupagus character initially interacted only with Big Bird; the producers made him visible to other characters as it was felt that it was sending a bad message to children that adults would not believe them if they had something important to tell</li><li>Linda (an actress on the show) was the first regular deaf character on American TV</li><li>The Guiness Book of Records lists Sesame Street as the Most Popular Children's Educational Programme, having been shown in 180 countries</li></ul>Sesame Street is also surely among the most researched programmes of all time; a search for "Sesame Street" on Google Scholar returns over 13,000 hits. For classic clips from the show covering its entire history, try taking a look at the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/sesamestreet?blend=1&ob=4" target="_blank">official YouTube channel</a>.

Happy Birthday

If you've looked at any of the entertaining logos on Google's homepage during the last week, you've probably realised that Sesam...

7:17 AM

Regulating Play-Based Provision

A new factsheet from Ofsted seeks to clarify how play providers can meet the requirements of the EYFS <a href="http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletins/Daily-Bulletin/news/965178/?DCMP=EMC-DailyBulletin" target="_blank">without altering existing good practice</a>. The information provided in the document (entitled Regulating Play-Based Provision) outlines Ofsted's role in overseeing early years provision, and provides links to other useful materials. To access the factsheet, <a href="http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Forms-and-guidance/Browse-all-by/Other/General/Factsheet-childcare-Regulating-play-based-provision" target="_blank">click here</a>. The DCSF will be issuing further guidance to help the play sector deliver the EYFS before the end of the year; when this information is released it will be featured on here. Readers with an interest in play may also like to take a look at the <a href="http://www.skillsactive.com/playwork/principles" target="_blank">Playwork Principles</a>, which lay out a professional and ethical framework for playwork, and are being incorporated into the Playwork National Occupational Standards.

Regulating Play-Based Provision

A new factsheet from Ofsted seeks to clarify how play providers can meet the requirements of the EYFS without altering existing good practic...

2:26 AM

The Really Good School Dinner

The Really Good School Dinner

If you work in a school, is your institution involved in the Really Good School Dinner? Now into it's second year, this project enables ...

5:07 AM

Spring in the Fall

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjcoIHpMjrt6nCVqVf5Hsz0tbgRwK5gl8hD-38ISYQ0LYDMBDxpASE-FkCDD0jatwpjXQgw0LXH9s4YjS4dSNyn6LfTPXxuDnBvlUN77BbgGrH-CoCNSDbABNtYvjK7walXXfb-4aazw/s1600-h/Calif.+3-09+005.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401869724407488498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjcoIHpMjrt6nCVqVf5Hsz0tbgRwK5gl8hD-38ISYQ0LYDMBDxpASE-FkCDD0jatwpjXQgw0LXH9s4YjS4dSNyn6LfTPXxuDnBvlUN77BbgGrH-CoCNSDbABNtYvjK7walXXfb-4aazw/s200/Calif.+3-09+005.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" /></a> I was struck by an extraordinary thought the other day as I was raking up leaves. We go somewhat overboard with our yard, so every fall we must clean up the falling leaves and dying plants. It's like a right of passage into winter (whether we want winter to come or not). As I was raking, I thought about how much of our yard will 'sleep' for the winter and come alive again in the spring. Each perennial plant will have another chance to grow and flourish, trying to surpass the previous year. I was thinking about how wonderful it would be for children who suffer an emotional or developmental setback to have a spring, where they could have another chance to flourish. Maybe this time, with the right light, water and nourishment, he just might flourish. Then it hit me that every fall when we begin a another school year, a child may have a new 'spring' in learning. If a teacher works hard to provide the right amount of nourishment, the child can flourish, even more than the previous year. Even as I watch the new trees I planted begin to grow and spread, that same anticipation should be occurring each school year as we watch our students grow and spread their wings.

Spring in the Fall

I was struck by an extraordinary thought the other day as I was raking up leaves. We go somewhat overboard with our yard, so every fall we m...

2:37 PM

Safeguarding Children

I've written about the <a href="http://www.c4eo.org.uk/" target="_blank">Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services (C4EO)</a> site on here a few times before; for those who aren't familiar with this organisation, they carry out evidence-based research with a view to identifying effective practice in delivering children's services. Currently they are doing a number of studies on different themes, and the latest set of briefings, on the subject of Safeguarding Children, have just been published. Click on the links below to view the various reports: <ul style="font-style: italic;"><li><a href="http://www.c4eo.org.uk/themes/safeguarding/files/safeguarding_briefing_1.pdf" target="_blank">Effective Interventions for Complex Families Where There are Concerns About, or Evidence of, a Child Suffering Significant Harm</a></li><li><a href="http://www.c4eo.org.uk/themes/safeguarding/files/safeguarding_briefing_2.pdf" target="_blank">What are the Key Questions for Audit of Child Protection Systems and Decision-Making?</a></li><li><a href="http://www.c4eo.org.uk/themes/safeguarding/files/safeguarding_briefing_3.pdf" target="_blank">The Oversight and Review of Cases in the Light of Changing Circumstances and New Information: how do People Respond to New (and Challenging) Information?</a></li></ul>Previous reports from C4EO have focused on <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2008/12/childrens-services-bullying.html" target="_blank">Children's Services</a>, <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2009/03/disabled-children.html" target="_blank">Disabled Children</a> and <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2009/05/vulnerable-children.html" target="_blank">Vulnerable Children</a>. Studies on Child Poverty, Schools and Communities, Youth, Families, Parents and Carers and Narrowing the Gap are still in progress, and details of each will be included on the blog when they are published.

Safeguarding Children

I've written about the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services (C4EO) site on here a few times ...

5:22 AM

20 Years of the Children Act

20 Years of the Children Act

It's been 20 years since the passing of the Children Act 1989, a landmark piece of legislation which still governs much of how cases inv...

11:42 AM

Information Workshop

"Where do you get all the information for the blog?" "It must take you hours to find all this stuff!" "Haven't you got anything better to do with your time?" Above are some of the typical comments that users make when chatting to me about this site (OK, I made the last one up...). In actual fact, getting hold of information to post on here is really quite simple, as most of it is sent to me automatically without the need to search for it, as I have a number of alerts and other services in place which deliver important news stories directly to my inbox. In addition, there are other online tools I use which are handy for organising and sharing information with people who have similar research interests. Anyway, a survey which we carried out with students from the School of Childhood and Education a few months back (see <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2009/04/how-do-you-use-web.html" target="_blank">previous post</a> for details; an article outlining the results will shortly appear in the College's <a href="http://www.ucb.ac.uk/asp/BUS-newsletter.asp" target="_blank">Praxis</a> newsletter) suggested that many students were largely unfamiliar with such services, and the benefits that they can offer in helping you to stay on top of your subject, and organise useful material that you have found.In response to this, I'd like to invite users to a 'Masterclass' session, where some of these tools can be demonstrated, and you can have a go at using some of them for yourself. Perhaps you'd like to set up a blog with pupils at your school? Or learn what childcare / education webpages other internet users are using right now? Or just ensure a steady stream of useful emails on your favourite topics? Come along and all will be revealed...If you would like to attend, simply <a href="mailto:D.Renfree@ucb.ac.uk">email me</a> or speak to me in the library. If enough of you show an interest, I will arrange a time that suits you all and the session can go ahead. Who knows, by the end you may not feel the need to visit this site any more...?

Information Workshop

"Where do you get all the information for the blog?" "It must take you hours to find all this stuff!" "Haven't ...

6:43 AM

Social Trends

Social Trends

Following a request from a student for information about the UK, I was reminded that I haven't yet put up a link to this year's edit...

3:34 AM

Playday 2009

Playday 2009

I've been a little slow off the mark with this one, but the 5th August was this year's Playday , an annual event which celebrates ch...

4:22 AM

Social Care TV

Social Care TV

This blog often mentions Teachers TV and some of the many useful programmes that you can find on their website; now the Social Care Institu...

9:49 AM

Children's Workforce Development Council

The <a href="http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/" target="_blank">Children's Workforce Development Council</a> (CWDC) is largely funded by the DCSF and helps to co-ordinate the way that the various agencies with a stake in childcare work together, as well as providing a voice for employers in shaping the future direction of policy in this area. Their website is well worth visiting if you are taking any kind of early years course within the College. Like many other organisations in the sector, the CWDC also publishes research / reports relating to it's work. Two of its recent publications will be of interest to some of our readers: <a href="http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/assets/0000/7085/Nanny_workforce_SIRC_Oct_09.pdf" target="_blank">The Composition, Needs and Aspirations of the Nanny Workforce in England</a> claims to be "the first comprehensive profile" of this area; the report is made up of the results of a survey involving 888 nannies and 55 nanny agencies. <a href="http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/assets/0000/5565/EYP_Evaluation_Summary_Report_June09.pdf" target="_blank">Evaluation of the Career Developments of Early Years Professionals (EYPs)</a> summarises the findings of a survey carried out between October 2007 and May 2008. Graduates who had achieved EYPS were contacted a few months later to talk about the impact on their practice, career prospects and salary.

Children's Workforce Development Council

The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) is largely funded by the DCSF and helps to co-ordinate the way that the various age...

2:38 AM

The Human Family

<a href="http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=26828&es=10490500000" target="'_New"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395240904974638466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2v8NywmuOBUMYkZM28bsv-H4RthaEn9kG4sDMR4FiZC3zK3I0rdoTkieq-FXMfG5MCcajOOAsnkpJyv4br7-E86sEbnUjfL8lkjytafAOLxiPcx_5MKjJpG5NVdzXEKpFUqlpAE5qNJc/s200/26828.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I was having a conversation with a coworker recently about supporting children who come from different family configurations. I told him that I really enjoyed using <a href="http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=26828&es=10490500000" target="'_New">multicultural play sets</a>, or block people, to allow the child the opportunity to build a model of his own family in dramatic play. Even though many of the play people produced commercially come in racial family compositions, I like to get them all and allow the child to mix and match and create her family as close as she can. The make-up of the American family in 2009 has no one model. Families may have a father and mother, bi-racial members, single-parent households, gay parents, grandparents, foster parents, and the list could go on. Our job as early childhood educators is to validate and support every child in our care. Regardless of our own background or value system, we must realize that the child is the most important part of our classroom. Our support and validation is critical to help the child become well-adjusted and resilient.

The Human Family

I was having a conversation with a coworker recently about supporting children who come from different family configurations. I told him tha...

6:40 PM

Fathers, Family & Work

Fathers, Family & Work

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has just published a short report which examines how working fathers attempt to juggle their work-...

8:06 AM

Primary Review - Final Report

Today sees the publication of the final report of the <a href="http://www.primaryreview.org.uk/" target="_blank">Cambridge Primary Review</a>, which has been widely described as "the largest review of primary education for more than 40 years." For the last 3 years, a team of researchers based at Cambridge University with funding from the <a href="http://www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk/" target="_blank">Esmee Fairbairn Foundation</a> has conducted a thorough investigation into all aspects of teaching, school management and the curriculum. Not surprisingly, the report has received wide media attention, with most outlets choosing to focus on the recommendation that <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8309153.stm" target="_blank">children should not start formal learning until they are six</a>. Other key points are listed in this <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/oct/16/scrap-sats-school-home-work" target="_blank">Guardian article</a>. The Primary Review itself has provided a more detailed list of press reaction, which can be <a href="http://www.primaryreview.org.uk/Press_and_media/Finalreportcoverage-Octob.html" target="_blank">accessed from here</a>, while it's also worth having a look at these <a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6025097" target="_blank">editorial</a> and <a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6025135" target="_blank">analysis</a> pieces in today's TES. The title of the final report is Children, Their World, Their Education - it is not freely available online, although you can read a <a href="http://www.primaryreview.org.uk/Downloads/Finalreport/CWE-briefing.pdf" target="_blank">briefing</a> which summarises the report's main findings, and a more detailed booklet is currently being sent out to all schools, councils, and teacher training providers. Copies of the final report will shortly be available in the library stock.

Primary Review - Final Report

Today sees the publication of the final report of the Cambridge Primary Review , which has been widely described as "the largest review...

2:22 AM

SEN / Childcare Providers

SEN / Childcare Providers

Here are details of two new reports from the DCSF, both of them of interest to those of you looking for figures / statistics: Children with ...

6:19 AM

Early Learning Partnerships

Early Learning Partnerships

A new study by the Family and Parenting Institute examines the impact of the Early Learning Partnership Project (ELPP), a government-funded...

2:55 AM

Protecting Children in Birmingham

Protecting Children in Birmingham

A new report on Birmingham's children's social care department makes for uncomfortable reading. Following criticism from Ofsted, a t...

3:07 AM

Building Brain Connections

I was traveling on an airplane this week and I had the privilege of sitting next to a mechanical engineer. He was traveling for work on his latest project, a new medical device for heart patients. I was fascinated by the new procedures he was explaining, but he seemed just as fascinated with my early childhood knowledge. He has two small children and admitted that he and his wife don't always know the best approach for teaching their little ones. Our conversation evolved to a discussion about building capacities in the brain. I told him how critical it was to give young children as many experiences and support as possible so they can build as many brain connections as possible (<a href="http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=24922&category=452&es=10490500000"target="'_New">check out Dr. Jean's information</a>). We know that the connections formed during early childhood will have life long effects. We discussed how his new device might help patients avoid a heart bypass operation, but there was no shortcut to providing young children with positive, supportive experiences during these critical years. Early childhood is the time to build strong brain connections. I continue to admire all of the wonderful people in the world that devote their lives to young children.

Building Brain Connections

I was traveling on an airplane this week and I had the privilege of sitting next to a mechanical engineer. He was traveling for work on his ...

6:51 AM

Children and Domestic Violence

A new study from the NSPCC examines the difficult issue of domestic violence and the support received by children who are witnesses to such incidents. The research, which was carried out by a team at the University of Central Lancashire, assessed the response of children's services in the aftermath of such incidents, and lists a series of recommendations for improvement to existing practice. A 12 page summary version of <a href="http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/Findings/children_experiencing_domestic_violence_summary_wdf68552.pdf" target="_blank">Children and Families Experiencing Domestic Violence: Police and Children's Social Services' Responses</a>, containing a bullet point list of the findings and recommendations is available now. The full report is due to follow later this year. Incidentally, for anyone planning a dissertation on some aspect of safeguarding children, the NSPCC also provides suggested <a href="http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/factsandfigures/readinglists/reading_lists_wda48913.html" target="_blank">reading lists</a> on topics such as child law, child protection, separation and divorce and many others, which will give you a good idea of the important books and reports in that area.

Children and Domestic Violence

A new study from the NSPCC examines the difficult issue of domestic violence and the support received by children who are witnesses to such ...

2:27 AM

Age and Development

Age and Development

A new study carried out by the NFER has concluded that summer-born children are more likely to develop special educational needs; the liter...

2:22 AM

Fathering / Parenting

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has just published a collection of research reports which examine different aspects of parenting and the role of the father in contemporary Britain. If you have an interest in these topics or are considering a project in this area for your dissertation then they are well worth a look. Links to the full text of each report as well as summary versions are below: - <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/understanding-fathering-diversity-full.pdf" target="_blank">Understanding Fathering: Masculinity, Diversity and Change</a> <a href="http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/understanding-fathering-diversity-summary.pdf" target="_blank">(Summary)</a> - <a href="http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/Asian-fathers-Britain-full.pdf" target="_blank">Understanding the Experiences of Asian Fathers</a> <a href="http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/Asian-fathers-Britain-summary.pdf" target="_blank">(Summary)</a> - <a href="http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/parenting-support-need-full.pdf" target="_blank">Assessments of Parenting and Parenting Support Need</a> <a href="http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/parenting-support-need-summary.pdf" target="_blank">(Summary)</a>

Fathering / Parenting

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has just published a collection of research reports which examine different aspects of parenting and the role...

2:52 AM

Birmingham for Families

The next time you're passing the Central Library, try popping in for 2 minutes and picking up a copy of Birmingham for Families (see below), a free directory of services in the city for children, young people and families. Copies are available in the Centre for the Child, and the booklet contains details of thousands of useful services and contact details, including everything from children's centres and schools to health advice and child safety. Very handy! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkScEBHRXxTc9wtra_UCxr4iXEy_QGB5GPwaJ5MXJRS1-B6g5C6dfriJa-f_ZXwmT3x99Exv3Owl8U7NsPsHBV0FksM-U1ZEiGUJ0jeHISLQrBDzZJqTj-n2GugR1UhCshxm7Gi0YbWQ/s1600-h/LeafletJPEG.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384236956527806530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkScEBHRXxTc9wtra_UCxr4iXEy_QGB5GPwaJ5MXJRS1-B6g5C6dfriJa-f_ZXwmT3x99Exv3Owl8U7NsPsHBV0FksM-U1ZEiGUJ0jeHISLQrBDzZJqTj-n2GugR1UhCshxm7Gi0YbWQ/s200/LeafletJPEG.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 200px;" /></a>

Birmingham for Families

The next time you're passing the Central Library, try popping in for 2 minutes and picking up a copy of Birmingham for Families (see bel...

3:24 AM

I Need to be Twins

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKk389zLK3Ap9fu_o3iV3uWo2sqovUYDuDRo1UnnqjXtsoeIUYlKzLTzlYV54ykZq4lUR84Tev-9jubzmt00SvAkVTFUoJq7x962PBeJ6-_2O-cMUGMUroFCxgkmeUKnvoNBeeZEz2EPY/s1600-h/kids+reading+001.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382954082433757202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKk389zLK3Ap9fu_o3iV3uWo2sqovUYDuDRo1UnnqjXtsoeIUYlKzLTzlYV54ykZq4lUR84Tev-9jubzmt00SvAkVTFUoJq7x962PBeJ6-_2O-cMUGMUroFCxgkmeUKnvoNBeeZEz2EPY/s200/kids+reading+001.JPG" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <div>I went to my granddaughter's class for grandparents day this past week. We had a great time. I have another little friend in my granddaughter's room. The school is year-round and my granddaugher has changed schedules (tracks) this year. With all of the that, this little friend has been in her class every year since kindergarten (they are in 2nd grade this year). I was immediately drawn to this little guy in kindergarten because he was struggling with all the basic skills. I was a bit concerned when I asked the teacher about him. Her response was that he, "just didn't know anything," as she rolled her eyes. I took offense to how flippantly she dismissed the situation. I went back to my son's home and told my daughter-in-law that I would love to live closer so that I could tutor this struggling boy in reading.</div> <div>Not much has changed in two years. He was the only child in the class without a grandparent or parent with him last week. Of course, with my granddaughter's permission, he became part of our family for the activity. We played bingo and I was distressed as my granddaughter read every word on the card and he could not decode even the simplest word.</div> <div>I went home and looked at my schedule to see if I had 3 hours (travel time and tutor time) to devote several times a week to this child. Unfortunately, with supervising student teachers this year, I just can't find that amount of time.</div> <div>I feel the same distress I felt when one of my grandchildren had a very poor teacher a couple of years ago. It shouldn't be this way. We must support the children while they are in these crucial early childhood years. I think I need a clone...or maybe several.</div>

I Need to be Twins

I went to my granddaughter's class for grandparents day this past week. We had a great time. I have another little friend in my granddau...

4:09 PM

Teaching Resources

Welcome to all of the new students on the College's PGCE programme. This post is intended to point you towards some of the Web resources that will be most helpful to you during (and hopefully beyond!) your course, so it may be worth bookmarking some of the links below if you haven't done so already. It's likely that you'll quickly realise the importance of the Times Educational Supplement (aka TES). Their <a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/" target="_blank">website</a> gives you free access to thousands of news stories and feature articles on all aspects of school life that have been published over the last 15 years. The site also contains job listings, lesson plans, a discussion forum, and other interactive features. For further news and features about the profession, try looking at the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/teaching" target="_blank">teaching section</a> of the Guardian website. The DCSF has set up the <a href="http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Teachernet</a> website to support the teaching profession, and so it contains a mass of information about all aspects of the job, from classroom management and ICT to whole school issues and continuing professional development. The site also contains plenty of links to other useful sites, and can be used to download official education-related publications. Teachernet is also home to the bi-monthly <a href="http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachers/archive/" target="_blank">Teachers</a> magazine, which can be read online in full. If you've ever flicked through the channels on Freeview, you may have stumbled across channel 88, which is home to <a href="http://www.teachers.tv/" target="_blank">Teachers TV</a>. This broadcasts programmes on all aspects of school life, and often has themed weeks where a series of programmes on a particular topic are shown. All of the channel's output is available to watch at any time from the website. The <a href="http://www.ttrb.ac.uk/" target="_blank">Teacher Training Resource Bank</a> contains materials to help support your professional development; these can include news stories, research reports, government guidance documents, QTS standards and much more. The 'Glossary' section of the site is also very useful in helping you to make sense of all of the jargon that you'll need to get to grips with during your training. Other teaching-specific websites that may come in handy include the <a href="http://www.tda.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Training and Development Agency for Schools</a> (TDA), which is responsible for the professional development of the school workforce. Also worth a look is <a href="http://www.teachingexpertise.com/" target="_blank">Teaching Expertise</a>, an "information and learning website for teachers and other education professionals" which has been put together by the publishers Optimus Education. As the PGCE contains a significant element of SEN content, you may want to familiarise yourself with the work of the <a href="http://www.nasen.org.uk/" target="_blank">National Association for Special Educational Needs</a> (NASEN). Students can access their publications through the library's online resources, but the NASEN site is also worth viewing as it provides news stories, research summaries, and links to the websites of similar organisations. Teachernet also has an <a href="http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/sen/" target="_blank">SEN area</a> with important information, and the Guardian's <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/specialeducationneeds" target="_blank">Special Educational Needs area</a> contains relevant news stories. For reference purposes, you may also want to occasionally check the <a href="http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/" target="_blank">National Curriculum</a> and <a href="http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/earlyyears" target="_blank">Early Years Foundation Stage</a> sites; these contain detailed information on what skills children are taught at different levels, as well as providing supporting materials. Finally, don't forget to check this blog regularly for details of new reports on teaching as and when they're published. You can view a list of previous posts relating to teaching by clicking <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/search/label/Teaching" target="_blank">this link</a>, while the 'Useful Links' area in the right hand column lists some more generic education and child-related sites which are worth a visit. That should keep you all going for now. If any readers are aware of a particularly useful teaching-related site that isn't mentioned here, why not share it by putting a link to it below this post in the form of a comment? Here's <a href="http://bcftcschildhoodeducation.blogspot.com/2007/06/leave-comment.html" target="_blank">how to do it</a>.

Teaching Resources

Welcome to all of the new students on the College's PGCE programme. This post is intended to point you towards some of the Web resources...

5:54 AM

History of Primary Schools

History of Primary Schools

From Abacus to Circle Time: A Short History of the Primary School is the title of a 3 part series which begins today on Radio 4 at 4pm. Eac...

3:27 AM

Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents

Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents

The DCSF recently published its annual Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents . This report examines information on parental childcare ...

3:24 AM

Support Staff in Schools

Support Staff in Schools

A new study by the Institute of Education looks likely to prove controversial, after it concluded that pupils who are supported by teaching ...

5:00 AM

Guidance from Ofsted

The mere mention of 'Ofsted' may strike fear into you if you work in a early years or education setting, but on this occasion it seems the organisation is keen to lend a hand; two new publications on the Ofsted website are designed to offer guidance to those working with children. <a href="http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Forms-and-guidance/Browse-all-by/Other/General/Are-you-ready-for-your-inspection-A-guide-to-inspections-of-provision-on-Ofsted-s-Childcare-and-Early-Years-Registers" target="_blank">Are You Ready for Your Inspection?</a> is a 28 page booklet with information on what to expect from an inspection and how best to prepare for one. Also, <a href="http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Publications-and-research/Browse-all-by/Care/Childcare/Childminding-a-passion-to-be-outstanding" target="_blank">Childminding: a Passion to be Outstanding</a> is based on the opinions of childminders who have received the highest grade during inspection, and lists best practice in keeping children safe, inclusion, learning and development and other issues.

Guidance from Ofsted

The mere mention of 'Ofsted' may strike fear into you if you work in a early years or education setting, but on this occasion it see...

3:48 AM

Doing Better for Children

Doing Better for Children

A new publication from the OECD suggests that high public spending in the UK on child welfare and education is failing to deliver results . ...

3:34 AM

The Open Classroom

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8o3ZenfiFxMuYtUzayMpqb0xukyG4e9kFlyLB_lgkhsYHmkjLTm0NkBtZmyLtjKzWY_h1_Eni-LI5EAWo8hjVMluIN4MBLrYb7vOBGaQw8X0VugtyR6WW7EKZ47XMIoKvVnD8kAmvZbs/s1600-h/Family+Pictures+7-08+090.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377005742915414770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8o3ZenfiFxMuYtUzayMpqb0xukyG4e9kFlyLB_lgkhsYHmkjLTm0NkBtZmyLtjKzWY_h1_Eni-LI5EAWo8hjVMluIN4MBLrYb7vOBGaQw8X0VugtyR6WW7EKZ47XMIoKvVnD8kAmvZbs/s200/Family+Pictures+7-08+090.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <div>I have the opportunity to supervise student teachers this school year. I've always wanted that assignment. I thought I was well-suited for it since I had numerous student teachers when I was a classroom teacher and I have supervised classroom teachers several times. One of my assignments is a school called The Open Classroom. When I visited for the first time last week, I was thrilled. Talk about using early childhood strategies! The entire school is built around hands-on experiences, working together, parent participation and creating a learning environment throughout the school. It was wonderful to walk into a fourth grade classroom and see tables instead of desks!! There were also several parents as well as the teacher and the student teacher. The school was friendly and inviting. Even the children in the hallway greeted me with a smile and a hello. The principal was just returning from outside where they were making the most of the learning environment while out at recess. The principal told me, "Every situation is a learning opportunity. Whether we are outside, in the hallway, or actually in the classroom. Anywhere the student might be is a teaching moment."</div> <div>I'm so excited to visit this school this year. It reflects my personal philosophy about education and educational settings. This is how I ran my kindergarten and first grade classrooms. What a joy to see these basic child development strategies embedded throughout an elementary school. I have always been convinced that a child will always learn more when he enjoys the environment and is met on his developmental level.</div>

The Open Classroom

I have the opportunity to supervise student teachers this school year. I've always wanted that assignment. I thought I was well-suited f...

3:34 PM

CCInform

CCInform

Today's post is a reminder to students about the CCInform service. I've written about this site before (see previous post ), but hav...

5:41 AM

Time...

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdcmfAUsDsYsI1cJOT8Y_px6OdMT30VekdozqUOV1Jabn9CiZLZikTexrJ5MOdt1_CIrz6OTPVlUBLcQSPNNHDxAJn9zu7e8HfZsN7SPhqfPbtRWDZDUQJF9QRH0Zu2Shm8ncR67nChM/s1600-h/The_Persistence_of_Memory.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373991334339810930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdcmfAUsDsYsI1cJOT8Y_px6OdMT30VekdozqUOV1Jabn9CiZLZikTexrJ5MOdt1_CIrz6OTPVlUBLcQSPNNHDxAJn9zu7e8HfZsN7SPhqfPbtRWDZDUQJF9QRH0Zu2Shm8ncR67nChM/s200/The_Persistence_of_Memory.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 145px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <div>I was asking my 'brand new second grader' granddaughter the other day how things were going in second grade. "Good," was her response. I asked what she had been doing the past week in her new class. "Well, we made visors the first day, with our names on them." I inquired about the rest of the week. She shrugged and said, "I don't know. Stuff." Somehow, there was only one stand-out memory from the week. I began to think about how time seems to pass much quicker for me than it did when I was younger. It becomes a challenge to create memories that stand out while time is whizzing by rapidly. I also recently had dinner with a former kindergarten student, who is an adult now. I was taken back by what he remembered from my kindergarten class. He recalled our hillbilly band, learning how to read (yeah!) and the one time he got into trouble for talking too much. I don't even remember ever talking to him about behavior. He was a wonderful student. I think I was shocked that one of his first memories was one isolated time he was corrected.</div><div>Salvador Dali's "Persistence of Time" picture always makes me feel that we need to be more effective with our time, before it melts away. Particularly, when we work with small children whose brains are building life-long skills and memories. I'm committed to making myself create more positive memories for myself and those around me.</div>

Time...

I was asking my 'brand new second grader' granddaughter the other day how things were going in second grade. "Good," was h...

12:38 PM

What does a Social Worker do?

What does a Social Worker do?

Those of you with an interest in social work want to take a look at a new consultation document which has been published by the Children...

2:50 AM

New Reports for August

Another sporadic summer update for those of you who are missing College already: <ul><li>An EU report has just been released with the title <a href="http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/Pub_Child_Trafficking_09_en.pdf" target="_blank">Child Trafficking in the European Union: Challenges, Perspectives and Good Practices</a></li><li>The Nuffield Foundation has produced a briefing paper on <a href="http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/fileLibrary/pdf/Nuffield_CAP_web_final.pdf" target="_blank">modern parenting of adolescents</a></li><li>The House of Commons Children, Schools and Families Committee has completed a report into the training of children and families social workers; <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmchilsch/527/527i.pdf" target="_blank">Volume One</a> describes the current state of the profession and makes recommendations for future developments, while <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmchilsch/527/527ii.pdf" target="_blank">Volume Two</a> contains all of the written and oral evidence which the Committee generated during its research </li></ul>

New Reports for August

Another sporadic summer update for those of you who are missing College already: An EU report has just been released with the title Child Tr...

7:51 AM

Beauty in Getting Along

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJITAjZGseyIQUKWpetsg9u2mljmIgGY4sNZFulQ9aiYrYArCZ3ioAEioIzghAWaxldL9cfPSZWMiC0K9mCv4iOvxD3dpwzg-hxoJBoXT-P8ljZHbPAxNNyyGXPD8qArC3tmMCN73V9EM/s1600-h/IMG00005-20090731-1958%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369908423717693986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJITAjZGseyIQUKWpetsg9u2mljmIgGY4sNZFulQ9aiYrYArCZ3ioAEioIzghAWaxldL9cfPSZWMiC0K9mCv4iOvxD3dpwzg-hxoJBoXT-P8ljZHbPAxNNyyGXPD8qArC3tmMCN73V9EM/s400/IMG00005-20090731-1958%5B1%5D.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 198px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 192px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <div>I just finished watching my grandchildren for several days while their parents were out of town. I guess I had more energy when I was younger. :-) Caring for young children takes a lot of energy. I remember the comedian, Bill Cosby, once said, "People with only one child aren't real parents. They never had to hear, 'She's looking at me.' or 'He touched me.'" It takes effort to keep the peace when you have small children or are in charge of young children. Several years ago I was involved with a grant that concentrated on using social emotional strategies to avoid negative behaviors in the preschool classroom. It was great to watch teachers set up their classrooms and organize the day in ways that encouraged positive behaviors. I am so lucky that my grandchildren are well-behaved. However, I tried one strategy with them while they were staying at my house. I made a visual schedule for the day. It was funny how that seemed to please the kids and help them understand how the day was going to progress. Hmmm...it even worked at home. As my granddaughter said about the flowers in our yard, "It is beautiful when everything in a plant gets along." It is beautiful when a group of children get along.</div>

Beauty in Getting Along

I just finished watching my grandchildren for several days while their parents were out of town. I guess I had more energy when I was younge...

12:19 PM

It Tastes Ymmy

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCFHwpX8vBdXJQm0cJSMIZXPBDL_Qqjk65mhEkEA5ZmGbTagAtTSmtVrTkqUOU2HvEbgZbAE892vQdKN8YX46rrIeoz9am1nT2dhCYRMJhI3MaUNV2ZGWXEuCRr7eDuxQ_oaMEV-eXM4/s1600-h/Summer+2009+003.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364825950876826258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCFHwpX8vBdXJQm0cJSMIZXPBDL_Qqjk65mhEkEA5ZmGbTagAtTSmtVrTkqUOU2HvEbgZbAE892vQdKN8YX46rrIeoz9am1nT2dhCYRMJhI3MaUNV2ZGWXEuCRr7eDuxQ_oaMEV-eXM4/s400/Summer+2009+003.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a> We have three new little turtles in the pond in our yard. It has taken a month or so for us to train the little ones to come to the surface (not swim away) and eat the food we throw on top of the water. The real trick is to encourage them to eat the TURTLE food, not the fish food we distribute for the school of fish which shares their pond. I suppose they might get nourishment from the fish food, but I know the turtle food is healthier for them in the long run. It makes me think of beginning a school year with a new group of children. We carefully need to teach them to come to the surface to eat the right food. Of course, the teacher or caregiver must provide the right food. Sometimes that doesn't happen. Just like the little turtles, I suppose children may get some benefit out of inappropriate practices in the classroom. But, when teachers use appropriate teaching strategies, it is much more nourishing and beneficial for the child's entire life. I hope we early childhood educators will do our best to provide turtle food to help growth and development.

It Tastes Ymmy

We have three new little turtles in the pond in our yard. It has taken a month or so for us to train the little ones to come to the surface ...

7:54 PM

Poverty / Forced Marriage

Poverty / Forced Marriage

Two new reports that may interest readers: Living with Poverty: a Review of the Literature of Children's and Families' Experiences o...

7:48 AM

Another Round Up

Once again it's been a while since there were any new posts on here. This is because our visitor numbers tail off dramatically during holiday periods, but for those of you who are still making the effort to check in (thank you!), here's a list of new reports / research from the past few weeks. Rest assured that more regular updates will start again in September when the new term begins.<o:p></o:p> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/227102/fair-access.pdf" target="_blank">Unleashing Aspiration</a> is a new report from the Cabinet Office which investigates how social mobility can be improved in the UK, to give people from all classes the opportunity to <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8159687.stm" target="_blank">achieve their full potential</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Ofsted have published a short report entitled <a href="http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Publications-and-research/Browse-all-by/Documents-by-type/Thematic-reports/The-impact-of-integrated-services-on-children-and-their-families-in-Sure-Start-children-s-centres" target="_blank">The Impact of Integrated Services on Children and their Families in Sure Start Children’s Centres</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The House of Commons Children, Schools and Family Committee urges changes to disciplinary procedural procedures in <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmchilsch/695/69502.htm" target="_blank">Allegations Against School Staff</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">SCIE have produced <a href="http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/ataglance/ataglance09.asp" target="_blank">Think Child, Think Parent, Think Family: a Guide to Parental Mental Health and Child Welfare</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://www.cqc.org.uk/_db/_documents/Safeguarding_Children_200907153039.pdf" target="_blank">Safeguarding Children: A Review of Arrangements in the NHS for Safeguarding Children</a> is a new report from the Care Quality Commission<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Ofsted have also published <a href="http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Publications-and-research/Browse-all-by/Documents-by-type/Thematic-reports/Support-for-care-leavers" target="_blank">Support for Care Leavers</a>, an investigation into which strategies and services can help these individuals to make successful transitions into adulthood and independence<o:p></o:p></li></ul> The rest of the reports listed here are all from the DCSF:<o:p></o:p> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/DCSF-RR116.pdf" target="_blank">Outreach to Children and Families: a Scoping Study</a> examines the impact of extended services within Sure Start Children's Centres</li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/DCSF-RR113.pdf" target="_blank">Impact of Family Breakdown on Children's Wellbeing</a> is a review of relevant literature published between 2002 and 2007; very useful as a source of references if you have an interest in this area!</li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/DCSF-RR114.pdf" target="_blank">International Perspectives on Parenting Support</a> looks at evidence from other countries (Denmark, France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands) to suggest ways of improving practice in England</li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/DCSF-RBX-09-09%28R%29.pdf" target="_blank">Safeguarding Children from Emotional Abuse - What Works?</a> is a useful research brief </li></ul>

Another Round Up

Once again it's been a while since there were any new posts on here. This is because our visitor numbers tail off dramatically during ho...

8:04 AM

There's Always Ice Cream!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRKuAMHkNcT00Qz_j2CIS_VXNmxZwKK4LNpelLRm5KU15PkIwn4B_j8wjsmUm8Fel-z83Wzzh0q-ecwBRAn63CGJHRqvR_Q3y6E3HJwfplYsLxjfgqmt5tb1Af69tA9ITXCm75o2ARLU/s1600-h/zoo+6-09+011.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360641214185826866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRKuAMHkNcT00Qz_j2CIS_VXNmxZwKK4LNpelLRm5KU15PkIwn4B_j8wjsmUm8Fel-z83Wzzh0q-ecwBRAn63CGJHRqvR_Q3y6E3HJwfplYsLxjfgqmt5tb1Af69tA9ITXCm75o2ARLU/s320/zoo+6-09+011.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" /></a> We went from a long wet, cool spring (unusual for us) to a blistering hot summer this month! We were trying to enjoy a family birthday barbecue this past Saturday (it was 102!) and one of my grandchildren reminded me that when it is hot outside there is always ice cream (she wishes). That reminds me of the promises of life. When I graduate from college I can... When I finish this school year, I can rejuvenate... When I train him out of diapers, I can... Lots of expectations when certain journeys seem complete. I think we adults tend to concentrate on the end reward without enjoying the journey. However, it may help us weather the journey. I was complaining about the cold and rain in June, so I should enjoy my 102! On the flip side of this issue are the children. Not knowing what the end result will be, they are alive in the moment. I was discussing inappropriate classrooms last week with my class. I was struck by how uncomfortable some teachers make classroom settings. Since children don't seem to worry about the end result (I can be free of this mean teacher at the end of the year...) they are stuck in the moment. It makes me very sad for the children in classrooms that are always so negative. I would assume it is a feeling of being trapped in a cage. Their situation is much more uncomfortable than 102. I wish I could find all those children and give them ice cream.

There's Always Ice Cream!

We went from a long wet, cool spring (unusual for us) to a blistering hot summer this month! We were trying to enjoy a family birthday barbe...

1:10 PM

The Good and the Bad

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFNb3RnmWS8A9skgLpWyjddhzYz1aY7mme1fm-ydem6g6v3j6TOQKoUlx2Wzwf_YY9RCO4AbDKNzuS-HhkDjh6HCVS1pA6cbJ-RkvHkGp9ccJvVuXV0zU4JpNeaCjsNseZQjmn9NV6Nc/s1600-h/8-08+016.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356667567611929250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFNb3RnmWS8A9skgLpWyjddhzYz1aY7mme1fm-ydem6g6v3j6TOQKoUlx2Wzwf_YY9RCO4AbDKNzuS-HhkDjh6HCVS1pA6cbJ-RkvHkGp9ccJvVuXV0zU4JpNeaCjsNseZQjmn9NV6Nc/s320/8-08+016.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" /></a> I was reminded recently about how there seems to be opposition in all things. We built a deck last summer underneath a very large and very old apricot tree. As much as I like apricots, I was wishing the blossoms would freeze this spring (which many of them did when it was 29!). The reason for my desire was that there can be so many apricots on that tree and they drop to the ground for several weeks. Our back yard smells like a winery. Also, I didn't want them falling on my new deck. The glorious shade provided by the tree is compromised during July because you might be fielding apricots when you are sitting underneath. We talked in our Cognition and Creativity class this week about standardized tests. While they are usually inappropriate for early childhood, there is place for them at the table in later years. They do provide a framework and norm for learning the core curriculum. Unfortunately, they can be used as a single indicator of a child's learning. In the early education field we know that multiple measures must be used to monitor a child's progress and development. Just like the tree, the shade and the deck provide a great escape during the summer (basic information provided by standardized assessments), sometimes we get hit with apricots (major decisions made solely on standardized test scores).

The Good and the Bad

I was reminded recently about how there seems to be opposition in all things. We built a deck last summer underneath a very large and very o...

8:13 PM

I Like the Real Thing

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4dsB-mzXzDmWAuSI0P3CyDs4J7GkmZQu4z8AyPMYQzgcuzm2eyGjMxRgOvCEqZ168MlILgF8I2u7NG3TB7MdhSbE0QxF-iPMD903GvYIyP4oOgd_zYIgrX3YtQbs0MURG5hbN2x0TlM/s1600-h/zoo+6-09+019.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352886366922259362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4dsB-mzXzDmWAuSI0P3CyDs4J7GkmZQu4z8AyPMYQzgcuzm2eyGjMxRgOvCEqZ168MlILgF8I2u7NG3TB7MdhSbE0QxF-iPMD903GvYIyP4oOgd_zYIgrX3YtQbs0MURG5hbN2x0TlM/s320/zoo+6-09+019.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" /></a> Earlier this month I accompanied my granddaughter's first grade class to a museum of 'natural history.' I'm always disappointed to see a bunch of stuffed animals. There is something quite 'unnatural' about it to me, almost creepy. I guess this is one way we can learn about animals, but.... Last week I went with my six grandkids to the zoo. Now THAT was natural. I don't care how many times I go, the animals fascinate me in some way. I certainly came to the conclusion that for me, there is nothing like the real thing when learning about animals.

I Like the Real Thing

Earlier this month I accompanied my granddaughter's first grade class to a museum of 'natural history.' I'm always disappoin...

3:45 PM

Round Up

There haven't been any posts on here for a while, so here's a round up of recent reports in the early years sector: The government has announced plans to make it a legal duty for themselves and local authorities to <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8095775.stm" target="_blank">eradicate child poverty by 2020</a>. To achieve this they have published a Child Poverty Bill which sets out how this aim should be achieved. The full text of the bill is available from <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmbills/112/09112.i-ii.html" target="_blank">this link</a>, while a 7 page overview can be obtained by <a href="http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/_download/?id=6085">clicking here</a>. The government has also moved to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jun/11/home-education-parents-face-tighter-regulation" target="_blank">tighten the regulations on home education</a>, by forcing parents who choose to educate their child in this way to register with local authorities and undergo inspections. The plans are outlined in Graham Badman's <a href="http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/PDF%20FINAL%20HOME%20ED.pdf" target="_blank">Review of Elective Home Education in England</a>, with all the report's recommendations being accepted by the government. The NSPCC has published <a href="http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/Findings/breaking_the_wall_of_silence_report_wdf66135.pdf" target="_blank">Breaking the Wall of Silence</a>, which is a detailed investigation into practitioners' experiences of dealing with children who have been trafficked. A <a href="http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/Findings/breaking_the_wall_of_silence_summary_wdf66137.pdf" target="_blank">summary version</a> is also available.

Round Up

There haven't been any posts on here for a while, so here's a round up of recent reports in the early years sector: The government h...

6:59 AM

Here We Go Again...

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncgnXlvT51GTCmKFCk5_XA2H2OMeQWTHC5qC6CDSHp3N-ybBYBB9OV1vaaJou9SrV9EKTKqKna6aUoRjT1vXZNL1JbHBWChOyS1nKc7JnNDQ3ZQ2NQ7ehVT51gTkyG9g43FzPQFEt93U/s1600-h/Picture1.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348509064452533954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncgnXlvT51GTCmKFCk5_XA2H2OMeQWTHC5qC6CDSHp3N-ybBYBB9OV1vaaJou9SrV9EKTKqKna6aUoRjT1vXZNL1JbHBWChOyS1nKc7JnNDQ3ZQ2NQ7ehVT51gTkyG9g43FzPQFEt93U/s200/Picture1.png" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 142px; height: 200px;" /></a>I recently heard from a former coworker who taught with me for a number of years. She mentioned that in her new district they are always reinventing the wheel with educational practices. That seems to happen often. Sometimes I chuckle at the 'latest' teaching method or curriculum because often it is an old technique reorganized. I have been working on a workshop highlighting the RTI (Response to Intervention) teaching methods. Although founded in special needs, it is an organized way for the classroom teacher to provide support for all children, particularly those who need extra help. The first tier requires the teacher to have clear-cut goals/guidelines and an organized way of tracking the progress of each child. When we wrote <a href="http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=17046&keyword=pocet&es=10423400000" target="_blank">POCET (Preschool Outcomes Checklist and Evaluation Tool)</a> several years ago, that was exactly the philosophy. Give preschool teachers a clear roadmap of skills that is easy to understand, in developmental order, and provide a way to track each child's progress in mastering those skills. So, I'm reinventing my POCET workshop to the first tier of RTI. The good news is that great teachers can adjust to the new label and still perform their good teaching practices. Ya gotta satisfy the boss. :-)

Here We Go Again...

I recently heard from a former coworker who taught with me for a number of years. She mentioned that in her new district they are always rei...

8:25 PM

Supporting Young Carers

Supporting Young Carers

A new report from Ofsted has concluded that children who have caring responsibilities are often "unidentified, unsupported and without ...

2:19 AM

School Leadership

School Leadership

The DCSF has just published The Impact of School Leadership on Pupil Outcomes . This is a lengthy report which reports on a three year study...

3:28 AM

We're Still Here!

We're Still Here!

A number of students have asked in recent days whether the library is open during the summer. The answer, as in other years, is yes! From th...

2:51 AM

Creative Summer

The Guardian is launching a new series entitled Creative Summer, which will explore how teachers, teaching assistants and pupils are finding new and different ways to learn in the classroom. The series begins today with <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jun/02/john-hegley-creativity" target="_blank">'Deckchairs Don't Fly'</a>, in which poet John Hegley shares some of his tips for engaging with a young audience. Readers are also invited to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/mortarboard/2009/jun/02/creativity-your-thoughts" target="_blank">share their contributions</a>, while all creativity-related features from the Guardian can be accessed from <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/creativity-in-the-classroom" target="_blank">this link</a>. The blog has already addressed the subject of creativity on a number of previous occasions. To view all previous relevant posts with information about useful websites, reports and TV programmes, just look at the 'Hot Topics' menu in the right-hand column and click on the 'Creativity' link.

Creative Summer

The Guardian is launching a new series entitled Creative Summer, which will explore how teachers, teaching assistants and pupils are finding...

3:53 AM

She Can't Talk!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OFm0CVabOfNkb_nCVGUGizaujgfZ4MQCDcgwpbLZ5oqQ2TdnQu_WYjfbOleBBkn7iHO8_w_Wek6AIvMIcMAZWe1umWlJcmoux_WOxqpnqX3ED9ksBxmbys6r7oSxRMVczgLJz4L1HQ8/s1600-h/turtle.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342503594886018130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OFm0CVabOfNkb_nCVGUGizaujgfZ4MQCDcgwpbLZ5oqQ2TdnQu_WYjfbOleBBkn7iHO8_w_Wek6AIvMIcMAZWe1umWlJcmoux_WOxqpnqX3ED9ksBxmbys6r7oSxRMVczgLJz4L1HQ8/s200/turtle.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 148px;" /></a>Every spring the turtle in our backyard pond goes wandering. We think it has something to do with trying to lay eggs, but we need to keep one hole underneath the gate blocked so she can't leave the yard. Neighbors have found her in the street, etc. I took this picture of Gertrude trying to escape and sent it to my grandkids in California. When my daughter showed it to her 2 year-old and said, "Papa's turtle just came out to say hello." My granddaughter replied, "She can't talk!" It reminded me of the old story about the answer from a kindergarten boy when listening to a story of the Three Pigs. When the first pig asked the man for straw to build a house, the teacher asked, "What do you think that man said?" The little boy replied, "I'll be damned, a talking pig!" Children are so literal and yet so imaginative and creative if given a chance. I love <a href="http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=26327&keyword=funpup&es=10423400000" target="_blank">big mouth hand puppets</a> because they give the child an opportunity to allow the animals to talk and tell their own stories. Something tells me that my granddaughter wouldn't have any problem allowing a turtle hand puppet to talk! She is coming to visit soon, we'll see what she finds out about the turtle.

She Can't Talk!

Every spring the turtle in our backyard pond goes wandering. We think it has something to do with trying to lay eggs, but we need to keep on...

4:10 PM