Economic Inequality in the UK

A government-commissioned report<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>entitled <span style="font-style: italic;">An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK</span> has largely made headlines for its finding that the gap between rich and poor is in the UK is <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8481534.stm" target="_blank">wider than 40 years ago</a>. However, the research covers a wide range of social issues including education, children's services and family issues, so students may well find some useful material within the report. <a href="http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/case/_new/publications/NEP.asp" target="_blank">Click here</a> to go to a page offering access both to the full document and various summaries

Economic Inequality in the UK

A government-commissioned report entitled An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK has largely made headlines for its finding that the ...

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Understanding Children's Well-being

The last couple of years have seen a great deal of discussion around the concept of children's well-being, with the concept being written into the Every Child Matters strategy and the EYFS principles. Now the Children's Society has published what it claims is "the first comprehensive investigation of childhood well-being – or happiness - from a young person’s point of view."<br /><br />The full report, entitled <span style="font-style: italic;">Understanding Children's Well-Being: A National Survey of Young People's Well-Being</span> is available from <a href="http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/resources/documents/Campaigns/19938_full.pdf" target="_blank">this link</a>. A <a href="http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/resources/documents/Campaigns/19923_full.pdf" target="_blank">summary version</a> is also available, while this <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8481773.stm" target="_blank">BBC article</a> discusses some of the issues raised by the research.

Understanding Children's Well-being

The last couple of years have seen a great deal of discussion around the concept of children's well-being, with the concept being writte...

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Family Information Directory

Today sees the launch of the government's <a href="http://familyservices.direct.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Family Information Directory</a>, a 'one stop shop' for information on schools, childcare and family services in a given area. Simply type a town's name or postcode into the search box, select the type of service you are interested in, and the site will list all of the relevant providers in the area, together with contact details, links to Ofsted reports etc. Very useful!

Family Information Directory

Today sees the launch of the government's Family Information Directory , a 'one stop shop' for information on schools, childcare...

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Parentchannel.tv

First there was <a href="http://www.teachers.tv/" target="_blank">Teachers TV</a>, then recently saw the launch of <a href="http://www.scie.org.uk/socialcaretv/default.asp" target="_blank">Social Care TV</a>... now <a href="http://www.parentchannel.tv/" target="_blank">Parentchannel.tv</a> is the latest new online channel with relevance to the early years and family sectors.<br /><br />The free site is aimed at parents and contains short films on various aspects of parenting, for example the use of positive discipline, or helping with homework. The films are targetted at different age groups - (5-9, 9-14, 14-19), so parents with children of all ages should be able to find suitable advice on a given topic. Although the site is quite new, it already has an impressive number of films available, and it is endorsed by the DCSF and <a href="http://www.parentinguk.org/" target="_blank">Parenting UK</a>.<br /><br />For a taste of the site, here's a clip about improving communication with younger children:<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="412" id="flashObj" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/56142273001?isVid=1&publisherID=28920547001"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=55700010001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parentchannel.tv%2Fvideo%2Fkids-who-don%E2%80%99t-listen&playerID=56142273001&domain=embed&"><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com"><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/56142273001?isVid=1&publisherID=28920547001" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=55700010001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parentchannel.tv%2Fvideo%2Fkids-who-don%E2%80%99t-listen&playerID=56142273001&domain=embed&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" swliveconnect="true" allowscriptaccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" height="412" width="400"></embed><a class="qdcbncmdxhjpnllldzmj" href="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/56142273001?isVid=1&publisherID=28920547001"></a><a class="qdcbncmdxhjpnllldzmj" href="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/56142273001?isVid=1&publisherID=28920547001"></a><a class="qdcbncmdxhjpnllldzmj" href="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/56142273001?isVid=1&publisherID=28920547001"></a></object>

Parentchannel.tv

First there was Teachers TV , then recently saw the launch of Social Care TV ... now Parentchannel.tv is the latest new online channel with...

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ICT Handbook for Primary Teachers

In case you haven't heard, UCB lecturer David Hall has recently published a book entitled <span style="font-style: italic;">The ICT Handbook for Primary Teachers</span>, which is designed to "help all those involved in primary education, whether in training, teaching or leadership roles, to develop the ICT knowledge, understanding and skills required to enhance children's learning in the classroom." Copies of the book can be found in Summer Row Library at 371.334 HAL, though you may need to reserve a copy as it's already proving popular.<br /><br />The book also has a number of associated online resources which are hosted on the <a href="http://www.primaryict.org.uk/" target="_blank">PrimaryICT</a> website; they can be accessed from <a href="http://www.primaryict.org.uk/roict.htm" target="_blank">this link</a>.

ICT Handbook for Primary Teachers

In case you haven't heard, UCB lecturer David Hall has recently published a book entitled The ICT Handbook for Primary Teachers , which ...

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Support for All: Families and Relationships

A quick politics lesson: a 'Green Paper' is the name given to a document containing proposals which is issued by a government; while it doesn't change the law, it is often the case that after consultation and feedback from relevant bodies and other political parties, a Green Paper is revised and subsequently turned into legislation.<br /><br />Today sees the launch of <span style="font-style: italic;">Support for All: the Families and Relationships Green Paper</span>, which contains government plans to help prevent family breakdown, support the roles of fathers and grandparents, and improve flexible working options for parents. You can read a summary of the proposals in this <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8467763.stm" target="_blank">BBC article</a>, while the full text of the Paper is <a href="http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/eOrderingDownload/CM-7787.pdf" target="_blank">available here</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/images/family-mulitigenerational.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/images/family-mulitigenerational.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 162px;" /></a>

Support for All: Families and Relationships

A quick politics lesson: a 'Green Paper' is the name given to a document containing proposals which is issued by a government; while...

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Coloring Books-Not My Idea of a Good Time

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpE8U8XzDn_BOWrZAwldBNkbQJoevQbxeeBVRUCEVg-9FdEQgpVwvyLCYlAqsQZmVQvpsU_N7Oc5Qhw-pGK4sR8nU3oQtimdhQsJ7rBfeuiUnSfEFJOZ2ySwLZiHoG9W_OoWjQ5yAHm8/s1600-h/PICT0005.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428244441035991426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpE8U8XzDn_BOWrZAwldBNkbQJoevQbxeeBVRUCEVg-9FdEQgpVwvyLCYlAqsQZmVQvpsU_N7Oc5Qhw-pGK4sR8nU3oQtimdhQsJ7rBfeuiUnSfEFJOZ2ySwLZiHoG9W_OoWjQ5yAHm8/s200/PICT0005.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" /></a><br />Any student who has taken a class from me at the university knows how I feel about coloring books and other pre-drawn images for children. Some adults tell me it is 'relaxing' for children to just color. Coloring books are designed to occupy a child's time. For some adults that is a good thing. If you have ever taken young children on a long car trip or to the doctor with a long wait, coloring books may serve a purpose. If for no other reason than to spread out the time between, "Are we there yet?" questions.<br />In school, however, color book-type pages are not appropriate, especially for young children. Teachers sometimes use those pages to keep a child busy so they can work with other children. Reading the research of Victor Lowenfeld, we find out that coloring book pages can take almost all creative thinking away from 50-60% of children. The other 40% may be effected as well, but may have been nourished enough to at least maintain some creativity. In fact, if a child continually uses pre-made pages, he may never be satisfied with anything that he draws. He will be upset that his drawings look like a child's drawings, not the adult drawings in coloring books.<br /><br />There are much better things to give children to occupy their time. Crayons and a blank sheet of paper are much more appropriate. Paints and watercolors are also effective to allow the child to create. One of my favorite activities is to give children construction paper and glue (scissors for 4+ children). I ask them to create a picture of themselves using just tearing/cutting the paper and the glue. This can be done with any theme or activity. Many adults would be shocked at the amazing projects that the children create. So, in my 30+ years working with children, I am even more convinced that coloring books can be the enemy. I want the children I have in my care to be thinkers and creaters, not colorers.

Coloring Books-Not My Idea of a Good Time

Any student who has taken a class from me at the university knows how I feel about coloring books and other pre-drawn images for children. S...

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Wellbeing & Creative Learning

A few new items which have come to light over the weekend...<br /><br />A new report from the Young Foundation details a study which concluded that children's outcomes were greatly improved when schools ran a <a href="http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletins/Daily-Bulletin/news/977908/?DCMP=EMC-DailyBulletin" target="_blank">programme focused on boosting wellbeing</a>. The report, entitled <span style="font-style: italic;">The State of Happiness</span>, argues (among other things) for the teaching of resilience to schoolchildren, and can be <a href="http://www.youngfoundation.org/files/images/wellbeing_happiness_Final__2_.pdf" target="_blank">read online</a>. On a similar theme, the DCSF has just published <a href="http://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/01125-2009DOM-EN.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-style: italic;">Promoting the Emotional Health of Children and Young People</span></a>, which is a guidance document that sets out the core support and services which children, young people and families require.<br /><br />Also new is a piece of research from Ofsted investigating the <a href="http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletins/Daily-Bulletin/news/977882/?DCMP=EMC-DailyBulletin" target="_blank">impact of creative approaches to learning</a>. The report examines 44 different schools and concludes that creative approaches to learning have a positive impact on pupils' personal development and preparation for life beyond school. For a link to the research, <a href="http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Publications-and-research/Browse-all-by/Documents-by-type/Thematic-reports/Learning-creative-approaches-that-raise-standards" target="_blank">click here</a>.

Wellbeing & Creative Learning

A few new items which have come to light over the weekend... A new report from the Young Foundation details a study which concluded that chi...

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Children's Centre

A new report from the National Audit Office argues that some Sure Start centres are <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/jan/13/sure-start-fails-poorest" target="_blank">not reaching the disadvantaged families they are designed to help</a>. To read the full report, <a href="http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/0910/sure_start_childrens_centres.aspx" target="_blank">click here</a>.

Children's Centre

A new report from the National Audit Office argues that some Sure Start centres are not reaching the disadvantaged families they are designe...

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New from NSPCC Inform

<a href="http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/Findings/children_experiencing_domestic_violence_report_wdf70355.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-style: italic;">Children and Families Experiencing Domestic Violence</span></a> is the title of a new detailed report commissioned by <a href="http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/informhub_wda49931.html" target="_blank">NSPCC Inform</a>. The research was carried out by a team based at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), and investigates how the police and social services respond to difficult situations; a <a href="http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/Findings/children_experiencing_domestic_violence_summary_wdf68552.pdf" target="_blank">summary version</a> is also available.<br /><br />Also new from NSPCC Inform is a <a href="http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/questions/physical_punishment_law_attitudes_wda70205.html" target="_blank">factsheet on physical punishment in the UK</a>, which outlines legal issues in this area and gives links to the relevant legislation. This is the latest in a series of <a href="http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/questions/answers_wda48954.html" target="_blank">factsheets covering various child protection issues</a>, which are very useful if you want a quick introduction to a subject with which you are not familiar.

New from NSPCC Inform

Children and Families Experiencing Domestic Violence is the title of a new detailed report commissioned by NSPCC Inform . The research was ...

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Review of Home Education

Happy New Year!<br /><br />Back In June, Graham Badman's <a href="http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/PDF%20FINAL%20HOME%20ED.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-style: italic;">Review of Elective Home Education in England</span></a> was published, and all of it's recommendations were accepted by the government (see <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jun/11/home-education-parents-face-tighter-regulation" target="_blank">this news story</a> for further details). Just before Christmas however, the House of Commons' Children, Schools and Family Commitee, which has being further investigating the topic of home education, published it's own report suggesting that the DCSF's plans <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/dec/16/home-education-ed-balls" target="_blank">need to be scaled back</a>.<br /><br />You can read Volumes 1 (<a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmchilsch/39/39i.pdf" target="_blank">Final Report</a>) and 2 (<a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmchilsch/39/39ii.pdf" target="_blank">Oral & Written Evidence</a>) of the Committee's report online now.

Review of Home Education

Happy New Year! Back In June, Graham Badman's Review of Elective Home Education in England was published, and all of it's recommend...

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Scratching the Surface

<a href="http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/NewDSS/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=23657&es=10490500000" target="'_New"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423262162599205794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdA0iz4NFx8_s2JliZLncfzP31JZBBZdSRgt_cghVtjphN2wPY62eC2n4kLXj-vWAvYDfzCKitL5TT64m0RkjIhBFxe5GCFMIOf831YNvSqMnA2S4FI6boAWluV_vCSQppac26bJCGeE4/s200/Scratch+Art.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>I'm sure that many educators have done <a href="http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/NewDSS/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=23657&es=10490500000" target="'_New">scratch art </a>with a group of children. Whether you use commercially prepared scratch paper or create your own, it is a fun activity. The procedure usually involves children scratching the black covering off a piece of prepared paper. Hidden underneath the black are different colors that are revealed when the black is removed. I love to use this analogy with teachers about discovering the colors that lie underneath the surface of a child. Sometimes it takes a bit of work and creativity to discover those colors, but it is always worth the effort. As with <a href="http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/NewDSS/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=23657&es=10490500000" target="'_New">scratch art paper</a>, underneath the black there is a rainbow of colors. Those colors allow the artist to create an amazing picture as the colors pop out of the darkness. Many children come to our classrooms with a layer of dark. It is up to the educator to do more than just scratch the surface, but find the hidden colors and beauty beneath.

Scratching the Surface

I'm sure that many educators have done scratch art with a group of children. Whether you use commercially prepared scratch paper or crea...

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