News

News update: December 2007

I am busily preparing material for a new book which I will be publishing early in the New Year, entitled ‘Emergency Kit for Cover Supervisors’. Working with support staff recently, it became clear to me that a book of materials, including photocopiable resources, was needed. Cover Supervisors do not set work for classes but only supervise work set. From speaking to Cover Supervisors it became clear that often work set did not cover the whole lesson and often tasks set could go missing. So I am writing a book that can be used for such emergencies with starter activities, brain breaks and general space fillers. Also the first half of the book will have a range of behaviour management strategies to help Cover Supervisors to manage a range of difficult behaviours they may meet in cover situations.

Watch this space for more details.

Anti-Bullying Week 

I ran a national course entitled Every Child Counts: Preventing Bullying in Schools, towards the end of November. This was run to link in with this year’s Anti-Bullying Week (19-23 November). The Anti-Bullying Week’s theme this year was the Importance of Community with parents, students and staff working together. With 10-20% of pupils reporting being victims of bullying at some point in the last 3-6 months it is obvious that the issue is a serious one which needs addressing in each school. Kidscape launched a special website for school communities. Do visit it at www.saynotobullying.org.uk.

Pressurised Primary Parenting 

Cambridge University Primary Review has produced an in-depth piece of research as a part of the biggest review of primary education for 40 years. It has suggested that drives to encourage parents to get more involved in their child’s education could backfire because some parents feel intimidated by academia. Others have intense feelings of guilt for not living up to expectations. Schools are also finding it increasingly difficult to talk to parents because of shifting family structures with children living in 2 places in a week.

The report suggests that the ‘scholarisation of childhood’ gives parents dilemmas. How far should they protect their children from the erosion of their free time?

Adventurous Advances 

Ed Balls, Children’s Secretary is about to pledge extra money for physically challenging play areas for 8-13 year olds. Too many youngsters are spending too much time playing computer and video games, more than in almost any other area of the world.

The Children’s Secretary is afraid that children no longer experience ‘controlled risk’ which would teach them how to take safe decisions. He is looking to get more parks and play areas throughout the country. This initiative would be part of a Government Plan to reverse the decline in childhood through the Aiming High for Young People 10 Year Strategy. Other parts of the plan would be to give students, 14-19 years of age, who are on the very edge of exclusion or finding work hard the chance to learn how to run a business in a new breed of ‘Studio School’. They will learn leadership and teamwork skills. They will be more like workplaces than schools. There will be catch up classes and one to one tuition for gifted and struggling pupils. Students will be tested when they are ready in a key stage. Drugs and alcohol education will be re-introduced to school to reduce ‘risky behaviour’. There will be a crackdown on exposure to violent images from video games or through the internet.

School Lunch and Behaviour Study

The School Food Trust (www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk) published a study on 3rd December 2007 which shows a clear link between changes in the lunchtime food provision and dining environment and children’s behaviour in the classroom after lunch. It’s findings state clearly that when children eat better at lunchtime, they are more attentive in afternoon classes. Children in the intervention schools were 3.5 times more likely to be on task and engaged with the teacher and learning activities in the hour after lunch compared with children in control schools.

Consultation on a Code of Practice for drinks has just been launched by the School Food Trust (SFT). The consultation period will last until 29/02/08.

Dr. Nelson, Director of Research at the SFT said ‘We are determined to ensure that all drinks in school are actually good for children and are consistent with what they learn in the classroom about healthy eating’.

Some of the principles underlying the Code of Practice include:

• Where children just need hydrating / are thirsty, water is the preferred choice

• All other drinks should offer clear nutritional benefits

• The vast majority of colourings, flavourings, preservatives, emulsifying agents and other additives are not necessary to produce safe, nutritious, flavourful drinks.

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