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News update: November 2007:

The past month has been a very busy time and much of it spent travelling from venue to venue. I spent 2 very enjoyable days at Special Needs London – the NASEN Conference. I provided 2 seminars at the Conference – Engaging the Disengaged:  Raising the Achievement of Disaffected Students and Engagement and Enjoyment: Promoting the E in Learning. The Conference was very good with a range of national speakers providing inputs and one of the best collections of exhibitors and trade stands that I have seen.

The weeks following have seen my visiting Austria on business and working with Teaching Assistants on the Foundation Degree at the University of Plymouth. I have also provided 2 national courses for Cover Supervisors. I have also worked at several Colleges of FE and with the Education Studies Faculty at the University of Derby.

Last Saturday I worked for Teach First in London. Teach First, whose mission is to address educational disadvantage by transforming exceptional graduates into effective, inspirational teachers and leaders in all fields. Many staff had travelled to London on Friday after a week’s teaching to attend the Saturday Conference. I regularly input to this Conference and I never cease to be amazed by the enthusiasm and energy of the teachers on this scheme. The future is bright with such high quality staff entering the profession.

Additives in Food

Food Standards Agency scientists have tested a range of E-numbers on children. Children were given additives commonly used in ice cream, soft drinks, biscuits and sweets. It was found that children who were fed the additives were loud and impulsive. They also found it more difficult to sit still and concentrate. However the FSA confirmed its warning on avoiding additives to parents of children who are already hyperactive.

Professor Jim Stevenson, Southampton University, who has conducted research on additives said that additives used in thousands of sweets, cakes and processed foods ‘damage the psychological health of children’. Professor Stevenson suggests that additives are ‘…. associated with difficulties in learning to read. It is also associated with wider behavioural difficulties in middle childhood such as conduct disorder’.

He made it clear that evidence on the effects of additives is strong enough to justify a ban under European Law.

Salt and Hypertension

A study by St George’s University Hospital in London found that children as young as four are suffering from raised blood pressure because they are eating too many salty processed foods. The study in The Journal of Human Hypertension found that for each extra grain of salt eaten by the participants there was a related 0.4mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure. Children’s increasingly salty diets are causing concern because our food tastes are set in childhood – those who develop a love of salty food in childhood keep it into adulthood.

Government guidelines say that a child aged 4-6 should eat a maximum of 3g of salt per day. This rises to 5g in 7-10 age range. However many children are regularly eating 9-12g of salt a day.

Just Wait Until You Get Home 

One company has provided a software package for schools that allows parents online access to logs on behaviour, attendance and academic results, as well as timetables and homework.

Parents can almost instantly learn about their child’s smallest misdemeanours. Over 1000 secondary schools use the system but only a small minority give full access to parents.

Provider of System: Serco Learning Solutions.

Too Bright In The Classroom 

Cambridge University researchers have found that fluorescent lights can hamper learning and cause pupils to misbehave. Lights create an imperceptible flicker which causes headaches and impairs concentration. Interactive whiteboards which are used with OHPs add to the problem by reflecting light into children’s eyes. 90% of classrooms are too bright. Excessive lighting can make it harder for pupils to read accurately and teachers may also notice an increase in off-task behaviour.

(Source Daily Mail 6/9/07 - Jaya Narain)

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