Welcome to the monthly pre 11 Dysg newsletter which is aimed specifically at practitioners in the Foundation Phase and Primary sector. This newsletter is being produced by the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS). The newsletter is issued on a monthly basis.
‘Members will be aware that I have been considering issues around the school organisation policy since taking over as Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning. I issued a written statement on 12 January concerning Welsh Ministers’ role in school reorganisation, which confirmed that the responsibility for organising and reorganising schools rests with local authorities.’
Estyn launched its new inspection framework for schools, local authorities and the post-16 sector last week.
Headteachers and principals should be aware that the UK coalition Government has announced its intention to review the Vetting and Barring and criminal records regimes. The commencement of voluntary registration with the new Vetting and Barring Scheme, which was due to begin on 26 July 2010, has been halted. More. A further communication will be sent following the outcome of the review.
As schools start preparing their reports to parents, colleagues are reminded that schools should treat all parents equally unless there is a court order limiting an individual parent’s exercise of parental responsibility. All parents are entitled to receive copies of their child’s school report. Parents of children under the age of 18 have the right to request and receive access to their child’s educational record at school. Further guidance: Educational Records, School Reports and the Common Transfer System (2006) and Parents and Parental Responsibility (2007)
A revised booklet - 'Why develop thinking and assessment for learning?' - which is part of a series of guidance materials to support practitioners in implementing higher-quality teaching and learning by focusing on developing thinking and assessment for learning is now available to download along with further support material. The revised and updated ''How to develop thinking and assessment for learning in the classroom' booklet will be available to download shortly.
Following the recommendations coming from the National Behaviour and Attendance Review and the resulting Attending and Behaviour Action Plan, we have introduced new attendance codes and guidance on registration practices. The new guidance replaces the current Annex 4i of our Inclusion and Pupil Support guidance document.
Alongside skillscymru, the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills is hosting an educational conference on the 17 September. The conference will focus on the emotional and social wellbeing of pupils, students and teachers in Wales.
Education Minister Leighton Andrews has released data collected on the number of days schools lost due to the extreme weather last winter. The statistics, returned by 20 local authorities, showed the median closure length was around 4 school days (8 half-day sessions).
Did you know your school could apply for money from the Big Lottery Fund through the Awards for All programme? Awards for All Wales is a simple small grants scheme making awards of between £500 and £5,000.The programme aims to help improve local communities and the lives of people most in need.
UNICEF UK is supporting Wales’ efforts to become the first part of the UK to embed the rights of children and young people into flagship legislation.
A competition entitled U-News, is encouraging children and young people to pick up a pen, notebook, audio recorder or video camera and report on positive things people of their own generation are doing at home, in school and in their community.
Deputy Minister for Children Huw Lewis has announced his intention to create several “pioneer” areas within Wales to pin-point best practice models of family support in our efforts to help lift children and young people out of poverty.
The contents of the pack have been produced by the Newport Advisory Service in collaboration with Newport schools and teachers. The resources themselves are unique and this is the first occasion when an educational resource has been produced for the Ryder Cup.
Please note that the Welsh Assembly Government leaflet “The Facts About Head Lice” is currently unavailable in hard copy but electronic PDF copies can be downloaded from the Public Health Protection web page.
Herbert Thompson Primary School has won the opportunity for Wenlock, the London 2012 Olympic mascot, to visit Cardiff on Friday 2 July by entering a competition through Get Set – the official London 2012 education programme. Further information on the visits.
A new DVD providing best practice guidance in meeting the needs of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds has been launched by Education Minister Leighton Andrews.
The Welsh Assembly Government commissioned the People & Work Unit to undertake a survey of school bullying in Wales. The survey aimed to provide baseline evidence of the incidence and prevalence of bullying among compulsory school aged pupils in Wales and allow the Assembly Government to measure future changes to the level of bullying in Wales.
The first in a series of resources introducing children to spreadsheets and their functions. The unit demonstrates through animation the main parts of the spreadsheet and five basic types of formula including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and the average formula.
This is one of the four units in the ‘Ein Byd Hardd’ series. The unit includes a series of interactive activities based around a song and story to introduce new vocabulary and language patterns for young children. The resource pack includes downloadable mp3 songs and stories along with interactive activities to cover mathematical development, creative development and knowledge and understanding whilst promoting the development of Welsh language.
This consultation seeks views on proposed amendments to the existing regulations governing child care for children below the age of 8. Responses are required by 6th September 2010.
The attached document details the duties of Local Authorities under the Childcare Act 2006. It provides specific guidance on the preparation of a childcare sufficiency assessment.
The Welsh Assembly Government is consulting on proposals to add two new categories to the list of persons who are not qualified teachers but who may carry out ‘specified work’ (i.e. teach) in maintained schools. Responses are required by 10 September 2010.
Schools Census, 2010: Final Results
Teachers in Service, Vacancies and Sickness Absence, January 2010
Pupils with Statements of Special Educational Needs: January 2010
Local Authority Budgeted Expenditure on Schools, 2010-11
Assessment and Examination Performance: Comparison with England and its Regions, 2009
If you are interested in content that is relevant to the post 11 sector, please read the weekly: post 11 Dysg newsletter
The school curriculum for Wales
National data collection - key dates
School Term and Holiday Dates 2009-10
National Grid for Learning Cymru
Cadwyn newsletters for governors
Please note that the next edition will be issued in September
