Teesside University offers free online training for teachers to support the delivery of a digital curriculum
Teachers in the Tees Valley and County Durham are now able to sign up to free digital skills training – technical and creative – following some quick thinking by Teesside University as part of its comprehensive response to Covid-19. The Digital Skills for Growth programme was due to run as physical events but is now being offered as a series of online accredited courses for primary and secondary school teachers – as well as non-teaching staff – from 20th April to 24th June. The eight different courses span a combination of half-day and full-day sessions meaning that teachers and other school staff can immediately sharpen up their professional development in areas such as coding, digital marketing, and arts for games and film. There are also courses available in data visualisation, developing personalised business intelligence solutions with Microsoft POWER BI, making sense of digital business, and web production. The programme is part-funded by the European Social Fund and delivered by the University’s School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies. University colleagues at DigitalCity, funded from the European Regional Development Fund across Tees Valley, will also provide a mentoring service to Tees Valley learners to help their employers gain maximum benefits for their upskilling. Teachers who complete the short accredited courses will receive a University Certificate in Professional Development in Digital Skills Qualification. Through the programme they will also get a six-week lesson plan to take back to school and deliver immediately to their pupils. “Given the unprecedented situation we have adapted our project for the immediate short-term and changed the way we are going to be delivering some of our accredited courses so that everything is online,” explained Siobhan Fenton, the School’s Associate Dean (Enterprise and Business Engagement). “Whilst we understand that teachers are extremely focused at this time, the bespoke training will help to address the digital skills gaps and teacher training needs in the region that were identified by schools and we wanted to deliver against our original promise to help them. The programme presents a fantastic opportunity for teachers to future-proof their digital skills at this time. Importantly there is no charge for the courses. “The world in which we work, live and play is clearly changing and we need to keep up with technology in all aspects of our lives. Digital technology, particularly artificial intelligence and data analytics, has introduced revolutionary changes in every sector to enhance efficiency, increase productivity and reduce costs. Arguably this is going to be even more important once the coronavirus pandemic has passed.” For more information please email digitalskillsforgrowth@tees.ac.uk or call 01642 738701/07917 473992.
Teacher uses Facebook fundraiser for vital research into brain tumours
Brain tumour survivor Tanya Thomas raised vital funds for The Brain Tumour Charity, simply by sharing her story through Facebook fundraiser. Secondary school English teacher, Tanya from Morecambe, Lancashire, was inspired to raise funds following a successful operation to remove a large brain tumour in early March 2020. Tanya started with what she felt was an ambitious aim of raising £500 but changed the target twice in the first two weeks when she was flooded with donations from friends and family. Tanya said: “I was stunned. Struggling to sleep a week after my operation, I put the fundraiser up in the middle of the night – I wanted to do something positive – but by breakfast time, the £500 target had already been met!” Tanya upped her Facebook Fundraiser target twice more, first to a thousand pounds and then to £1,500 – and the final total was over £1,800. Secondary English teacher Tanya, had just turned 40 when diagnosed in January 2020 and recognises how lucky she is to have been diagnosed with an atypical, grade II, brain tumour – and not a cancerous tumour like so many younger people. Tanya said: “I have taught several students over the years who have had cancerous brain tumours, the funds raised are really for my students, former and future.” When she was first diagnosed, The Brain Tumour Charity’s website provided her with essential information and advice with regards the operation procedure for a craniotomy and the likely recovery period – which is the same procedure regardless of the tumour type. Tanya’s impressive grand total raised was a whopping £1,835 – enough to fund research into brain tumours for seven days. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all my Facebook friends for donating, my amazingly supportive colleagues and friends at The Queen Katherine School, Kendal, the resources and staff at the incredible Brain Tumour charity and, of course, all the fabulous NHS staff at both Lancaster and Preston hospitals for the amazing care they have given me.” Geraldine Pipping, The Charity’s Director of Fundraising, said: “We are extremely grateful for all the efforts made by our fantastic fundraisers and wish them all the very best. “Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of the under 40s and, unlike other cancers, survival rates have not improved over the last 40 years. We are leading the way in changing this and truly fighting brain tumours on all fronts through our work. We receive no government funding and rely 100% on voluntary donations, so it’s only through the efforts of people like Tanya that we can change these shocking statistics in the future and bring hope to the thousands of people who are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year.” The Brain Tumour Charity is the UK’s largest dedicated brain tumour charity, committed to fighting brain tumours on all fronts. They fund pioneering research to increase survival and improve treatment options as well as raising awareness of the symptoms and effects of brain tumours to bring about earlier diagnosis. The Charity also provides support for everyone affected so that they can live as full a life as possible, with the best quality of life. Find out more: https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/
UK charity’s online environmental fieldwork lessons attract global audience
More than 255,000 school children across the UK and other parts of the world are to take part in a series of live online fieldwork lessons in geography and science this week. The high-level of interest in the newly launched virtual sessions not only demonstrates young people’s continued commitment to the environment but also indicates a ‘strong willingness’ to learn at home whilst schools and colleges remain closed to the majority of pupils during the coronavirus pandemic. The new #fieldworklive lessons in geography and science are being run by UK leading outdoor education charity the Field Studies Council in partnership with global learning provider Encounter Edu. Starting on Monday, April 20, the lessons will be delivered by expert tutors via YouTube Live. They will run for two weeks until May 1 and there will be lessons suitable for primary children (aged 7-11 years), secondary school children (aged 11-14 years), GCSE/National 4/5 level students (aged 14-16 years) and those undertaking A Levels/Highers (aged 16-18 years). To date, more than 255,000 school children have been registered by thousands of teachers to take part in the lessons. The majority of which are based in the UK but the FSC says the sessions are also attracting interest from as far afield as the USA, Tanzania, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Vietnam and Switzerland. FSC Chief Executive Mark Castle said: “It’s magnificent to see such a positive response to these new online fieldwork lessons. It demonstrates that many teachers and young people are both committed and curious about the environment which is terrific. “This is a challenging time for everybody and not least teachers, parents and schoolchildren, the majority of which will be returning to a home-schooling set-up next week once the Easter break is over. We would usually be heading into the busiest period of the year welcoming hundreds of schools to our field study centres for a range of environmental courses but with centres closed we have devised these lessons so we can continue to support pupils, teachers, schools and parents. The widespread interest in them signals what we believe is a very strong willingness for continued learning about the environment. It also shows a continued commitment from schools and teachers to support the learning of students by providing and signposting remote learning opportunities such as #fieldworklive to their students.” The #fieldworklive sessions aim to provide fun, interactive and immersive fieldwork opportunities in geography and science-related subjects and they will bring learning to life to support young people explore the world around the them. For primary children, the fieldwork lessons will focus on soil, habitat and creative exploration. Secondary school sessions will look at weather, climate and freshwater ecosystems whilst GCSE/National 4/5 students (aged 14-16) will investigate quality of life in urban areas and coastal management. For students progressing between GCSE/National 4/5 studies and A-Levels/Highers the live fieldwork lessons will look at rocky shore ecology, hydrology and flooding, as well as investigating places. The online lessons are being supported by resource packs which teachers can use to help prepare students and follow-up webinars will also be available for teaching staff. The FSC, which operates a network of residential field study centres around the UK, closed its doors in March in line with Government guidance on the Covid-19 outbreak. Each year, more than 150,000 people experience teaching and learning through the FSC’s 27 learning locations and its publications and education resources help many more to get outside. Despite current circumstances, the FSC remains determined to continue inspiring people to be curious, knowledgeable and passionate about the environment. Further details about the new online lessons can be found on the FSC website here https://www.field-studies-council.org/2020/03/31/fsc-fieldworklive/ and via the FSC YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/FieldStudiesCouncil. Information can also be found on Encounter Edu website https://encounteredu.com/live-lessons/fsc-fieldworklive-2020 and via the FSC’s social media channels on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #fieldworklive.
Teachers offered safe social media platform for their class as children spend more time online at home
Free platform lets children learn about social media and screen use, whilst sharing posts, pictures and comments in a safe environment Teachers can deliver interactive online safety lessons and set daily challenges and activities Platform launches amid warnings of increased risks for children online during school closures A safe social media platform has been launched by two parents, as children spend more time at home online amidst school closures. The interactive platform, Natterhub, has been created for teachers to share with their pupils and use in the classroom and at home. Created for children aged 5 to 11, Natterhub enables teachers to create an online community for their pupils and empowers them with a complete scheme of work to develop children’s understanding of the internet. This includes online safety and media literacy lessons for Years 1 to 6 that includes fun, interactive and engaging content. As an interactive platform, Natterhub uses a ‘role-modelling’ technique, which teaches by example as children learn through imitation. It looks and feels like a real social media site but helps children learn appropriate behaviour and how to safely navigate the online world in an environment that is safe, secure, and overseen by the teacher. Children also have the opportunity to apply the knowledge they are acquiring through the lessons as they can communicate with their peers online and share pictures, posts and comments with their class. Founders of Natterhub, Manjit Sareen and Caroline Allams, were planning to launch the product to be used in schools in time for the new compulsory PSHE/RSE curriculum in September. They have now made alterations to make it ideal for home-use and available for free to support teachers, parents and carers during the current school closures. “As children are at home, they are inevitably spending more time online”, explained Manjit Sareen, Co-Founder and CEO of Natterhub and a parent of two young boys, “This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as the internet offers valuable learning opportunities as well as entertainment. “But with this, there are also increased risks for children, especially for those who do not have the necessary guidance and education as they may be vulnerable to inappropriate information or cyberbullying. Sadly, we do expect to see an increase in the number of children being targeted online during this time.” The start-up also recently conducted a survey about the amount of time children are spending online during the school closures. When asked, out of 765 parents, a third revealed their children were spending 3-4 hours online a day, whilst 55% said their children were spending 1-2 hours on the internet. Out of everyone surveyed, 26 parents said their children were spending over 7 hours online a day. Caroline Allams, Co-Founder and CCO of Natterhub, and a former Assistant Headteacher said: “We know that the internet is a really vital tool for everyone at the moment and a way for children to stay connected to the world and each other. However, the results of this survey do illustrate just how much time children are spending online and we need to be mindful of this. “We don’t want people to be afraid to use the internet, but we do want them to have a safe space to learn so that they can thrive online. It is not enough for children just to be safe, they need to know how to navigate their online lives and be aware, savvy, and sceptical about what they read.” Schools and teachers can visit natterhub.com and sign up for a free account. They will then be guided to set up log-ins for parents and pupils. If parents would like their child’s teacher or school to sign-up they can recommend them by visiting www.natterhub.com/refer. To ensure security, teachers need to enable the hub to be active for login and pupils have a daily allowance of time to use Natterhub to avoid them spending too much time on screen. No payment details are taken at any point and the hub is open for teachers, parents and children to use at any time. Natterhub was the first start-up company to join TwinklHive, a business accelerator, at the end of last year. The accelerator was created by the global publisher Twinkl and offers start-ups with a customisable cash investment, access to services and residency and mentorship to help them break into and succeed within the EdTech sector. By providing support, TwinklHive brings together emerging companies set to transform areas of education and make a difference to the lives of teachers and pupils. For more information about Natterhub, please visit natterhub.com For more information about TwinklHive visit https://www.twinkl.co.uk/hive
Bridge College in Manchester shortlisted for a national award
The Together Trust’s Bridge College in Manchester has been shortlisted for a national award, in recognition for its work in supporting students with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD). Natspec, the awarding body, shortlisted Bridge College from more than 50 entries from across the county in the ‘Inter-disciplinary Working’ category for the college’s project ‘Innovation in supporting students with PMLD: Achieving integration of learning and therapy through Physiotherapy and Sensory Sport.’ Natspec is the national membership association for organisations that offer specialist provision for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. Lisa Duncalf, Principal of Bridge College, said: “Integrating the work our teams do is one of the key tenants underpinning our success at Bridge College. When a student joins us we work with them to design and implement an individual support plan, tailored to their specific experiences and needs. “We integrate the work of each of our multi skilled, expert teams, putting in place strategies to help each student not only to work towards their goals but also to learn new skills, make new friends and enjoy their time at the college. When Natspec got in touch to give us the news they made it clear that overall standard of entries was very high. I’m so proud that our innovative project has been shortlisted for this prestigious national award and I’m very proud indeed of all those involved. Now its fingers crossed we win the award!” Integrated therapy support at Bridge College covers five key areas: Speech and language therapist (SaLT) Positive Behaviour Support Occupational therapy Physiotherapy Expert assistance in helping students access technology Entries now go forward to an independent panel chaired by Nigel Evans, former lead HMI for high needs. The panel will choose a winning entry for each award category and the winners will be announced at the Natspec Principals Forum at Conference Aston in Birmingham on 8 October. Bridge College offers specialist education for students aged 16 to 25 with learning difficulties, disabilities, complex health needs and autism. The college, which is located in Openshaw, Manchester, provides personalised support, tailored learning and hands-on life skills to give young people the confidence to exceed their aspirations.
Meet the key workers keeping Edge Hill running during the Covid-19 Crisis
While students and staff are following Government advice and staying at home, Edge Hill’s key workers in Facilities Management are keeping the University safe, secure and clean for everyone’s return. The teams are carrying out essential services such as grounds maintenance, deliveries, security patrols and cleaning. All to support students still living in halls and colleagues. Facilities Management are also at the forefront of the University’s efforts to support the NHS. The University has offered accommodation to any NHS, Police or key public sector worker who needs to self-isolate away from their family. It is down to Facilities Management to set up rooms for key workers and support them during their stay. This is just one of the many ways Edge Hill is helping out during the Covid-19 crisis. While the teams are bravely going into work to keep others safe and well, we decided to catch up with them virtually to thank them for their vital support to the University. Operational Risk and Environment Manager Peter Roberts – Campus Support: “We are continuing to look after student welfare and carry out regular security patrols whilst the campus is closed. My team are also booking in NHS workers and looking after their needs. It’s great that we’re able to help the NHS out. We still have four shifts working with additional support being provided by porters and the post and print team and we’re so grateful for their support at this difficult time. The team work hard to ensure the safety of students 24/7, every day of the year, so they are used to being on campus when most other people are not. Thankfully, this team of unsung heroes has managed to continue to work together to support staff and students on campus and keep them safe. They are a credit to each other, and the University and I am extremely grateful for their continued hard work.” Buildings and Maintenance Manager David Shearman – Estate Services: “We are undertaking daily inspections across all buildings on campus, ensuring critical equipment is operating correctly and we have devised a strategy for bringing all buildings back to use when we get the go ahead. In my opinion, everyone in the Estates and Facilities teams deserve praise, with a particular shout out to everyone in Campus Support and Housekeeping.” Facilities Manager Tina Hanson – Housekeeping “We have inspected, cleaned and set up 105 bedrooms for the emergency services and are helping with any queries from NHS Staff. The team of 38 staff are pulling together and proud to play their part in this and helping the NHS staff. They understand this is vitally important and they are glad to be doing something useful. I think it’s important to mention the work of the supervisor managers who have supported their team members through this worrying time.” Service Delivery and Insight Manager Lindsay Ogden – Help desk, post, deliveries. “On top of my teams’ regular duties of sorting post and answering any and all queries that come in we are also are supporting the accommodation team by establishing which students are still on site, supporting IT and learning services who are loaning laptops to students and assisting Campus Support by providing patrols around campus. “I honestly cannot thank my colleagues enough, they have never questioned anything that has been asked of them, they are all dedicated and always happy to help or support for the benefit of everyone. I am so grateful to my fantastic team, they are a credit to Facilities Management and the university.” Edge Hill is also playing a broader role in society. In addition to a wide range of generic support, the University has: Agreed to release, on full pay, any professionally qualified member of staff who wishes to temporarily re-join the NHS workforce; Donated vital personal protection equipment (PPE) to local NHS trusts, including gel, aprons and masks; Loaned equipment to the Government to maximise Covid-19 testing capacity; Launched an online learning hub to support schools, families and partners while classroom teaching is halted: https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/educationpartnership/linkstolearning/ Supported new sign-ups from students and staff in response to the Government’s call-out for volunteers; For more updates about what support the University is offering in response to COVID-19, visit the latest news and FAQ pages here: https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/ or follow the University’s social media accounts.
Schools and colleges urged to continue providing free period products to students
Schools and colleges are being encouraged to keep providing free period products to students to help tackle period inequality. From January, a new portal was launched by period product supplier phs Direct allowing every school and college in England to order free products for students, funded by the Department for Education. The initiative was launched to create period equality for all – ensuring no young person misses out because of a lack of access to such a basic necessity as period products. However, campaigners are raising concerns that mass closures of schools and colleges will mean more young people will face period inequality whether caused by lack of affordability or access issues. In response, phs Direct is keeping the order portal open for schools and colleges to stock up in order to keep providing access to those most in need. Educational organisations can also divert orders to neighbouring schools or colleges. phs Direct and their delivery partners are, of course, following Government guidelines when delivering these important products. Warren Edmondson, managing director of phs Direct which is part of washroom and services provider phs Group, said: “Offering free period products at school and college to young people is a fantastic initiative in the drive to create period equality. However, mass closures risk the scheme losing momentum and interrupting free access to products for those who need them. We are reaching out to schools and colleges to tell them that we remain open for business and to encourage them to continue placing orders to endeavour to help those who need it most whether it’s the children of key workers, students on free school meals or those with other access issues, finding non-contact methods of distribution.” City Academy Bristol has already made provisions to support students including deploying extra pads to students ahead of closures and now providing period products in deliveries for those in need. Aisha Thomas, assistant principal at City Academy Bristol, said: “We have started deliveries of food and we have been adding supplies to the boxes. Most find it embarrassing and would never ask. We have had thank you texts and messages from students and parents who were grateful, as they can’t get out. “As we enter into unprecedented times and a new normal that none of us expected, there are some things that will remain the same. One of those things is our menstrual cycles and as a result, students and their parents and carers will still need supplies. In these tough times we all need to do our bit. The world changed, we need to adjust, yet the need for supplies is greater than before. Disadvantaged communities have to choose what they can buy but the ability to feel safe and clean should never be a choice to make.” Supporting the period product campaign, Girlguiding Advocate Emily, aged 17, said: “The future is uncertain for everyone but, for many, school provided stability and support. The new free period product scheme for schools was a way to tackle the period stigma all young women like me face and to allow girls to access products they may not otherwise have had. By allowing pupils to still access these items through non-contact delivery and school orders, phs is allowing people who were trapped by financial or pandemic restrictions to have one less thing to worry about – and I am so glad to see this urgent action being taken.” To access their free products, schools and colleges have had an activation email from phs which includes information on how to log on to the portal and order. For support, schools and colleges can get in touch with phs Direct by emailing periodproducts@phsdirect.co.uk or calling the helpline on 01827 255500. For more information, visit the period equality pages on the phs website. You can also follow @phsGroup on Twitter and phs Group on LinkedIn
New research highlights how to help young people into work
What works when it comes to getting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into employment? The Youth Futures Foundation has commissioned IES research to help inform practice and policy making at this crucial time for young people. The report, Supporting disadvantaged young people into meaningful work written by the Institute for Employment Studies (IES), examines what we know about “what works”. Based on a rapid evidence assessment of evaluations that measured job outcomes for disadvantaged groups, it found that more evidence is needed that accurately estimates the additional impact of youth employment programmes. Despite limited robust research, it draws out some useful findings for practitioners including the importance of: 1. Effective engagement using activities like music and sport to attract participants 2. Accurately understanding individual needs in order to personalise support packages 3. A trusted, consistent advisor to help young people overcome barriers and achieve their personal goals 4. Delivery of personalised help with vocational, academic and employability skills, job search, and work experience 5. Addressing barriers to employment such as mental and physical health problems, and housing issues 6. Wage subsidies and intermediate labour markets (i.e. creating short term, paid jobs where individuals receive support to help them transition to permanent roles) It also highlights some promising national policies that have been designed to deal with past downturns with promising evaluations – such as the New Deal for Young People and the Future Jobs Fund. “An impact assessment estimated that NDYP achieved a reduction in the order of around 30,000 of long-term unemployed young people (40 per cent).” These insights should inform Government planning as we begin to understand the likely economic impact of Covid-19.
Kelly Garrett appointed new Head of School for Ebbsfleet Green Primary
Kelly Garrett has been appointed the new Head of School for Ebbsfleet Green Primary. She is bursting with excitement at the prospect of leading a brand-new school in a brand-new community that will grow year-by-year as the Ebbsfleet Green community grows. She says she ‘feels honoured and privileged to have been chosen to work in collaboration with Mrs. Wilkinson-Tabi, Executive Head and Maritime Academy Trust in leading the school to greatness.’ As parents across Ebbsfleet Garden City in Kent today received an offer of a place at the new school, Ms Garrett was keen to share a little of her history. She said, “So here’s a little about me … I have been a teacher for twelve years now and I can honestly say that nothing has given me greater joy – I have loved every single minute of it. Building relationships, sharing challenges and success and supporting children to reach their full potential is what makes being a teacher so incredibly rewarding. An excellent education changed my life; I truly believe that outstanding schooling will not only change your child’s life, but it will also make our local community stronger, striving for the very best for all. As a parent myself, I know the challenges and pressures that are faced on a daily basis as we strive to ensure that our children are happy, healthy, safe and learning to their full potential. Through education, we have the gift of inspiring a love of learning, creativity and the courage to make positive choices to build the future. “As Head of School, I will strive to ensure that our children are provided with the opportunities that will enable them to achieve their full potential. With a strong partnership between home and school, we believe that together, we can achieve this. Over the course of the next few months, I am looking forward to meeting all of you and building relationships with our local community.” Ebbsfleet is part of the Maritime Academy Trust, an educational charity catering for over 2600 pupils aged 3-11 across eight primary schools with nurseries based in London and Kent. The Trust is headed up by Nick Osborne, CEO and National Leader in Education – a title earned for his ‘exceptional’ leadership as Executive Head Teacher of Millennium, Brooklands and Timbercroft Primary Schools, a position he held prior to founding Maritime. Ebbsfleet Green Primary will serve the rapidly growing community in the new Ebbsfleet Garden City and help meet increasing demand for school places in Dartford and Gravesham, whose population is predicted to rise to 252,000 by 2031. Beginning as a one-form entry school, it will become two-form to match Ebbsfleet’s rising population. In September 2020, the school will have Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes. It has already received over 100 applications for school places for the upcoming academic year. To learn more about the school, please email info@ebbsfleetgreenprimary.org.uk or visit its website: https://www.ebbsfleetgreenprimary.org.uk/