Schools and Academies London 2020
The Schools and Academies Show provides a unique platform for senior leaders from Schools, Academies and MATs to access free CPD accredited seminars and hear the latest policy updates across the sector. The event will be returning to the ExCeL in London on the 1st & 2nd July 2020! Supported by the Department for Education, this the must-attend event for senior leadership teams this year. By securing your free ticket, you’ll be able to discover practical advice and innovative solutions to help overcome the biggest challenges facing your school. Why attend the Schools and Academies Show this November? • Meet 200 education suppliers, innovators and solution providers • Network with over 4,000 school and MAT leaders and over 120 speakers. • Government Education Village supported by the DFE and ESFA to provide you with practical advice and policy updates. • The newly launched MAT Matchmaking Area; sponsored by ParentPay, will provide visitors with a dedicated area on the exhibition floor to take part in in-depth roundtable discussions around the biggest topics affecting MATs across the UK • New feature Charity Village will provide registered charities with an opportunity to take part in the exhibition floor and network with all the Head Teachers, School Business Managers, Governors, Finance Directors, Deputy Heads and wider education leaders who attend the show. Click here for more information. • New Feature in the wellness area will showcase a range of classes, mini-presentations, demonstrations and talks aimed at senior school and education leaders with the purpose of tackling the growing mental health crisis within the education sector. • New feature area, the Leader’s Town Hall, will be a ‘Question Time’ style theatre providing visitors and speakers the opportunity to debate the biggest topics within the education sector. Attracting over 4,000 attendees, the event offers fantastic networking opportunities for professionals at UK schools and academies. What’s more, The Schools and Academies Show is free to attend! We’re excited to release the first three episodes of the ‘Schools and Academies Show Podcast’ which will provide education professionals with the latest policy updates and insights concerning schools in the UK. Have a listen to them here: https://bit.ly/31SrXiE Register for our upcoming Schools and Academies Show, The event will be returning to the NEC in Birmingham on the 18th & 19th November 2020! at Excel, London. Click here to register for free.
Empowering teachers to make the most of their professional development plan
It is beneficial for teachers to have a professional development plan (PDP) and feel supported to achieve the goals that have been identified. A PDP is a documented record of an individual’s career aspirations and progressions and may also be referred to as CPD (continuing professional development). The plan should outline the goals that individuals wish to achieve and how they are going to develop the skills necessary to reach these goals. It is important that teachers feel they are able to actively work on their professional development. Making time for this may be challenging, but employers should encourage and support staff to professionally develop themselves. High Speed Training, a leading online training provider delivering accredited digital training that helps people to be engaged, effective and safe in the workplace, has shared advice for teachers looking to make the most of their PDP. How to write a professional development plan There are nine steps to take to complete a PDP: 1. Assess where you are now 2. Identify your specific career goals 3. Gather information 4. Identify what professional skills you already have and which you need to work on 5. Choose how you will accomplish your goals 6. Develop a timeline for accomplishing your specific targets and goals 7. Write it all down 8. Evaluate your plan 9. Measure your progress Each of these stages is explained in more detail in High Speed Training’s online article, Writing A Professional Development Plan – Example & Template. Professional development ideas Professional development goals are likely to vary from colleague to colleague and may relate to the job level or role that is desired or the development of specific teaching styles and capabilities. Professional development goals which can be considered include: • To become a head of year • To become a subject head • To become a child behaviour specialist • To develop ICT skills to make the most of technology use in the classroom • To learn how to provide support to special educational needs pupils and confidently give teacher support • To address the individual learning styles of students and expand teaching methods accordingly It is important for teachers to always feel as though they can ask their employers for opportunities to develop professionally – and this will benefit the school just as much as it will benefit the individual. How to achieve development goals • Qualification courses Teachers can gain professional qualifications by completing online or face-to-face training. High Speed Training offers various online educational training courses, from Designated Safeguarding Officer to Challenging Behaviour Training. Courses provide the practical information needed for individuals to take action and develop skills in the areas that need addressing. • Mentoring and peer observation Teachers are guaranteed to learn something by shadowing colleagues, irrespective of their level of seniority. It may result in individuals witnessing teaching methods that successfully engage pupils with a difficult topic or taking note of a particular strategy for managing disruptive pupils. Both the observer and the teacher being shadowed are likely to benefit from peer observation as it provides an opportunity for constructive feedback to be shared. • Observation visits to other schools Visiting other schools is similar to shadowing colleagues, but it is likely to have additional learning benefits. A different school may encourage alternative teaching strategies and behaviours, and teachers can take this knowledge back to their own school and trial new ways of teaching. • Workshops Workshops on a subject matter, method or other education-related topics are a useful platform for teachers to discuss their own experiences as well as learn. They may be led by an external specialist or hosted by one of the teachers. Such discussions also provide teachers with an opportunity for internal reflection and result in individuals getting a lot more out of the sessions than initially anticipated. • Education conferences and seminars This type of learning will allow teachers to develop in a particular area recognised as challenging. Dr. Richard Anderson, Head of Learning & Development at High Speed Training, said: “The modern teaching career is a continuous learning journey, and teachers should feel empowered and supported in their professional development to progress in their desired career direction. Like any form of learning or development, how you go about achieving your goals will take many forms. You may find that you develop best when seeing things in practice, such as by shadowing other colleagues and visiting other schools. Whatever form your development takes, it is important that is effective for you and that you’re able apply what you’ve learnt in the classroom.” For more information and to find out more about the courses, please visit www.highspeedtraining.co.uk.
Primary academy in Manchester raises £140 for NSPCC
Pupils from Manor Green Primary Academy take part in NSPCC Number Day 2020 A primary school in Denton has raised over £140 as children donated money to dress as their favourite rock stars for the school’s NSPCC Number Day 2020. Dubbing the initiative as the Manor Green Rockstar Day, the school encouraged pupils to ditch their uniforms and take part in the maths-inspired fundraising day, helping children with their numeracy skills whilst supporting the charity. As part of the event, the children took part in several tailor-made mathematics sessions, including a ‘Battle of the Bands’ type tournament where children of the same year group went head to head in answering maths-based questions. This is the 20th year the NSPCC Number Day has taken place, and over 3,500 schools have taken part raising nearly £2 million helping protect children from harm. Head of Manor Green Primary, Tracey Thornton said: “It’s great to see so many children get involved with today’s activities and give something back to the community. “The money we have raised will enable approximately 35 children to connect with the support that they need. “As part of Focus-Trust, we pride ourselves on ‘Making the Difference’ and Manor Green certainly have played their part here.” Stuart Mycroft, Deputy Head at Manor Green, added: “This year we are really putting the focus on our new school motto – ‘Aspire. Achieve. Succeed.’ – and it’s initiatives like this that can bring this to life, giving the children new ways of working to help them all ultimately be the best they can be.” Manor Green Primary Academy operates as part of Focus Trust – a charitable multi-academy trust which is based in the North West of England with a vision of providing an engaging and challenging learning environment where the children are happy.
New Mental Health & Wellbeing Show introduced to Cardiff for May 2020!
Popular award-winning training and events company, Ajuda, have created a brand-new event taking place in May 2020 at Cardiff City Stadium – the Mental Health & Wellbeing Show. The event will take place on Thursday 21st May, which falls during the national campaign of Mental Health Awareness Week (18th to 24th May). An event of this kind is much-needed not only in Wales but across the UK, as according to Mental Health charity Mind “1 in 4 people experience mental health issues each year”. The team at Ajuda want this issue to be addressed and highlighted as much as possible, which inspired them to create this new event. Benefits of Attending Gain knowledge and skills from our 30+ seminar sessions Browse over 50 organisations at our exhibition Network with hundreds of professionals dealing within the mental health & wellbeing sector Free resources, discounts and offers available at the exhibition. Being part of one of Wales’ biggest mental health & wellbeing events. The show will include a selection of seminars focused on topics such as coping with mental illness, ways to promote positive mental health, and how to support people around you who are suffering with ill mental health. Alongside this is an exhibition with over 50 charities, organisations and companies promoting their helpful resources, services and initiatives designed to support positive mental health and wellbeing. To enter the exhibition is free, with seminar tickets costing just £10 each. Speakers on the day include: Andy Lewis MBE, Paralympic Triathlon Gold Medallist at the Rio Olympics, who will present a session on Anxiety and ADHD. School Wellbeing Experts Kelly Hannaghan & Kate O’Connor will run a session on Steps to wellbeing in education Recent MBE recipient Rhian Mannings, founder of the 2 Wish Upon a Star charity who will speak on bereavement. Bollywood star Samira Mohamed Ali, who will run a seminar on meditation and breathing exercises. The full programme can be viewed here. Some exhibitors already confirmed to attend are: Remploy Wales Trauma Informed Schools Jigsaw PSHE Mind Cymru The Autism Directory National Autism Team Zero Suicide Alliance & more which can be viewed here. Company director Dawn Evans says: “Following a number of smaller courses and events around the topic of mental health, we could see there was a clear need for a bigger and more extensive event around mental health and wellbeing in Wales and across the rest of the UK. The team at Ajuda always strive to provide our customers with the training and events that really matter to them, so we decided to create an event to accommodate the rising need for mental health and wellbeing training.” Tickets can be ordered on Eventbrite, or by contacting the Ajuda Events team on 02922 400382 or via email on events@ajuda.org.uk
Maximise space on your school campus
Whether it is in the classroom or on the sports pitch, every inch of space matters to school leaders. Schools cannot afford to have teams washed off sports grounds due to bad weather or outdoor seating at lunchtimes made out of bounds due to rain or excessive heat. Streetspace has a range of solutions to help. Its ZONE glazed buildings are perfect to create additional indoor dining hall space and its covered canopies can create all-weather outdoor social spaces that can be used for break time and outdoor learning. Games and sports areas can benefit from dramatic increased usage when upgraded to an all-weather multi-use games area. With floodlighting to enable additional after-school activity, head teachers can achieve a four-fold increase in sports pitch use on their school campus. A key feature of the Streetspace service is listening to the needs of clients with staff able to adapt the design and build to meet the specifications required for the project. Revoe Learning Academy used the installation of its Streetspace all-weather pitch to change attitudes towards the school. The new covered MUGA – a one-piece PVC tensile membrane – is a flagship feature and has helped parents and pupils to develop a new-found pride in the school. OneSchool Global’s Maidstone school campus installed a covered canopy to boost social space for students at lunch and break time, but have discovered a wealth of other uses with outdoor learning, choir performances and even whole school outdoor assemblies a regular feature no matter the weather. Reading Blue Coat School installed a covered canopy to upgrade cycle parking as part of a strategy to boost its green agenda. To further develop students’ pride in the school Streetspace created a series of smart glass entry spaces and roofs for the majority of buildings on site. To find out more about the company’s range of sun shelters, glass canopies and covered walkways visit www.streetspacegroup.co.uk or call 01227 200404. Case studies Reading Blue Coat: https://bit.ly/38c6H9y Revoe Learning Academy: https://bit.ly/361uFD2 Park High School: https://bit.ly/2RtXPW2 OneSchool Global: https://bit.ly/2ucn1Za
Stress reduction and cognitive development through Quiet Time ®
The Quiet Time programme® provides students with two 15-minute periods each day to help balance their lives and improve their readiness to learn. This programme complements existing educational strategies by helping to improve the physiological underpinnings of learning and behaviour. Over one million students worldwide have taken part in Quiet Time programmes with Transcendental Meditation®. Groundbreaking research on Schools with Quiet Time programme Supported by an extensive body of independent research undertaken in the USA to verify benefits of the Quiet Time programme, have shown: 10% improvement in test scores—and a narrowing of the achievement gap Highly effective for increasing creativity Improved teacher retention and reduced teacher burnout Greater happiness, focus and self-confidence Reduced ADHD symptoms and symptoms of other learning disorders 86% reduction in suspensions over two years 40% reduction in psychological distress, including stress, anxiety and depression 65% decrease in violent conflict over two years Transcendental Meditation Transcendental Meditation, the core of the Quiet Time programme, is a simple, easily learned technique, practised by students and teachers while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. It does not involve any religion, philosophy, or change in lifestyle. Over 340 published scientific studies document its effectiveness for improving health and learning. This approach has been adopted by hundreds of public, private and charter schools worldwide—with strong support from students, parents and educators. Transcendental Meditation is taught in the Quiet Time programme by highly trained teachers with many years of experience. Initial courses in the UK have replicated the results in the USA, with improved behavioural outcomes amongst students, and relief from stress amongst school staff. Transcendental Meditation is taught as a standardised course throughout the world, which guarantees similarly effective results amongst participating schools. Quiet Time with Transcendental Meditation is taught through the David Lynch Foundation, established in the USA in 2005 as a 501(c)(3) organisation. In 2012 the Foundation was established as a registered UK charity. The David Lynch Foundation UK works with government agencies, local and national charities, to deliver individual and group programmes to overcome stress-related disorders. For more information on the Quiet Time Programme, contact the David Lynch Foundation UK: info@DavidLynchFoundation.org.uk 0845 605 8660 www.davidlynchfoundtion.org.uk
Inspirational teachers hold the key for “can do” students
Many children and young people have this debilitating habit of putting themselves down. They feel that somehow they are unworthy and will never be as good as anyone else and so begins the downward spiral into low self-esteem, but it doesn’t have to be this way – and teaching professionals hold the solution. It’s one of the ironies of life that children and young people frequently set ridiculously high expectations for themselves and when they fail to reach those levels they respond negatively and assume they are failures. It’s not uncommon for young people to describe themselves as “stupid” or “not good enough” and so begins a pattern in life that reinforces itself with an expectation that failure will automatically happen every time they try something new – and of course they are never disappointed. Teaching professionals witness this every day in classroom situations where students have already given up because they believe they will not achieve the right results. Even worse, students suffering this level of low self-esteem believe that they alone are the failures. It is one of the reasons why we developed courses that teaching professionals can use to combat areas of negativity and low self esteem and these are available for a very low annual cost via our website – www.powerfulpositivethinking.org/courses The mission of course is to reverse those levels of negativity before it turns into mental illness when children simply give up which is why positive thinking courses are now proving so effective at schools and academies worldwide. Children can be taught that failure should be a learning experience. The world’s greatest entrepreneurs and successful business people have all failed on numerous occasions but have learned from their mistakes and tried again and again until they found the formula that worked. Part of the success formula means eliminating debilitating negative phrases and replacing them with “can do” options. “People will think I am stupid” can be replaced with people will “think I am cool for trying.” Words such as “I am not good enough” can be replaced with “I will always do my best.” In our courses for schools we find that it’s the students who can quickly think of other alternative positive phrases to replace the negatives and once they get the idea it can automatically become habit forming with attitudes changing into “can do” from “can’t do.” When you use life examples to remind students that success has to be earned and worked for – and that failure can be used as a positive for the next time -then they begin to get the message. Always remember that billionaire Richard Branson started his business from a phone box and X Factor stars that made it to the big time will always tell you of those months and years learning their craft in dusty clubs and music halls – and getting this message across starts with the right words from inspirational teachers and counsellors like you. Michael Younge is founder of Powerful Positive Thinking which provides positivity courses for schools and academies worldwide. To know more visit: www.powerfulpositivethinking.org/courses Email michael.young@powerfulpositivethinking.org for more information
Encouraging Parents to Embrace the Concept of the School Trip
The concept of the school trip has changed over time. Once, a trip out of the classroom amounted to little more than a jaunt to the local museum, whereas today, the potential for taking youngsters out of the confines of the classroom is vast. With ever-expanding options for destinations and learning experiences, it is little wonder that parents have rising concerns about taking the school trip plunge. It is the job of schools to make sure that these worries are alleviated so that our kids today don’t miss out on one of the most valuable educational experiences. Access to learning is paramount if we are to arm our youngsters with the tools they need to succeed both academically and socially in this world, and the best bit is that acquiring knowledge doesn’t only have to take place in the classroom. In fact, our world is a haven for learning and simply bursting with opportunities that every child should have the chance to grab with both hands. The benefits of a school trip definitely outweigh any potential issues and I want parents to trust that their little darlings are the teachers’ number one priority when they are in their care. Sending children away with the school has so many plus points, not least the fact that I don’t know any youngster who wouldn’t relish the prospect of spending time away from home, hanging out with their friends. Bunking in with mates, sharing new experiences together and making memories that will stick with them forever are all part of growing up, learning and developing, and when teachers pitch an idea for an excursion, they need to focus on these positives. By exposing the next generation to different environments, cultures and countries, we empower them with the tools they need to enhance their personal development, grow in confidence and experience a blossoming sense of responsibility. A trip outside of school often engages children who are otherwise disinterested in the school room setting, and this can be an incredible boost to pupils, teachers and parents alike. For a parent, however, the worry can be very present, so I feel it is really important to encourage headteachers and teachers alike to tackle some of the issues and offer solutions to concerned parents: Tackling the Obstacles to School Trips The Cost Yes, trips can be expensive. I know that teachers are always doing their utmost to keep costs as reasonable as possible but sometimes the cost can be a deal breaker for mums and dads. It is sensible to plan as far in advance as possible (so people can save up) and choose off-peak dates so that the costs can be kept lower. Inexpensive travel options should also be considered, for example, travelling by coach instead of by plane, and the itinerary needs to be tailored to accommodate the demographic of children in the class. Using a tour operator can help with this. Suggest places to buy second hand equipment the children might need for the excursion or have a sale organised at the school. Skiing can be particularly expensive, for example, so this will be appreciated. Communicating regularly and in detail with home relieves some of the stress and worry, as does including them; encouraging parents to get involved with fundraising for the excursion helps them feel more of a part of things and also relieves some of the financial burden. Health and Safety This is again down to communication with the school. Mums and dads should get a detailed itinerary of the trip, with any higher risk activities highlighted and explained in detail. Always highlight the exciting parts of the activities and the sense of achievement the youngsters will have taking part; parents love to know their child is accomplishing things. Of course, you can share the school’s health and safety policy and relevant risk assessments for extra reassurance. What Will They Really Learn? Teachers must make an effort to highlight the benefits of the trip from the academic and social side. Parents want to know what they are spending their hard earned cash on. I appreciate that, as a teacher, you may not like bombarding parents with information, but if you push the positives and make them feel involved, they are more likely to get on board. Whatever the learning objectives, teachers should demonstrate to parents that when youngsters are given the opportunity to be in any new environment they develop new perspectives, learn more, are encouraged to ask questions and contextualise theoretical learning that will stick with them always. Bringing any theory off the page and putting it in context is invaluable for children when it comes to understanding what they are learning. They begin to make connections with what they experienced in the classroom and this often boosts motivation and enthusiasm. The Activities Offered Every child is unique and they all have different fears, anxieties and worries, therefore it can be quite tempting for some parents to keep them away from a school trip in an effort to avoid these. Teachers need to make it very clear what is on offer in terms of activities and then parents can help get their children prepared for the trip. Invite mums and dads to inform your staff about their child’s worries so that they can be dealt with sympathetically. Children often perform differently away from home and this is a great opportunity for them to do that and concurrently for them to grow socially and emotionally. Parents need to be encouraged to ‘cut the apron strings’ and reap the benefits of an increasingly independent child. Preparation Getting pupils ready for a trip can also be a daunting prospect for families, so the school must be clear on what equipment and clothing is required. Worrying about whether to send your child with shorts or trousers, for example, is a worry that parents really don’t need to have. Guidelines regarding money, mobiles, confectionary and behaviour should all be made clear too so that
How to build effective school interventions for Gen Z
Delivering school interventions for a generation of tech-savvy pupils calls for a new approach, says Nicola Hankey, teacher and SEND co-ordinator at Ludworth Primary School… The children in today’s classrooms have grown up with technology and can’t imagine life without tablets, apps and emojis. They form part of Generation Z born in the early 2000s or later, and are true digital masters. Unlocking the potential of Generation Z pupils with SEN presents new challenges, and while there is no one size fits all solution, here are some of the strategies I have found to be effective. 1. Build a dream team Harness the power of digital communications by sharing information with the people involved in supporting a child. Your dream team should consist of the parents or carers, teachers, the SENCo or intervention teacher and of course – the child. Send regular updates to keep the team informed, and ensure everyone is pulling together towards the same goals. 2. Listen to the pupil Generation Z pupils are encouraged to be independent thinkers, so try involving the child in making decisions and setting targets. I sometimes use a smiley face questionnaire to ask questions like, ‘Do you enjoy working in pirate club?’ For some children with SEN, emojis may not be the ideal solution. Voice-activated software that records their views might be a better option and ties into their love of tech. 3. Boost confidence On the whole, Generation Z thrives on praise and rewards, and helping children with SEN to recognise their own strengths is essential. Always explain what the praise is for, such as learning a new word, or trying hard with their reading. Build confidence in pupils with SEN by asking them to help with a classroom task, or recommend a book to a classmate. 4. Make school interventions interesting Shorter attention spans are a characteristic of Generation Z, so it can be more challenging to keep these pupils on task. Technology helps here as it speeds up essential activities. For example, we use eye-tracking software from Lexplore to assess progress in reading before and after an intervention, which only takes a matter of minutes. And an app or online tool often provokes less anxiety in children with learning difficulties than pen and paper. 5. Get out and about Although tech has a vital role in educating Generation Z, there’s a tendency to overdo the screen time, so venturing outdoors provides a fresh perspective on learning. Activities such as gardening club or forest school motivates children to work together and explore new experiences. All pupils can benefit from outdoor learning with the help of specialist resources and equipment, such as adapted trim trails with side rails to help children balance more easily, or wheelchair-friendly pathways. One child may not respond to an initial support plan that has worked for 10 other children, and it can take time to find the key to unlocking their learning. However, by trying out new tools and approaches, you will find something that works for them. With over 25 years leadership and teaching experience, Nicola Hankey BEd Hons, NPQH, NASENCO is a teacher and SEND co-ordinator at Ludworth Primary School in Cheshire and a @LexploreUK consultant.