Education secretary praises Oak View Academy
Cabinet minister Damian Hinds heaped praise on the ‘inspirational leadership’ at Oak View Academy after a visit to see the school’s stunning turnaround. The Secretary of State for Education described the Winsford primary as a ‘success story’ after witnessing its ‘truly dramatic’ progress since being ranked second-worst in the country five years ago. At its lowest ebb in 2014, the Whitby’s Lane school was taken on by North West Academies Trust (NWAT) and relaunched as Oak View. Now Mr Hinds has run the rule over a school which boasts a ‘good’ Ofsted rating and year-on-year improvements in pupil progress. He said: “What a great school with very inspiring and amazingly committed leadership from the head and the academy trust. It has been great to meet some of the absolutely delightful kids and see some of the huge variety of what they are doing. It has been an amazing turnaround, a success story, and I think that is of credit to the school leadership, all the teachers and the whole school community. The turnaround in attainment has been truly dramatic and it is great to see there are so many out of school extra-curricular activities.” The school has made huge strides under NWAT after being rated second-worst in the national primary school league tables, based on exam results. Executive Headteacher Fiona Whittaker said it is down to hard work and determination. She said: “It is fantastic that the school is getting this recognition. We work really hard to improve standards. Two years ago, we were in the top 2% of schools nationally for progress, which is an achievement we are very proud of. This year we are second in Cheshire for progress in writing. We continue working really hard to help our children make the best progress they can. We are consistent in our approach from early years and the additional support we put in place through specialist support staff, including a full-time speech and language therapist and a school counsellor, has really helped our children.To further this, we now welcome children from age two and we have a longer school day, from 8.30am to 3.15pm, which gives us the extra time we need to concentrate on the core subjects whilst also offering a wide-range of additional activities.” A bursary from the Alex Timpson Foundation has also enabled youngsters to enjoy a number of trips – including to the Titanic Museum in Belfast, Houses of Parliament in London and Scotland’s capital city Edinburgh. For more information about Oak View Academy, email: Fiona or tel: 01606 288188.
Shaun Masters OT to deliver first ever educational seminar
Shaun Masters, Occupational Therapist and Trusted Assessor, in association with Theraposture, will be delivering a seminar at Kidz to Adultz South entitled: ‘Becoming confident in prescribing cot beds for better sleep hygiene, client care and moving and handling.’ Thursday 16th May 2019, 9.30am – 4.30pm, Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, Farnborough, GU14 6FD. Free entry and parking. Stand F1: FREE PROFESSIONAL THERAPOSTURE TAPE MEASURE FOR ALL VISITING THERAPISTS. The Kidz exhibitions organised by Disabled Living provide a unique opportunity to see the latest products and services for disabled children and young adults. The showcase includes a series of CPD accredited seminars for professionals and families which cover a range of issues relevant to independent and assisted living. By attending these sessions, healthcare professionals can gain valuable hours to their CPD portfolio and discover the latest educational material that assists their clients. At Kidz South, Shaun Masters, OT, will be presenting: Seminar: Becoming confident in prescribing cot beds for better sleep hygiene, client care and moving and handling Shaun Masters, Occupational Therapist, BSc Hons 21st March, 10:30am, Seminar Room 2 Synopsis: The seminar will explore the difficulties faced with prescribing paediatric sleeping solutions. It will explore the wider implications on health and day-to-day function whilst examining our nature to care for others. Topics will also highlight future proofing for a child’s needs as they progress, become older, heavier and stronger and how this has an impact on the parents/carers abilities. Parents still want to hold, lift and nurture their child, but is this sustainable when looking at safe moving and handling? Learning outcomes: Have a greater understanding of the wider implication on achieving good sleep hygiene Prescribe the most appropriate cot bed for your client About the speaker: Shaun Masters is a registered OT with over 15 years of public sector experience. He specialises in community-based re-enablement and has particular expertise in moving and handling – both in adult and paediatric sectors. Shaun will be available throughout the exhibition on the Theraposture stand, F1, for further questions and to discuss client cot needs on a one-to-one basis. For more information about the Shaun Masters Seminar please visit http://www.theraposture.co.uk
Spring into action to combat childhood obesity
Children are being offered free PE lessons in an innovative bid to combat teenage obesity. Free passes for school children are being doled out to schools nationwide in an effort to encourage kids to bounce themselves fit. Cash-strapped schools will be able to swap dusty gymnasium halls and knee-cutting Astroturf’s for foam pits, stunt box zones and Ninja warrior courses. The keep-fit initiative has been launched by UK trampoline franchise Flip Out after alarming statistics revealed nearly half of children are overweight or obese in parts of Britain. The move was backed by former Sports Minister, Tracey Crouch, who is also an advocate of the sport: “Trampolining is a really popular activity right across the country and it’s a great way to exercise, socialise and have fun. Arenas like this provide a safe and enjoyable environment for people of all ages and with different levels of experience.” Flip Out co-owner, Richard Beese, who launched the campaign across 21 sites today (April 2nd) said: “We are in the middle of an obesity crises that is plaguing our youth. More needs to be done to encourage kids to exercise and keep fit and active. Studies have proven that bouncing on a trampoline improves balance, coordination and motor skills. We have 2.5m visitors a year – mostly children – and we think we have a massive opportunity here to play a crucial role in tackling this national epidemic.” Trampoline exercise is one of the most effective forms of keeping fit and Charlotte Evans, Paralympic Skiing Gold Medalist, argues that the activity provides a myriad of other benefits: “It’s really important to have an area where kids can come down and be involved in sport and try something new. As a kid I would have loved to have something like this. Trying new sports is really important, if you just try one sport it can cause burn out and boredom. If you try a variety of different sports it brings new skills to the sport you finally want to get into.” Steve Sallis, mentor with the England u15 national football squad and author of Educating Football, also backed the new scheme: “Having spent 20 years of my life working in the physical education of young children I know how important it is to encourage children to exercise, especially those at risk of childhood obesity as this can potentially lead to a lack of confidence. I think Flip Out’s initiative to allow schools to hold P.E lessons within their trampoline and adventure parks is a big step in the right direction. Exercise on a trampoline is social, very inclusive, fun and it’s so important for kids to try out something new.” Interested schools can sign up directly for an hour session during term time, to register to combat teenage obesity click here.
Tomorrow’s designers & technologists supported by Dudgeon grant
A grant from the Dudgeon Community Fund has enabled Neatherd High School in Dereham, Norfolk to establish an out-of-hours Design School, On your Bike. The aim is to inspire students to embrace STEM education [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] as they consider their future career options. The Design School runs from 3:30-5:30pm once a week, and groups of between 15 and 20 students, aged 12 to 16 years, undertake a practical STEM project which seeks to provide a solution to an identified problem. The Design School initiative started in September 2018, and, with each project structured to last for a half a school term, two projects have so far been completed. On your Bike saw students working with representatives from local business Pauls Cycles to improve their skills in basic bicycle maintenance, gaining valuable skills in identifying parts of the bike to repair and maintain. Students then went on to study micro controllers, using these to develop their own design of a bicycle light, with rapid prototyping being used to produce a casing for each light. WestCotec, a Dereham based business producing vehicle activated traffic signs, supported student progress and the development of their design ideas. With support from Norfolk County Council, all the students who participated in the On your Bike project also had the opportunity to participate in road safety training, improving their awareness of road hazards. Book Stands was a community design project inspired by Dereham Library’s desire to identify bookstands which would help engage more readers in the library. Having been given that brief, students had to choose a genre of book for which they would design a stand. Initial design pieces were modelled using proto-card, and this was then taken into a CAD design software package before being sent to the laser cutter to be machined. The stands were then bent to shape using an industrial strip heater. The stands are currently on display at Dereham Library, accompanied by each student’s design paperwork. The Design School initiative has been spearheaded by Jason Chapman, Head of Design Technology at Neatherd High School, who said: “It would have been impossible to fund this initiative from internal resources, so my colleagues and I are extremely grateful to the Dudgeon Community Fund for this grant. With some of the grant funding, the department has purchased a 3D printer which is proving invaluable in producing prototype models of students’ designs. The first two projects involved 39 students, and enabled the School to form strong links with two external organisations and two local businesses. The third project, Light Your Night, is now underway; a total of 22 students spread across two groups are involved and the project is being supported by two external organisations.” Sonja Chirico Indrebø is the Power Plant Manager of the Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm which provides the funding for the Dudgeon Community Fund. She said: “With over 60 students already engaged in this highly practical initiative, I shall be very interested to see how many of them embark on a STEM career pathway as they move into their GCSE studies.” For more information about On your Bike please visit www.dudgeonoffshorewind.co.uk
Dogs for good supports making schools safe
Dogs for Good has welcomed the recent comments from Secretary of State for Education, Rt. Hon Damien Hinds’ about the benefits of dogs in schools but is keen to stress how vital it is to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of each dog working in an educational setting. Dogs for Good is an organisation that has developed a Community Dog Service for Schools and Chief Executive, Peter Gorbing says: “We believe that while dogs can make a very positive contribution in educational settings, their welfare should be at the top of the list of considerations. It’s all about making it safe for dogs as well as people because having a dog in a school can pose considerable risks; particularly if the dog has not been socialised effectively to deal with what can be a very stressful environment. Failure to adhere to some basic standards can lead to significant dog welfare issues, which in turn can create risks for pupils and staff.” Dogs for Good has been active in developing good practice guidelines, including a factsheet which is an essential starting point for any school thinking about having a dog in their school. In addition, and has also worked with the Kennel Club to produce more detailed guidelines for dogs that visit schools. As a charity with 30 years’ experience in making life-changing differences for people with disabilities, Dogs for Good has, over the past two years, developed a specific Community Dog Service for Schools. This uses the principles of Animal Assisted Interventions which supports students in reaching their individual goals. The charity has looked at a number of approaches and developed a service where highly-trained dogs work with a specialist handlers in educational settings. The dogs and handlers become part of the fabric of school life and an integral part of the staff team; working alongside teachers and therapists to maximise the positive benefits for students and the wider school environment. Peter Gorbing continues: “The handler ensures the welfare and wellbeing of the dog at all times so that it doesn’t become stressed or worried in what can sometimes be a very difficult environment.” Dogs for Good’s Community School dogs and handlers engage students in the classroom, helping them to learn and focus on individual tasks. Activities with the dog can also be designed to help students overcome specific individual challenges, supporting positive behaviours and improving interactions with others. The dog can act as a focus or role model for group learning, such as diet, health and personal care and also be a source of emotional support for students. Additionally, the school dog works alongside the handler and therapists to engage and support students in therapy sessions, such as speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Here the dog can act as an important motivator and partner in a session, boosting engagement and ultimately improving therapeutic outcomes. For more information about Dogs for Good please click here
Quality First Aid courses delivered on your premises
SPA Training (UK) was established in 1995 and has been successfully running first aid training courses since then across the UK. The key to our success has been reliability, flexibility and the quality of delivery plus our 200+ trainers strategically placed across the country. We all know how important it is that your staff are fully trained in subjects such as food safety and first aid – for your own peace of mind as well as your customers. The costs associated with poor food safety are both financial and social and can affect both employers and employees. Similarly, accidents can happen, even in low risk organisations with few employees. Having the correct first aid provision in the workplace is not only a legal requirement, it is incredibly important for the safety of you and your employees. As a minimum, a low-risk workplace such as a small office, should have a first aid box and a person appointed to take charge of first aid arrangements such as calling the emergency services if necessary. Workplaces where there are more significant health and safety issues are more likely to need a trained first aider. A first aid needs assessment will help employers decide what first aid arrangements are appropriate for their workplace. At SPA Training (UK) Ltd, our comprehensive list of courses means we can help to ensure that you have the right provision of first aid in the event of an accident or illness in your workplace. SPA delivers the essential training required such as first aid, health and safety and food safety to all levels at very competitive rates. Courses are delivered on your premises at times to suit you and we are happy to include any site specific information if required. All courses are certificated by recognised awarding bodies such as Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance and Qualsafe Awards. Our trainers are all fully qualified in their respective fields and have a wealth of experience within the commercial sector. At SPA we provide the best possible training, advice and guidance to enable your staff to improve their personal skills and knowledge and gain the most appropriate qualifications to help them succeed in the workplace. Contact us for full details of the courses we run or visit the website – spatraininguk.com and take a look at what we have to offer. Contact: Jules Hutchings – 01579 324116 – jules@spatraininguk.com
Dr Emily Grossman: ‘Anyone can be a scientist!’
Dr Emily Grossman is an expert in molecular biology and the face of many a scientific TV and radio slot (including The Alan Titchmarsh Show and Duck Quacks Don’t Echo). Here, Emily speaks to QA Education editor Victoria Galligan about why she’s involved with Rocking Ur Teens, a social enterprise that runs inspiring conferences that help encourage girls and boys to become confident in their school life and beyond… To say Dr Emily Grossman is an inspiring person is, quite frankly, an understatement. In 2017 Emily was made the second Honorary STEM Ambassador by STEM Learning – the first was astronaut Tim Peake. When I ask her about her childhood influences, she immediately tells me about her dad – a doctor and research scientist. Emily – who discovered a new molecule while working in cancer research – says: “We used to go on some long car journeys and dad would tell me really fun stories about the world, which were inspiring and relevant to my life. They were really scientific facts and theories, like telling me our ancestors were monkeys. So obviously I thought I may have monkey cousins and aunts and uncles somewhere! “Stories about science fascinated me and I loved finding out about the world around us. “Because these stories were framed for me by my dad, and made relevant to my life, I found them so interesting and that’s how we need to engage youngsters today.” Emily attended an all-girls school and her teachers also had a positive influence on her. The female environment eliminated sexism in the classroom and girls were encouraged to communicate, ask questions and find answers – although Emily admits not all of her peers were enamoured by the STEM subjects. “There was no stereotyping in the classroom and maths was taught from the root upwards, which really helped my understanding. But it wasn’t always easy for me and on occasion I was bullied, being labelled the “teacher’s pet”. Girls still face this stigma in school when they speak up – luckily I had some great friends and teachers who were really supportive and the female environment allowed our ideas to thrive.” Talkative, passionate and friendly during our interview, it’s hard to believe that she has ever suffered a crisis in confidence. However when Emily started university, where she studied physics, natural sciences and later cancer research, that’s exactly what happened. She noted a huge shift in attitudes working alongside her male peers. Emily says: “Many women feel out of place in a scientific learning environment – traditionally it’s seen as a cold, calculating and competitive world. “It can be challenging in this environment, and I found it very hard. I was used to a more supportive learning experience and I became scared of asking questions. I lost my confidence and see this today in many girls – and boys – who I meet when I visit schools now. They are nervous to try things and speak up, and we as educators need to let them know that they shouldn’t be put off by how confident other people seem to be. “I dropped physics after a year and remember before I ended that part of my course, many of the boys were bragging after an exam about how easy it had been. I had found it difficult but gave it my all – and I came out with better results than those boys!” It is these traditionally competitive, often sexist attitudes in the STEM subjects that Emily is working to change, through her work giving talks in schools and as a speaker at events like Rocking Ur Teens. Emily was asked by a friend who she met through a women’s group, Hannilee Fish, to attend the all-female event as Hannilee was speaking there too. Emily says: “Hannilee is an incredible role model and very inspiring. I was grateful for the opportunity to speak at Rocking Ur Teens and was happy to help dispel some myths about what it is to be a scientist, and help and inspire young women. “It was great to communicate with pupils from so many different areas and from such different backgrounds. For schools that don’t get a lot of funding, Rocking Ur Teens is a great opportunity for youngsters to hear from so many speakers and it really works. Seeing women like them, who perhaps were not very confident as teens and are just normal, everyday people, but who have become successful after working hard and being tenacious, really helps.” Having had quite a few career changes – Emily spent around 10 years acting and worked on the stage and screen in productions from Macbeth to Snow White – she is keen to impress upon youngsters the fluidity of STEM subjects and the range of options available. Emily adds, “Not all girls feel confident in STEM subjects and some feel they’re not clever enough, or that they’re too sensitive or creative. Girls who like science are often called ‘geeks’ or ‘weird’ or ‘boring’, but they shouldn’t be put off. Sensitivity and creativity are very beneficial to STEM. We need every sort of person to study STEM – gender, colour, sex, race etc doesn’t matter. If you have a passion for STEM then get involved!” Regarding women working in STEM, Emily would like to see policymakers continue to make roles accessible for women who have to consider their family needs, and to encourage women to bring their “whole self” to work. She believes that if STEM employers are compassionate, supportive and inclusive, then more women will want to start working and stay working in the field – even after starting a family. So what advice does Emily have for teachers who want to better engage girls in STEM? “Keep encouraging them to see the diverse range of careers and impress upon them the different types of people that STEM needs. They may be outgoing, shy, sensitive, analytical, team players or better working in private. Whatever sort of person
‘The apprenticeship levy gives employers more flexibility’
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QA Education Books – review
QA Education Books – Top Picks. We take a look at some of the latest children’s titles as well as CPD books. See the “competitions” section to be in with a chance of winning books throughout the year… The Mermaid Who Couldn’t, written by Ali Redford, illustrated by Kara Simpson (JKP, £9.99) Abandoned on the ocean floor, Mariana the Mermaid feels useless as she can’t swim or join in with the other mermaids. Muriel the Turtle helps her find self-confidence through singing her own mighty song. This therapeutic picture book is for children aged 4-9 who lack self-confidence, including children who have had difficult life experiences. This picture book uses a simple metaphor to show how children who have experienced neglect or who lack confidence can learn to find a sense of self-worth. It will help children explore their feelings and encourage communication. Review: by Ellie’s mum, Lisa Ryder Ellie enjoyed the story. She had a strong emotional reaction to the theme of the book and was quite sad at the beginning of the story but she then became happy at the end. She was attentive throughout the story and asked to hear it again. Ellie liked the pictures but did say that she found the colours dark and a little scary at the beginning. Ellie was very emotional throughout the story and asked questions about her family. We talked about how nice it is to have a family and friends and how the mermaid thought she couldn’t do things at the beginning but once she started to try, she found she could do them. Ellie said that she struggled with climbing in the park on the climbing frames but after she practiced, she can now climb. She said it was scary at first but now it isn’t as scary. The story is a good start for discussions about self-confidence and we could role play it afterwards with her toys. The Noisy Foxes, by Amy Husband, (Willow Tree Books, £6.99) Written and illustrated by Amy Husband, The Noisy Foxes follows a family of foxes who decide to move out of the big, noisy city to look for somewhere quieter to live … but nowhere seems quite right! Distinctive collage-style illustrations add to the charm of this humorous ‘grass isn’t always greener’ tale. Reviews We asked some of our friends to read The Noisy Foxes and this is what they said: Ellie’s mum, Lisa Ryder: Ellie liked the story, the language was simple and we looked at the different words and how they sounded. Ellie loved the illustrations and liked how bright the colors are. She liked to see what was happening in other parts of the pictures. Ellie understood the meaning behind the story and we discussed it however she seemed to be more interested in the pictures. We discussed how sometimes we think we want something else but actually what we want is what we already have. Editor Victoria Galligan: My daughters loved the Noisy Foxes! My two-year-old, Amy, has insisted on reading it every night and it even went to Nanny’s for a sleepover! Kate said she liked the patterns and textures in the illustrations, and Amy liked all the different animals. We talked about the ending and how sometimes it’s nice to go away for a break but good to come home again where you belong. It’s Your Story: From 1 to 10 and From A to Z (from £17.50) Planning a prizegiving, graduation or welcoming a new student? If so mark these all-important milestones with beautifully illustrated personalised Alphabet books from Itsyourstory. Not only a fantastic teaching aid which brings numbers and the alphabet to life by making them the star – but also a perfect keepsake which includes a personal message from you to the child at the front. Called ‘From A to Z” and ‘From 1 to 10’ are this ideal gifts for young children. Every letter is accompanied by a picture and a simple, fun sentence which emphasises the sound – for example, ‘Freddy’s Dinosaur is Daring and Dangerous’, ‘Oliver Octopus has Orange Socks’. The child features in the illustrations and text on every page making it a fun, engaging and relevant read. Readers will get to go on an adventure – meeting lots of different animals, building a sandcastle at the beach and even riding a rocket to the moon! The books are available from Itsyourstory at itsyourstory.co.uk. The 32-page full-colour book includes a message at the front from the sender and retails at £17.50 for the softback version and £20 for the hardback book. Customers upload a photograph of the child as part of the order process. Review: By editor Victoria Galligan The books are amazingly engaging: my daughters (aged two and six) were both completely fascinated by the fact that their faces were actually on the cover and the pages. My eldest daughter could read the book alone and love the ‘L’ page, which sees her licking a lemon lolly. And my younger daughter couldn’t flick through the pages fast enough – we read the book several times in one go as she kept missing the pages! She was so eager to see what Amy did next! Fully recommended by us. Also out now: Educating Outside, by Helen Porter (Bloomsbury, £19.99) Educating Outside is a toolkit of outdoor learning ideas to inspire primary school teachers to head outside with their pupils and enrich their learning experiences across the curriculum. Although the benefits of learning outside are well documented, outdoor activities often decline as children progress through their education. There are many reasons for this: lack of time in the curriculum, lack of training, lack of teacher confidence, or simply lack of inspiration. Educating Outside contains a bank of outdoor learning ideas that can be used to enhance and enrich your classes’ learning experiences across the curriculum; including in science, history, geography, art and design, English and maths. Each lesson idea is linked to a specific programme of study and outlines required resources, links to soft