Guidance Notes and Best Practice Guides

ScotGov: New materials which will help embed Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland's new approach to learning & teaching, in nurseries and pre-schools have been announced.  Children's Minister Adam Ingram revealed that a new DVD training resource - Curriculum for Excellence, Supporting the Early Level - will be produced in the autumn to help those working with Scotland's youngest learners apply the new approach.
 
The DVD covers areas such as learning & teaching, improving transitions and involving parents.  It will provide training & discussion materials that will help early years practitioners & teachers embed Curriculum for Excellence.
Press release ~ Curriculum for Excellence ~ Experiences and Outcomes ~ Launch of Early Years Framework
 
ScotGov: New homelessness prevention guidance has been issued to local authorities as part of the Scottish Government's strategy to meet the 2012 homelessness target. At the same time, the housing charity Shelter Scotland has been given additional funding of £96,000 to increase the capacity (by 40%) of its free Helpline - 0800 800 444 - to help meet the demand from those people with mortgage & debt worries.
 
The new guidance, developed in partnership with COSLA, recognises:
*The prevention of homelessness does not happen in isolation from other issues and therefore a systemic approach is needed
* Homelessness prevention is a corporate responsibility and must be embraced by all parts of the local authority
* The need to encourage pro-active and early intervention, based on a well understood knowledge of the local triggers of homelessness
Press release ~ Prevention of Homelessness Guidance ~ 2012 homelessness support project ~ ScotGov - Housing ~ Shelter - Scotland ~ Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) ~ ScotGov - Homelessness
 
Ofsted: A revised framework for the inspection of maintained schools in England has been launched by Christine Gilbert, HMCI, at the first of a series of conferences for schools and local authorities.  Ofsted is changing the focus and frequency of school inspections to ensure that inspection has the greatest impact possible on school improvement and outcomes for children and young people.
Press release ~ Read the Framework for the inspection of maintained schools in England from September 2009
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