Guidance Notes and Best Practice Guides
QCDA: The countdown to the new primary curriculum has begun with support & guidance for schools & teachers available online - The Qualifications & Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) has launched its new National Curriculum website.
Visitors to the site will see the new primary curriculum, alongside the recently revised secondary curriculum. Schools will use the site to access the curriculum, guidance & tools including design tools to assist in medium and long term planning.
It contains an interactive guide to the curriculum, plus a video tour of the key features of the website. More information, including professional development material, will be added to the website throughout 2010.
FSA: The Agency has updated its list of product ranges that do not contain the 6 food colours associated with possible hyperactivity in young children. A further 2 manufacturers producing product lines free of the colours have been added to the list. The manufacturers are Dartmoor Kitchen and Sargents Bakeries.
Consumers who are particularly concerned about the presence of the colours should continue to check labels, especially in the case of products with a long shelf-life, where the availability of reformulated products may vary.
Press release ~ Caterers and restaurants with product ranges free from the six colours ~ Manufacturers with product ranges free from the six colours ~ Retailers with product ranges free from the six colours ~ Intolerance to additives
HSE: Mental Health Matters Ltd (MHM), a North East-based registered charity has been fined £30,000 with costs of £20,000 after one of their employees was killed by a service user. Ashleigh Ewing, a 22-year-old support worker employed by MHM, was attacked & killed by service user Ronald Dixon, who pleaded guilty in October 2007 to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and is detained indefinitely at Rampton Secure Hospital.
Working alone is not in itself against the law and it will often be safe to do so. However, the law requires employers & others to think about and deal with any health & safety risks before people should be allowed to work alone.
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: it shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employee.
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: it shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employee.
Press release ~ Working alone: Health and safety guidance on the risks of lone working ~ Business Link: Security for people working alone
ScotGov: A website, to support unemployed teachers to access Continuing Professional Development (CPD), has been launched. The CPD Step-In will be available to any trained teacher and provides a range of services - including links to online training, discussion forums & professional advice - at a time when employment opportunities may be more difficult to find.
Furthermore, new guidance has also been issued to all local authorities which emphasises the CPD support that needs to be available to teachers on supply lists to ensure their skills & knowledge can be refreshed.
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