Devon Learning and Development Partnership

LDP Newsletter

January 2010

Issue 2

Great Moor House, Sowton,

Bittern Road, Exeter EX2 7NL

For Head Teachers and Chairs of Governors

New directions in gifted and talented education

Schools are increasingly taking centre stage in gifted and talented education. With the forthcoming parent and pupil guarantees announced in the White Paper and the recent pronouncement, that it is a statutory requirement that schools identify gifted and talented pupils, it is even more important that schools know who the most able pupils are - and how well they are doing.

In line with this, DCSF is making a significant change of direction in G&T from a centralised model to a school-based approach that has implications for all schools.

SENCo network meeting - a videoconferencing event for the Devon Primary Videoconference project

Devon SENCOs use videoconference technology to share updates on local and national Special Educational Needs issues, as part of the Devon Primary Videoconference Project.

Plan and design your new library or library refurbishment with the School Library Service

School Library Service can provide your school with ideas for new libraries, library extensions and refurbishments.

Find out more...

Early Years Team update

Devon's Early Years Foundation Stage Profile data has improved in 2009 for the third successive year. Read about the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) support programme and catch up on who's who in your Local Learning Community in the Early Years team update.

"Connecting Classrooms"- Teachers from Devon and Iraq work together to help pupils understand each others' lives.

Just occasionally the name given to an educational programme avoids jargon or acronyms and actually captures the essence of the work. This is certainly the case with the Council's project called "Connecting Classrooms".

The value and potential of "Connecting Classrooms" was thrown into sharp relief in November when a group of four secondary school teachers from Devon travelled to Jordan to meet teachers from Iraq.

Excellent Consultant & Adviser Support

The National Strategies visited the LA during December to evaluate the school improvement support for the National Challenge schools. They considered that the quality of the support for all the National Challenge schools should be RAG rated green and gave the LA a green RAG rating for the quality of its support overall. They were highly complimentary about the quality of the support provided by Consultants and Advisers, describing it as 'excellent', and the effectiveness of the systems in place for identifying schools in need of that support. This followed hot on the heels of another visit by National Strategies in November at which, in relation to KS3 and KS4 the quality of the LA analysis of self reported data was described as 'outstanding'.
This is testament to all the hard work and the increasingly integrated approach of our school improvement team in LDP. Thank you and well done to all concerned.

Beverley Dubash
Joint Interim Head of the Learning & Development Partnership
Principal Education Welfare Officer
Safeguarding Lead Officer (Education)

LDP Educational Psychologists and the Down's Syndrome Association publish joint report on the barriers to education for children with Down's Syndrome.

A team of Educational Psychologists working for Devon's LDP who have some specialist time to support pupils with Down's syndrome (DS) and pupils with significant learning disabilities (SLD) in Devon schools have completed a survey of inclusive practice in Devon mainstream secondary schools which are currently supporting students with DS. Find out more.

Ethnic Minority Achievement making an impact!

Having secured additional funds from the Migrant Worker Impact Fund, the Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMA) team are working on a project to support even more English as an additional language (EAL) children and their families.

CRB – Confirmation of checks

LDP has received a number of requests from individual schools to confirm in writing whether individual LDP staff have been CRB checked. Details of those LDP teams with confirmed CRB checks.

The Devon Learning and Development Partnership was formed in April 2009 and brings together eleven Devon County Council services. The purpose of the LDP is to work with others to improve outcomes for young people.

In this issue:

Gifted and Talented
Videoconferencing
School Library Service
Update from Early Years team
'Connecting Classrooms' in Devon and Iraq
Report from National Strategies
LDP Educational Psychologists and the Down's Syndrome Assoc.
EMA recruit bilingual support workers
CRB confirmation

Diary Date

Headteachers' Early Years Foundation Stage Transition Conference

25^th March 2010, Sandy Park

'Crossing the Bridge from Foundation to Year 1 – making the journey smooth'

This conference will focus on the challenge for Year 1 teachers to meet the needs of children who are moving up from reception.

www.devonldp.org/cpd

Devon schools can now look forward to a visit form the School Library Service's latest mobile vehicle.

It provides a valuable educational and fun experience for many primary school children all over the county.

Congratulations to 29 successful participants of the National Programme of Specialist Leaders in Behaviour and Attendance (NPSLBA)

Chinese New Year 14th February 2010 marks the beginning of the first lunar month. See the LDP shop for innovative and colourful dual language resources celebrating Chinese New Year and visit the Ethnic Minority Achievement website for some useful Chinese New Year links.

Award ceremony for school support staff.

The 2009 Award Ceremony celebrated the award of nationally recognised qualifications supported by funding through Devon County Council and delivered by Devon Learning and Development Partnership.

Disability Equality Scheme

For your information, two new resources are available from DCSF to help schools put together their Disability Equality Schemes (DES).

Learning and Development Partnership Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Sowton, Exeter, EX2 7NL.

Tel: 01392 385244, email: ldp@devon.gov.uk, http://www.devonldp.org

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