Daily Archives: 07/07/2016

Learning Outside the Classroom

Bring History, Law, Careers Enrichment and British Values to Life for Secondary School Pupils

Hands-on educational visits with the NCCL    

How can your school get involved? 

   
Law workshop with NCCL

 

NCCL delivers memorable learning experiences in legal and heritage sites including working courts  

We help bring History, Law, Careers Enrichment and British Values to life!

Activities can include:

•Contemporary and historical courtroom workshops

•Debates

•Q&As with legal professionals

Where We Work:

•Galleries of Justice Museum, Nottingham 

•Civil Justice Centre and Crown Court, Manchester and Bolton Magistrates’ Court

•The Royal Courts of Justice, London

Find your nearest NCCL education team:   

East Midlands

London

 

North West

 

Get involved, inspire young minds and book your visit now!

Tel: 0115 9939 811 Email: education@nccl.org.uk Website: www.nccl.org.uk

Testimonials:

“It was very insightful and our students learned an awful lot about the justice system.” Hayley Bennett, Titus Salt School

“I feel that my pupils have learnt a lot from this trip and skills too; advocacy, time management and problem solving” 

Lantern of Knowledge Boys Secondary School 

 

  “Learning outside the classroom (LOtC) offers a valuable stimulus and context to learning that motivates learners and facilitates application of knowledge and skills” 

 LOtC Sectors Working Group 

Galleries of Justice Museum, City of Caves and NCCL are trading names of The Egalitarian Trust.

Registered Charity: 1030554 Company Registration: 2866265 Registered in England and Wales

www.nccl.org.uk

 

Maths

What is the best way to encourage your students to reason mathematically and solve problems?

The new National Curriculum in Mathematics has at its heart an active, process-orientated delivery of the content; greater emphasis is placed on reasoning and problem solving.

These teaching materials will supplement your chosen textbook and provide your pupils with the opportunity to think for themselves about developing a mathematical strategy to fit a given activity.

The materials have been updated with the content from the new National Curriculum to cover:

  • Developing fluency
  • Reasoning mathematically
  • Solving problems

Topics covered are:

  • The nth term
  • Percentages
  • Tessellation
  • Probability

Each topic contains: details of the mathematical content covered; a pupil’s target achieved/progression sheet, lesson plans; worksheets; assessment. A section providing answers to all worksheets is provided at the end of the book.

Selected Topics in KS3 Maths is available as a photocopiable book or on CD Rom, and individual activities can thus be readily copied and distributed to students as required. The copies can also be shared with colleagues or given to supply teachers, without any fear of the original book being misplaced.

An extract from  Selected Topics in KS3 Maths, ISBN 978 1 86083 745 6, order code T1678EMN, is available at http://pdf.firstandbest.co.uk/maths/T1678.pdf 

Prices

  • Photocopiable report in a ring binder, £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • CD with school-wide rights: £24.95 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Both the Ring Binder and the CD £31.94 plus £3.95 delivery
  • Prices include VAT.

You can purchase the report…

When ordering the book please quote the reference T1678EMN.

Building, furniture, maintenance, energy etc

What is it that children always notice?

The answer has to be change.

For children, the school and playground become such familiar areas, a regular part of their lives.

Which is why a change – and that can be any change – will be a matter of huge interest, and even excitement, for all the children.

So of course when the change is one that has an educational message at its heart, it can be a very good way of influencing the children’s behaviour.

And there is no better way of doing this than putting up signs containing a message of your choice.   The message can then be discussed for a moment in class and the meaning behind the message can be further understood.

The message itself can be anything.  We have put a few sample ideas on our website but of course the choice of both message and colour are up to you.    You can write about playing safely, making friends, being positive, anything you wish.

Some schools create texts relating to their school values, some change it to school rules, some offer school quotes, class names, house names…  The choice is of course yours.

The signs can be purchased individually or as a collection, and in a variety of sizes.  To see how the price changes with size do take a look at this sample idea and then change the size in the grid, to see the implications for the price.

For more information or to order click below:

Positive Pebble sign – Blue

Positive Pebble sign – Yellow

Positive Pebble sign – Red

Positive Pebble sign – Orange

Positive Pebble sign – Lime

Set of 5 Positive Pebble Signs

Alternatively you can call us on 01423 521654 or fax us on 0844 443 2455

Email info@upsondowns.co.uk

Upson Downs
13 Claro Court Business Centre
Claro Road, Harrogate
North Yorkshire, HG1 4BA

fundraising

School fundraising opportunities to make the most of between now and the end of the year

Schools will soon be inviting members of the local community to join them at their annual summer fete, not least because it’s an occasion that creates a sense of community cohesion (generating good PR), but also because it presents a perfect school fundraising opportunity.

But whilst almost every school hosts a summer fete in order to raise funds, only a small number of schools are making the most of the lead up to Christmas to raise funds, despite schools having great fundraising success at this time.

Indeed, schools that are successful at raising funds in the lead up to Christmas typically join the School Christmas Card Project – I know Christmas seems a long way away, but registration for our 2016 School Christmas Card Project is now open.

With the School Christmas Card Project an average school of 250 pupils can easily raise £500 or more and there is absolutely no upfront cost, whatsoever, to the school.

The School Christmas Card Project allows children to create their own artwork which is then printed on to professionally produced cards which the school sells at a profit to parents.

Parents place their orders and pay the school before we ask for any payment at all, and as we offer very competitive prices for our high quality products, you can maximise the earning potential for your school.

You will find everything you need to join our School Christmas Card Project on our website, including:
How it works
A free information pack
And our price table 

If you are unlikely to be the person to get involved in co-ordinating this kind of school fundraising project, please do forward this email onto a member of staff or a member of the PTA who is likely to be responsible.

Kind regards,
Steve

School Christmas Card Project
Start your 2016 School Christmas Card Project now!
Tel: 0114 453 9562
Ecclesall Print, 237A Ringinglow Road, Sheffield S11 7PU.

Special Needs

Improve wellbeing – the greater the potential

You know that some of your pupils are held back because they have social, emotional, behaviour or mental health issues.  Throughout the UK 20% of children suffer from these problems.

You also know that there’s usually a long waiting time before they can be seen by a specialist service.  In the meantime these pupils drag down the overall academic results which may cause disruption to other pupils learning and may cause stress for teaching staff.

Now there’s a proven solution being used in over 1200 primary schools.   When Play Therapy is delivered to the standards of the Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists, it results in a 77% to 84% positive change, as observed by teaching staff and parents. (Evidence based on over 12,000 cases.)  The UK needs 22,000 therapists to work with children – there are less than 4000 at present.

Train as a Registered Certified Practitioner in Therapeutic Play Skills – 15 days, typically spread over nine months, mainly at weekends.  13 conveniently located training centres.  The training is mainly experiential and practical – not just classroom taught theory.

Normally you can start practising in your school, whilst on the course, after the first 6 to 9 days of training.

Find out more by attending a one-day Introduction to Play Therapy course.

Ask for APAC’s 28 page career and training guide.

You can change the lives of others for the better and most probably your own as well.

More information:

www.playtherapy.org.uk    Play Therapy Register

Email: mokijep@aol.com    Phone: 01825 761143

Science

Gapforce Introduction Science Fieldtrips Overseas

I understand you are the best person to contact with regards to Science-based overseas trips for school groups.

By way of introduction, we run subject specific trips such as Biology as well as general education, adventurous activities and volunteering, all tailor-made to meet each school’s requirements.

We work with a number of UK and International Schools each year and I would be happy to provide sample itineraries and references.

Popular destinations for Science trips include:

  • Costa Rica
  • The Galapagos Islands
  • Tanzania

To receive a free brochure about our School trips, please click here

Best wishes,

James

Special Needs

What more can be done to raise literacy attainment among your dyslexic pupils?

It is rare that a pupil with dyslexia will only have problems with his or her understanding of literacy, yet the majority of teaching resources for use with dyslexic pupils focus solely on developing these skills.

In fact, problems with understanding literacy are just part of the problem for pupils with dyslexia as many will also have problems with their visual and auditory recall and their sequencing and organisational abilities (all of which can hinder literacy attainment).

Which is why we developed the Dyslexia Games Manual.

The Dyslexia Games Manual is a ring bound photocopiable resource which contains a wealth of enjoyable games and activities that not only support dyslexic pupils in developing their literacy skills, but also increases their visual and auditory recall, as well as strengthening their sequencing and organisational ability.

You can order the Dyslexia Games Manual in book format by:

  • Visiting www.msl-online.net
  • By phone on 01536 399017
  • By fax to 01536 399012
  • By email to msl@schools.co.uk       
  • By post to Multi-Sensory Learning, Earlstrees Court, Earlstrees Road, Corby, NN17 4HH

Or, if you would prefer to receive the Dyslexia Games Manual in PDF, simply visit this link, select the ‘International’ option and click the ‘Pay by Credit Card (PayPal)’ button to check out.

Once we have received payment, you will be sent the Dyslexia Games Manual in PDF by email within 12 working hours.

Please note that all rights are reserved and no part of this publication (The Dyslexia Games Manual) may be circulated or shared in any form without the prior permission of the author.

History

Stone Age assembly and writing workshops

Tie in story writing with your history topic and bring the past to life with a Stone Age assembly. It’s fun and interactive. Pupils will get hands on with a mammoth hunt and find out about Neolithic life.

The Stone Age assembly is a perfect primer for story writing workshops where pupils will write their own stories. We’ll use the innovative Accelerated writing method (as used by Creative Writing Club). I’m a children’s author who teaches creative writing in schools, so I can also answer their questions on writing and perform short extracts from my book.

As well as the stone age, other topics include: The Bronze Age, the Iron Age Celts, the Greeks, the Egyptians, the Romans, the Celts, the Anglo Saxons, the Aztecs, Mayans, the Great Fire of London, Flooded world (natural disasters), the Vikings, the Normans, the Tudors, the Victorians, Shakespeare, Traditional tales, the Rainforest and many more.  I’m an ex-BBC editor and I can also offer workshops on factual writing (using a historical frame).

About me
I’ve written 14 books for children, over a wide age range (Y1-Y9) including: Spartapuss (Romans), Beowuff (Anglo Saxons vs Vikings) Olympuss Games (Greeks), Boudicat (Celts), Cleocatra’s Kushion (Egyptians).  My graphic novel ‘London Deep’ was chosen as a Recommended Read for World Book Day. I co-wrote the musical version of Julia Donaldson’s books The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom. I’ve led writing workshops for Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust and The Young Archaeologists Club. Check out my profile on Love Reading For Kids:

  • No school is too large or too small
  • I am DBS checked and I have insurance cover.

For dates and prices please call 0845 838 5526 or email robin@mogzilla.co.uk

Please reply to this email with ‘Stone’ in the subject line and I will send you my free PDF
‘7 Tips for story writing and a Stone Age writing frame.

Music

What can be done to help those children, who want to learn a musical instrument, learn more effectively?

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Next term a new, national, School Music Week is to be launched.  Not a Music Week to celebrate what the pupils in schools across the UK have done in the past year, but rather what they might well do in the coming year.

It is a website to help music teachers encourage children to practise and keep learning their chosen instrument.  It is also there to help parents and non-music teachers understand the huge benefits that accrue both to the school and to the children from the study of musical instruments.

Its aims also include helping parents understand the process of learning an instrument, how to go about buying an instrument, and how to maintain the enthusiasm for learning an instrument.

As part of our preparation for School Music Week next term we are also undertaking some research into the range of instrumental tuition in primary schools, looking at any difficulties schools might be facing and the opportunities for expansion.

The survey is, of course, completely anonymous, but if you wish we can send you back a copy of the results once we have them analysed.

The questionnaire will only take two to three minutes to complete, and doesn’t ask for any details about your school.  I do hope you will spare a moment to help us gather this information.

To take the questionnaire please just click here.

If you have any questions about the questionnaire please email hq@schoolmusicweek.co.uk or call us on 01536 505 622

British values

Delivering British Values at Key Stage 2: a strategy to embed British Values

Following the momentous events of last month’s EU Referendum it has never been more important to make pupils aware of their ability to change the world around them through casting their democratic vote.

!cid_76c94d5dfe5e4f33294aeb2a1dc3fd2f Developed with advice from highly experienced primary school PSHE practitioners our British Values series of books and learning resources provide thought provoking, fun and a highly effective strategy to embed an understanding of the concepts of democracy, freedom, the importance of the rule of law and respecting the faiths and beliefs of others.

Books and learning resources also provide an excellent response to guidance from the Department for Education in November 2014, that all schools must now have a clear strategy for embedding British Values showing how their work with pupils has been effective in doing so.

Ofsted and the independent inspectorates now take the work of schools in this area into account during inspections.

The British Values Starter Bundle – £50 a whole year of British Values class activities

Two copies of each of five British Values books (RRP £3.99 per book):

  •   It’s The Law!
  •   Looking After Britain
  •   Our Country, Our World
  •   Let’s Vote On It!
  •   God Bless The Queen

With a broad range of comprehension and discussion activities for individuals and the whole class. The chatty and highly accessible style of the books makes them ideal for directed reading activities.

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Two Posters:

A British Values Poster beautifully illustrated featuring colourful and highly memorable cast of British Values characters.

 

 A Class British Values Strategy & Progress Poster with colourful stickers for the class to be able to record class British Values activities providing visual evidence of a strategy in action
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Sheets of fun stickers

 

Featuring the cast of fun British Values’ characters. Use the stickers on the Strategy and Progress Poster or to reward individual achievement.
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Click here for details on how to get your Starter Bundle

School News

How to… acquire a brand-new school minibus for half the cost

A growing number of schools are finding that by sharing their minibus with a nearby school, they can halve the running costs of the minibus and thus reduce their expenditure on school trips and away games by a considerable amount.

Moreover, a growing number of schools are finding that by sharing a leased school minibus (meaning that there is no initial large payment required – just a monthly lease fee) as opposed to one which has been purchased outright, their costs are further reduced.

Better still, in leasing a school minibus with Benchmark, any repairs, servicing and the like are included in the arrangement and the costs are conveniently built into the lease.

If you haven’t leased a minibus or thought about sharing one, please do give me a call on 01753 859944 and I can talk you through how it all works.

But if you want to take a look at who we are and what we do before you call, you’ll find more information about leasing at www.minibusleasing.co.uk.

School News

What is the single most effective way to protect the floor of the sports hall from damage during exam times?

Although the sports hall is only used for exams maybe once or twice a year for a period of no longer than two months, it is at these times that the floor can suffer the most damage. Which is why we have devised the Smartsquare system.

The Smartsquare system is made up of 2m x 1m protection pieces which will prevent the floor of your sports hall being dented and scratched by desks and chairs during exam periods. Moreover, it will reduce the distraction caused by noise during exams (invigilators’ footsteps, movement of chairs…) which are often amplified due to the echoey nature of sports halls.

The process of laying and taking up the protection pieces is made easy by the fact that Smartsquare systems come with a purpose-built Smartcart trolley designed to hold approximately 200m² flooring.

What’s more, when not in use the protection pieces pack away easily. The trolley is built with non-marking wheels and once packed up the average school only requires between 4m² and 7m² of floor space for storage.

Smartsquare can be purchased outright or bought on a lease over a period of time. It is also available on a two-week free trial – along with a Smartcart – so you can try it out for yourself.

And best of all it is very easy to clean. Indeed if you were ever to get a badly soiled tile you simply take it outside, hose it down and leave to dry.

You can read more about Smartsquare on our website

Or if you would like to talk about these possibilities please do call us on 01302 836777 or email jon@smart-square.co.uk.

Jonathan Layton

Smartsquare
Unity House, 14 Durham Lane, Armthorpe, Doncaster, DN3 3FE