Our archive of educational news

This is a list of our most recent educational news items posted on this website via our RSS news feed.

You can also find information about educational news and topics on school improvement via our archive of educational podcasts.

My Money Week 2010 - Activity Packs

Two activity packs are available with the aim of inspiring primary and secondary teachers and their students to get involved in My Money Week. The packs contain flexible activity ideas to help teach personal finance across the curriculum in My Money Week and beyond. These are the two packs:

The packs cannot be ordered via the links above.

Embedding the Play Strategy

This document provides guidance for local authorities, Children?s Trust Boards and Local Strategic Partnerships on planning and sustaining provision for children and young people?s play and informal recreation. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Leading improvement in school and across schools

These materials provide the fifth in a series of ?Leading Improvement? professional development materials, which are intended to inform ongoing discussions focusing on the leadership of improvement at national, local and school level. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Support for All: the Families and Relationships Green Paper

This Green Paper sets out a wide range of measures to support all families as they bring up their children and help families cope with times of stress and difficulty. The proposals recognise that while all families need some help, there are families in our society with complex needs and others who require additional - and sometimes non-negotiable - support. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

RE non-statutory guidance 2010

This publication is aimed at local authorities, schools and education professionals. It aims to support the provision of high-quality religious education (RE) in maintained schools in England. It provides clear, non-statutory guidance about RE in the curriculum and the roles of those who have a responsibility for, involvement in or interest in the subject. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Impartial Careers Education Statutory Guidance: Resources Pack

This Resources Pack has been developed to help schools meet the challenges set out in the Department's strategy to provide young people with the information, advice and guidance that they need to progress successfully through learning and into work. It contains a range of materials designed to give practical support to help schools review and improve their provision. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics

This set of resource materials is intended to help practitioners working with children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), and teachers working with lower Key Stage 1 children, to plan their mathematics provision and help children to secure some of the key mathematical ideas that they will use throughout the rest of their lives. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

The Pupil and Parent Guarantees

This document describes how the Pupil and Parent Guarantees work. It sets out what schools should do and how parents should support them and also explains what pupils and parents can do if they are concerned that they are not receiving something they are entitled to. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

My Money: Mathematics Resources

These resources provide mathematics teachers with a range of activities that explore many key issues, including savings and investments, currency exchange and income. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Moving on in mathematics: Narrowing the Gaps

This publication sets out ways to help primary schools to be more successful in narrowing the gaps in attainment in mathematics. It is intended to be used by mathematics subject leaders and class teachers, in collaboration with members of schools? senior management teams to support those who work with children to secure their learning in mathematics. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Children's Trusts: Improving Support for Schools

This short leaflet will help schools understand their role as statutory partners to the Children?s Trust. It briefly describes the new legislation; what Children?s Trusts are and why they are necessary; and the role of schools within the Children?s Trust as statutory partners. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Click Clever Click Safe: First UK Child Internet Safety Strategy

This strategy sets out what the UK Council for Child Internet Safety have done so far to keep children safe online; their commitments to parents, children and young people and the things they are planning to do to make them happen; and how you will know whether they are succeeding in making children and young people safer. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

PSHE: Curriculum Reform Consultation Report

This consultation document examines the concerns raised by making personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education statutory. These key concerns include pressures on the curriculum, the role of governing bodies and the parental right of withdrawal from sex and relationships education. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Statutory Guidance: Impartial Careers Education

This guidance advises headteachers and teachers-in-charge about how to meet their statutory duties in relation to careers education and ensure that the young people for whom they are responsible receive the support they need. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Using Support and Talk for Writing

Support for Writing and Talk for Writing are Primary Framework resources which provide support for teachers focusing on personalising planning for progression in writing. These leaflets folds out into posters that explain how to use the Support for Writing and Talk for Writing processes. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Securing level 2 in mathematics

This booklet addressing six key areas in mathematics that children must secure in order to attain level 2. It sets out standards to be achieved and suggests teaching approaches, relevant intervention materials, teaching and learning resources and assessment prompts. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Safeguarding the young and vulnerable

This document sets out the Government?s annual update on progress made against the specific recommendations set out in the joint Chief Inspectors? report which was published in July 2008. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Progression Guidance 2009-10

This guidance aims to provide better data for schools on how well learners with special educational needs, learning difficulties and disabilities (SEN/LDD) are progressing. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

What Works to Improve Achievement for Boys and Girls

This resource provides guidance for senior leaders and teachers in schools who are seeking to improve boys? and girls? achievement, particularly in English and literacy. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Progress Matters - Pack

This package of materials is designed to promote the development of good practice among leaders and managers in ensuring that all children make good progress throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). It is intended as guidance for leaders and managers to reflect on how best to review children?s learning and development in line with the principles of the EYFS framework. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

How hard federation can help your school

This guide outlines the key points of school federation. It highlights the potential benefits of entering into a hard federation, in particular how hard federation can provide a foundation for sustainable, long-term school collaboration. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Independent Review of the Primary Curriculum: Final Report

The overarching purpose of this Review is to put forward recommendations for what primary children should learn in a curriculum that is as good as it can be. It takes account of what is know about how learning is advanced in leading-edge schools through high-quality teaching. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

What I Can Do In Mathematics - Level 3

These worksheets accompany the Securing Level 3 in Mathematics booklet. They allow pupils to establish whether they are secure in the key areas of learning to reach level 3 in mathematics. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Beyond the e-safety net

These materials have been produced for teachers and subject leaders who deliver the ICT programme of study for Key Stages 3 and 4. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Primary London Challenge: An Introduction

This leaflet provides a summary of the programmes that have been developed to support local authorities and schools to drive improvements in the primary phase. The new London Challenge Primary programme was launched in April 2008 and is managed by the DCSF. It aims to build on and learn from the success of the London Challenge Secondary programme in offering fast and responsive support to schools and local authorities, to tackle underperformance and drive improvement. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Cyberbullying: Supporting School Staff

This publication builds on the Safe to Learn guidance, and provides information for employers of school staff, Local Authorities and governing bodies. It also offers advice for school staff about keeping themselves and their personal information safe. Staff in schools, as well as children and young people, may become targets of cyberbullying. Like other forms of bullying, cyberbullying can seriously impact on the health, well-being, and self-confidence of those targeted. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

My Money - Guide to the Child Trust Fund

This pack has been designed to help teachers introduce the idea of saving and the Child Trust Fund during PSHE time, as part of Numeracy activities, or as a discrete topic. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Breaking the link between disadvantage and low attainment

This document provides a summary of the international and national evidence of the link between deprivation and education. It highlights some of the good practice already shown by schools and LAs and signals future policy direction. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

New Ofsted publications for mathematics

Ofsted have recently published two booklets with the aim of helping teachers improve pupils? understanding of mathematics and give them confidence in using the subject in everyday life. Through practical examples, the content illustrates how teachers can make teaching more engaging and develop pupils? skills whatever their ability. The reports come in two versions: primary and secondary which are available to download from the Ofsted website.

Overcoming barriers in maths: helping children move from L1 to L2

This booklet and CD provide support and guidance on progression in mathematics across two levels. The booklet suggests how to use the 'Overcoming barriers' CD-based resource. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Securing level 4 in Mathematics

This booklet has been created to help schools ensure as many pupils as possible secure level 4 by the end of Key Stage 2. It identifies key areas of learning that children need to secure to attain level 4. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

ICT Assessing Pupils Progress at Key Stage 3 Materials

The APP approach supports teachers' assessment and their understanding of pupils' attainment and progress in each of these three linked aspects but it is particularly designed to strengthen periodic assessment. This pack contains materials that focus on the process of periodic assessment, and that refer to aspects of day-to-day practice that provide evidence for periodic assessment. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

What I Can Do in Mathematics

These worksheets accompany the Securing Level 4 in Mathematics booklet. They allow pupils to establish whether they are secure in the key areas of learning to reach level 4 in mathematics. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Making A Big Difference in the Early Years Foundation Stage

This publication provides a summary of the Making a Big Difference (MABD) Programme. It describes how the MABD strands work and explains the importance of audit and self-evaluation for MABD. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Next Steps for Early Learning and Childcare

This document outlines the next steps in the Government?s long-term vision to make early learning and childcare a truly world class and modern public service. It proposes a number of policies which they would like to explore further with families, the sector and other relevant stakeholders over the coming months. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

One-to-one tuition tool kit

This pack offers practical advice to support the planning and delivery of effective one-to-one tuition sessions. Two other key documents for developing one-to-one tuition are:

Guidance for tutors and

Guidance for Local Authorities and Schools.

Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Getting to Grips with Assessing Pupils' Progress (APP)

This guidance is designed to help school leaders and teachers implement Assessing Pupils' Progress. It gives advice and tips on how to use the materials, and signposts the resources available. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Teaching for Progression

These documents contain information from several publications from National Strategies, which have been updated with changes laid out in the renewed Secondary Framework for English. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Building Stronger Partnerships

This guide sets out how schools, colleges or other children's services can engage with employers to make a positive, sustained impact on children and young people, helping them in turn secure a place in further education and eventually a good job. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

The Play Strategy

The Play Strategy outlines the Government's long-term vision and actions to deliver safe, accessible and exciting play opportunities for all children. It builds on the widespread support for the proposals in our Fair Play consultation, and sets out the actions we are taking to support children's play, including investing in new play spaces and supporting local delivery partners. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

A School Report Card: consultation document

This joint consultation document, from the DCSF and Ofsted, starts an ongoing process of discussion about the content, design and use of the School Report Card, which aims to improve how schools? performance is reported to parents, communities and other stakeholders. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

The Independent Review of the Primary Curriculum: Interim Report

This report seeks to clarify issues, examine options and set out directions for fulfilling the remit of the Review. The overarching purpose of the Review is to put forward recommendations for what primary children should learn in a curriculum that is as good as it can be, taking account of what is know about how learning is advanced in leading edge schools through high quality teaching. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

What is a Children's Trust?

This document provides a brief summary explaining what Children?s Trusts are, what they do and how they are being strengthened to ensure they can play that role effectively. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Mathematics curriculum - subject leader development materials

This pack contains a flexible set of resources designed to help launch the new mathematics programme of study. The notes and materials represent a flexible set of resources that subject leaders can use with teachers in their department. It is vital that all teachers have the opportunity to see how the changes to the programmes of study in their subject are part of a wider approach to the Secondary Curriculum. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

English subject leader development materials

These materials are designed to accompany the Secondary National Strategy's English subject leader development days which Local Authorities (LAs) will be running each term. The strategy's aim is to keep English subject leaders up-to-date with the National Strategy, help them make best use of the extensive materials already published and support them in their crucial work of leading changes with colleagues in their department. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Science subject leader development materials

These materials are designed to accompany the Secondary National Strategy's science subject leader development days, which LAs will be running each term. he strategy's aim is to keep science subject leaders up-to-date with the National Strategy, help them make best use of the extensive materials already published and support them in their crucial work of leading changes with colleagues in their department. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Assessing pupils' progress in mathematics at Key Stage 3

This handbook focuses on the process of periodic assessment, and also refers to aspects of day-to-day practice that provide evidence for periodic assessment. It sets out the background and rationale for Assessing pupils? progress (APP) and is a necessary starting point for those planning to implement APP across the department. It does not deal directly with the process of transitional assessment. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Assessing pupils' progress in English at Key Stage 3

This handbook focuses on the process of periodic assessment, and also refers to aspects of day-to-day practice that provide evidence for periodic assessment. It sets out the background and rationale for Assessing pupils? progress (APP) and is a necessary starting point for those planning to implement APP across the department. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Delivering 14-19 Reform: The Next Steps

Delivering 14-19 Education: Next Steps is an update to the 14-19 Implementation Plan published in 2005. It brings together all the changes to 14-19 education in one place, looks at progress since 2005, and most importantly sets out the next steps and timetable to 2015 to ensure that all young people have the right learning opportunities and the right support to continue in education or training until at least the age of 18. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Personalised Learning - A Practical Guide

This publication was developed to support schools in implementing personalised learning and to help them move to a system based on progression, underpinned by assessment for learning, with relevant interventions such as one-to-one support. The guidance is designed to help school leaders, School Improvement Partners and teachers explore key aspects of personalised teaching and learning - such as target setting, focussed assessment and supporting children's wider needs - in an-easy-to-use-format which encourages the evaluation of priorities for further development. Further information and download instructions are provided on the Teachernet website.

Developing our future scientists in your school

The Developing our future scientists in your school pack contains four DVDs to help school senior leaders, science subject leaders and teachers promote science. This pack contains:

Progression in post-16 sciences;
Interactive teaching from level 6 and beyond;
Progressing to level 6 and beyond science;
and Analysing pupils' responses in GCSE science.

Further details are available on the Teachernet website.

Early Years Consultant's Handbook

This handbook offers some tools and information which early years consultants will find useful in carrying out this important role. A copy of the handbook can be downloaded from This can be downloaded from the Teachernet website.

A Framework for Learning: delivering achievement for all

This newly published booklet from the National Strategies is aimed at senior school leaders in secondary schools and provides details of a wide range of free, high quality development materials, support and advice on planning and pedagogy. A copy of the booklet can be downloaded from This can be downloaded from the Teachernet website.

Quality Standards for SEN Support and Outreach Services

SEN support and outreach services play a crucial role in helping to improve outcomes for young people with SEN and disabilities. This guidance sets out quality standards for all SEN support and outreach services working in early years settings, mainstream and special schools, and other provision. The standards can be applied across the full range of services provided. Specifically, the standards are designed to lead to improved outcomes for children and young people (CYP) with SEN and disabilities. They contribute directly to the achievement of the five Every Child Matters (ECM) outcomes for CYP. This can be downloaded from the Teachernet website.

A secondary mathematics planning toolkit

The secondary mathematics planning toolkit is designed to support subject leaders as they work with their departments to develop an effective scheme of work in mathematics. Documents organised in six main folders, to be used alongside the Framework for secondary mathematics. This version of the toolkit (summer 2008) supports planning to implement the new Key Stage 3 programmes of study over the period 2008?11. It also incorporates the Mathematics planning toolkit: Key Stage 4 as a support for planning for the higher tier of the two-tier GCSE. This can be downloaded from the Teachernet website.

It's child's play - Early Years Foundation Stage

This is a useful leaflet which provides an introduction to parents and carers about the new Early Years Foundation Stage framework, which is being introduced from September 2008. This can be downloaded from the Teachernet website.

The Bercow Report is published

The Bercow report is a review of services for children and young people (0 to 19) with speech, language and communication needs. It makes recommendations to Government on the steps it should take to transform this specialised provision. These recommendations are the culmination of ten months of extensive evidence gathering, analysis and consultation. Further details can be seen at Teachernet.

Information, leaflets and guides to The Diploma

This is a useful starting point for finding out more information about The Diploma. Recently, further leaflets have been published for:

Further details on the full range of publications about the Diploma can be found at Teachernet.

Early Years Foundation Stage - It's Child's Play

This useful publication is aimed at early years practitioners. It contains case studies and good examples of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in action. Further details can be found at Teachernet.

Shakespeare for all ages and stages

This booklet contains a suggested framework of opportunities and experiences, designed to help children and young people – regardless of their age, their stage of learning or their level of attainment – to make steady progress in their understanding and enjoyment of Shakespeare. Further details can be found at Teachernet.

The National Challenge for secondary schools

The National Challenge, launched on 10 June 2008, will support schools with the lowest GCSE results, so that by 2011 at least 30 per cent of pupils in every secondary school will leave with five or more good GCSEs, including English and mathematics. The aim is to focus greater attention, help and resources on schools that are currently below this benchmark, with funding of �400 million. A number of key documents can be downloaded from the DCSF website including the toolkit for schools and local authorities, the school improvement strategy and list of secondary schools.

Ofsted proposals for school inspections from Sept 2008

Ofsted have reviewed our arrangements for the inspection of schools to ensure they are coherent and well matched to the needs of the user and the quality of the service and that they develop our ability to target inspection where it will make the most difference. A consultation has been launched to gather views on proposals for more frequent inspections for schools that are inadequate or satisfactory, but not improving, and a longer interval for those judged good or outstanding. These have been developed after discussions with nearly 1,000 headteachers and other professionals, parents and pupil focus groups, the new approach will be piloted this year from the summer term and implemented in September 2009. The document can be downloaded from the Ofsted website where an online consultation can also be completed.

Listening to the voices of children and young people

This revised guidance looks at best practice from schools and local authorities across the country who have involved students in decisions which affect them, resulting in a positive impact on local schools and communities. It also provides advice on the principles and practice that support such involvement. Further details can be found at Teachernet.

Generating, shaping and developing ideas in writing

This document provides a new model of working with practitioners to develop practical classroom strategies which are underpinned by current educational research. It also provides a theoretical and historical rationale for focusing attention on speaking and writing. Further details can be found at Teachernet.

Every Child a Reader (ECaR) toolkit

Every Child a Reader forms a key aspect of the Every Child Matters and Personalisation agendas and has the potential to be pivotal to the LA strategy for early intervention. This toolkit provides resources and guidance for local authorities. Further details can be found at Teachernet.

Developing assessment for learning in mathematics

This is the title of a new booklet and an accompanying DVD to capture and present a range of developments in assessment for learning practice in a number of schools. Further details can be found at Teachernet.

Safer Children in a Digital World: The Report of the Byron Review

This report follows a review of the risks to children from exposure to potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the internet and in video games. It also aims to assess the effectiveness and adequacy of existing measures to help prevent children being exposed to such material and help parents understand and manage the risks of access to inappropriate content, and finally to make recommendations for improvements or additional action. Further details can be found at Teachernet.

Overcoming barriers in maths - moving from level 2 to level 3

This publication contains materials designed to assist teachers in ensuring that Year 3 and 4 children progress from level 2 to 3 by the end of Year 4. Further details can be found at Teachernet.

Helping children with mathematics: Year 5 to Year 6

These resources are designed to help parents support children with learning mathematics, towards the end of Year 5 or the start of Year 6. It contains 12 separate maths topics, with real-life examples and interesting facts. Further details can be found at Teachernet.

Promoting achievement, valuing success 14-19

This Green Paper sets out proposals to simplify the qualifications system for 14-19-year-olds and asks for views on the proposals. It outlines the plans for incorporating existing qualifications into four key national qualification structures, building on advice received from a group of independent experts. This document is available to download from Teachernet.

Making Good Progress at Key Stage 3

This newly published pack contains a copy of each of the reports: 'Accelerating the progress of pupils in English, mathematics or science in Key Stage 3 (improving pupil progression from Level 3 to Level 5)?, 'Accelerating the progress of able pupils in English, mathematics or science in Key Stage 3 (improving pupil progression from Level 5 to Level 7)? and ?Getting back on track ? pupils who make slow progress in English, mathematics and science in Key Stage 3 (improving progression from Level 4 to Level 5)?. The pack includes summary leaflets; a CD/DVD-Rom with multimedia resources; and other resources which draw on evidence obtained from the pupils who were making, or had made, particularly good progress. Further details can be found at Teachernet.

Making Good Progress at Key Stage 3 English

This resource is designed to help teachers personalise their classroom teaching to the needs of specific groups of pupils who are not progressing as they should in Key Stage 3 English, so that no pupil gets left behind. The leaflet summarises the finding of the investigations and identifies some actions that can be taken to remove the barriers to progress. Teachers are encouraged to consider the findings of the work in the context of their own school and their own pupils, to see if the suggested actions are relevant.You can download this document at TeacherNet.

Making Good Progress at Key Stage 3 Mathematics

This resource is designed to help teachers personalise their classroom teaching to the needs of specific groups of pupils who are not progressing as they should in Key Stage 3 maths, so that no pupil gets left behind. The leaflet summarises the finding of the investigations and identifies some actions that can be taken to remove the barriers to progress. Teachers are encouraged to consider the findings of the work in the context of their own school and their own pupils, to see if the suggested actions are relevant.You can download this document at TeacherNet.

Making Good Progress at Key Stage 3 Science

This resource is designed to help teachers personalise their classroom teaching to the needs of specific groups of pupils who are not progressing as they should in Key Stage 3 science, so that no pupil gets left behind. The leaflet summarises the finding of the investigations and identifies some actions that can be taken to remove the barriers to progress. Teachers are encouraged to consider the findings of the work in the context of their own school and their own pupils, to see if the suggested actions are relevant.You can download this document at TeacherNet.

Young People: Leading Change

This new document celebrates inspirational examples of young people acting to secure better services, campaigning for change, reaching out to the most vulnerable and bringing people together to promote understanding and build stronger and aspirational communities. You can download this document at TeacherNet.

Friday, 12th March 2010

Russell Educational Consultancy and Productions