Anti-bullying hub
Anti-bullying charity Ditch the Label has launched an “online support hub” for schools and is offering free education packs. The hub offers advice and support for young people who are experiencing bullying, hate crime, or associated problems such as issues with mental health or body image. To mark the launch, 500 copies of the charity’s education packs are being given away (normal price £125). Visit: www.ditchthelabel.org/educationpacks/
Dyslexia training
October 3 to 7 is Dyslexia Awareness Week and the theme this year is “Identifying Dyslexia”. A range of activities will be taking place across the UK and schools are being reminded that charities Dyslexia Action and the British Dyslexia Association are offering free government-funded training this term to help teachers and support staff understand, identify and support children with dyslexia. Visit: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/fundraising/dyslexia-awareness-week
Mental health
Children in low-income families with multiple debts are at a far higher risk of mental health problems, research for the Children’s Society has warned. Its report – The Damage of Debt – finds that the more different types of debt a family has, the worse a child’s mental health is likely to be. There are an estimated 2.4 million children in England and Wales living in households with problem debt. Visit: http://bit.ly/2dltwRl
Everest classroom
Two British explorers are aiming to connect with more than one million students via live stream from the slopes of Mount Everest. Mark Wood and Matt Dickinson will attempt to summit the 8,848-metre mountain in March during a 72-day mission and are currently recruiting 8,848 schools to take part in the broadcasts. An education programme is being created based around exploration, climate change and our planet. Schools can register now for the free initiative. Visit: www.mission8848.com/education
Supply teachers
Sixty-three per cent of teachers feel pressurised to spend their own money on school supplies for their students, a poll has found. Thirty per cent of 500 teachers polled by Staples said they spend between £41 and £80 in a single term. One in five spend up to £100. This equates to £3 million a year across the country. The teachers report that around three-quarters of pupils are coming to lessons unprepared.
The Knowledge
A group of educationalists, teachers and school leaders have launched a campaign promoting a knowledge-based curriculum among other policies. Parents and Teachers for Excellence has four core principles: a knowledge-based curricula, regular and rigorous assessment, enrichment through a longer school day, and the need for effective behaviour policies. Visit: http://parentsandteachers.org.uk/