French Parents Boycott Homework

“Children would be better off reading a book rather than doing tasks at home which are useless and tiring, says group”.

“A group of French parents and teachers have called for a two-week boycott of homework in school, saying it is useless, tiring and reinforces inequalities between children”.

Read more here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/26/french-parents-boycott-homework

Image : the guardian.co.uk

Debate on Exclusion Continues

“The School Exclusions Inquiry report published yesterday says that exclusions are being used too freely. Almost 6,000 children were expelled from state schools in England in 2010/11.

Are teachers too ready to expel or exclude pupils for minor offences like flouting school uniform rules or dying their hair?

Or do you believe teachers need more help in excluding badly behaved pupils?

Perhaps you agree with today’s editorial in the Daily Mail which says the Commissioner’s report is misguided, and it hopes Michael Gove throws it – and I quote – straight into the Whitehall bin”.

Listen to the debate on You & Yours, Radio 4:

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01dhrmn/You_and_Yours_Call_You_and_Yours_Curbing_the_number_of_pupils_who_are_expelled_from_school/

Schools ‘illegally excluding pupils’

“Some schools in England are illegally excluding pupils, sometimes permanently, without going through the full formal process, a report says.

England’s children’s commissioner Dr Maggie Atkinson heard some pupils were moved to other schools or sent home without an exclusion being recorded.

Most schools tried to hold on to troubled pupils, she said, but a minority excluded on “a whim”.

The Department for Education said unofficial exclusions were unlawful”.

Read More Here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17404382

 Image: bbc.co.uk

Ofsted want your opinion

Ofsted now have a ‘Parent View’ page:

http://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/

“Parent View gives you the chance to tell us what you think about your child’s school.

Parent View asks for your opinion on 12 aspects of your child’s school, from the quality of teaching, to dealing with bullying and poor behaviour. We will use the information you provide when making decisions about which schools to inspect, and when.

By sharing your views, you’ll be helping your child’s school to improve. You will also be able to see what other parents have said about your child’s school. Or, if you want to, view the results for any school in England”.

Please note that Parent View does not currently include independent schools.

Colouring & Fun online

Do you use Microsoft Office?

If you do, you can access lots of book covers, flashcards & coloring activity pages here:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/CT010352535.aspx

Nick Clegg defends government policy

All three UK party leaders are being grilled by students, beginning today, on the BBC’s “School Report project”.

Mr Clegg’s interview was broadcast on Radio 4′s The World at One Today, and the other leader interviews will follow on subsequent programmes. Listen to the interview here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport/17303314

“Khadija from Copland Community School in Middlesex said her school was in a state of disrepair, with “cracks in the walls covered by paper”, and asked what Mr Clegg was going to do about it.

He admitted the scrapping of the Building Schools for the Future programme had been “controversial”, but said money being put into schools was being “dramatically increasing” through the Pupil Premium and in addition billions of pounds would go to improving school buildings and surroundings”.

 

 

 

 

 

Image: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport/17303314

Are you worried that your child is falling behind?

If you feel that your child is having difficulties at school, you don’t know what questions to ask, or your questions have not been answered,  Get help from:

Hernhill Parent Support Advisor

From first steps to formal letters, find the information here:

http://hernhillparentsupportadvisor.wordpress.com/falling-behind-2/

 

KCC E-Safety Leaflet Available Here

“The Internet has become part of our everyday lives and is now easier to access then ever before.

Use of the Internet can also have risks. Young people are more at risk of exposure to inappropriate or criminal behaviour if they are unaware of the dangers.

These dangers include:

• viewing unsuitable content e.g. hate material, adult content, sites that endorse unhealthy behaviour
• giving out personal information
• arranging to meet an online ‘friend’
• becoming involved in, or the victim of, bullying, identity theft, or making and sending indecent or illegal images
• spending too much time online (internet addiction), which can effect concentration, sleep and health
• copying information from the Internet or buying work from other people to use as their own”.

Learn more about E-Safety – download the KCC Information for Parents of Primary School Children Leaflet Here

https://shareweb.kent.gov.uk/Documents/childrens-social-services/protecting-children/E-safety/e-safety-children.pdf

 

Why do we need maths?

“It gives us fun things to play with, for a start”

“From protecting ourselves against useless insurance plans to creating computer games, numeracy is essential for our society.”

Read more here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/mar/02/why-do-we-need-maths

New website for parental advice and support

Thanks to a local parent, there’s a new website for local parents, the Hernhill Parent Support Advisor, offering the following services:

• helping parents to understand school policy & procedure
• helping parents understand the SEN framework
• putting parents in touch with the right professional support services
• going to meetings with the school and taking notes / providing support

The website provides links to useful resources, leaflets and guidance for parents on an number of issues including local services in Kent, and looks set to become an important and valuable resource in itself

Visit the new website here, or contact the advisor here.

A permanent link to the new site is now located in the ‘Local links’ section on the lower-right-hand side of this website. Please show your support for this new resources by ‘Liking’ it on Facebook, and spread the word!