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Care referrals reach record high
The number of children referred into care in England hits a record high, after rising steadily in the years since the notorious Baby P case.
Outstanding schools face review
A quarter of all schools in England rated outstanding by Ofsted will be re-examined because their teaching did not reach the highest standard, the new chief inspector will reveal.
British Council director calls for 'urgent review' of visa policy
The organisation charged with promoting British education overseas has rounded on the government over its student-visa changes, calling for an "urgent review" of the policy to avert damage to the economy and the possible closure of university...
The power of cooking skills
How letting children cook helps them eat better
Unversity-led PGCEs under threat
University-based training courses for secondary school teachers are facing an uncertain future, after hundreds were identified as "potentially unviable".
Good practice resource - Providing a place for children to talk
Many children enter early years settings with limited communication skills. This provider describes how she has successfully created a stimulating environment to encourage them to talk.
Good practice resource - Supporting language development
On a freezing winter’s morning, the childminder works with one child aged three with additional educational needs to develop her speech through investigating together what happens when water freezes and thaws. The work is part of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and takes place initially outdoors. A few months later the child’s progress is reviewed through an indoor activity using the same theme.
Good practice resource - Making the most of the local natural environment to support all round development of young children
The woodland walks and ‘forest school’ provide opportunities for children to take part in both planned and spontaneous activities that benefit all areas of learning. Children are learning to share and play together, they are stimulated to talk and ask questions, to problem-solve and learn about the natural world around them. They are developing their physical skills and learning how to manage risks in an environment that gives them freedom to explore and use their senses.
Good practice resource - Three of 24 ways for children to succeed in the Early Years Foundation Stage
This school regularly adapts planning and provision to reflect the changing interests and needs of the Nursery and Reception year children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The staff identify 24 facets of how their approach fosters and builds on progress, especially for boys.
VIDEO: More primary school places needed
Figures from the Department of Education suggest that more than 450,000 extra primary school places will be needed by September 2015.
Funding and Consultations
Update - Issue 94
ssue 94 of 'Update', our weekly round-up of business-critical information and news for the sector.
Abolition of Aircraft & Shipbuilding Industries Arbitration Tribunal
Update Issue 93
Issue 93 of 'Update', our weekly round up of business critical information and news for the sector.
JISC Grant Funding 01/12: Digital Infrastructure Programme
JISC invites institutions to submit funding proposals for projects to help institutions and the HE sector as a whole develop their digital infrastructure, in particular those parts of the infrastructure concerned with research data management, research tools, research vocabularies relevant to specific disciplines, research information management, information and library infrastructure, and access and identity management.
 Programme
 Description
 Funds and Timescale
Managing Research Data: Innovative Data Publication      Â
Projects to design and implement innovative technical models and organisational partnerships to encourage and enable publication of research data.
Total funding of up to £320,000 for 2-4 projects of between £80,000 and £200,000 per project.
Jun 2012 – Jul 2013.
Managing Research Data: Scoping a Service to Collate and Summarise Journal Research Data Policies
 Feasibility study (augmented with the development of a pilot demonstrator and the analysis of a range of possible business models) for a potential service to provide knowledge of - and a ready source of information covering - the journal policy landscape for research data.   Â
Total funding of up to £90,000 for one project June-Nov 2012
Managing Research Data: Research Data Management Training Materials
 Projects to design, pilot and test training materials for research data management adapted for the needs of:
- Discipline-focussed post-graduate courses.
- Discipline liaison librarians.
- Research support roles, including dedicated data managers.
Total funding of up to £300,000 for 5-8 projects of between £30,000 and £60,000 each. June 2012-April 2013
Managing Research Data: Training Materials Support and Synthesis Role   Â
A support project for the above activity, to assist projects in following best practice, ensure reusability, engage stakeholders and synthesis outcomes.   Â
 Total funding of up to £80,000 for one project. June 2012-July 2013.
Research Tools: Emerging Research Tools       Â
Emergent and novel hardware and software tools and techniques, particularly projects which will identify future trends and disruptive technologies.   Â
Total funding of up to £400,000 for 3-5 projects of between £75,000 and £160,000 each. June 2012-March 2013   Â
Research Tools - Facilitating Research Communications   Â
Advanced tools facilitating communications during the research process, for example within research communities, between research peers, engagement with wider audiences such as the general public.   Â
Total funding of up to £200,000 for up to 3 projects of up to £100,000 each. June 2012-March 2013
Research Tools - Projects to Develop Sustainable and Open Vocabularies for Research and Information Management   Â
Projects to build upon existing vocabularies that support academic disciplines, to develop exemplars demonstrating the support of the semantics of a discipline.   Â
Total funding of up to £300,000 for up to 5 projects of up to £70,000 each. June 2012-Jan 2013
Research Tools - Synthesis Project Focused on Sustainable and Open Vocabularies for Research and Information Management   Â
A project to synthesise lessons from the enhancement of research vocabularies, and ensure that those lessons and best practice are made available to guide others in similar endeavours.   Â
Total funding of up to £50,000 for one project. June 2012-March 2013
Research Information Management -Â Rapid Innovation
Projects to lower the barriers to the adoption of CERIF in the sector, thereby allowing institutions to streamline and lower the cost of managing their research activities.   Â
Total funding of up to £240,000 for up to 8 projects of up to £30,000 each. June -November 2012.
Library Systems (Information and Library Infrastructure) - Synthesis and Scoping Project
A project to provide a new vision for the future of library systems and a 'roadmap' for the delivery of that vision.   Â
Funding of up to £85,000 for one project. June - December 2012
Library Systems (Information and Library Infrastructure) - Pathfinder Projects
Pathfinder projects to investigate a broad range of potential new models and approaches to library systems and services.   Â
Total funding of up to £250,000 for up to 10 projects of £20,000-£40,000 each. June-December 2012
Access and Identity Management - Future Directions   Â
Projects to embed Access and Identity Management related outputs and help build communities using these tools.
Total funding of up to £250,000 for 5-10 projects between £20,000 and £40,000 each.
Access and Identity Management - Raptor Evaluation
Projects to evaluate Raptor.
Total funding of up to £50,000 is available for 3-5 projects at £10,000-£20,000 each
Access and Identity Management
Identity Management Toolkit Case Studies.
Total funding of up to £75,000 is available for 2-3 projects at £25,000-£50,000 each.
The deadline for receipt of proposals in response to this call is 12:00 noon UK time on 16 March 2012.
Eligibility
Proposals may be submitted by HE institutions funded via HEFCE, SFC, HEFCW and DEL Northern Ireland, and by FE institutions funded via BIS, SFC, DFES Wales and DEL Northern Ireland.
With regard to bids from Scottish institutions, SFC has applied a significant budget cut to JISC in 2011-12 AY. Following consultation with Scottish institutions, SFC has requested that the impact of this budget cut falls on the number of innovation projects JISC is able to fund at Scottish institutions, rather than to cut or increase charges for national services, such as JANET, JISC Collections and JISC Advance. Whilst Scottish institutions therefore remain eligible to bid for project funding in response to this call, depending on the quality of the submissions, JISC may need to limit the number of projects awarded to Scottish institutions.
Proposals may be from single institutions or consortia unless indicated otherwise in the relevant call. Partnership arrangements may be developed outside the sector (for example with research council sites, publishers, commercial suppliers), but the lead partner must meet the criteria outlined above. Funds can only be allocated through the lead partner.
Update - Issue 92
Issue 92 of 'Update', our weekly round-up of business-critical information and news for the sector.
Update - Issue 91
Issue 91 of 'Update', our weekly round-up of business-critical information and news for the sector.
Proposals to Align Nine Directives with the New Legislative Framework: Consultation
This consultation seeks your views on the European Commission’s Proposals to align a package of nine Directives to the New Legislative Framework.
Update - Issue 90
Issue 90 of 'Update', our weekly round-up of business-critical information and news for the sector.
Update - Issue 89
Issue 89 of 'Update', our weekly round up of business critical information and news for the sector.
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