Dear Colleagues,
Below is some news information from EQUALS. Last updated: February 2010
| EQUALS Summer Conference |
Summer Conference
• Following feedback from last year's Target Setting Conference, EQUALS next annual national conference is 'Assessment for Learning for Pupils with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities, and will take place on Friday 25th June 2010 in London.
We will be running up to 10 workshops in the afternoon in relation to the topic of Assessment for Learning.
We will publish more information about this conference as it becomes available.
| New Developments from EQUALS |
Literacy
• A team is currently writing new materials for Literacy. It is hoped these will be available to purchase later 2010.
Global Dimension and Sustainable Development
Cross-curriculum dimensions - Key Stage 3
• A team is currently developing some new materials for one cross-curriculum dimension. The cross-curriculum dimensions reflect some of the major ideas and challenges that face individuals and society, and help make learning real and relevant. The dimensions are unifying areas of learning that span the curriculum and help young people make sense of the world. They are not curriculum subjects, but are crucial aspects of learning that should permeate the curriculum and the life of a school.
Understanding the Arts/Creativity
• A team is currently looking at developing new materials for Creativity. EQUALS will keep members/web site users updated if there are any further developments.
Every Child Matters
• EQUALS has cross-referenced the 5 ECM outcomes against EQUALS Schemes of Work. This information will be published and available to members and website users approx March 2010.
Moving On
• An easy to use, flexible, all-inclusive curriculum and assessment package for 14-19 year old students with learning difficulties. It is appropriate for students with a range of complex learning challenges.
º a curriculum for celebrating achievement that supports assessment for Entry 1 qualifications
º a resource for Foundation Learning Programmes
º a personalised learning approach
º a national support network of teachers
º a national accreditation scheme
Coming Soon
New materials for Moving On - 14-19 EsSENtials
• 'Globetrotter' and 'Voyager' - two new one year programmes for Moving On
• Also there will be updated versions of 'Adventurer', 'Explorer' and 'Traveller' - the three existing Moving On one year programmes.
• Also new materials for Functional Skills and Sex and Relationships Education
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| The EQUALS Guide to Teaching Mathematics Supporting access for pupils working towards the National Curriculum Published 2009 |
• New materials for Mathematics from EQUALS
Including teaching pupils at the earliest levels of development
Special Schools and other settings that provide for pupils with special needs vary so much in their population, both in the nature of pupils needs and their ages. There is material in this guide that will help schools develop schemes to match their own circumstances.
The guide includes five sections four of which are printed as booklets. The fifth section is a very extensive collection of examples relating P scales to the strands of mathematics which are used by the Primary Framework and the EYFS is included on CD. The CD also includes a number of useful appendices that draw different parts of the guide together into documents useful for particular purposes, and a glossary.
Autumn Term - Best Practice Workshop
• Access to Mathematics for Pupils with Very Special Needs
Friday 8th October 2010
Les Staves, Independent Consultant.
click here to read more>>>
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| EQUALS Key Skills Framework |
• EQUALS Key Skills Framework
EYFS & Key Stages 1-3
A new key skills framework has been written by EQUALS. This guidance has been written to support the work of senior leaders, subject coordinators, SENCOs, class teachers, teaching assistants in schools/colleges and Local Authority support services.
• Introduction
• Examples of curriculum policies and
frameworks and useful weblinks
• Examples of school planning
• Pupil progress in relation to Key Skills
• Personalised learning
• Active Content Section
click here to read more>>>
Summer Term - Best Practice Workshop
• Key Skills - Priorities for Lifelong Learning
Friday 11th June 2010
Lesley Bush, Head Teacher, Crownbridge School, Wales.
click here to read more>>>
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| P Scales & Target Setting |
• EQUALS Target Setting Project 09/10
Schools are invited to submit data on an annual basis to the Curriculum Evaluation and Management Centre at Durham University, using the EQUALS PACE2 scheme to assess their pupils in the subjects of English, Maths, Science and PSHE and Citizenship.
click here to read more>>>
• EQUALS feedback 08/09
For those schools that submitted data 08/09 year, the analysis of the 08/09 data has been completed by Durham University and the feedback processed.
• Progression Guidance Project
EQUALS are also responding to the new initiative with regards to the P Scales such as the Progression Guidance Project from the DCSF and have been asked to share their eight years of data with the DCSF. EQUALS hosted a summer conference on the 10th July 2009 on target setting following the planned release of the SEN Progression Guidance and RAISE online project.
The aims of the project are to ensure:
1. High expectations are key to securing good progress.
2. Age and prior attainment are used to inform expectations of pupil progress.
3. Moderation is key to reliable teacher assessment.
Finally, in light of the Progression Guidance Project EQUALS will be working to ensure that its materials and data keep up with the requirements of the project and that it assists schools to gain a clear picture of what P Scale progress look like in your schools for your pupils.
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| | Best Practice Workshops |
Spring Term 2010
• Confident Parenting
Thursday 11th March 2010
National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Regent's Wharf, 8 All Saints Street, London, N1 9RL.
Dr Annette Hames and Chris Rollings
click here to read more>>>
• Physcial Education - An Introduction to Sherborne Developmental Movement - Certificate 1
Thursday 25th March 2010
Fairfields School, Trinity Avenue, Northampton, NN2 6JN
Stephen Cullingford-Agnew
click here to read more>>>
Summer Term 2010
• I.C.T. and the Very Special Learner
Friday 7th May 2010, National Centre for Early Music, St Margaret's Church, Walmgate, York, YO1 9TL.
Carol Allen, Advisory Teacher, I.C.T. & SEN, North Tyneside LA
Ian Bean, Information Manager, Inclusive Technology Ltd.
click here to read more>>>
• A PMLD Curriculum for the 21st Century
Friday 14th May 2010, The University of Manchester, Harwood Room (Barnes Wallis Building), Altrincham Street, Manchester, M1 7JR.
Peter Imray, Head of the Bridge School Training and Consultancy Service.
click here to read more>>>
• Key Skills - Priorities for Lifelong Learning
Friday 11th June 2010
Lesley Bush, Head Teacher, Crownbridge School, Wales.
click here to read more>>>
Autumn Term
• Access to Mathematics for Pupils with Very Special Needs
Friday 8th October 2010
Les Staves, Independent Consultant.
click here to read more>>>
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• EQUAL Moving On Scheme 2009/10 - Register Now!
Schools adopting this scheme will be able to receive accreditation that will be awarded by EQUALS. This is assessed against clear standards that relate to national norms such as the P Levels. There is no minimum number of units for which the student may be entered in any one year. Support advisors/moderators co-ordinate a regional network for training and external moderation.click here to read more>>>
Moving On - Coming Soon
New materials for 14-19 EsSENtials
• 'Globetrotter' and 'Voyager' - two new one year programmes for Moving On
• Also there will be updated versions of 'Adventurer', 'Explorer' and 'Traveller' - the three existing Moving On one year programmes.
• Also new materials for Functional Skills and Sex and Relationships Education
• Guidance, including units.
• AQA Key Skills CD
• Free student planner
EQUALS in association with the AQA Unit Award Scheme have produced Key Skills units linked to 14-19 EsSENtials resources (including Moving On, Literacy and Numeracy and Key Stage 4 Schemes of Work). The units are designed for students with PMLD, SLD, MLD at Key Stage 4 and Post 16. The Key Skills units are designed to be used with Student Planners for recording progress and collecting evidence.
click here to read more>>>
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• Welsh language dyslexic help call
The level of support for dyslexic children in the welsh language has come under fire from assembly members.
click here to read more>>>
• Rose Review of primary curriculum published
"Most fundamental review of the primary curriculum in a decade"
click here to read more>>>
• Autistic Traits 'spread widely'
Many children have mild autistic "symptoms" without ever having enough problems to attract specialist attention, say UK researchers. The Institute of Child Health team says diagnosed children have severe versions of character traits probably shared by millions of others. The 8,000 child study found even these mild traits could impair development.
click here to read more>>>
• Schools plan 'boost parent power'
Parents in England could get the power to force councils to improve the quality of local schools under new plans to be announced by Gordon Brown.
click here to read more>>>
• Genes 'have key role in autism'
Scientists have produced the most compelling evidence to date that genetics play a key role in autism. They highlighted tiny genetic changes that appear to have a strong impact on the likelihood of developing autism and related conditions.
click here to read more>>>
If you have any queries about any of the items above, please ring the EQUALS office on 0191 272 8600 or email admin@equalsoffice.co.uk
Kind Regards
Paul Buskin
Operations Manager
EQUALS