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Balerno bookworms scoop top
prize for ScottishPower reading challenge. See In the news for more.
Welcome to the
Children and Families Newsletter
This newsletter
is published every two
weeks for staff in the Children and Families Department. It is available online at the Edinburgh Grid for
Learning at http://egfl.net
Send
me your stories
If
you have anything you would like to see featured in the Children and
Families Newsletter please email me, gayle.st.croix@educ.edin.gov.uk or
call 0131 469 3429 with your news.
You can also fax 0131 469 3398 or mail
your story to me, Gayle St. Croix at Level 5, Wellington Court, 10
Waterloo Place, Edinburgh EH1 3EG.
In
the news
Major recruitment drive to attract more carers for Edinburgh's children
The City of Edinburgh Council
launched a major recruitment campaign this week to increase the number
of carers for children and young people in Edinburgh. Previous campaigns
have attracted more than 1,000 enquiries, which has helped enormously
towards finding much needed carers in the city.
There are currently 40
children waiting for a foster carer and 20 children waiting to be
adopted in Edinburgh. Other kinds of carers required are day and respite
carers who can help keep children in their own families where that is
the best thing for the child.
There are around 850 children currently being cared for across the city,
and to increase this number, the campaign has been designed to reach
people from all walks of life.
It is hoped the new
advertisements will attract the attention of adults aged 20s to 50s,
male or female, homeowners or those who rent, people who are single,
married or living with a partner and those from all ethnic backgrounds.
Full time caring can provide an adequate income and unemployed people
are welcome to apply. The Council has received a grant from the European
Social Fund to attract and help unemployed people to become carers
through the Capital City Carer scheme. Full
story.
Balerno bookworms scoop
top prize for reading challenge
Children from Dean Park Primary
in Balerno have beaten hundreds of other pupils to win the
first ever Read for the Future challenge supported by ScottishPower and
Friends of the Earth Scotland.
The P7 children ploughed their way
through 400 copies of JK Rowling, Roald Dahl and Jacqueline Wilson,
raising over £500 for a green project run by Friends of the Earth and
scooping a £500 renewable energy educational tool for their school.
They were presented with an S-Cube,
a complete renewable energy package that explores how wind and solar
energy is produced, by Alison McKean, Head of Environment at
ScottishPower and Stuart Hay Head of Research at Friends of the Earth
Scotland. Read more.
They were among more than 1000 children
in Glasgow and Edinburgh who took part in the challenge to improve their
reading skills and save energy by switching off their televisions,
computer games and videos and reading a book instead.
Inspectors commend Dalry
school successes
Following a recent inspection
of Dalry Primary School, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education
praised the inclusive and welcoming ethos which celebrates and values
diversity within the school community.
The inspection team commented
that pupils enjoy being at school and get on well with others. This is
just some of the positive feedback in the HMIE inspectors report
published on 21 February 2006. To see more, visit the News
page.
Gala performance celebrates the end of Composer Laureate for Schools
project
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s
flagship project culminates later this
month with a gala performance and the world premiere of a new piece
composed by SCO Composer Laureate for Schools Rory Boyle (Usher Hall,
Thursday 30 March, 7.30pm).
This piece, conducted by Nicholas Kraemer, sees the SCO join forces with
eighty young musicians from the Edinburgh Secondary Schools Orchestra (ESSO),
for Boyle’s third and final composition for the project, Six Shades
of Blue. See the
full story here.
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What
do they do?
Early Years and Childcare Strategic
Planning Team
The former Early Years and
Childcare Partnership teams have just been brought together following an
internal review process. This new, centrally-based, early years and
childcare team will focus on developing and driving forward policy and
practice and support and strengthen the neighbourhood delivery of these
services in line with the commitment the Department has made to enhanced
local management and service delivery arrangements over the next two
years.
It will also ensure that
we address early years and childcare issues which have a citywide impact
and relevance in a consistent and coherent manner and in so doing make
the best use of the available resources for this work.
Comprising staff formerly in Early
Years and the Childcare Partnership, this new team (to be based in 17
Waterloo Place) brings together a strong group of admin, database and
information workers (Sue, Eileen, Gitana and Alison) and officers (John,
Kerry and Molly) currently focusing on Inclusion, 0-3s, Workforce
Development, Partner Provider support and development and Childcare and
Regeneration issues.
We’re also lucky to have Patti helping us to develop a revised
strategy for workforce development to meet the new registration
requirements of the Scottish Social Services Council. The team also
includes Rebecca and Sheila, Childcare Mentors funded through Capital
City Partnership to develop services around advice and support to
families trying to access childcare and employment and a Learning
Advisor Sue. There is still a vacancy for a Principal Officer to manage
and support this team but hopefully that position will soon be
advertised and filled!
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Upcoming
events
Keeping
your child safe - drugs awareness
As part of their
successful Saturday morning programme, the West Edinburgh Community
Learning Partnership has organised this information session for parents.
The event is running on Saturday
11 March from 11am - noon in Wester Hailes Library Community Room.
This session will be presented by Lothian & Border's Police
Community Safety Unit.
As
well as a DVD presentation, this session offers:
·
an opportunity for parents to see the different types of
drugs available
·
information about the effects that each drug has
·
advice on how to spot the tell tale signs of drug use
·
background about the current trends in
Edinburgh
·
a range of information booklets
·
you the chance to ask questions or raise any concerns
Places
on this session can be booked in advance by contacting Anne or Agnes on
0131 458 5959.
Top paralympic athlete to
open Mobility Roadshow Scotland
World renowned paralympic
athlete, Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, will visit Edinburgh on 5 April to
officially open the Mobility Roadshow Scotland that takes place at the
Royal Highland Centre near Edinburgh on 5 and 6 April 2006. HRH The Duke
of Gloucester will also visit on the first day.
This roadshow is a rare
opportunity for disabled people, their families and carers to try out in
a ‘no pressure’ environment a wide range of vehicles fitted with
adaptations and to receive impartial advice on hundreds of mobility
aids.
Test drives can be
pre-booked on www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk
Already Chevrolet, SAAB, Vauxhall and VW have signed up, with others to
be confirmed.
As well as the latest
adapted cars, you’ll find motor homes, wheelchairs, scooters,
pushchairs, tricycles, hand controls and other adaptations, seating and
harness systems, hoists, ramps, lifts, insurance, clothing, exercise
equipment, hotel and leisure groups and specialist products for
children. A number of organisations will be there to offer advice on
support, community services and benefits.
With food court, fully
staffed crèche, fun and entertainment for young visitors, it’s a
great day out for all the family. Entry, parking and show guide are all
free and sign language interpreters and free wheelchair and scooter
loans will help you get around.
Find out more by calling
the Mobility Roadshow office on 0845 241 0390 or visit www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk
GO4IT Easter 2006
GO4IT is back this year with another exciting programme of activities
for young people in their first year of secondary school up to those
aged 18. The programme runs from 3 - 13 April. New activities this
year include surfing, sailing, Canadian canoeing, animation, origami and
trampolining.
Those who like the outdoors can test themselves on the rapids of the
River Tay with white water rafting; or develop their mountain biking
skills on some of the country’s best trails. You can also hang out
with The Green Team and learn how to make a fire without matches, build
a shelter and make rope from plants.
GO4IT 2006 also offers young people the chance to get active with sports
activities, make pizza with the masters at Pizza Express, master the art
of video production, care for animals at the Edinburgh Zoo or scuba dive
in the warmth of an indoor swimming pool.
The Easter GO4IT brochures are available in schools, libraries,
community centres and leisure centres as well as on www.go4itedinburgh.com
You can start booking places from 6 March.
GO4IT is aimed at people of all abilities. If you have additional
support needs we will try to ensure that, where possible, your
individual needs are met.
For further information
contact 0131 550 6824.
Fair trade event at
St John's Primary School
St John's PS are holding a special assembly on Friday 10 March to
promote awareness of Fair Trade products within the school community.
The school's links with
Fair Trade go back to 1999 and a friendship they developed with a
primary school in Legho village, Tanzania. The school has even created a
Legho club to promote their international links.
The main cash crop for Legho villagers is coffee so Fair Trade is an
important issue for Legho club.
This is the school's third year taking
part in this event and will feature drama, songs, poetry and art work.
There will also be a wide selection of fair trade goodies to sample.
A call for case studies for the
Seen and Heard Awards 2006
The Seen and Heard Awards are a
key part of BT’s ‘Am I Listening?’ campaign, which aim to ensure
that the voices of all young people are being heard and acted upon.
One of the ways they
help young people do this is by identifying and honouring those who have
already made their voices heard and effected real change.
Speak up
Every day, thousands of young people, individually or together,
speak out to make a better world. Perhaps they are solving social
problems, launching a new community initiative, or just helping others
to make a difference. And every day, adults are listening to these young
people, helping them to effect real change.
Does this sound like
anyone you know?
Tell us about the young people you know who have made a real
difference to the world around them. If a story is
inspiring enough to win a Seen and Heard Award, it will appear on the
campaign website for all to see.
This year we are also
recognising adults who have effectively listened to young people and
acted upon what they heard, particularly in a way that has improved a
product or service.
For story application
forms and extra information, visit www.btplc.com/listening
or email deb.ain@corporateculture.co.uk
or nicola.flack@corporateculture.co.uk.
For more on the ‘Am I Listening?’ campaign, and to view previous
examples of Seen and Heard award winners, go to www.btplc.com/listening.
For tips and tools to help you tell your story, go to www.bteducation.org.
The final deadline for
submissions is Friday 31 March 2006.
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Success
stories
Teen author has impact on young readers
Author Catherine Webb recently came to St
Thomas of Aquin’s High School to talk to a first year class about her
new book ‘The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle’.
The young author has made a
big impact in the world of Teen Fiction, perhaps because she is a
teenager herself –at just 19, she already has 5 books published!
During her visit, she was interviewed by pupils Joseph Baker, Ben
Mckinnon, Douglas Kempsell, Zoe Sanderson, Alex Devlin and Maddie Malone
for Teen Titles - the book review magazine which was 2005 winner of the
Partnership in Practice category of the Standard Life Edinburgh
Achievement Awards.
The interview conducted with Catherine
was featured on the BBC 6 o’clock News.
The S1 pupils really enjoyed the whole experience – for many it was the first time they had ever ‘grilled’
an author, or appeared on national TV and Catherine made them see that anything is
possible if you put your mind to it.
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For
your information
Kick butt on No Smoking
Day
With Scotland’s smoking ban
in enclosed public spaces coming into force on 26 March, this year's No
Smoking Day provides an excellent opportunity to get motivated and kick
the habit.
If you are serious about quitting, then make this year’s
No Smoking Day - Wednesday 8 March - the day you kick that butt!
The Children and Families Department will promote No Smoking Day at
Wellington Court as part of its commitment to improve staff health and
wellbeing. A representative from NHS Lothian will be available in the
coffee lounge on Level 1 throughout the morning of 8
March.
You can try the carbon monoxide breath monitor and through other fun and
informative activities get advice, support and information about
services that can help you get started on your journey to a
smoke-free future.
For further information, or to offer your suggestions about this or any
future health improvement activities, contact Michelle Rogers, Health
Improvement Officer, michelle.rogers@educ.edin.gov.uk,
or Barbara Schilling, Health Strategy Implementation Officer, barbara.schilling@educ.edin.gov.uk
Want to go green?
"That was the best day I've had this year"
said a Green Team participant after a day's work cutting rhododendron.
The Green Team provides practical
environmental opportunities for young people taking part in the Duke of
Edinburgh's Award. Weekend and day projects take place every month of
the year except December and January, when we let the short days, wind
and snow do their thing.
On a typical day out with the Green Team
you could find yourself working alongside other young people planting trees,
building nest boxes or clearing out a pond. The Green Team provides the
chance to do something meaningful whilst gaining a real sense of enjoyment
at just being outside.
If you would like more information about
the Green Team or would like a copy of our programme for 2006 then please
contact us: 0131 558 9571 info@greenteam.org.uk
Jobs
To search for jobs within the
City of Edinburgh Council, please click here www.edinburgh.gov.uk/CEC/Jobs/Jobs_List.jsp
For details of teaching vacancies in
Edinburgh please visit the following link: http://channel1.internal.egfl.net
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Cllr
Aitken writes...
I was delighted and honoured to be part
of the launch of the new Foster Carers recruitment drive this
week. Having attended one of the preparation
courses to be a foster carer I have had some insight into just
how crucial and effective fostering is. I was particularly
interested to learn on that course that fostering is not an all
or nothing option. It can be anything from an hour a week to
full time fostering or adoption. This creates options for both
those who want to be carers and those in need of care.
Using respite and befriending foster
care, for example, families can be kept together but still given
the space to sort out the issues that threaten their survival.
It also means that Social Workers have more options when trying
to decide what is the best approach for the young person and
their family.
With 40 children awaiting foster
placements and a further 20 needing adoption however, the task
is huge. Building on the success of our previous campaign, I am
confident that we will find homes for these vulnerable young
people.
Anything you can do to help promote the campaign would be much
appreciated, from encouraging others to consider fostering to
thinking about inquiring yourself. I can say from experience
that the course will move you, challenge you, make you want to
weep and give you great hope. It’s worth a thought.
Cllr Rev Ewan Aitken
Executive Member for Children and Families
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Recent
press releases
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