Wellbeing of pupils to be prioritised
6th June 2020
Guidance for education authorities and teachers published for next academic year.
New guidance will help teachers and councils prepare for the ‘blended model' of both classroom and home learning when schools re-open in August.
The guidance, produced by the Education Recovery Group, also details broad expectations for what Scotland's curriculum will look like during this period in Early Learning Centres and schools, including through Gaelic Medium Education.
The guidance includes:
a focus on prioritising the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of children and young people, practitioners and families
using the Refreshed Narrative for Curriculum for Excellence as a practical tool for practitioners.
continuing engagement with children and their families to support them in this new way of learning
considering the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19), especially in vulnerable children and young people and those with additional support needs
Guidance on the curriculum, aimed at parents and carers, will be published shortly in partnership with the National Parent Forum of Scotland
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said:
"Since most schools closed in March, a huge amount of positive work has been undertaken by education professionals to support continuity of learning. This advice recognises that schools, classrooms and ways of learning will be completely different in the recovery phase, so the education system as well as young people and their families will need help and support to adapt.
"The core principles of Curriculum for Excellence that give teachers flexibility and put learners at the heart of education will remain critical during the recovery phase. This guidance states that teachers should be confident in prioritising their pupils' physical and mental wellbeing - over anything else - as the best way of supporting children and young people back into learning.
"The curriculum will continue to be developed locally by Early Learning Centres, primary and secondary schools, and partnership colleges, taking account of the local circumstances of children and their families.
"Specific guidance is also available for education authorities and schools to support young people who have been most adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with additional support needs or those who may struggle to transition smoothly into the next academic year."
Background
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Curriculum for Excellence in the Recovery Phase
https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-curriculum-for-excellence-in-the-recovery-phase/
Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for continuity in learning
https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-support-for-continuity-in-learning/
Teachers and other school staff are preparing for a new model of learning from 11 August. Education authorities and schools should draw on this national guidance to work in partnership with trades unions, staff, parents and children to develop local plans.
These plans are contingent on scientific and medical advice that it is safe to proceed and public health measures being in place.
The Education Recovery Group includes representatives from local authorities, teachers' organisations and trades unions.
Related Businesses
Related Articles
The Leader of the Council and Provost of Inverness today welcomed recent history graduate Sophie Gartshore to her role of Data Curation Graduate Placement in the Spirit of the Highlands project team. Sophie was attending her first virtual meeting of the Spirit of the Highlands Delivery Group, a group co-chaired by Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism Fergus Ewing and Cllr Helen Carmichael, Provost of Inverness and Area.
The Highland Council has started to consult with their tenants about proposals for a rent increase in council owned homes for 2021 - 2022. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the traditional forms of consultation cannot safely take place.
Discussions have taken place this week on what the Council's role in respect of the emerging hydrogen economy should be and how best to advance hydrogen opportunities across the Highlands. The Leader of The Highland Council met with representatives from Scottish Power to focus on hydrogen generation and this was followed by a meeting, arranged with officers from across Council services, that included a presentation by Fiona Landy from the Hydrogen Accelerator.
Highland Housing Register Allocation Policy - Public Consultation There is still time to tell the Highland Housing Register landlords what you think about changes to the way that their houses are let and who gets priority. The consultation has been extended to Monday 7 December The landlords contacted everyone who is on the Highland Housing Register re-housing list.
The Highland Council has confirmed that a new date has been set for the Ward 12 - Aird and Loch Ness By-Election The original date of poll was Thursday 5 November but given the current public health advice applying in Scotland, the Returning Officer made the decision to postpone the by-election. Under normal circumstances a by-election must be held within three months of the vacancy arising, however under the provisions of Section 70 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 the filling of the vacancy can be postponed where it is reasonable and appropriate to do so and a date should be fixed for the poll to be held as soon as it reasonably practicable.
New fees for residential caravan site licence applications have been approved by The Highland Council's Communities and Place Committee. The new fees are estimated to affect around 20 residential caravan sites in Highland region.
A pricing regime has been agreed in Highland for the provision of Export Health Certificates which will be required by UK businesses from 1 January 2021 to export products of animal origin to the EU. Chair of The Highland Council's Communities and Place Committee Cllr Allan Henderson welcomed the work carried out to date by Council officers in supporting exporting businesses to the EU, he said: "The Environmental Health Team has a very important role in providing certification for Highland businesses exporting animal products to the EU.
Highland Councillors have noted the scale of achievement by Council staff in meeting the Traffic Commissioner's compliance requirements for the local authority's fleet and welcomed a phased approach to the ‘greening’ of its vehicles. Cllr Allan Henderson, Chair of the Council’s Communities and Place Committee said: "Maintaining a legally safe and compliant fleet of vehicles is essential and is no mean feat for an organisation the size of Highland Council.
The Highland Council is to consult on draft management rules for its 268 burial grounds across the region and crematorium located at Kilvean in Inverness. The Council has a statutory duty to manage burials, oversee memorial safety and cremations for around 1500 burials and 1200 cremations each year.
Motorists are being advised by The Highland Council that there will be a temporary road closure to the section of the U3520 Girnigoe Street, closed between its junction with the U3547 Henrietta Street and its junction with U3523 Glamis Road, at 09:30 until 15:30 on Thursday 3 December 2020. The closure has been made to allow KIER to carry out Iron work repairs.
