Spotting neglect
A new resource that helps professionals to spot the signs of neglect and emotional abuse in children aged from five to 14 has been launched by the NSPCC and Cardiff University. The tool covers issues such as children’s behaviour, school performance and their relationships with peers and is based on the latest research. Children who have been victim to neglect or emotional abuse, for example, may present as aggressive and hostile, be prone to angry outbursts, be more likely to experience symptoms of depression, and may have difficulty with friendships. Entitled Core-info: Neglect or emotional abuse in children aged 5-14, the toolkit is free to download. Visit: www.nspcc.org.uk/core-info
Anne Frank CPD
In advance of Holocaust Memorial Day and the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War next year, the Anne Frank Trust is inviting secondary school teachers of history, English, PSHE, religious studies and citizenship to a twilight enrichment session. Teachers will have a chance to see a very first edition of Anne Frank’s diary from 1947, the hundreds of books and resources of the Anne Frank Library and discuss relevant topics. It takes place from 6 to 7:30pm on November 17 at the Trust’s north London offices. Email: unity@annefrank.org.uk
Dyslexia dictionary
Two leading dyslexia experts are launching an alternative dictionary to make the English language more accessible to those with the condition. Dr Neville Brown and Dr Daryl Brown’s research has identified that the layout of the dictionary is a stumbling block for dyslexic children because of its bias towards phonetic language. Instead, their tailored version will list all those words with related meanings together. The new dictionary will be completed by the end of 2015.
Governor drive
The charity SGOSS – Governors for Schools has launched a drive to boost the level of business experience on governing bodies and school boards across England. Currently, 67 per cent of schools registered with the charity are searching for governors with business-related skills, a figure that is increasing year-on-year. The Make Schools Your Business campaign is seeks to engage with professionals and companies to raise awareness of the benefits of volunteering. Visit: www.becomeagovernor.com
Term-time absence
Detailed guidance on handling requests for term-time holidays has been issued by the National Association of Head Teachers. The document, which is free to download, seeks to clarify for school leaders what constitutes “exceptional circumstances” when they are considering requests for absence during term time. General secretary Russell Hobby said: “(The guidelines) give headteachers and parents a consistent and reasonable definition of ‘exceptional’.” Visit: http://bit.ly/1wImjfI