Here's the latest industry news for education professionals, which will be regularly updated with relevant news. The articles are listed alphabetically, and anything less than a month old will be marked 'NEW!'. We will also mark UPDATED! articles.
View latest Press Releases on our News/Events page > |
You can also keep up-to-date with the latest news via our bi-monthly e-newsletters|.
NEW! 2014 National Curriculum to include new focus on Speech, Language and Communication
January 2012
The new National Curriculum Review compiled by an expert panel review consisting of Mary James, Tim Oates (Chair), Andrew Pollard and Dylan William, foregrounds the “compelling body of evidence that highlights a connection between oral development, cognitive development and educational attainment.” and recommends “that the development of oral language should be a strong feature of any new National Curriculum.”
Read press release >| (PDF)
Download a copy of The Framework for the National Curriculum from the Department for Education website >|
Access Arrangements
Please see our guide to Access Arrangements|, including regulations, requirements and testing.
UPDATED! Anti-Bullying Strategies
January 2012
Anti-bullying campaigns are a key priority for the government. Since the publication of Safe to learn: Embedding anti-bullying work in schools in 2007, the new coalition government has published a further document entitled Preventing and Tackling Bullying: Advice for School Leaders and Governing Bodies|.
Pearson Assessment is proud to be a supporter of the Big March| via Beatbullying.
Read more >|
Breaking the Link - New report on SEN and low attainment
A new report published this March 2010, is part of the Breaking the Link series formed by the DFE.
Building on an initial investigation into disadvantage and low attainment, this report looks at where SEN children are benefiting by best practice from local authorities and schools and how this can be further developed.
Read more >|
Call for more early intervention
August 2011
A report by MP Graham Allen, underlined the importance of ‘regular assessments of all pre-school children, focusing on their social and emotional development’ and called for the establishment of an early intervention foundation – a view supported by Pearson Assessment.
Download a copy of MP Graham Allen’s report (pdf)| and read our press response (pdf)|.
UPDATED! Early Years Foundation Review Published by Dame Clare Tickell
January 2012
Following on from the calls for review of the Early Years Foundation back in July 2010, Dame Clare Tickell, has this month (March 2011) published ‘The Early Years: Foundations for life, health and learning|’. The document which sets out a number of recommendations that builds on the work of the EYFS, and calls for the framework to be ‘radically slimmed down’ to make it ‘easier to understand, less burdensome and more focused on making sure children start school ready to learn.’
Following this report Children’s Minister Sarah Teather’s has confirmed plans| (Dec 11) for the reformed EYFS that reduces bureaucracy for professionals, provides earlier intervention for children facing difficulties and better prepares young children for learning in school.’
See The Tickell Review of the Early Years Foundation Stage| for more details.
NEW! Education Psychologists to receive £16 million to support training
January 2012
The DfE has announced that £16million will be set aside to support the training of Educational Psychologists over the next three years.
Read more >|
Families in the Foundation Years
August 2011
Recent reports which highlighted that a number of children are beginning school without knowing their own name, has helped lead to the creation of a new website entitled Families in the Foundation Years| designed to give parents the information they need to support their child’s development.
If you are a professional working with parents, our recently published book Working in Partnership: The Family Partnership Model| is worth exploring, along with the article by Michelle MacGrath in Senco Update|, Issue 122, Feb 2011.
Read the BBC report with Jean Gross|, Communication Champion on Why some children 'don't know their name'. For additional support on the development stages of children’s communication download a copy of Universally Speaking, the ages and stages of children’s communication development from birth to 5|.
NEW! Health and Education must come together to ensure better communication provision for children and young people in the UK
January 2012
Pearson Assessment welcomes the 30 recommendations made by Jean Gross, outgoing Communication Champion for the UK, in her Two Years On report. The report which spans Jean Gross’ time as an inspiring Communication Champion reviews the excellent work that has been taking place across the country, to support children and young people with speech, language and communication needs; and offers key recommendations for ensuring these services continue to evolve and improve.
Read press release >| (PDF)
Download the full report >| (PDF)
UPDATED! Hello, the National Year of Communication
January 2012
Last year we were fortunate to be key sponsors of the Hello, national year of communication campaign; a campaign to increase understanding of how important it is for children and young people to develop good communication skills.'Hello' is a campaign to increase understanding of how important it is for children and young people to develop good communication skills.
Run by The Communication Trust, a coalition of over 35 leading voluntary sector organisations, Hello aimed to make communication for all children and young people a priority in homes and schools across the country so they can live life to the full.
Read more >|
NEW! Jean Gross, Communication Champion, receives a CBE in New Year's Honour list
Pearson Assessment were delighted to hear the news that Jean Gross, Communication Champion, received a CBE in the New Year's Honours List for her services to education.
Read more >|
Lamb Enquiry - Special educational needs and parental confidence
This February a response to Brian Lamb’s enquiry into special educational needs and SEN information was published. The response entitled Improving parental confidence in the special educational needs system: An implementation plan sets out a range of 51 measures to be undertaken across government and which build on the work the announced in the Children’s Plan to improve outcomes for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The report aims to revitalise the link between Local authorities, parents and schools to improve children’s opportunities.
Download a copy of the report (on the Department for Education website):
http://education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DCSF-00265-2010|
Brian Lamb's final report on the inquiry into Special Educational Needs and Parental Conference (Dec 2009) can also be downloaded here:
http://education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/01143-2009DOM-EN.pdf|
Munro Review of Child Protection
August 2011
Over a year ago Professor Eileen Munro was commissioned to carry out an independent review of child protection. Her report led to the establishment of an Implementation Working Group (IWG) which draws on the expertise of local authority children’s services, the social work profession, education, police and health services. A dedicated page on the report can be found here|.
Read more >|
One year on - Report on Children’s Mental Health and Psychological Wellbeing
The first report from the National Advisory Council for Children’s Mental Health and Psychological Wellbeing was published March 2010. The Council came into effect as a direct result of the independent CAMHS Review in 2008 and is accountable for delivering the recommendations raised by the Review.
This report takes a look at the work that has been done so far, the challenges being faced and how the Council plans to move forward. A copy of report can be downloaded here |.
Schools White Paper
The Importance of Teaching: Schools White Paper published November 2010 sets out the new governments ‘radical reform’ for schools; with an emphasis on reducing the constraints imposed on schools and giving head teachers the power and support they need to be at the centre of school improvement.
The paper addresses the areas of teaching and leadership, accountability, behaviour, curriculum, assessment and qualifications, school improvement and funding, along with the new schools system.
A copy of the white paper can be downloaded here|, and further information can be found on the Department for Education’s website|.
Sir Jim Rose's Dyslexia Review
Supporting students with literacy difficulties and in particular dyslexia has become a government priority with the publication of Sir Jim Rose’s Dyslexia review in June 2009. The report Identifying and Teaching Children and Young People with Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties| (on the DCSF website) which identifies that between 4% and 8% of children’s literacy attainment may be affected by dyslexia, makes recommendations for early identification, teaching and support.
Read more >|
Support and Aspiration - the SEN and Disability Green Paper
Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability is a new green paper open for consultation by the Department for Education from the 9 March to 30 June.
Using feedback on areas such as early identification and assessment, parental control, learning and achievement, preparing for adulthood and services for family – the Green paper sets out what has been called the ‘biggest programme of reform in the education and health support for children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities in 30 years’.
Support and aspiration: A new approach to special education needs and disability - A consultation|
Read more >|
Synthetic Phonics
New reading test for six year olds
August 2011
Driven by the publication of the Schools White Paper, published in November 2010, the government has since announced plans to introduce a new reading test for six year olds in England. The phonics based test, designed to ensure that children’s reading is kept on track, includes non-words such as ‘zort’ and koob’ and has generated much discussion.
To support the introduction of this test the Government has allocated a provision of funding to help schools implement the synthetic phonics approach through the adoption of a high-quality synthetic phonics scheme and training for staff.
For more information visit the dedicated phonics page| from the Department for Education website.
What “zort” of impact will the new reading test for six year olds have on reading levels? Read our article on the new reading test| and information on the number of the tests already used by teachers that include non-words or nonsense passages which have proved to have a positive impact when assessing.
NEW! Thousands of schools sign up for phonics funding
January 2012
Is yours one of the 3,211 schools who have signed up for the DfE’s phonics funding program? If so, you may know all about the government’s drive to raise pupil’s standards of reading across the UK.
Read more >|
The role of local government in promoting wellbeing
A report, The Role of Local Government in Promoting Wellbeing, has been published by Local Government Improvement and Development (LGID) and the National Mental Health Development Unit (NMHDU).
Written by nef (the new economics foundation), it argues that by focusing on wellbeing local government can respond to significant reductions in its finances, by preventing long-term problems and ensuring that positive outcomes are achieved efficiently. The report also highlights numerous examples of councils who are doing pioneering work in this area, from all parts of the UK.
Download a copy of the report here|.