Ofsted have published a report on their findings about teaching in reception classes:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/reception-a-missed-opportunity-for-too-many-children

Link to updated information on literacy and numeracy catch up strategies issued today, 14 November, by the DfE

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/literacy-and-numeracy-catch-up-strategies

DfE guidance on literacy and numeracy catch up strategies has been revised (from 2012) and published today.

This guidance incorporates findings from recent research: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/literacy-and-numeracy-catch-up-strategies

 

New research has been published by Coventry University and the University of Warwick on literacy difficulties and undiagnosed hearing impairment, (http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/news/screen-children-reading-difficulties-more-thoroughly-hearing-problems-says-new-report).

Glue ear or mild/moderate hearing loss can have a major impact. All professionals need to be alert to the signs of hearing loss, particularly in children whose deafness was not identified at birth or who have acquired deafness during childhood, and that any parental or professional concerns about hearing are always taken seriously and acted on.

Resources from the National Deaf Children’s Society for parents and professionals may be helpful and can be found at www.ndcs.org.uk/mildmoderate and

www.ndcs.org.uk/glueear.

Heather Murdoch, one of the NatSIP workstream leads, is currently developing a toolkit linked to the Victoria MSI Unit Curriculum, for publication on the NatSIP website.

The toolkit will contain materials to support delivery of the curriculum and use of the linked assessment profiles, including:

  • discussion of the issues for planning, recording and evaluating progress using the Victoria Curriculum
  • sample templates for target-setting, identifying student needs and teaching strategies, planning and recording progress
  • case studies and ‘worked examples’ of the templates

The materials have been trialed and revised at Victoria, and Heather is now seeking feedback from other professionals in order to make them as useful as possible in other settings. A broader perspective really does make a difference, and she would very much appreciate your help.

If you use the Victoria Curriculum and would be willing to comment on the draft toolkit, please get in touch:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

The draft materials, together with a comments form, will be sent out at the end of October 2017, and feedback will need to be returned by the end of November 2017.

Qfqual has updated its briefing papers on the reforms to GCSE and A levels

See:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/your-qualification-our-regulation-gcse-as-and-a-level-reforms

The NatSIP report Examination acesss for children and young people was launched at the NatSIP Working Day on 11 February 2016, and updated on 8 April 2016, is now avilable for download here.

There have been several updates to the GCSE and A level reforms published 15th December 2015 which may be of interest:

1.   Link to a helpful summary of the GCSE and A level reforms: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/get-the-facts-gcse-and-a-level-reform

2.Link to the timetable for making changes. The timetable has been updated to reflect latest decisions on subjects to be reformed for first teaching in September 2017: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/timeline-of-changes-to-gcses-as-and-a-levels

3. Link to assessment objectives. Updated today to reflect revised objectives for some subjects: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/assessment-objectives-ancient-languages-geography-and-mfl