6162 Week 5

 

I would like to share several links with my colleagues that I obtained from one of my International contacts in the United Kingdom.

Greetings Janella,

In terms of education, there are a number of initiatives and a variety of different forms of benefits here which can be of assistance, as well as entitlement to free childcare, in certain circumstances:

https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs

https://www.gov.uk/free-early-education

The current policy noted by the United Kingdom raises the quality of teaching by enforcing specified credentials to improve the overall standard of education in schools. his information was obtained by accessing the Department of Education site through Gov.uk:

We must raise the status of the teaching profession by attracting more of the best graduates. Teacher training must also be reformed so that trainee teachers can develop the necessary practical skills from the outset.

We believe in giving schools more flexibility over the recruitment and pay of their staff, as well as encouraging them to work together in the training and professional development of teachers and headteachers.

To improve training and professional development of teachers, leaders and support staff, we will:

• establish a national network of around 500 alliances of  teaching schools, made up of consistently outstanding schools working with other schools to develop leadership and raise the quality of teaching
• develop a curriculum and new National Professional Qualification for Headship
• help talented teachers develop into school leaders
• introduce new ways for teachers to improve their teaching based on evidence about what works 
• fund degree-level specialist training for talented support staff  working with children with special educational needs and (SEN)

Teachers’ pay and performance

To reform performance management and pay and pensions arrangements, we will:

• implement the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) recommendations on teachers’ pay reform from September 2013
• reform the teachers’ pension scheme, in line with Lord Hutton’s recommendations

To reduce bureaucracy and give schools and teachers more autonomy, we will:

• reduce school regulation
• give schools and local authorities more freedom to design teacher performance and capability arrangements suited to each school’s individual circumstances
• make it easier for schools to remove ineffective teachers quickly

Source: https://www.gov.uk/

In addition, you might find the following research of use.

The Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre was commissioned by the Department for Education, on behalf of Professor Eileen Munro, to undertake a piece of rapid response work to explore how local areas were responding to recommendations outlined in her report, The Munro Review of Child Protection: Final Report. A Child Centered System. This report summarizes those responses.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-safeguarding-children-board-chairs-perspectives-on-responding-to-recommendations-outlined-in-the-munro-review-of-child-protection-findings-fro

Hope that helps!

Best wishes,

Chris

6162 Week 4 Blog

Based on my current professional development, I found information regarding legislation to support investments in early childhood education that would prove beneficial for underprivileged children and families.  With the current state of our Union, the need for early childhood education has reached a pivotal point. In a recent press release, the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) 2013, new legislation was introduced to increase support for early childhood education “The Children’s Defense Fund Action Council applauds the Strong Start for America’s Children Act.”

With the implementation of the Strong Start for America’s Children Act (2013), it clarifies the need for more quality programs to support the overall growth and development of young children. The nation’s highest financial experts and scientists distinguished the need for investments in extremely good early childhood development and educational programs. CDF (2013) noted that the bill would concentrate on four main objectives:

• Boosting funding for high-quality preschool programs serving children in poor and low income families
• Increasing the quality of infant and toddler care offered by providers
• Supporting broad-scale quality improvements in child care programs, and
• Encouraging continued support for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program

Source: http://www.childrensdefense.org/newsroom/cdf-in-the-news/press-releases/2013/marian-wright-edelman-3.html

The Committee on Education and the Workforce (2013) noted that “The Strong Start for America’s Children Act is a bold, 10-year innovative federal-state partnership to expand and improve early learning opportunities for children across the birth-to-age-five continuum.”

Source: http://democrats.edworkforce.house.gov/bill/strong-start-americas-children-act-2013

In lieu of recent cuts to government food assistance programs and additional supports that impacted families with young children still having difficulties after the great recession, CDF (2013) expressed major apprehension about the “Shameful cuts,” implemented by Congress; this plea was based on recent data from the United State Census Bureau’s New Population Data report. In a press release date 6 November 2013, Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund made an appeal to professional advocates “We must all urge our legislators right now to make the right choices with our tax dollars.”  

http://www.childrensdefense.org/newsroom/cdf-in-the-news/press-releases/2013/new-supplemental-poverty-data.html#sthash.kFlJ8HrS.dpuf

Introducing My International Colleague

I would like to introduce you to Toluwalope OTEH, a native of Nigeria, she has lived and worked in many diverse locations, and she is a wife and mother and has 6 years of experience in the early childhood field. Toluwalope OTEH currently residing in France.

She is also a Walden University colleague in our class which makes her an ideal collaboration partner for this part of the course. Here is a link to her blog for this course so you can get to know her better.

http://reachingoutokids.blogspot.com/

 I have emailed Toluwalope OTEH about the issue of poverty for this week and I will update you with any new correspondence as soon as she responds.

Enjoy!

Jan

Sharing Web Resources EDU 6162 (Week 2)

Child-centered learning environments within Early Childhood Education, is not limited to the constraints of the United States.  

Based on information retrieved from the British Association for Early Childhood Education (2012), in the United Kingdom (UK), all government officials have been advised to consider the needs and interest of children, during any changes or decision making practices that involve Early Education.

During an annual general meeting, all UK government were instructed to navigate adjustments before putting them into practice.  Additionally, with explicit reference to the Early Education environment in England, Early Education members have urged the Westminster government to:

•Restrict the free entitlement in England to those meeting the Early Years Foundation Stage learning and development requirements.

•Ensure that inspectors of early years provision are rigorously and appropriately trained and are able to demonstrate an understanding of early years pedagogy.

•Ensure that the phonics check is embedded within the context of broader communication, language, literacy learning and development.

•Adopt the Nutbrown review of early education and childcare qualifications recommendations and publish a program of implementation.

Reference:

www.early-education.org.uk

EDU 6162 Blog 1

Hello!

This assignment is proving to be very challenging. I sent out approximately 20 emails and all but one bounced back (undeliverable). I rich out to some of my friends and one suggested that I make connections using LinkedIn. Thus far, I requested membership through the: Center for Educational Initiatives Step by Step and Center for Educational Initiatives Step by Step both memberships are pending. I also have approximately five emails that did not bounce back and I am awaiting response. While I wait, I have began viewing the podcast in the blog resource link. I am interested in the views and input of other professionals in the ECE field. One of the connections that I have attempted to make, is a professional connection in Jamaica. I currently service several families from Jamaica and each day is a challenge because I am always attempting to improve the cultural balance in the learning environment. I have not received correspondence from the professional contact in Jamaica yet but, my fingers remain crossed. Good Luck!