RHS Get Your Grown-ups Growing

Get your grown-ups growing with the RHS

As part of the Campaign for School Gardening, supported by Waitrose, the RHS have launched an exciting new project called Get Your Grown-ups Growing (GYGG). Whether you already have a school garden or are keen to establish some form of gardening opportunity within your school, the RHS are only too aware of the amount of work that is involved. They are however also aware of the huge amount of resources available to you through your local community that you may not be utilizing. The GYGG project provides an opportunity for schools to tap into these resources by holding an event in school in October. Once you have signed up to take part at www.rhs.org.uk/gygg you will receive everything you need to host your event including event ideas, invites, posters, a CD Rom and even free seeds. With a little help from your community you can achieve great things for your school.

'Puberty - What's going on?' A guide to the amazing changes that happen as you grow up!

Schools should use this resource in the class room and as a reference for children to take home following an age appropriate progressive sex and relationships education programme. It is designed to make them aware of what is happening and what will happen to them, to make things less daunting, to encourage self-awareness and promote personal well-being, for now and the future.

"Puberty - what's going on?" is available FREE from Swansea Public Health Team, please contact 01792 7848548 or email: sphtadmin@wales.nhs.uk stating your school, quantity and whether you require english or welsh copies.

FREE Bones4Life Resource Pack for Teachers

Resource Pack
Our free Resource Pack is bursting with information, activities and lesson plans for a themed day or week all about bone-health.

Request a Resource Pack
Our free Resource Pack will help teachers build a Healthy School. Request one today! Themed lesson plans, activities and assembly ideas put bone health in the context of healthy living. Our free DVD, dance steps and groovy song will get children moving as they boogie for their bones.

You can request a hard copy of the Resource Pack using the link below. The Resource Pack will be delivered in the post within 2 weeks.

http://www.nos.org.uk/forms/pack

Download a Resource Pack
The full Resource Pack is only available by post but some elements can be downloaded below, if you prefer.

http://www.bones4life.org/144.aspx

Poster Competition - win £500 to enhance your health education resources!

Find out more about our brand new competition!

http://www.bones4life.org/263.aspx

Bone Factor Tour Resources
Find out more about the Bone Factor Tour!

http://www.bones4life.org/201.aspx

SunSmart: the national skin cancer prevention campaign

This year the SunSmart campaign will focus on young people and avoiding sunburn.

Sunburn or intense sun exposure in childhood increases the risk of skin cancer later in life and the majority of our lifetime sun exposure happens before the age of 20. A recent study highlighted that there is a different perception of “risk” at home than on holiday and children are less protected whilst playing in the garden than when they are on the beach.

Skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers and small behavioural changes such as avoiding the strongest sun, appropriate use of sun cream and wearing of hats and long clothes can lead to a considerable decrease in personal risk.

In 2003 the World Health Organisation recommended that no one under the age of 18 should use a sun bed. New legislation which will come into force next year (in England and Wales) will prevent the use of sun beds by under 18’s and include a ban on unmanned coin operated salons.

For further information on how to enjoy the sun safely, sun beds, guidance on developing a school sun protection policy and free downloadable teaching resources visit http://www.sunsmart.org.uk/

Guidance on sex and relationships education

The Welsh Assembly Government would like to invite you to provide feedback on the guidance Sex and relationships education in schools that has been developed for use in schools in Wales.

From September 2010, this document will replace the current guidance circular, Sex and relationships education in schools National Assembly for Wales Circular No 11/02.

If you have any comments on this document, please send them by 31 May 2010 by email to personalandsocialeducationenquiries@wales.gsi.gov.uk.
Or by post to:

Adrienne Rees
Curriculum and Assessment Division

DCELLS

Welsh Assembly Government

Cathays Park

Cardiff

CF10 3NQ

The guidance can be found here:

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/curriculumassessment/arevisedcurriculumforwales/sexeducation/?lang=en

https://webmail.swansea.gov.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/curriculumassessment/arevisedcurriculumforwales/sexeducation/?skip=1%26lang=cy

UNICEF Rights respecting schools award

UNICEF UK is pioneering an initiative in UK schools called the Rights Respecting School Award (RRSA). The award scheme started in 2004 and is running in more than 1000 primary and secondary schools in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

One of the greatest challenges that schools face is to define a clear set of values – not just rules - that has been developed with the full involvement of the school community and is actively upheld by pupils. UNICEF UK’s RRSA initiative helps schools to use the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) as the values framework that enables this to be achieved.

A values framework for schoolsThe RRSA provides a coherent values framework which enhances school leadership. It shapes the ethos of the school and unifies what can often be seen as a range of disparate educational initiatives and government priorities in all UK jurisdictions; the global dimension, SEAL (social and emotional aspects of learning), sustainable development, and community cohesion. Pupils develop a stronger sense of the need to act for global justice. The universality of the UNCRC provides a clear link between building up their rights respecting school and the need for children’s rights to be realised everywhere.

What are the benefits?

Evidence gathered from schools participating in the RRSA suggests that when the values of the UNCRC underpin the ethos and curriculum of a school, they have a significant, positive impact on important aspects of child well-being and school improvement. They also have a positive effect on the relationships, teaching approaches, attitudes and behaviour of everyone involved.

Teachers, children and parents have reported:
Improved pupil self-esteem
Pupils’ enhanced moral development
Improved behaviour and relationships(reductions in bullying, exclusions and improved attendance)
More positive attitudes towards diversity in society and the reduction of prejudice
Pupils’ development as global citizens
Overall school improvement (including learning environment and academic standards)
Enhanced job satisfaction for teachers

Sarah Hooke is the Welsh education officer you should contact if you would like to find out more information on how to register for the award. You can contact her on:

sarahhoo@unicef.org.uk

or alternativly contact myself on:

Stuart.whiffin@swansea.gov.uk

Many hundreds of English schools have acheived the award although only 3 Welsh schools have gone through the process- hopefully this can change over the comming months.

New WAG pupil voice website launched!

The Pupil Participation Project in the Welsh Assembly Government is here to help YOU! We want you to have the support you need to make pupil participation really effective in your school. On this site you will find useful information, resources and training materials, contact details, and links to related sites.

There are also fun things to do as well, because you’ve told us this is important to you.

If you would like to let us know what your school is doing to make sure that all pupils can play an active role in decision-making, send your case study to: RightsandEntitlementsBranch@Wales.gsi.gov.uk

Click here to visit the site