Children getting involved in 'Team Read'. Find out more in Upcoming Events.
22 July 2008
This newsletter is published every three weeks for staff in the Children and Families Department.
Send us your stories
If you have any stories for the next edition of the Children and Families Newsletter, please send them by e-mail or through the internal post by Monday 4 August to:
Jen Robson, Communications Service, Room 7.03, 329 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1PN
E-mail: jen.robson@edinburgh.gov.uk
In this issue:
Service Changes
The service known as ISMS ceased on the 30th June 2008 and was replaced by a new service known as the Integrated Community Support Service.
The Movement Restriction Condition (electronic monitoring) element of ISMS will remain the responsibility of the new service and is largely unaffected by the changes. The remit of the new service is wider than ISMS and aims to prevent young people aged 11 to 17 from moving further into the formal care system where possible (i.e. secure care, young people centres, and residential schools).
There are 4 main parts to the service which might be of interest:
- NiteZone - This is a new service providing intensive evening and weekend care and will be operated from 6VT.This service should be up and running by the end of July
- The Brae - The services available from the base at Castlebrae Business Centre will be extended to include supports across a 7 day period, including evening and weekend where appropriate.
- Crisis Support and Accommodation - This is a new service and will provide quick and effective responses to young people in crisis as a way of maintaining them at home or with carers. The aim is to have this team fully operational by December and to have some services available before then.
- Individual Support and Supervision Service -This will retain much of the 1 to 1 support that was available through the ISMS service and which continues to be available.
There will be a great deal of overlap between the various parts of the service and a high degree of integrated working is expected.
For more information, please contact Vance Finnon.
Parents in Partnership
Parents play a vital role in supporting their children’s learning and there are three main ways that they can get involved:
- Learning at Home
- Home/ School Partnership
- Parental Representation
Views of parents can be presented to the school, education authority and others through a representative Parent Council. This is a group of parents selected by parents at a particular school (Parent Forum), and most schools now have one.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please call the Parental Involvement Unit on 0131 469 3406/3131.
North Edinburgh Active Schools Summer Festival.
Over 60 children from North Edinburgh attended the first ever Active Schools Summer Festival. The P4 – P7 children participated in a variety of different activities throughout the afternoon, delivered by local sports clubs.
The aim of the afternoon was to give children a small taster of some of the activities running in North Edinburgh and for local sports clubs to promote themselves and the programs they were offering over the summer holidays. For more information please visit the Active Schools website or e-mail Mel Coutts.
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Team Read
27 June – 31 August 2008.
This summer, Edinburgh City Libraries are inviting children to go for gold with Team Read. It's their chance to take up a reading challenge which will stretch them to the max, whilst taking part in lots of sports related events. And, all the events and activities are free!
Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Edinburgh Wolves and the support of Activcity, the first 600 children who complete the challenge will receive tickets for themselves and an accompanying adult to any home July game at Meadowbank.
Sports related storytimes and fun activities will be taking place in libraries throughout the holidays, and there will even be the opportunity to try out a new sport.
Look out for more information in your local library or check out the Team Read website.
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P7 Transition Festivals
Transition festivals were organised for P7s who will attend James Gillespie’s and Boroughmuir high schools after the summer holidays, to make the step from primary to high school less daunting.
The aim of the 2 festivals was to introduce the pupils to their new form classes and allow them to get to know each other. There was something for everyone at the festival with both sporting and non sporting events. The Council's ‘Growing Confidence’ project hosted a stall for the James Gillespie’s cluster, working with the pupils to address any fears or issues with moving to high school. Both festivals were a great success.
The Art of Success
The Lord Provost, George Grubb, presented certificates and gifts to Tynecastle High School to pupils. Naomi Beth Ellis produced the winning design for the Edinburgh Fringe schools poster competition from over 4,000 entries and Bleu Hope’s design was selected for the short list. The work of both pupils will be displayed in an exhibition at Ocean Terminal in August.
Next Stop the Oscar’s
The Filmhouse hosted the first ever Schools Screening at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June. Following countless submissions from Edinburgh primary and secondary schools, a panel of young people worked together to decide which films would be showcased. The work that made it to the screen was of the highest quality reflecting the creativity and talent in Edinburgh schools. After both screenings in true Film Festival style an awards ceremony celebrated the best work.
It is hoped that the initiative will continue and information about how to participate will follow in the near future.
Kirkliston Nursery School's South African Sound Garden
Kirkliston Nursery was awarded £10,000 by Awards for All, Big Lottery Fund to create a new area of the playground for sound/ music making performances and play. The area had strong links to Kirkliston’s twin nursery in South Africa, as pupils worked with professionals to explore aspects of Africa and reflect their findings in the design of the space.
The garden is used everyday for learning and performances, as well as being used as a fundraising area to help support Ikageng Primary School in South Africa
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Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday
A book has been set up in the reception area of the City Chambers to collect messages to mark Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday. Everyone is welcome to write their personal message. The book will be there until Friday 1 August after which time it will be sent to Mr Mandela as a gift from the city.
A Message from the Director
"Following the organisational review, a number of colleagues left the Department at the end of June. I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge that we have said goodbye to colleagues who worked tirelessly and with great dedication and commitment to communities and children’s services over many years. I want to thank them for their contribution to the Children and Families Department and their commitment to improving services for children and communities in Edinburgh. I am personally very sorry that I won't get the chance to work with you going forward and I wish you all the very best for the future."
Gillian Tee, Director of Children and Families
Staff who have now left the department:
James Fergusson Murray Forgie Catherine Jamieson
Brian Greatorex Karen Graham Riita Matheson
Jonathon Hunter Mandy Couper Kenny Pringle
John Murdoch Fraser Smith Derek Welsh
Earl Ross Ronnie Gillies Gerry Fraser
Max Volino Barbara Boyd Donna Shearer
Hugh Farrell John Thayers Kate Murray
Carolyn Martin Christine Ferguson Laura Craig
David Wilkie Jake Herriot Dawn Wilson
Paul Millsop
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