This publication brings together OFSTED inspection and regulation data covering the period from September 2006 to August 2007. With the establishment on 1 April 2007, of the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, OFSTED's responsibilities for inspecting children's services changed substantially, with OFSTED now regulating and inspecting childcare, children's social care and provision for learners of all ages. The first part of the report summarises the outcomes of routine inspections and regulatory visits across OFSTED's remit. The second part of the report examines three important themes in education and care: (i) improved life chances of children and older learners from disadvantaged backgrounds; (ii) the experience of children and young people where education and care develops awareness of personal, cultural and national identity; (iii) the effectiveness of education and training for young people entering work. The report also refers to the national test results for 2007.

With the establishment, on 1 April 2007, of the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, Ofsted's responsibilities for inspecting children's services changed substantially, with Ofsted now regulating and inspecting childcare, children's social care and provision for learners of all ages. This report covers the first full year of reporting on the organisation's new remit. The first section presents an evaluation of the quality and standards in care, early education, schools, colleges, adult learning and skills, and children's services. It is based on evidence from more than 45,000 inspections and regulatory visits in 2007-08. The second section draws on Ofsted's thematic inspections and surveys in the different areas of its remit. This section evaluates the effectiveness with which providers seek to address three important matters: improving the life chances of the least advantaged members of society through excellence in provision; safeguarding children and young people from neglect, abuse and other forms of harm; and enabling learners to acquire the skills they need to succeed in their working lives. The Chief Inspector is encouraged by the recognition that much is going well for so many children, young people and adult learners, but frustrated that there is still too much that is patently inadequate and too many settings and institutions where the rate of improvement is unacceptably slow.

Ofsted today publishes the Annual Report 2010/11, drawing on over 31,000 inspection visits across the schools, early years, children's social care and learning and skills sectors in England. Launched by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector Miriam Rosen, this in-depth analysis provides an insight into the quality of those services for children and learners, what is working well and what needs to improve. The report highlights how an inadequate inspection judgement, whether for a children's home or a school, a college or a nursery, can be an important catalyst for change. For example, the total number of schools in a category of concern - that is judged to be in special measures or being given a notice to improve - reduced from 553 at the end of last year to 451 at the end of August 2011. Over a fifth of schools judged inadequate at their previous inspection were found to be good or better when inspected again this year. In addition, schools are now emerging from special measures faster than the previous year - after an average of 18 months rather than 20. In inspections of local authorities'; children's social care, where Ofsted completed the second full year of unannounced inspection of contact, referral and assessment arrangements, weaknesses identified the previous year had been addressed in the great majority of cases.

For all undergraduate, postgraduate and school-based routes to qualified teacher status, Learning to Teach in the Secondary School is an essential introduction to the key skills and knowledge needed to become a secondary teacher. Underpinned by evidence-informed practice and focussing on what you need to know to thrive in the classroom, the eighth edition is fully updated in light of changes in the field, covers new topics and provides additional guidance on topics such as developing your resilience, using digital technologies, closing the achievement gap and using data to inform your teaching and pupil learning. The text includes a wealth of examples and tasks to demonstrate how to successfully apply theory to practice and how to critically reflect on and analyse your practice to maximise pupil learning. The wide range of pedagogical features supports both school- and university-based work up to Masters level. Written by experts in the field, the 37 concise units create unit-by-unit coverage that can be dipped into, offering guidance on all aspects of learning to teach including: Managing your workload Lesson planning Curriculum Motivating pupils Promoting behaviour for learning Assessment, marking and feedback Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) Applying for jobs, developing as a professional and networking Learning to Teach in the Secondary School provides practical help and guidance for many of the situations and potential challenges you are faced with in school. The text is extended by a companion website that includes additional information as well as specific units covering England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Supported by the subject-specific titles in the Learning to Teach Subjects in the Secondary School Series, it is an essential purchase for every aspiring secondary school teacher.

This book examines how developing law and policies in England and Wales simultaneously promote and undermine children's rights.

This white paper outlines proposals to improve the quality of alternative This white paper outlines proposals to improve the quality of alternative provision for young people who are permanently excluded from school or who are otherwise without a school place. Around 135,000 pupils a year, mostly of secondary age, spend some time in alternative provision. About one third are placed in pupil referral units, the rest in a range of places including in further education and the private and voluntary sectors. About half the children are excluded for bad or disruptive behaviour; the rest are in alternative provision for a variety of reasons. 75 per cent of pupils in pupil referral units have special educational needs, 91 per cent are aged 11-15, and 69 per cent are boys. Performance outcomes in GCSEs from alternative provision are very poor, though the data is limited. The strategy is based on core principles: starting with what works best for each person, taking account of needs and in consultation with parents and carers; securing a core educational entitlement for young people; better planning and commissioning of alternative provision; local authorities should be held accountable for outcomes; better professional support, accommodation and facilities; partnership working between alternative provision, other parts of the education sector and other agencies; learning from best practice and supporting innovation. A central aim is for schools to be able to get pupils back on track, and make more use of high quality alternative provisions as an early intervention for their pupils who are at risk of permanent exclusion. The term "Pupil Referral Unit" is considered outdated and unhelpful, and will be changed in the legislation.

Diversities in Education is a challenging text that will help educators, teacher educators and trainee teachers to be more effective in teaching a range of diverse learners. It covers five major categories of difference: sex and gender; social class and socio-economic status; race, ethnicity and culture; beliefs and religion; and different abilities and asks the urgent questions all policy-makers, educators and students should consider: Why should we value diversity and human rights? How can inclusive education accommodate diversity? How do society’s aspirations for cohesion and harmony impact on people who are different? What meanings are given to differences, culturally and historically? Should educators seek to accentuate, eliminate, reduce or ignore differences? By drawing attention to the latest research into the most effective educational policies and practices, this insightful book suggests strategies for meeting the challenges being posed in an era of superdiversity. It’s a crucial read for any training or practising educator who wants to address the issue of diversity, learn effective ways to reach all learners and create more inclusive and harmonious societies.