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New Community Schools
Issue 5: February 2002
Staff development forum
Argyll & Bute - A half-day seminar was held in April for partner
agencies, voluntary sector and members of the community to investigate the viability
of establishing a Portage scheme for Cowal. Portage provides home teaching services
for pre-school children with special needs. Volunteers are trained as home visitors
and support parents to be effectively involved in the child's learning. A wide
range of agencies, voluntary sector groups and parents attended.
Many hands make light work
East Ayrshire - Seven members of the community completed a 5-day course
on Introduction to Computing Skills. Staff completed an exercise on defining
what 'The Community' meant and how best to engage individual/groups.
East Dunbartonshire - Community Fitness programmes have been available
in both secondary schools. As a result of contact with NCS, local elderly people
have engaged in "Chairobics' classes.
Falkirk - Support to individuals was provided through groups such as
the VIP (Very Important Parents) group. Some staff were involved with the community
in the Working Together Learning Together Programme. There has also been joint
training in Achieving Better Community Development. A work placement through
Inter Employment has led directly to temporary work for the individual.
Highland - Ran Child Protection training which was an opportunity for
those staff (Social Work/ Education/Health) who had not received CP Training
to do so. This was open to parents and Community Volunteers to receive training
which is normally only available to professionals. Particular targets are volunteers
at Breakfast Club, After School Activities, Support to Vulnerable Children and
Families.
Moray - Offered training for staff and community members in participative
appraisal techniques (type of consultation involving active involvement of those
bing consulted). Community members also had access to multi-agency training
on co-operative games, involving children in decision making/discussing issues,
etc. In-depth child protection training was provided for youth 'drop-in' volunteers
and others.
In Fife, community volunteers for the school breakfast club were provided
with an elementary food hygiene course.
In North Lanarkshire Youth Leader's Training has been offered by Community
Services for all those adults who want to be involved in out-of-school activities
or work with young people. A Women's Development Group has a Group Worker supporting
the women to develop in a way dictated by their individual and group needs.
In both North Lanarkshire and Angus, training in Commerce Skills has
been run, teaching the skills necessary to run a group or organisation, such
as chairing a meeting, taking notes or simple book-keeping. Arbroath NCS has
also offered training to staff and the community on managing challenging behaviour.
In Scottish Borders it is now common practice to invite partner community
organisations to key in-service and training events. Primary and secondary teachers,
health staff, staff from voluntary youth work organisations attended a key in-service
on The Health Promoting School, giving opportunities for some people to meet
each other for the first time and to talk about development opportunities.
In Stirling, in one primary school, pupils ran introduction to ICT classes
for parents and members of the community.
In Renfrewshire a Peer Education Group ran training for nursery staff
on drug misuse. This changed the dynamic of the relationship between staff and
parents as parents were the 'experts' and had their expertise formally acknowledged,
as equal partners.
In Perth and Kinross, the North Perth NCS team used an
Abuse Prevention programme produced by Dundee Young Women's Project. Parents
were trained alongside staff. Along with Perth FE college, training in personal
skills for accessing FE or work was offered to 16 community members.
Perth & Kinross: Adult Learners
In East Renfrewshire, Children First were commissioned to provide child
protection training for the whole community school in Thornliebank Primary School.
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