Children First

Childrenfirst Putting Children First in North Tyneside

Summer 2009

“There are many forms of talent and creativity and many kinds of achievement – and we need them all. Recognising that is important to young people individually and to all of us. Quite simply, it’s our future.”

North Tyneside Council is already committed to developing and nurturing the individual talents and personalities of the borough’s children and young people.

For example, through its unique ‘Be Spirited’ programme, the successful ‘Gifted and Talented’ scheme for pupils, the popular schools' music service which is continually nurturing young musical talent by making music a positive aspect of every child’s education, and through its Year of Sport.

Pupils help to launch the scheme

Shine 09 puts talent in the frame

North Tyneside talent is in the frame this summer - with every single pupil involved in the national ‘Shine 2009’ schools festival, which began this week (w/c 6 July).

Shine 2009 is a national event which allows young people to showcase their talents, and to focus on their positive contribution to society.

During Shine Week, the council is encouraging every single school to celebrate all that is good in our young people - their talents, achievements and everything they are proud of.

Shine National Development Manager Carol Alevroyianni said: “North Tyneside is the first local authority in the country to take up the challenge of finding and celebrating the talent in every one of the borough’s young people, and I believe you will achieve your goal.”

Gill Alexander, Strategic Director, Children,Young People and Learning, added: “Everyone has a spark and something to offer, and every child and young person matters. Here in North Tyneside we want to broaden how we look for potential in young people and make sure we give every young person the chance to shine.

Keeping you informed | www.northtyneside.gov.uk

North Tyneside was also selected as one of only ten ‘Find Your Talent’ pathfinder authorities in 2008, in partnership with South Tyneside Council and the Customs House, to develop a programme to create access to high quality cultural experiences and projects for young people.

To find more information on Shine 2009 visit www.shineweek.co.uk

Inside this issue

Tyne Gateway Partnership Pilot

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Schools success

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Please keep me safe

BSF - the next steps Young democracy

Working closer with communities

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Find me a foster family

North Tyneside Council’s Fostering Service has launched its 2009 campaign to recruit foster carers for older children and teenagers.

Featuring the ‘wish-lists’ of real children in care, the aim is to encourage potential carers to think about what they could offer an older child in need of a home.

Tyne Gateway Partnership Pilot progresses The recruitment of 20 ‘Community Entrepreneurs’, to deliver North and South Tyneside Councils’ joint scheme to tackle child poverty, is now underway.

The scheme’s official title is the Tyne Gateway Partnership Childhood Poverty Innovation Pilot Project, but in the community it will run as ‘Moving on up – for you and your family.’

will enable them to develop skills to become links between local families and the support available from public, private and community organisations.

Areas selected for the scheme have some of the highest levels of economic deprivation in the borough.

In North Tyneside, recruitment will be in:

The Community Entrepreneurs will be parents and carers from communities within both boroughs, and their task will be to support people in their area out of poverty, in what will be a flexible full-time role with an annual salary of around £16 – 18K.

Longbenton – one post Shiremoor – one post Seaton Burn – one post Hillheads area of Whitley Bay – one post Willington/Willington Quay/Howdon/Rosehill – three posts North Shields/Chirton/ Meadowell/Percy Main – three posts.

And once the successful applicants have been identified, they will receive some initial training to help them decide if the role is for them – and then support to apply for it.

Once appointed, further training

If you know of someone in the community within which you work, who you think could be considered for the role, please email Jill Baker at mail@jillbakerconsulting.co.uk.The recruitment phase ends on the 31st July 2009.

Social workers, children’s centre workers, and other selected children’s services staff have already had the project explained to them and told how they can put forward potential suitable candidates for the roles.

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The plan is to have the Community Entrepreneurs in place by the end of the year.The scheme is then funded until March 2011, although funding could be extended if the pilot is a success.

Posters, bus-shelter adverts, leaflets and press advertising have been supported by regular radio advertising on Metro Radio, featuring the voices of some of the young people already living with North Tyneside’s foster carers.

The campaign also has the backing of local radio phone-in host Alan Robson, from Metro Radio’s Night Owls programme, who interviewed North Tyneside foster carer Russell Easton, on air, in June.

Paula Gibbons, fostering team manager, said: “We urgently need to recruit more foster carers, especially for older children and teenagers, and we hope this campaign will help people who had never previously considered fostering as a career, to think about the difference they could make to a young person’s life, and to ring us to find out more information about the process and support we offer.

“The young people’s messages are so powerful I am confident that as a result, we will recruit more foster carers to provide safe and supportive homes for young people in North Tyneside.”

Below: some of the looked-after young people who helped design the campaign.

The election of John Akinropo as Young Mayor presents a real opportunity to break new ground in enabling young people to shape democratic decisionmaking.

Choices, Choices, Choices This year we will come to the end of our first five-year plan for children in North Tyneside, and the world is undoubtedly a very different place to what it was in 2005.

The creation of an integrated Children’s Service and strong Children,Young People and Learning Partnership Board has delivered significant improvements for children and young people.

Our children and young people now perform above the national average at KS1, KS2, KS3 and KS4.

Strong collaboration has reduced our permanent exclusions from schools down to zero.

Our Looked After Children have some of the best GCSE results in the country.

Our Capital Programme has delivered new school buildings and transformed playsites, and accelerated entry into BSF gives us an unprecedented opportunity to deliver 21st century learning environments for all.

Our Early Years services and Children’s Centres provide high quality services for families and our new Integrated Youth Support Service provides targeted support for young people.

We have a national reputation for delivering high quality care and education for children with additional educational needs and; Our targeted interventions are beginning to halt the range of childhood obesity.

The list could go on.

But before we go off on our summer holidays with a cosy glow we need to consider those areas where our impact has been relatively marginal.

Targets

Lately, I have found myself in a number of performance management meetings trying to explain why our teenage conception rates remain higher than the national average; why our participation rates post-17 and achievement of ‘A’ level equivalent qualifications are below the national average; why childhood obesity rates in our most deprived area remain high and why the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), remains higher than the national average.

Again the list could go on.

Children’s Services have been the subject of more national prescription than any other public service and the national target setting agenda has forced us to consider each indicator in isolation, and put an action plan in place for each.

However, as we enter the next five years of improving outcomes for children and young people, I worry that we are missing the point. I am reminded of professor Dumbledore’s advice to Harry Potter;

“It is our choices, Harry, that make us what we truly are, far more than our skills and abilities.”

Choices

We cannot force children, young people and families to make certain choices. However, we do need to better understand what motivates some to default to choices that lead to poorer outcomes.

Perhaps we need to consider how we can develop the skills of all those who work with young people, so they can become ‘choice architects’, that is, people who are skilled at interacting with young people in a non-paternalistic way to ‘nudge’ them to default to choices for themselves that make their lives better.

Over the next six months we will be appraising the last five years and developing a shared plan that will take us to 2015. In putting this plan together we need to make the right choices about how we will allocate finite resources to shape a better future for children.

If we are going to turn a corner in relation to some of our more entrenched problems, we will need to joint the dots in a different way.

Putting Children First in North Tyneside

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By Paul Cook, Head of Safeguarding, North Tyneside Council

Please keep me safe

This message of hope, which all children and young people need to be able to depend upon, is the opening line of Lord Laming’s latest report.

The death of Baby Peter in Haringey has focused attention on the policies and procedures in place to protect children and young people. We have a heavy responsibility to ensure those who are vulnerable are identified and protected.

Following the latest Laming report, the government has put in place an action plan for all those involved in child protection to follow.

The major changes are: 1. The development of the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit, which will be operational from July 2009.

2. New statutory targets for safeguarding and child protection to be in place by Autumn 2009.

3. The Children’s Act procedure for protecting children is to be revised and re-published by December 2009.

4. A social work reform programme to be set out by Autumn 2009, to strengthen the recruitment and retention of social workers and to

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assist with issues of caseload and work balance.

5. Safeguarding inspections, including ‘no notice’ annual stock-takes of Duty and Assessment Teams, as well as a three-yearly programme of full inspections of services to looked-after children and safeguarding services.

We have already started on a journey in North Tyneside to strengthen our highly regarded Protection Services.

We have introduced additional independence and challenge into our Local Safeguarding Children Board through the appointment of an independent chairperson.

Children aged under four years have had their protection plans particularly scrutinised. Early Years provision for those aged under four years is provided as part of the protection plan.

Any care team disagreement over a protection plan, or conflict over a decision to initiate legal proceedings is now immediately taken to the Head of Safeguarding for resolution and active planning.

We are improving information sharing systems and protocols.

We are increasing workforce training and development opportunities.

We will provide a comprehensive ‘Family Recovery Programme’ to support and challenge those families who risk failing their children.

We will develop the North Tyneside Assessment Framework to ensure a seamless and transparent means of delivering services across all tiers of need.

These practical steps are concrete examples of our commitment to be accountable in our duty to protect vulnerable children and young people.

‘Please Keep Me Safe’ is something we take seriously. We must judge our services by the ability to deliver this most basic of rights in a thorough, robust and consistent manner. We believe the recent changes have significantly strengthened our safeguarding services.

The plans we have in place for the next year will further increase our capacity to work quickly to identify, support and protect those most in need, and we look forward to delivering this high level of service with our partners.

Artsmark

accolades all round

The scheme also encourages schools to work in partnership with artists and arts organisations. Schools can apply for awards at one of three levels Artsmark, Artsmark Silver or Artsmark Gold.

North Tyneside now has 30 schools with Artsmark status, 19 of them Artsmark Gold.

North Tyneside schools have had their best ever year in the national Artsmark awards, bagging the highest number of total awards in the region.

14 schools have achieved an Artsmark this year, eight of these at the highest level of Artsmark Gold.

Artsmark is Arts Council England's national arts award for schools that demonstrate a commitment to developing their arts provision - from drama to music, design to literature, dance to sculpture.

The 14 successful schools this year were: Amberley Primary School Artsmark Gold

Bailey Green Primary School Artsmark Gold Burradon Community Primary School - Artsmark Greenfields Community Primary School - Artsmark Silver Hadrian Park Primary School Artsmark

Hazlewood Community Primary School - Artsmark

John Spence Community High School - Artsmark Gold

Priory Primary School - Artsmark

Redesdale Primary School Artsmark Gold

Rockcliffe First School - Artsmark Gold St Cuthbert’s RC Primary School - Artsmark Silver Shiremoor Primary School Artsmark Gold

Waterville Primary School Artsmark Gold

Whitehouse Primary School Artsmark Gold

Gill Alexander, Strategic Director for Children,Young People and Learning, said: "This is an excellent achievement and demonstrates North Tyneside’s commitment to encouraging and developing the arts across all of our schools."

TES says Travel Training Area is tops The innovative Independent Travel Training Area at Beacon Hill School has won the title of Outstanding Special Needs Initiative in the Times Education Supplement (TES) school awards 2009.

The awards recognise the professionalism and flair of those making an outstanding contribution to primary and secondary education in the maintained and independent sectors.

The area, which is used by pupils from across Tyne and Wear, houses life-sized,

working Pelican, Puffin and Zebra crossings and street furniture, to enable young people with special education needs to build road awareness and confidence before venturing out on their own.The regular provision of an out of service working bus also helps the young people to practise appropriate behaviour on public transport.

Gerard Kelly, Editor,Times Educational Supplement, said: “Beacon Hill’s entry was simply terrific. Its commitment to pupils and the originality it displays in teaching are outstanding.The independent travel training facility is a wonderful initiative, promoting independence for all students.”

Putting Children First in North Tyneside

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Conference moves services for disabled children forward Simple things can often make a huge difference to families and North Tyneside Council is committed to listening to and understanding parents, through events such as the Altogether Better Conference.

This conference, for families with disabled children, is organised regularly by the North Tyneside Parents Steering Group and the latest event was held at the Grand Hotel,Tynemouth, in March.

Pupils make their mark on new school

Parents attending heard about some of the most recent positive changes for disabled children made in North Tyneside, including: Independent travel opportunities for young disabled people Beacon Hill as a centre of excellence

Glebe and Goathland pupils have been making their mark on their new school.

The new development will bring together Goathland Primary School and Glebe Special School in one integrated location.

It will include specialist classrooms, sports and health areas, a nursery, and after school and community facilities.

The campus will also be home to a dedicated centre for borough-wide language, communication and therapeutic services, and is due for completion by spring 2010.

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Plans to appoint a Key Worker Development Officer.

These developments and others like them are very often the result of acting on the views and requests of parents.

Events like this conference have been designed and developed to bring families together to share experiences and help each other in similar circumstances.

And many of those attending felt that since the first conference, things were really starting to change for children with disabilities in North Tyneside.

The next conference is planned for late Autumn 2009.

And Bridget can boast an even more outstanding record. She has not missed a single day of school since she started at St. Mary’s Primary School in Cullercoats, as a five year old.

They added their personal designs to beamed sections of the new framework for the school, during a trip to Finlay Steel Fabricators, County Durham, and were given the chance to see the beams craned into position, in June.

Gill Alexander, Strategic Director, Children,Young People and Learning, said: "This was a fantastic opportunity for the children to take some real ownership of their new building, as well as see their designs put on display.”

Further accommodation to provide suitable short-break resources for children with complex needs within the borough

Students are 100 percent committed Two students from St Thomas More have cause for celebration. Neither Bridget McClean nor Amanda Kirkby, both 16, have missed a single day of high school.

Bridget’s proud father, Peter McClean, said: “Bridget has always been enthusiastic about school and we have always encouraged her to be positive. We are thrilled that she has been so successful.”

And Amanda’s mum Teri Kirkby said: ”We always encouraged Amanda to treat going to school in the same way as you would as going to work, so full attendance was always expected.”

Head teacher at St Thomas More, Diane Donkin, added: " It has been a great pleasure to have both girls in school every single day. We wish them every success in their futures.”

Building Schools for the Future A beacon Following its successful initial submission to be part of the government's interim wave 6a of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF)

programme, the journey to transform North Tyneside's vision of a world-class learning borough, into reality, is well under way.

BSF timeline – the journey so far Apr 08

Council is invited by DCSF to join wave 6a of BSF.

Nov 08

First five projects to benefit from wave 6a are agreed by Cabinet.

Jan 09

Council gains formal approval from the DCSF to enter the BSF process.

Apr 09

First part of Council’s Strategy for Change (SfC), outlining key objectives and depicting what is to be done, is approved by DCSF.

Present Second part of SfC being prepared for issue and approval over the summer, depicting how will we deliver our transformation plans.

Early conceptual design work is taking place for each project with a focus on ensuring that the core principles set out in each school's vision is reflected in the design solutions.

The Council is also awaiting central government's confirmation regarding timescales for the remaining secondary and middle schools.

The schools in Wave 6a are:

Churchill Community College

Longbenton Community College completing the campus, with a primary, special and high school working together.

Marden High and Southlands Schools - creating a campus solution with Southlands School and Monkhouse Primary School.

Norham Community Technology College

Seaton Burn Community College

North Tyneside Council’s BSF web pages are now up and running and will be regularly updated as the programme progresses.They can be viewed at www.northtyneside.gov.uk

of help for struggling schools

Helen Jones, from Beacon Hill School,Wallsend, has become one of only around 100 heads throughout the country to be appointed as a National Leader of Education (NLE), by the National College for School Leadership.

It also means Beacon Hill School is now dedicated a National Support School (NSS).

Helen’s new role will see her using her experience and expertise to provide leadership and support to struggling schools, as well as nurturing the next generation of national leaders.

She said: “I am very pleased for myself and the school that our work has been nationally recognised in this way.

“Beacon Hill’s success is focused clearly on the needs of the children and young people we work with and is a great team effort. I am proud to lead that team and hope we will be able share some of our skills and knowledge with other schools.”

Toby Salt, Deputy Chief Executive of NCSL, said: “I am so proud that outstanding school leaders, like Helen Jones, are being honoured in this way.

“NLEs, supported by their schools, have a more important role to play than ever in ensuring that excellent school leadership and the best possible opportunities are available to as many children as possible.”

Putting Children First in North Tyneside

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Connor Sutherland - Sports & Play Provision for Under 13’s Playsites, Kids Clubs and sports facilities.

Sarah Cassidy - Sports and Youth Provision for 13 years and over Sports opportunities, youth clubs and centres, places to go.

Lucy Gallagher - Community Safety Anti-bullying, crime reduction and prevention.

Changing the face of young democracy

In a pioneering move for young democracy, the borough’s first Young Cabinet has been established.

Their primary purpose is to support North Tyneside’s Young Mayor John Akinropo. Members will each have their own area of responsibility, just like the council’s real cabinet, and they will help influence his overall plan and budget.

Existing members of North Tyneside’s Youth Council and unsuccessful young mayoral candidates could apply for portfolio positions, and the selected group will meet monthly to look at issues relating to their portfolio areas, as well as inviting speakers to join them to talk about key council issues.

Vicki Nixon, Participation and Engagement team manager says: “The young cabinet is a pioneering way of getting our young people truly involved in the council’s work across the borough.These young people are all extremely enthusiastic about their new roles, and we’re very excited to have them all on board, playing a truly active role in helping to influence council decision making.”

If you’d like to work with the Young Mayor, or get him involved in an event, then please email young.mayor@northtyneside.gov.uk and his support officer will contact you.

If you’d like more information on the Young Mayor please email nicola.nicholls@northtyneside.gov.uk Children First is your newsletter – a chance for all partners delivering services to children and their families to share information and celebrate achievements.

Jasmine McKinnon - Climate Change Cleaner streets, recycling, energy saving and going green.

Jack Topham - Community Engagement Gathering young people’s ideas, consultations and events.

Becky Stark - Transport Help improve transport services for young people, new travel schemes.

Abe Truman - Finance Managing the Young Mayor’s budget.

Tallia Gillan - Young People’s Health.

Diet, physical, spiritual and mental health.

James Kavanagh - Wellbeing Working with health professionals around issues such as teenage pregnancy, drugs and alcohol.

Morgan Lee - Communications Ensuring young people receive information and reviewing young people’s magazines.

Amy Bain - Equality & Diversity Encourage greater participation from young people from all minority groups.

Kyle Myers - Deputy Young Mayor and member for Positive Images Promoting all positive images of young people and celebrating successes of young people.

Abigail Moffett Education & Learning Working with the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) team and ensuring children and young people’s views are represented in all aspects of education and learning.

Andrew Elliott - North West Area

Connor Towes - North East Area Daniel Guest - South West Area

Danielle Thomas - South East Area

If you would like to contribute to the next edition, please e-mail: nicola.nicholls@northtyneside.gov.uk, or tel 643 5081.