SEE BELOW FOR INFORMATION AND REVIEWS OF WORKSHOP DAY 2018.
"Supporting the school community through a nurturing approach - Gail Nowek, Education Scotland
Gail gave us an insight into the importance of relationships in children's school experiences, and how stress impacts on both physical and mental health. Nationally, we are moving away from an emphsis on teaching literacy and even behaviour, and towards an understanding that children need to learn self-regulation. To move successfully into the workplace, every young person needs social and emotional skills even more than they need qualifications. Feeling connectedness to their school, even reduces the risk of being involved in crime.
Teenage Cancer Trust - Jayne Easson
Jayne Easson from the Teenage Cancer Trust delivered an informative presentation on the work of the Teenage Cancer Trust. She started her presentation by giving us some background about how the Teenage Cancer Trust was started up as a service to support young people and their families after a cancer diagnosis. While working with young patients they found that they were not always aware that they could be diagnosed with cancer. This led the Teenage Cancer Trust to develop a set of resources to educate young people about cancer. They want to visit every secondary school to deliver a presentation to S2 pupils which raises the awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer and the importance of early diagnosis.
We also looked at the range of resources that can be used in secondary schools – from two lessons on sun safety in S1 (Shunburn) through to ‘Other People’, a drama that can be shown to pupils in S3 to S6. All the resources are available on the web-site. All present agreed that the resources were really useful and they could see how they could be incorporated into the PSE curriculum.
Talking about Learning Disability - Roseann Maguire & Ian Ennis
This was a hugely valuable workshop, looking at an anti-bullying resource which promotes understanding and acceptance of young people within our schools and people within our communities who have learning disabilities.
The initial discussion was around identifying what is meant by a learning disability, before moving on to look at the 5 lessons which have been created to encourage conversation with pupils regarding differences, rights and entitlements. This is a really useful series of lessons and resources which are aimed at breaking down the barrier between young people and people with learning disabilities. People with learning disabilities are more likely to be bullied and harassed.
Working with children to improve resilience is not as effective with children with learning disabilities. Working with children to increase greater acceptance and empathy of people with learning disabilities is more effective. We need to talk openly about differences.
There is a super ‘Teachers’ session and lesson summaries for staff to use prior to using the lessons too. Video is based on a true story.
A Fresh Perspective: Creative Approaches to Challenging Issues - Fraser Morrison
Fraser Morrison, of the company Creative Flame, ran a workshop on innovative and active learning approaches to internet safety. Fraser created the company with the idea of making PHSE lessons more pupil focused, less paper based and with the view to leaving a lasting impression on the young people he works with. This workshop had us experience a taste of the sessions Fraser runs: we were up on our feet- thinking about our digital footprint and using drama as a way to provoke thoughts on the impact the use of social media has on everyday lives. The session showed just how much discussion can be generated by pupil based activities and that by being more creative with the approach we take we can illicit more though from our pupils.
Families of prisoners - Graeme McKerracher & Rosie Reid, KIN Collective & KIN young people
This is an arts project, working with children and young people who have family members who are in prison. They run a range of other arts projects. KIN is specifically based with working with young people. Currently, they have a group of 11 people in the group.
20000 children have a parent in prison in Scotland at any time. This is more than children who have parents who divorce. The group has really diverse social backgrounds. The group works with good artists, and the art work stands by itself. The work is then displayed across Scotland at various venues. This is non exploitative of people’s stories. The group members are hopeful, positive and driven. They are not looking for sympathy.
The Golden Rules of KIN is a podcast where young people speak openly about what it’s like to have a family member in prison. The podcast explores the things that people say and the way that people react. A podcast was shown about the young people’s experience of Guidance Teachers and the support they received. Songs were written by group of prisoners. The KIN group responded by creating a poem.
KIN is a nationwide group. We can refer young people between age 14 and 25.
Resources can be brought into school. Funding is provided,, so there is no cost to the school.
Lifeskills with Barclays - Elaine Gorman
The impact of pornography on young people and their relationships - Nadine Jassat, Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre
There will soon be some provision for every local authority in Scotland (NB Argyll & Bute has a separate longstanding TESSA programme which predates the national prevention programme - information here: http://www.tessaproject.co.uk/)