Announced to Parliament on 11 December 2007, the Children's Plan sets out the Government's ambitions for improving children's and young people's lives over the next decade and how it intends to achieve them. The plan is set out under six strategic objectives:

a. securing the health and well-being of children and young people
b. safeguarding the young and vulnerable
c. achieving world-class standards
d. closing the gap in educational achievement for children from disadvantaged backgrounds
e. ensuring young people are participating and achieving their potential to 18 and beyond
f. keeping children and young people on the path to success

The government will set out and consult on a new relationship between parents and schools ensuring that parents will have more support and contact from schools, with schools providing regular updates on their child's attendance, behaviour and progress in learning. Parents Councils will ensure that parents' voices are heard within the school and parents' complaints will be managed in a straightforward and open way.

'Age not stage' tests will be introduced which children will take when they are ready and which, if current trials prove successful, will replace Key Stage tests at ages 11 and 14. Further plans are to devote more time to the basics so children achieve a good grounding in reading, writing and mathematics as well as making time for primary school children to learn a modern foreign language.

In special educational needs provision, the government will spend £18 million over the next three years to improve the quality of teaching for children with special educational needs. In early years, investment will be made to fund supply cover so early years workers can take part in continuing professional development. £44 million will also be allocated to help make teaching a Masters level profession, ensure new recruits spend at least one year in training and establish a Transition to Teaching programme to attract more people with science, technology and engineering backgrounds into teaching.

Every secondary school will be expected to have specialist, trust or academy status and every school to have a business or university partner. Local authorities will be expected to take swift and decisive action to prevent schools from failing and to reverse failure quickly when it happens.

Regarding standards of behaviour, every secondary school will be expected to participate in behaviour partnerships as recommended in the Steer Report, 2005. Sir Alan Steer will be asked to review progress towards this and depending on his findings, it may become compulsory for all maintained schools and academies to participate in them. 

To ensure that young people are participating and achieving their potential to 18 and beyond the government will develop three new Diplomas in science, humanities and languages to increase the options for young people and create a new independent regulator of qualifications.

Staffing for the Spring Term With over ten years experience we understand that there are certain points in the academic year when you urgently need to source experienced staff for longer term placements. That's where Capita can help. At a moment's notice we will handpick candidates with the right skills and experience to not only complete your team, but enhance it. Capita Education Resourcing gives you: Access to an extensive network of the best local, national and international teaching talent. An individually allocated personal consultant to take you through the whole process. A reputation based on quality. Thorough vetting procedures that adhere to all current DCSF legislation. Quality assurance: All our staff are suitably qualified, recruited, vetted and managed. Opening hours from 7:15am to 5:30pm. An out of hours service. Simply call freephone: 0800 731 6871   Primary 0800 731 6872   Secondary        0800 731 6873   Nursery Nurses, SEN & Support

Christmas Competition Winners   Throughout the 2007 festive period our offices ran various competitions giving us the opportunity to give something back to our clients. One such competition was the 'Design A Christmas Card' competition which was run from our Nottingham office. This competition gave pupils the chance to have their drawing made into an actual Christmas card. As well as printed versions of their card, both the winner (Charlotte Youles, Year 1) and the school (Moira Infant School) also received a hamper.   Pictured: Charlotte Youles' winning Christmas card design The Leeds office introduced a 'Christmas Drawing' competition to find budding artists in Nursery and Primary schools in the area. The winner of the best Christmas drawing in each class received a selection box and certificate with the overall winner (by prize draw) receiving £50 of vouchers to spend at Toys R Us.

Capita Conferences Capita Conferences has been successfully delivering topical, incisive events on education issues to the public sector for over 15 years. It aims to provide an impartial environment where representatives of local and national government, regulators and others deciding and implementing public policy in education can discuss major issues with leaders from academia, unions, parliamentarians and major interest groups.   Forthcoming conferences: Raising Achievement in Schools Conference - Overcoming Barriers to Learning and Life Skills Wednesday 30th January 2008 - Central London School Support Staff Conference Wednesday 30th January 2008 - Central London Capita's 6th National Ofsted School Inspections Conference Wednesday 27th February 2008 - Central London Parental Engagement- Supporting Children's Learning and Development- A Half-Day Briefing Thursday 28th February 2008 - Central London For further information contact Capita conferences: 0207 808 5252 www.capitaconferences.co.uk/Ourconferences/Education

Headteachers' Association Meeting   In November, Graham Leatham and Elaine Berry from the Primary team in Liverpool, attended the Liverpool Primary Headteachers' Association Autumn meeting. This provided an opportunity to speak to Headteachers directly about current issues relating to the provision of supply staff.   In particular, there was a focus on the vetting requirements for supply teachers as laid out by the DCSF. We were able to explain to Heads how CER exceeds these requirements to ensure that only the highest quality staff are sent in to schools.   A number of the Headteachers were very interested in the 'Email Vetting Confirmation Service' provided by Capita. This service means that schools have CRB information and other relevant vetting details about a supply teacher before the supply teacher arrives at school and ensures that Child Protection procedures are adhered to.   Pictured: Graham Leatham and Mr Daniels, Headteacher of Springwood Heath Primary School, Liverpool

Capita sponsors local schools   Capita Education Resourcing has sponsored The Royal Docks School in Newham, London. The donation of £1,000 was used to purchase a new Rugby kit for the school.   Capita Education Resourcing also sponsored Porth County Community school football team. The donation of £120 was put towards a new team football kit.

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