|
Towards 2010 is the draft proposal from Paul Carter, Leader of
Kent County Council, for addressing the seven key areas he promised
to deliver on.
These are cited as
- Increased Prosperity for Kent through business growth and job
creation
- Transformation in education
- Reduced congestion
- Improved health and quality of life
- Quality homes in well managed environment
- A safer Kent
- Continued improvements in services whilst keeping council tax
down
Managing Incidents
Produced in response to the Department for Children, Schools and
Families (DCSF) and Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)
jointly agreed guidance document Crime Recording by Police
Officers Working in Schools. The
Managing Incidents in Schools document addresses the key issue
that managing behavioural incidents in school is the responsibility
of school managers and staff in the first instance although police
may become involved later. The document aims to build on the
memorandum of understanding that exists between Kent Police and
schools; preventing where possible the criminalisation of young
people and ensuring schools are safe and secure environments. The
document refers to any incident that could be construed as a crime.
If an incident is a racial incident then schools should follow
existing KCC policy on managing racial incidents. If the incident
is or may be related to child protection then existing child
protection procedures must be followed. Incidents involving
substance misuse should be dealt with in accordance with KCC's Drug
Incident Management policy.
Transformation
Transformation in education has been interpreted as 'Learning
for everyone - getting it right from the start'. This is a focus on
early years and building essential social skills and good behaviour
to enhance opportunities for learning.
The specific target that is relevant to Kent Safe Schools is
- Work with Headteachers to encourage a zero tolerance approach
towards disruptive behaviour, bullying and vandalism.
Kent Safe Schools has well evaluated models of best practice and
continues to strive for news way in which to develop services.
Kent Safe Schools is well placed to support this target and is
already a proactive member of the Anti-Bullying Strategy Steering
Group. In conjunction with KCC Policy Office and other key
partners, Kent Safe Schools is looking at the wealth of ways we can
support schools to tackle bullying.
Young People's Safety Forum
The Young People's Safety Forum is a joint initiative between
Kent Youth County Council, Medway Youth Parliament, the Fire
Service, Kent Police and Kent Safe Schools. The forum seeks to
facilitate children and young people to identify issues of personal
safety most important to them and devise ways of tackling them
through raised awareness. The forum are currently designing a
leaflet based on Anti-Social Behaviour, by young people for young
people. It is intended to advise young people as to what
constitutes ASB and the attached penalties. This is an area that
the young people feel lacks clarity and causes concern.
The leaflet will be launched later this year.
Super Nanny joins the Thanet Team
Kent Safe Schools has recruited a Parenting Officer to work in
the Thanet area, identifying the gaps in parenting advice and
training and providing classes and programmes for parents of
children who are excluded or are at risk of becoming excluded from
school. Already nicknamed the Super Nanny, Christine has been busy
mapping existing services and helping to form a multi agency team
to best support the needs of the parents of Thanet. Christine is
planning a conference in February next year for parents in Thanet
to provide information about services available. For further
information please email
kentsafeschools@kent.gov.uk
Kent takes action to stop bullying
In July this year Kent Safe Schools appointed the first ever
Kent Anti Bullying Co-ordinator. Jan Tutill has taken the role and
will be working with young people and schools to stop bullying and
raise awareness.. Jan will be visiting schools across Kent to offer
support and training as well as chairing the Anti Bullying Strategy
Group to look at new ways of tackling bullying. She is currently
planning lots of activities for Anti Bullying Week in November. If
you would like to contact Jan, please email
jan.tutill@kent.gov.uk |