The Alcohol Education Trust - Teacher Newsletter

 Spring Term Mar 2016 Ed 26

It is disappointing news that PSHE is to remain a ‘should teach’ rather that a ‘must teach’ topic in spite of all of our letters and submissions over the last year. However, it is good to read that it is high on the agenda for Rt Hon Nicky Morgan MP, Secretary of State for Education. You can read her letter here.

The PSHE Association commented ‘We know the education community supports the subject, not just because it is crucial to fulfilling the Ofsted framework and meeting duties in relation to safeguarding and wellbeing, but also because preparing pupils for academic, personal and professional success is a core part of what we all do. We now call on SLTs, heads, governors, academy sponsors and local authorities to work with us as we redouble our efforts to improve PSHE education in all schools.’

Certainly, Kathryn, Sandra, Helen and myself are absolutely aware of how hard PSHE leads, tutors, pastoral leads, school nurses and head teachers work to ensure that PSHE is given the time and respect as a subject that it deserves. Schools where PSHE is integral to the ethos understand what a valuable contribution it makes to pupil wellbeing and academic success too, as students feel valued, informed and more prepared for life.

Understanding the time pressures that PSHE can face, we are very careful to make the planning of lessons on alcohol as easy as possible. That’s why you’ll find our online resources are listed by topic – such as ‘units and guidelines’ and ‘alcohol and its effects social and physical’, but also categorised by suitability for each year group. We’ve also tried to provide for every time frame too, from a simple worksheet in tutor time, right through to whole schemes of work for drop down days.

If you ever need advice, you can contact Kathryn in the North West (kathryn@alcoholeducationstrust.org), Sandra in the North East (sandra@alcoholeducationtrust.org) or Helen in Central/South East England hdougan@alcoholeducationtrust.org) – and Kate for other areas (kate@alcoholeducationtrust.org) – especially if you are near our main office in the South West!

Save the date! Evidence based best practice in alcohol and drugs education - Empowering young people to make healthy choices

A day with an opportunity to attend workshops on effective programmes, tools, tips, planning and evaluation advice

On the 19th October 2016, The Alcohol Education Trust and Mentor are drawing together a group of experts to showcase effective good practice that can be used in education settings across the UK for alcohol and drugs education and prevention.

This conference and selection of workshops will offer teachers, PSHE leads, Local Authorities and those working in the field of alcohol and drugs with young people the opportunity to learn about the most highly trialled and rigorously tested programmes available in the UK. The morning will be dedicated to exploring trends as regards the drinking and drugs use of young people in The UK, Government and Public Health priorities as regards preventative and early intervention work in drugs and alcohol, and how and why programmes are evaluated and by whom.

The morning will conclude with a question and answer session where delegates will be invited to post their concerns and experiences around drugs and alcohol education to a panel of experts.

The afternoon will offer delegates an opportunity to attend training and information sessions on planning a scheme of work around alcohol and drugs education, training in The Alcohol Education Trust Talk About Alcohol programme, and Unplugged introductory training. Delegates will leave with resources and access to training powerpoints.

To find out more email: Helena Conibear via helena@alcoholeducationtrust.org or Michael O’Toole via: michael.otoole@mentoruk.org

Recommended speaker status for The Girls school Association  

We’re very pleased that following a recommendation as a result of one of our parent talks, The Alcohol Education Trust is now listed as a recommended speaker on the members-only area of The Girls’ School Association website!

www.gsa.uk.com

The new www.talkaboutalcohol.com website launch draws closer!

We are well under way with phase 2 of the new interactive www.talkaboutalcohol.com website – which will be ready for you all to use by June! With games especially developed for us by Bournemouth University and Bangor University. We are really excited that this will enliven opportunities for teaching in the classroom. There will be on line quizzes, an interactive body, challenges and games designed around engendering behaviour change and changing social norms! We will be looking for a few schools to pilot the new site in May – if you’d like to volunteer, please email helena@alcoholeducationtrust.org

Looking for funding partners for take our SEND resources beyond greater London

Over the last year, we have created with Image In Action a comprehensive suite of alcohol education resources built around pictures and stories. These are now in use following a pilot and trial in Greater London and are receiving a relieved and welcome response. We were shocked by the lack of resources on alcohol for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and so are extremely pleased to be addressing the need with a comprehensive suite of engaging activities.

We are now looking for funding to ensure the resources can be made available to children with SEND all over the UK. Please do get in touch if you have ideas or recommendations. Costs are approximately £90 for a 30 page workbook and additional powerpoints, pictures, scenarios and activities. For more information contact, Helen Dougan via hdougan@alcoholeducationtrust.org

You may find the following papers of interest

Personal Social Health and Economic (PSHE) Education under the coalition government

Research report January 2016 - Ben Willis and Claire Wolstenholme

http://www.shu.ac.uk/research/ceir/sites/ceir/files/PSHE%20Research%20report%20January%202016.pdf

Brief school-based interventions and behavioural outcomes for substance-using adolescents

Brief interventions have been shown to reduce problematic substance use among adolescents and are especially useful for individuals who have moderately risky patterns of use. Such interventions can be conducted in school settings. This review set out to evaluate the effectiveness of brief school-based interventions for adolescent substance use: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/enhanced/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD008969.pub3

Mentor Adepis paper for teachers and practitioners on Life-skills based education

As part of a series produced for teachers and practitioners on alcohol and drug education and prevention, Mentor ADEPIS have produced a paper on life-skills based education.

The paper serves to provide governors, head teachers and teachers with practical guidelines on how to help them implement holistic life-skills based education programmes to ensure young people build resilience to alcohol and drug use.

http://mentor-adepis.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Life-skills-based-education-for-alcohol-and-drug-prevention.pdf

AET resources comprise of www.alcoholeducationtrust.org and www.talkaboutalcohol.com a Teacher Workbook, booklets ‘Alcohol and You’ for 15yrs+ and ‘Talking to Your Kids About Alcohol’ parent and carer guide. 

We also offer teacher CPD workshops and parent information talks.

For further information on any of the above please contact
Helena Conibear, Founder, Director helena@alcoholeducationtrust.org
Sandra Saint, Parent and Schools Coordinator NE sandra@alcoholeducationtrust.org
Kathryn Arnott-Gent, Parent and Schools Coordinator NW kathryn@alcoholeducationtrust.org
Kate Hooper, Schools Coordinator  kate@alcoholeducationtrust.org
Helen Dougan, Project Manager hdougan@alcoholeducationtrust.org

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Trustees
Gordon Redley BEd (Cantab)
Victoria Mc Donaugh MA (Hons), PGCE
Alison Winsborough BMus, PGCE
Patricia Garven, Cert Ed.
Rod Hoare, MBE

The Alcohol Education Trust, Frampton House, Frampton, Dorset, DT2 9NH

01300 320869

Registered Charity Number 1138775

www.alcoholeducationtrust.org

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