News
Professional development in the early years by Maureen Lee
November 25 2016
I have been thinking again recently about how to provide the most valuable and enriching approaches to professional development in the early years. This was sparked by a visit with our EYITT tutors to Early Excellence in London where we were welcomed so warmly and had the opportunity to see and discuss many inspiring arrangements of equipment and resources for the early years.
Sue is HLTA of the Year 2016
November 25 2016
The fourth annual Higher Level Teaching Assistant of the Year awards were crowned with a national ceremony in Westminster this week.
Lincolnshire Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) Sue Brown - the East Midlands region winner - was awarded the Outstanding HLTA of the Year title. She was presented with a trophy and a framed certificate by MP Andrew Mitchell.
Outstanding HLTA of the Year Award 2015
November 24 2016
Nine regional winners enjoyed a tour of Parliament to celebrate their achievement, followed by the presentation ceremony. Dean Boyce from Best Practice Network welcomed the HLTAs, and guests included Professor Richard Rose (HLTA National Assessment Partnership), Brian Tytherleigh (NCTL), Zenta Henkhuzens (DfE) and Nic Daykin (Member of Parliament and Shadow Schools Minister).
Crisis at Christmas
November 23 2016
Best Practice Network work has again this year helped to support Crisis at Christmas by sponsoring 20 places. This will provide 20 homeless people with hot meals including Christmas dinner, a chance to shower and get clean clothes, a health check and information about Crisis’ year round services for training and support.
Let’s take some of the complexity out of school improvement
October 18 2016
It’s time that policy makers and some parts of the media took the time to understand the drivers of school performance. Organisational structures continue to remain a focus - the latest example is grammar schools, but we have had countless other attempts over the years to pretend that structure is what drives improvement.
Best Practice Network bids successfully
October 14 2016
Best Practice Network has successfully secured three contracts from the National College of School Leadership to deliver training on Leadership - Equality and Diversity.
The courses will take place primarily in Newham with an additional two programmes in Havering and will involve 20 female and ethnic minority leaders in each course. Best Practice Network will be working with local teaching schools to deliver the courses with Gill McMillan Associates delivering the coaching element.
From Special Measures to Good in just two years
October 10 2016
A new head's peer networking takes a hospital school from Special Measures to Good in just two years.
Improved CPD system raises attainment by 12%
October 10 2016
NPQSL graduate Adam Rashud shares his efforts to create a self sustaining school CPD system.
Meet our HLTA of the Year regional winners
October 03 2016
We’re proud to announce our regional winners of the 2016 Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) of the Year awards.
The winners in the South West, West Midlands and East of England regions - where Best Practice Network is the assessment provider for the HLTA programme - will now go to the national awards ceremony in London in November when the national winner will be chosen from nine regional finalists.
Many congratulations and best of luck to them all as we look forward to the national ceremony.
Could new CPD standards unlock career paths in our schools?
September 21 2016
The recently published standards for teacher professional development put in place a much needed framework for teaching schools and training providers to work with.
It also clarified things for all who work in our schools, spelling out exactly what they should expect from professional development. The key messages from these standards, which I won’t repeat as they can be read elsewhere, won’t be a surprise to anyone.