package of measures designed to help headteachers

A package of measures designed to help headteachers get support for struggling pupils, and ease some of the workload burden, was outlined Beverley Hughes on Friday.

The Government wants to support headteachers by reducing the pressure on schools, enable heads to share responsibility with other professionals such as health and youth workers, and achieve the Children’s Plan vision of making this the best place in the world to grow up.

The measures include:

• £13 million for intensive support for vulnerable families, whose children may be struggling at school and a further £3m for young carers

• £10m 0-7 partnership coalitions between primary schools, early years providers, health and other family services, to make sure young children are ready to start school

• Revised guidance on how to manage pupils with behavioural, educational and social difficulties (BESD) in the classroom and mobilise support of other services

Full details are available on the DCSF website: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2008_0079