Implementing the Every Child Matters Strategy

The Essential Guide for School Leaders and Managers

Rita Cheminais

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2010
• eBook ISBN: 9781135168506
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Early Childhood Education

Implementing the Every Child Matters Strategy is a comprehensive resource for senior leaders, managers of Every Child Matters (ECM) and teachers responsible for leading the government's ECM strategy in primary and secondary schools and other education settings such as Academies, Sixth Form Colleges, short stay schools, Children's Centres and Early Years settings.

Featuring step-by-step advice, photocopiable checklists and templates, with suggestions for further activities in relation to implementing and embedding the government's ECM strategy in schools/education settings, this practical guide will enable readers to:

• understand the concept and principles of Every Child Matters and translate those into developing an ECM policy for their school/setting
• know their role in moving ECM policy, practice and provision forward
• understand the importance of ECM well being for effective learning
• embed ECM through school improvement planning, target setting, tracking pupils well being outcomes and efficient resource deployment
• identify effective strategies to promote productive partnership working to improve ECM outcomes for children and young people
• understand the OFSTED inspection requirements for pupils ECM well being.

An invaluable resource for those professionals strategically leading ECM in their own education setting, it offers practical guidance, recommended management approaches, models of good practice and signposting to further sources of information on how best to ensure ECM is woven and embedded throughout the school/setting.

Frameworks and checklists are downloadable from: http://www.routledgeteachers.com/resources/fulton

1
Strategic Direction and Development of Every Child Matters

This chapter covers:

• recruiting and appointing a manager for Every Child Matters (ECM);

• the role of the governing body and school staff for ECM;

• developing the ECM vision, policy and charter;

• provision management and mapping for ECM;

• budget allocation for ECM;

• development planning for ECM;

• whole-school target setting for ECM outcomes;

• information for the School Report Card on ECM;

• questions for further reflection.

Recruiting and appointing a manager for ECM

Forward-thinking schools in the twenty-first century, as part of workforce remodelling, are appointing a manager for ECM to oversee this important government strategy. The manager for ECM plays a pivotal role in driving ECM throughout the school. For this important strategic role, it is crucial to appoint the appropriate person who will be an effective change agent and have a positive impact on promoting ECM well-being among all pupils.

The manager of ECM requires the backing and support of the headteacher and the governing body. They are an important member of the senior leadership team and are frequently expected to take on the strategic management of ECM alongside their role as a deputy headteacher or assistant headteacher.

The first step to recruiting a manager of ECM is to produce a concise and clearly worded advertisement that portrays an accurate description of the requirements for this high-profile position, in order to attract the highest calibre of prospective applicants. The example of the advertisement illustrated in Figure 1.1 provides a generic model that can be tailored or customised to suit the context and phase of the education setting. It gives a general overview of the role and attributes required by such a key senior member of staff. The scale of pay will be governed by the group and size of the school. The advertisement should appear in the Times Educational Supplement (TES), in the local newspaper and in the local authority (LA) job bulletin. The advertisement, along with an application form, job description and person specification, should also be made available online by the school, the TES and the LA.

A model job description and person specification for a manager of ECM are illustrated in Figures 1.2 and 1.3, both of which may be tailored and adapted to suit the context and phase of the school or other education setting.

Assistant Headteacher: Manager of Every Child Matters MPS/UPS + TLR2b

Required for September 2010: an enthusiastic, highly motivated, committed qualified teacher with excellent pastoral experience to lead on all aspects of Every Child Matters in the school.

The core purpose of the role will be to implement and manage the ECM strategy, in order to ensure high standards in the five ECM well-being outcomes for pupils.

The qualities, skills and experience required:

• A secure knowledge of the government’s ECM initiative.

• A proven track record of promoting and improving pupils’ ECM well-being.

• Excellent communication skills in all formats.

• Proven negotiation, influencing and partnership skills.

• A commitment to enhancing staff professional development for ECM.

• An ability to lead, motivate, inspire and support staff.

• An ability to use and analyse pupil-level ECM outcomes data to support target setting.

• Experience in monitoring and evaluating ECM outcomes.

• High expectations of staff, pupils and partner external agencies.

The school offers:

• Membership on the school’s dynamic senior leadership team.

• Bespoke professional development.

• Committed and supportive staff and governors.

• Friendly pupils.

• A pleasant working environment with a dedicated office and laptop computer.

• A non-teaching commitment during the first year of ECM strategy implementation.

An application form and further details about the post are available from and returnable to the school.

Closing date for applications: Midday Wednesday 5th May 2010.

Interviews: Week beginning 17th May 2010.

Figure 1.1 Model advertisement for a manager of ECM

Assistant Headteacher: Manager of Every Child Matters MPS/UPS + TLR2b

JOB DESCRIPTION

Responsible to:	the headteacher
Responsible for:	implementing and managing all aspects of the Every Child Matters strategy within the school.
Principal purpose:	to manage a whole-school response to ECM; to provide guidance to staff on best practice in ECM in order to secure improved ECM well-being outcomes for pupils; to liaise closely with the headteacher, the governor responsible for ECM, the Curriculum, Assessment, Partnership and Extended School managers.

Main duties and responsibilities:

1 To develop an agreed whole-school vision, policy and charter for ECM.

2 To embed ECM across the curriculum as part of personalised learning.

3 To develop staff capacity to successfully deliver the ECM outcomes.

4 To monitor and evaluate the whole-school policy, provision and targets for ECM.

5 To produce a development plan for ECM which reflects the school improvement priorities for ECM.

6 To disseminate best practice in ECM within and beyond the school.

7 To manage the budget for ECM, identify new funding opportunities and ensure best value.

8 To keep up-to-date with national developments in ECM.

9 To lead and oversee the school’s participation in the national ECM Standards Award.

10 To oversee and coordinate the work of the school’s ECM team.

11 To act as a champion for pupils’ ECM well-being.

12 To undertake any other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the headteacher, which are commensurate with the grade of the job.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure with the CRB.

Figure 1.2 Model job description for a manager of ECM

Figure 1.3 Model person specification for a manager of ECM

Preparing for the interview process

Following the shortlisting process from the application forms received, the headteacher, with members of the governing body, will agree upon the venue, a programme for the interview day, the presentation title, and interview questions. Shortlisted applicants would be expected to arrange a visit to the school prior to the interview day.

Four possible presentation titles are offered in Figure 1.4, along with some suggested interview questions.

The role of the governing body and school staff for ECM

The ECM agenda is a prime consideration for all school governors, who are taking on significant responsibilit...

Table of contents

• Contents
• List of Figures and Tables
• Acknowledgements
• Abbreviations
• The Aim of this Book
• Introduction
• 1 Strategic Direction and Development of Every Child Matters
• 2 Leading and Implementing the Every Child Matters Strategy
• 3 Every Child Matters and Personalised Learning
• 4 Effective Partnerships for Delivering the Every Child Matters Outcomes
• 5 Meeting the OFSTED Inspection Requirements for Every Child Matters
• Glossary
• Useful Websites and Resources
• References and Further Reading
• Index