|
 |
Previous story (News Browser) Next story
Comment on this story
Parents who have chosen a Bexley school for their child, face being issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice if their attendance is poor regardless of where they live.
Bexley Council places a great importance on regular attendance at school, and Penalty Notices may be used in a range of situations when unauthorised absences occur. These include truancy, parent condoned absences for no good reason, holidays in term time and persistent lateness.
Reducing absences from school is a national as well as a local priority. Missing education can harm a child’s future prospects. It also puts them at risk of getting involved in anti-social behaviour or youth crime.
Any parent, or carer, who fails to ensure the regular attendance at school, of children of compulsory school age in their care, can now be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice as an alternative to being prosecuted by the Council.This means that they can pay the fine, rather than being prosecuted which could result in a criminal conviction. The fine will be either £50 or £100 and will apply to both parents of every child identified.
Parents will initially get a written warning of a Penalty Notice being issued. This will advise the extent of the child’s absences and gives 15 school days in which to make an improvement. During that period the pupil must have no unauthorised absences.
Comment on this story
At a business event last week, Resources Plus opened its new management training centre in Erith, and celebrated receiving its official accreditation from the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM).
The ILM accreditation enables Resources Plus, the Council’s training and skills division, to deliver ILM’s range of specialist management and supervisory training programmes for existing and aspiring team leaders and managers.
Resources Plus has an excellent proven track record in providing training in a number of areas, ranging from basic skills to high-level skills, as well as recruitment support for companies. It is now extending its service by offering the ILM’s complete Certificate in First Line Management to small and medium enterprises in Bexley. This is a 12 month course, covering ten modules, and those who successfully complete it will receive a level three certificate.
With funding from the London Development Agency (LDA), Resources Plus is able to offer the course at a subsidised rate, so that Bexley businesses only pay 50% of the normal cost. The facility is also open to businesses based in Lewisham and Greenwich.
To achieve accreditation, Resources Plus had to demonstrate to the ILM that it has appropriate expertise, policies and procedures in place to work with students to deliver the training for this prestigious certificate.
Courses will be held at the Council’s new hi-tech training centre located in the Erith Riverside Centre. The centre was opened at last week’s event and boasts high-spec computer suites and many new products, such as ‘Net Ops’ software, which allows tutors to remotely control any computer in the classroom. This enables the tutor to give demonstrations on the students’ own monitors and evaluate their learning.
Brand new video-conferencing facilities also enable tutors and students to link-up remotely - this could be used for experts in other parts of the country to give live seminars or for students to make contact with their tutor, even if they’re not at the centre.
Bexley SNAP are a local registered charity that provide support and services to families of disabled children and young people with special educational needs, living in the London Borough of Bexley. A parents’ meeting group was held on Thursday 16th March 2006, at Emmanuel Church, St. Katherine’s Road, Yarnton Way, Thamesmead, DA18 4DR
This was an opportunity for parents and carers of disabled children or young people with special educational needs, to come along and meet with each other and SNAP staff, and enjoy a cup of tea and a chance to browse and borrow books and videos from our library.
For further information, please call Bexley SNAP on 020 8311 6777 or email: outreach@bexleysnap.org.uk or visit our website: www.bexleysnap.org.uk
|
|
