Simon Mayo supports drive to get boys writing!

• New National Literacy Trust research shows boys’ are half as likely to enjoy writing than girls
• Simon Mayo joins the charity’s campaign encouraging boys to write

New research published last week by the National Literacy Trust reveals that boys are half as likely to enjoy writing as girls and almost a third never or rarely write outside of class. Broadcaster and children’s author Simon Mayo joins the National Literacy Trust in calling for a renewed focus both at school and at home on ways to get boys into writing.

The National Literacy Trust’s third annual literacy survey of 35,000 8-16 year olds shows that boys are much less enthusiastic about writing than girls. The charity’s report Children and Young People’s Writing in 2012, outlines that:

• Almost a third of boys say they never or rarely write outside of class (30.2%), half as many girls admitted the same (17.3%) and a third of girls write outside of class daily (32.6%).

• Boys are twice more likely than girls to say that they don’t enjoy writing at all (20.9% vs. 8.6%)

• 1 in 5 boys (19.5%) admit that “I would be embarrassed if friends saw me write,” compared with 1 in 8 girls (12.7%)

• More girls than boys say that “writing is cool” (girls 35.2%, boys 26.8%)

• Boys are also more likely than girls to agree that “if you can use a spellchecker there is no point in learning spelling and grammar” (boys 30.6%, girls 21.7%)

The National Literacy Trust’s report also reflects a direct link between children’s enjoyment of writing and their results at school. Of those young people who don’t enjoy writing at all, over half write below the expected level, and two-fifths at the expected level. Only 7% of young people who don’t enjoy writing at all write above the level expected for their age.

Simon Mayo, author of the Itch series, whose protagonist is a 14-year-old boy obsessed with science and on a mission to collect all the elements in the periodic table, says:

“It’s so important for boys to find a topic that interests them before they pick up a pen and start writing. I wasn’t particularly interested in writing at school, I only started to enjoy it later on, but I was hampered by being fantastically slow. When I started writing the first Itch book, it was as a short story for my son, but then I was completely captivated by the plot and characters, and the story took over. If you can grab a child’s imagination in the same way, getting them to write about a hobby or something they really enjoy doing then the whole story writing world is open to them.”

This echoes findings from the National Literacy Trust’s report, showing that three quarters of children and young people (75.7%) claim “writing is more fun when you can choose the topic.”

Julie Gibbings, a Senior Programme Manager at the National Literacy Trust who lead’s the charity’s network for schools and literacy professionals says:

“Reading and writing go hand-in-hand and it is through writing that children learn to formulate thoughts and improve their creativity and thinking skills. Our research shows that we must focus on increasing boys’ enjoyment of writing, if we are to support them to succeed at school and throughout their future lives. It’s down to teachers as well as parents to nurture a love of writing in boys’ and help to develop positive attitudes towards it early on in their education.”

The National Literacy Trust has also today launched the results of its 2-year action research project: Transforming Writing. The project, sponsored by Esmée Fairbairn,has developed a systematic approach for assessing writing that aims to raise attainment among primary school pupils.

In summary, the Transforming Writing project increased pupil’s attainment in and enjoyment of writing in all of the 12 schools that took part in the two-year research project. Key results include:

• 68% of children who were taught by teachers participating in the Transforming Writing project made more than expected progress in writing during one academic year.

• Similar progress was made by all children, regardless of their gender. 66.7% of boys and 69.3% of girls made above expected progress.

• The proportion of all children who said they enjoyed writing ‘Quite a lot’ or ‘A lot’ increased by 10% (percentage points).

Visit www.wordsforlife.org.uk to view tips for parents on how to support their children, particularly boys, in improving their writing skills.

Schools competition: leading charities invite schools to share best practice in supporting pupils’ mental health and emotional wellbeing for a chance to win £5,000

• Top prize of £5,000 and two runner-up prizes of £2,500

•  Nine regional highly-commended awards

•  Esteemed judging panel led by Katherine Weare, Emeritus Professor of Education and Honorary Member, Faculty of Public Health

Friday 22nd March saw the Children & Young People’s Mental Health Coalition launch its Resilience and Results Competition, and calling on primary and secondary schools to showcase their best practice approaches to improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of their pupils.

Open to all schools in England, the competition gives schools an exciting chance to win a financial prize, kindly provided by Zurich Community Trust: the winning school will receive £5,000, with two runners-up getting £2,500 to invest in their mental health and emotional wellbeing programmes. There will also be nine ‘Highly-Commended’ awards, one per England region, to be won. By entering the competition schools will also be in with an exciting chance to have their best practice approaches profiled in a digital showcase that the Coalition will share with schools across the country.

Around three children in every class suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder,^[1] and the inextricable link between positive mental health and academic attainment is increasingly being recognised. Having published guidance for schools, ‘Resilience and Results: How to improve the emotional and mental wellbeing of children and young people in your school’ (September 2012), the Coalition is now inviting schools to enter its competition and demonstrate how they are making mental health and emotional wellbeing support for their pupils both a reality and a priority.

Mick Atkinson, Chair of Schools and Colleges for the Children & Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, said:

“Children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing directly impacts on their learning in the classroom, their academic attainment, and their overall life chances. Schools can play a hugely important role in providing their pupils with the support they need to flourish, at the time when they need it. 

“We are encouraged by the government’s pledge; “Better health outcomes for children and young people,” whichcommits the Department of Health to doing everything it can to improve the health of children and young people. The Resilience and Results Competition gives schools the opportunity to share how they embed mental health and emotional wellbeing support in their school cultures. Furthermore the examples captured through the competition will become a resource that is made available to schools across England, offering best practice approaches to supporting the mental health and emotional wellbeing of pupils.”

Simon Marshall, Headteacher at Highfield Community Primary School, said:

“It is hugely important that schools take active steps to ensure that their pupils are supported not just academically but also outside of the classroom, to help them to grow up as mentally healthy and emotionally resilient individuals.

“The guidance published for schools by the Coalition is a useful tool that can help schools to provide their pupils with the mental health and emotional wellbeing support that they need. Supporting pupils in this way is key to helping them on their journey to achieving their full potential.”

A panel of esteemed judges, led by Katherine Weare, Emeritus Professor of Education andHonorary Member at the Faculty of Public Health, will select the winning school and runners-up in June, with all winning entries being showcased on the Coalition website.

All schools in England will be sent an entry pack and invited to submit an entry to the Resilience and Results Competition that outlines their approaches to: promoting emotional wellbeing and mental health, tackling behavioural and emotional difficulties, demonstrating pupil and parent involvement, and innovation in the commissioning and delivery of services. Schools will be asked to evidence their successes through a written submission and also supplementary materials where possible including video, photography and staff and student testimonials.

The closing date for all entries to the Resilience and Results Competition is 6 May 2013. Further information about applying can be found at: www.cypmhc.org.uk/schools_competition_2013

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[1] Green, H., McGinnity, A., Meltzer, H., et al. (2005). Mental health of children and young people in Great Britain 2004. London: Palgrave.

Freedom Leisure Uckfield Launches After School Activities for Disabled Youngsters

Freedom Leisure Uckfield has started after school activities for young people aged eight to 18 with learning or physical disabilities.  The multi-sport club comprises games and creative activities and runs each Tuesday evening from 4.30pm-6.00pm. 

The activities include aerobic/movement sessions, play, sports and Wii competitions. Parents and carers are welcome to stay and watch – or they can enjoy some downtime at the Costa Coffee café in the Centre and take advantage of free re-fills there.

“We welcome disabled youngsters every day but feel that this dedicated session will enable our staff to really focus on each individual’s particular needs and interests,” says Nyssa Jackson, centre manager of Freedom Leisure Uckfield.  “The varied sessions will stimulate both creative and physical responses and we anticipate many of the youngsters will also enjoy making new friends as they take part in team work,” she says.  “Our expert staff will supervise all the activities and we hope that this will give parents and carers a little time to themselves – either to enjoy our facilities themselves or simply to sit back and chat in our cafe.”

The first eight sessions are funded by Sportivate, Active Sussex and Freedom Leisure Uckfield is confident this will help establish the programme in the community.  Thereafter, Freedom Leisure Uckfield will continue the Tuesday evening sessions every week during term time.

It costs just £3 per session for each youngster and this includes access to all the activities from 4.30pm to 6.00pm.  Booking is not necessary, but advisable.  To find out more, contact Freedom Leisure Uckfield on 01825 761160 or ask at Reception.