Every Child Matters

[chillipepper]

As part of my Uni interview I'll be asked to write "an assessment on an area of Every Child Matters". Canj anyone give me any guidance on any background reading or ideas as what will be expected of me. I've been out of education for quite some time(20 years) so don't have any access points at college or the like for help.

[Buenchico]

Well, I've got both a degree and qualified teacher status but I'm still not entirely sure exactly what is meant by an 'assessment', in this context ;-)

The following might help though:

Start here:
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/aims/

Check out all of the links down the left hand side of that page. Choose an area which interests you (or, more pragmatically, something you think you can write about!).

For instance, you might choose to concentrate on the importance of play in the development of children. See here:
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/culturespo rtplay/
and take a look at what's available under 'Documents'.

However, don't just use those documents. Make sure you find some sources of your own. Any reasonable-sized public library should have several books on child development (possibly in the psychology section) where you ought to be able to find some useful quotes about the importance of play. (State your sources and include references to any specific research findings you encounter).

Also, scour the web for suitable academic sources. To get you started, I'll direct you to the American Academy of Pediatrics:
http://www.aap.org/pressroom/playFINAL.pdf
and the Association for Childhood Education International:
http://www.acei.org/playresources.htm
(That page is headed by a great quote -use it!!! - and offers loads of possibilities for finding other relevant quotes, from sources as varied as UNICEF and David Cameron).

Chris

[chillipepper]

Brilliant. Thank you for your time.

[chattykathy]

The National Healthy Schools Programme meets part of the ECM agenda (Be Healthy)- take a look at the website. Good luck at the interview!