Learning Communities
There are 29 Learning Communities in Glasgow. Learning Communities were established on the basis of the best practice aspects from the Council’s Learning Communities pilot and the Scottish Government’s New Community Schools Initiative pilots
Each Learning Community comprises of:
Appointed staff
The Principal of the Learning Community has certain key management responsibilities, which include the preparation of the New Learning Community Improvement Plan and a lead role in joint strategic working with local partners.
The School Business Manager deals with administrative duties allowing the Senior Management Team to focus on their management responsibilities.
More recently all Learning Communities have appointed an Employability and Enterprise Officer to assist in taking forward work in the ‘Determined to Succeed’ initiative, which emphasises employability, enterprise and also links with business.
Aims of Learning Communities
There is a strong focus on attainment and achievement. The Learning Communities promote continuity between the stages of every child’s education encompassing learning, health, safety and general well being, and to assist them to maximise their future life chances.
The central aims of the Learning Communities are:
Integrated Support Teams (IST)
To assist the needs of children identified with additional support needs that require a multi-agency response. The aim is to promote the personal development, education and well-being of these children. They work across pre5, primary and secondary sectors.
The IST has a critical role in monitoring the progress of young people with Coordinated Support Plans.
Membership of IST
Members of IST should be aware of child protection guidelines and undertake relevant training. All meetings are organised in such a way as to ensure that pupil confidentiality is respected
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Senior Educational Psychologist (Education)
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Area Services Practice Team Leader (Social Work)
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School Nurse (Health)
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Depute Head of Social Inclusion (Education)
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Primary Representative (Education)
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Rotational Pre5 Representative (Education)
There are others who can attend meetings where appropriate (eg Social Worker, Health Visitor, Class Teacher).
Health Promotion
All schools within the Learning Community are working towards achieving the status of ‘Health Promoting School’. This is a Scottish Government Initiative, in relation to the important role that schools play – working with partners and with communities – in health improvement. The Scottish Government requires every school in Scotland to be a Health Promoting School. Glasgow, with close working between Education Services and NHS Greater Glasgow in particular, is on target to meet this requirement.
The establishment of Learning Communities offers a framework for improved local connections, local planning, service development and decision-making with opportunities for integrated working across children’s services partners. These developments will in turn provide greater opportunities to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families.
Health Promoting Schools accreditation
Many congratulations to those educational establishments gaining official accreditation as health promoting schools.