Feature Articles

Staff retention in Early Years is at breaking point. If increasing staff salaries or offering other incentives isn’t possible, what else could settings consider to retain existing staff? Rachel Dearnley explores some possible options.

What is safeguarding and what are the duties on governors? Martin Hodgson, a school governor for 15 years, summarises the main points.

As schools limped towards Christmas, numbers of Omicron infections continued to rise and the outlook for the spring term was beginning to look decidedly uncertain. Former head teacher Michael Evans looks at some of the problems schools will now be facing in the first weeks of 2022.

This feature continues to explore the pros and cons of decarbonising the UK’s electricity system by building capacity in the renewables sector. This is Part 2 of a two-part feature by John Barwise. Part 1 can be read here.

Martin Hodgson, a former school governor, focuses on the roles of the Chair and vice Chair of a governing body.

Last year, typical levels of winter illnesses were not seen in schools due to Covid-19 restrictions. This winter more exposure to common viral infections means increased risk of outbreaks of the four major illnesses likely to affect school-age children: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) Influenza or flu, Norovirus, and Covid-19.

Family hubs will be central to the way services are delivered for children and families. Rebecca Fisk outlines the Government’s championing and commitment of a different way to deliver services at the universal, targeted and enhanced support levels.

Businesses which handle or manufacture packaging now have a more detailed picture of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme which is set to come into force in just two years’ time. Caroline Hand explains what the future holds.

In its Make It Count campaign, the Mental Health Foundation points out that young people are currently facing unprecedented pressures which are contributing to a range of mental health problems including anxiety, depression, self-harm and eating disorders. It says that more than 1 in 10 children aged 10–15 say they have no one to talk to or would not talk to anyone in school if they feel worried or sad.