Latest News

Promoting Community Cohesion Muslim Perspectives

13 November 2008

This one-day course for head teachers, curriculum managers, teachers, classroom assistants, learning mentors and governors KS1-KS4 will

• Explore some principles and practice for promoting community cohesion in schools
• Discuss the importance of Muslim perspectives in the curriculum
• Give participants an opportunity to try out and browse curriculum materials and activities which explore the Muslim contributions to the modern world

Date: Friday 23rd January 2009 9.30am-3.30pm

Course fee: £25 including lunch & refreshments

Philosophy for Global Citizenship

13 November 2008

Philosophy for Children Sapere validated Level 1

For head teachers, curriculum managers, teachers, classroom assistants, learning mentors and governors across KS1-KS4 with an interest in:

• Developing global citizenship
• Raising standards in literacy, thinking, speaking and listening
• Enriching spiritual, social, moral and cultural development

Date: Thursday 12th March 2009 4.30-6.30pm, Friday 13th and Friday 20th March 2009 9.30am-4.30pm

Course fee: £200 including lunches, refreshments, Sapere Level 1 Handbook/certificate and half price membership of Sapere.

Refugee Hotseat on Goldstarcafe

06 June 2008

See children's questions to DRC refugee James Kazadi from a live webchat that took place on Tuesday 3rd June at Goldstarcafe.net

Find out more about DEC(SY)'s project for 7-14 year olds using a protected online learning community to engage children and young people in global issues.

Log on to Gold Star Cafe and Superclubs for a tour

For more information on the One World pages themselves contact Toby Jenkinson: email Toby@decsy.org.uk or go to decsy projects

DECSY Courses Autumn 2008 and Spring 2009

20 May 2008

Philosophy for Children Sapere validated Level 1

For head teachers, curriculum managers, teachers, classroom assistants, learning mentors and governors across KS1-KS4 with an interest in:

• Developing global citizenship
• Raising standards in literacy, thinking, speaking and listening
• Enriching spiritual, social, moral and cultural development

Dates (2 separate courses): Thursday 13th November 2008 4.30-6.30pm, Friday 14th and Friday 28th November 2008 9.30am-4.30pm SORRY NOW FULL

Thursday 15th January 2009 4.30-6.30pm, Friday 16th and Friday 30th January 2009 9.30am-4.30pm SORRY NOW FULL: see March 09 course above

Course fee: £200 including lunches, refreshments, Sapere Level 1 Handbook/certificate and half price membership of Sapere.

download a flyer Jan08

Celebrating Cultural Diversity and Promoting Inclusion in Early Years / FS Settings

These one-day courses for teachers, nursery nurses and other Early Years practitioners will:

• Explore what is meant by 'cultural diversity'
• Give participants the opportunity to try out a variety of practical activities which can be used across the curriculum in Early Years settings
• Give participants the opportunity to explore a range of teaching materials including packs, posters and books for children which can be used to enhance work on cultural diversity and race equality

Dates (2 separate courses): Wednesday 25th February 2009 and Monday 22nd June 2009 9.30am-3.30pm

Course fee: FREE for Sheffield settings (others £25) includes lunch & refreshments

Same Difference Global Children's Art Exhibition and Website

23 April 2008

Same Difference is an exciting and powerful exhibition of children’s artwork from around the world run by overseas development charity International Service. The exhibition encourages children to think about the lives of children in poorer countries by highlighting the similarities and differences between children globally. It has been seen by over 99,000 people around the UK since March 2007.

For more information about the project and to view the artwork, visit http://www.is-samedifference.org.uk.

The 'UK Tour' page on the website lists where it is being exhibited. The tour will come to Sheffield as part of the Sheffield Children's Festival between 21st June and 31st July.

Spring 08 Newsletter

10 February 2008

Download our latest newsletter. Click here

Philosophy for Children Regional Network

09 January 2008

• Have you participated in Sapere P4C training or introduction to P4C sessions?
• Are you using P4C with children/young people in your school?
• Are you based in South Yorkshire or nearby
• Would you like the chance to share ideas and practice with other teachers?

Then come to the next P4C South Yorkshire Regional Network Meeting

Wednesday 1st October, 4.15-5.45pm, Tickhill Estfield Primary School, Common Lane, Tickhill, Doncaster DN11 9JA

Please let Helen Griffin know if you want to come

Email: helen.griffinATdecsy.org.uk substituting @ for AT

Philosophy for Global Citizenship

12 September 2007

Download a copy of a recent article which appeared in the magazine 'Teaching Thinking & Creativity' and explores the relationship between Philosophy for Children and Global Citizenship here

Cultural Mentor Service - Responding to Cultural Diversity - Parents Project

30 March 2007

Cultural Mentor Service - Responding to Cultural Diversity - A pilot project with parents

This Esmée Fairbairn funded project aimed to engage groups of hard-to-reach parents and carers through activity based courses exploring issues of culture, identity, values and the aspirations that they would like to pass on to their children. The plan was both to work with groups of parents and carers to increase their confidence and experience of expressing and articulating their wishes and to promote communication between teachers, early years practitioners and groups of parents and carers.

Read the report about the experiences of this one year project.

Government Response to Sustainable Schools Consultation published

12 December 2006

"My major concerns are the lack of respect people show to life, that people will hurt each other sometimes without even thinking and the lack of respect for the environment around us." (Secondary pupil)

Children and young people's views are summarised in the Government response. One of these concerns is 'at the continuing presence of poverty and injustice in the world and the backdrop of war'. Read more about this and the Government's proposed actions around encouraging schools to use 8 'sustainability doorways' including the Global Dimension here

Global Music Lesson Plans

12 October 2006

New downloadable lesson plans 5-16 with ideas for practical music lessons using music from a range of countries from Kenya to Bali. Includes ideas for linking music with Islamic art; songs of slavery and drumming styles from Kenya and Brazil. Downloadable images, videos and music clips for interactive whiteboards are included in the lesson plans.

Go to Oxfam's Coolplanet website click here

Earthquake in Pakistan

10 February 2006

A Sheffield College lecturer is hoping to raise £300,000 to rebuild a college that collapsed in the Pakistan Earthquake, killing 200 students.

Abdul Assim is also looking for people to go to Kashmir to help train teachers at the college in English and ICT. All food, accommodation and transport will be provided but participants will just need to raise funds for their own airfare.

For more information please contact Abdul on 0791 528 4009 or assim52@hotmail.com

Resources on Pakistan

As part of our contribution to building understanding and support for the people of Pakistan controlled ('Azad') Kashmir following the devastating earthquake, we have made available the 'Introduction to 'Azad' Jammu and Kashmir' section of our popular 'Mangla' teaching pack.

To download the pdf (1.5MB) click on the following link

Philosophy for Global Citizenship

10 February 2006

New DEC(SY) webpages on Philosophy for Global Citizenship

link

Find out about DEC(SY)'s project with schools in Doncaster and Sheffield; training and support available; resources.

Take Part Too online citizenship simulation

10 February 2006

Take Part Too is a web-based project focusing on democracy, communication and negotiation.
Three school classes from three countries make up a Youth Council whose task is to study and take action on some of the big issues that are currently being debated in Europe.

The scenario begins with the EU Commission asking the Youth Council for advice. This request starts the process of cooperation and communication within the Youth Council community.

Participants from the three countries choose to work on one of three issues.

• If Europe is to avoid becoming a giant home for elderly persons, do we need to open our gates to
millions of new immigrants?
• How can we balance our need for security with our need for freedom?
• Can the planet and the human race survive if we carry on consuming at our present rate?

Over 50 secondary schools in England, Romania and Denmark have taken part in the pilot phase of Take Part Too. We have a vision of developing the project further and involving other countries, possibly leading to the setting up of a European or worldwide virtual Youth Council.

There are currently about one billion 12 to 18-year-olds in the world – about 1/6 of the world’s population - they are the present as well as the future. Politicians talk about the importance of listening to young people. Here is an opportunity to hear young people’s considered opinions, discussions and proposals.

So far the project has been financed by the EU (Socrates-Minerva) but the funding ended in 2006. We are now looking for partner organizations who would like to use and adapt Take Part Too to use with schools across Europe and the wider world.

Visit the website www.takeparttoo.org Download the flyer by clicking here
If you are interested in this idea please let us know!

Contact Rob at decsy