Gifted and Talented

Our main responsibilities

To champion the education of Gifted and Talented pupils in all schools. This includes Foundation Stage pupils as well as pupils in Special Schools. To ensure Government policies are addressed – which include the Institutional Quality Standards (IQS) and Classroom Quality Standards (CQS), Personalised Learning and the National Register of Gifted and Talented pupils. It also addresses the vulnerable groups – BME pupils, Looked After Children and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

How we help schools

The work of the Gifted and Talented Adviser is divided into five main areas:

1. Training of new to role school coordinators/Leading Teachers:

• At an autumn county-wide session in a central location
• At a District level as requested
• In an individual school if required

2. Updates on national, regional and local developments via:

• School G&T coordinators at District G&T network meetings – three/four times a year
• 1:1 meetings with school coordinators on specific, identified issues
• Meetings with School Leadership Teams

3. Pre- and post-Ofsted support:

• As requested by the school, Teaching and Learning Consultant or District Head

4. Supporting individual schools through INSET on:

a) Identification of G&T children
b) Provision for G&T children in the classroom
c) Raising Attainment for all children
d) Training on the use of the Quality Standards – Institutional (IQS) and Classroom (CQS)
e) Underachievement
f) Teaching Assistants and Learning Mentors working with G&T children
g) Leadership Teams and G&T Action Planning
h) Working with Parents/Carers of G&T children
i) Governor training
j) Other bespoke workshops on request.

5. Gifted and Talented workshops for other colleagues:
NQTs, GTPs and Returners to Teaching – usually booked for cross-county or district events but available to individual schools on request

INSET can be delivered:

• via twilight sessions to groups of teachers or to the whole staff
• half or whole training days
• Governor training is usually a two-hour session  - twilight or evenings as requested.

Sharing Good practice

• District networking meetings
• Leading Teacher training – countywide and regionally within the county
• Bespoke training
• Conferences
• The South East Regional Partnership site closed on 31-3-11; however, there is a South East Virtual G&T Network with a weekly e-update on information, legislation and other G&T bodies; an on-line discussion forum and a rolling FAQ section. To register for membership, which is open to all school G&T Leads, email mailto:lynbull53@gmail.com with “JOIN SERP” in the Subject line.
• “Nutshells” – online answers to all Gifted and Talented issues via the National Strategies website
• G&T National Rural Network

The Young Gifted and Talented (YGT) website closed on 12-2-10 and the information and materials are being transferred to the National Strategies website.  Assurances have been made that direct links will be made from YGT pages to the National Strategies pages.