D ... is for Diversity

Last year, saw 25 years since the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child set out that all children have the right to evolve and to develop in a context where there is equity and respect for diversity. 'Diversity' and ‘equality’ are often used interchangeably but these are not the same; equality is about treating people fairly, without discrimination, and giving the support they need to access opportunities for self–development. Diversity on the other hand can be said to mean 'difference'. When it is used as a contrast, or in addition to equality, it is about diverse backgrounds ie. gender, race and ethnicity, disability, religion, sexuality, class and age. A holistic approach means making a commitment to equality through the recognition of diversity. Now for the resources... 

The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) is the umbrella body for the disabled children's sector in England, with links to other UK nations. They regularly publish documents on various aspects of disability to support those working with children and young people with SEN or disabilities, which can be found on their website. The recently published CDC Spring Digest may also be of interest. 

The  DfE have produced the SEND Code of Practice, which provides statutory guidance for organisations who work with children and young people with SEN.

For teaching resources on multi-cultural education, take a look at Matt Davis' website, where he has posted a number of useful links.

C ... is also for CC Inform

Community Care Inform is another useful resource located in the E-Resources list (Portal). It has been built with and for social workers and other professionals, who work with children, young people and their families, by providing the latest guidance, good practice, research, legislation and case law, in a number of key areas. 

Remember to click the 'Sign In' button on the site, before you start your search, then click on the Athens link - and away you go. Searching the site is straightforward but here's a User Guide in case you need more information. 

C ... is for Childlink

If you're not yet familiar with Childlink, here's an introduction - it is an online resource designed to give current articles, reports, research and statistics on education, employment, health, lifestyle, welfare and youth issues. Childlink can be found in the 'E-Resources' list on the Library page of the Portal. A number of Study Guides show how Childlink can be used as a useful study and teaching tool across various courses.

Register for free and receive their weekly update by email.

A ... is for Acts

At some point during your studies, you will need to refer to an Act of Parliament, so this post will focus on Acts and where to find them.

First of all, decide whether you need the text of the Act in the form it was passed by Parliament or a revised version of the Act, which incorporates changes that have subsequently been made. Then to the internet to find it....the Legislation website is where the full texts of all Public General Acts, as passed since 1988 and all Private Acts since 1991, can be found. Use the search box in the top right-hand corner of the homepage to locate an Act and on the following page, you will see options to view it on the left - for example, the whole Act in PDF, or sections of it.

A student recently enquired about how to reference an Act; it's set out in the UCB Referencing Guide which shows the layout for citing this type of resource as well as giving useful examples. The guide can be downloaded from the 'How do I Reference?' button in the Studywiki ('Library & E-Resources' page).

A few interesting facts: 

• When a Bill is approved by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords and formally agreed to by the reigning monarch (known as Royal Assent), it becomes an Act. 
• An Act becomes law and applies to the UK as a whole or to specific areas of the country. 
• An Act of Parliament creates a new law or changes an existing law. 
• Relevant government departments are responsible for implementing an Act, not Parliament.
• An Act is changed through the passing of another Act or delegated legislation. An Act can also be repealed so that its provisions no longer apply. Parliamentary committees examine UK laws and recommend the removal of out of date legislation.