Future priorities for the provision of services for children and young people have been detailed in a new report published by the University of Aberdeen.
The University’s School of Education has launched its latest report, Values and Vision, which examines whether the time is right for integrated community schools and explores the lessons learned about working together.
The aim behind the introduction of integrated community schools is to move towards a single location for the delivery of services for youngsters. Since every school in Scotland is to become an integrated community school, the report provides the ideal opportunity to explore this new integrated and inclusive approach to the development of young people.
The issues examined in the Values and Vision report were first aired at a conference organised by the NEXUS Research Group at the University’s School of Education in summer 2004. The conference attracted a large number of delegates from education, health and social care agencies from most local authorities across Scotland.
The event also provided an opportunity for practitioners with a professional interest in the integration of
children’s services to examine the values of social justice and social inclusion which frame policy and practice in relation to integrated community schools.
The conference papers focussed on the development of inter-professional, inter-agency and integrated services, which provided delegates from education, health and social care, with the opportunity to hear and share ideas about what is involved in ‘joined up working’.
The event was opened by Professor Kathleen Marshall, the newly appointed Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland. Delegates heard keynote addresses from Professor Geoff Whitty and Dr Carol Campbell, from the University of London Institute of Education, who considered the research evidence and policy concerns surrounding the issues of social justice and schooling.
Dr Bill Maxwell from the Education Inspectorate, talked about evaluating the impact of integrated community schools, and Dr Kay Tisdall, from the University of Edinburgh, explored issues relating to inter-professional policy and practice.
In a plenary session, Professor Walter Humes, who recently joined the School of Education as Professor of Research, reflected on the outcomes of the workshop sessions regarding future priorities and what lessons have been learned so far. While doing so, he also drew delegates’ attention to the importance of thinking clearly about the nature and purposes of schools in the 21st Century.
NEXUS members work across a number of courses and research projects and the Interface Centre within the School of Education, and the Rowan Group in the School of Social Science.
All the issues discussed at the conference have been explored in depth in the Values and Vision 2004 report which is available, priced £8.00 (post free), from the Research Support Team, School of Education, University of Aberdeen, Hilton campus, Aberdeen, AB24 4FA.
The Values and Vision 2005 conference Service Integration in Scottish Schools: Values, Vision and Vital Voices will be held on Friday, June 10, in the King’s Conference Centre, University of Aberdeen.