Priorities for 2016-17

Through our work we have identified 6 priorities for the session 2016-2017:

  1. Implement broad-ranging school improvement to raise attainment and achievement.
  2. Develop effective leadership to drive improvement.
  3. Focus staff development in the core areas of literacy, numeracy and aspects of Health & Wellbeing.
  4. Design and implement WDC’s strategy for assessment in schools.
  5. Develop the Parental Involvement Strategy in all sectors.
  6. Develop the use of performance information to support school improvement.


This can be further divided into 93 actions:

  1. Monthly quality assurance meetings with Education Scotland Area Lead Officer to review educational provision.
  2. Develop a system of electronic procurement of transport needs for children and YP
  3. Develop and publish guidelines for transport escorts
  4. Develop guidance on specific issues related to pupil support
  5. Development of increasingly robust procurement arrangements for day and residential placements
  6. Development of the role of Education in corporate parenting
  7. Move to a joint tender arrangement with Social Work for transport requirements
  8. Preparation of Choices for move to Jamestown building in August 2017
  9. Prepare Kilpatrick traffic management system for opening of new secondary building in October 2016
  10. Refresh guidance on Child Protection for Education
  11. Reorganisation of PALS SLA
  12. Reorganise transport contracts for OLSP in readiness for relocation to new build
  13. Review and develop a refreshed SLA with internal transport
  14. Review and develop a refreshed SPT agency agreement
  15. Review the way in which resources are allocated to establishments
  16. Review use of taxi contracts in education
  17. Revisit and resolve issue of SLT SLA
  18. Implement the Transitions 2 Project
  19. Effective delivery of the Broad General Education and articulation with the Senior Phase
  20. Implement the Transitions 1 Project
  21. Implement the Children & Young People Act 2014
  22. Review Improvement framework in line with HGIOS 4 and HGIOELC
  23. Embed the use of and adherence to HGIOELC in the work of all ELC establishments
  24. Review Transition from BGE to SP experience across LLCs
  25. Implement continuing Health and wellbeing strategy
  26. Implement Regenerating Learning programme
  27. Implement Developing the Young Workforce (DYW)
  28. Pupil engagement and the management of change
  29. Review and refresh the procurement of partnership places
  30. Establish ELC Class in Lennox primary school
  31. Establish 0-3 Childcare Centre in Ladyton ELCC building
  32. Establish extended ELCC in Kilpatrick School
  33. Establish amalgamated ELCC in Bellsmyre new build project
  34. Support the development of a regenerated learning environment for early years in the new Balloch campus
  35. Develop transitions procedures and practice from 0-3 centres to ELC classes and centres
  36. Embed Building the Ambition principles and practice
  37. Support the development of the early level curriculum across all ELC and primary establishments
  38. Review how ASN resources are allocated to early years
  39. Deliver the expectations for equity set by government to ‘The Challenge Authorities’
  40. Implement HGIOS4. Improved classroom practice and self-evaluation as key drivers for improvement
  41. Produce an evidence- informed approach to school improvement
  42. Improve capacity of service to adapt to new technologies and opportunities for efficiencies
  43. Further develop the Schools Estate
  44. Implement transition arrangements for Kilpatrick and Bellsmyre and Balloch campuses.
  45. Preparation for New Dumbarton Offices
  46. Produce a National Entitlement Card (NEC) for all S1 pupils
  47. Review of working model for Local Learning Communities
  48. ‘Avoid’ excessive or unnecessary workload for teachers and learners
  49. Implement revised Curriculum Networks
  50. Review Framework for Leadership Development
  51. Strengthened leadership of attainment and achievement
  52. Develop the capabilities of future senior managers
  53. Deliver Early Years workforce development programme
  54. Implement improvements arising from Staff Survey 2015
  55. Delivery of year three of Languages 1+2 policy
  56. Develop collaborative professional learning
  57. Implement governance arrangements for Violent Incidents
  58. Development of a training matrix for issues related to pupil support
  59. Implement reciprocal teaching methodology in WDC establishments
  60. Develop a training matrix and succession action plan to support teaching and ELC staff to meet the future needs of the sector
  61. Review of staffing in ELC sector in preparation for a future increase in hours
  62. Review of use and role of Learning assistants in ELC
  63. Improve the system for ensuring that SSSC requirements are met by staff members
  64. Develop existing networks (local) to provide a sustainable model professional learning
  65. Develop existing networks (third sector ) to provide a sustainable model professional learning
  66. Implement improvement programme for the quality of teaching / learning (literacy, numeracy STEM) based on Attainment Challenge Projects
  67. Implement programme for regenerated learning environments to improve quality of learning experience in literacy, numeracy, STEM based on The Attainment Challenge Projects
  68. Develop standard approach to digital safety
  69. Increased levels of engagement with digital technology for collaboration, communication and social learning.
  70. Support Arrangements for the development of Senior Phase qualifications
  71. Improve identification and assessment of pupils with literacy difficulties
  72. Deliver rigorous approaches to judging / grading attainment levels
  73. Review parental engagement within West Dunbartonshire
  74. Develop role of parents and Parent Councils in school improvement planning process
  75. Contribute to the Multi Agency work to provide opportunities to parents to get support in understanding their child’s development needs.
  76. Reorganise the Out of School Care service in response to parent consultation and review
  77. Develop the early learning and childcare service in response to the parent consultation on current provision
  78. Implement Attainment Challenge Transitions 1 ‘Family Hub’ project
  79. Provide evidence based feedback to parents about children’s attainment and achievement
  80. Provide information to parents on how to support attainment and achievement in literacy and numeracy.
  81. Manage the utilisation of SEEMiS across establishments
  82. Complete school roll projection analysis
  83. Carry out analysis of Insight data
  84. Prepare departmental Standards and Quality Report
  85. Produce and report on Delivery Plan
  86. Support Head Teachers to track emotional wellbeing
  87. Review current procedures for Parental Complaints
  88. Complete school census activities
  89. Support nurture developments in schools
  90. Establish programme of quarterly analysis for attendance; exclusions; FOIs and complaints
  91. Design a system for data collation and analysis for Attainment Challenge Projects
  92. Produce an evidence- informed approach to school improvement
  93. Implement new admissions package (NAMS) across all Early Years establishments and partnership providers.