* A comprehensive website for childcare students, early years professionals, and people working in child protection has been set up by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
The website, NSPCC Inform, is a free service with news, conferences, events, resources and publications. The site makes available online more than 27,000 journal articles, books, multimedia and reports in the NSPCC's specialist library catalogue, as well as full bibliographical details. Photocopies of articles are available for a small cost and although there is no loan service, practitioners and researchers can book an appointment to look through library references.
There are also prepared reading lists under such topics as bullying, domestic violence, positive parenting, and adults abused as children. Queries can be submitted to the NSPCC library's virtual enquiry desk to help users find publication details or to receive assistance in creating a tailor-made reading list.
Professionals can register to receive free weekly policy and research news updates via e-mail. They can also receive updates on the latest publications and conferences in nominated topic areas, including domestic violence, child abuse, health, children's services and young witnesses in court.
The idea came from similar successful 'clearinghouse' websites based in Australia and America. The website is at www.nspcc.org.uk/inform.
Moving awards
* The national awarding body NCFE has moved to new offices in Newcastle upon Tyne. Its new address is Citygate, St James' Boulevard, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4JE (0191 239 8000, fax 0191 239 8001, website www.ncfe.org.uk).All e-mail addresses remain the same.
Credit for experience
* Early years practitioners with a great deal of experience and education, who have maintained their skills through a planned programme of continuing professional development, can now receive an accreditation of prior learning and experience service (APL) from the Pre-school Learning Alliance.
The APL enables staff to work towards an up-to-date and relevant qualification without having to re-start their studies. It consists of a first-line assessment meeting between the applicant and an Alliance tutor to discuss qualifications and ambitions. They then review whether there is a need for further tuition to help the applicant meet the assessment criteria, and create an APL action plan.
The Alliance also has a fast-track course for a CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Pre-school Practice that takes prior learning and experience into account.
Contact the Pre-school Learning Alliance, 69 King's Cross Road, London WC1X 9LL (020 7833 0991, www.preschool.org.uk).
Special needs course
* The charity I CAN has just introduced a Joint Professional Development Framework Foundation course for teachers, classroom assistants and health professionals wanting to learn more about working with children who have speech, language and communication difficulties.
The two-day course outlines the knowledge, skills and expertise needed when working in educational settings with such children. The first day looks at the educational challenge of speech, language and communication needs within the Special Education Needs context at a national level. The second day considers language in the context of the classroom, and how language needs can affect not only a child's access to the curriculum but also their behaviour and social and emotional development.
Anna Castle, I CAN business development manager, said, 'This course has established for the first time a common framework for the continuing professional development of teachers and speech and language therapists, and reflects I CAN's belief that professionals need to learn and work together to meet the needs of children.'
For more information, contact I CAN, 4 Dyer's Buildings, Holborn, London EC1N 2QP (0870 010 4066, www.ican.org.uk).
