Sonal Desai

Are we on the right path? Our society has evolved based on a huge myriad of choices and decisions made by a huge range of influences. From political policy to media publications, influencers to global trends, who we are is no longer dictated simply by the directives of the church as was the case hundreds of years ago. There are some wonderful parts of our society. Parts to celebrate, to be proud of and parts that attract the admiration of the entire world. But there are some ugly parts too. What I write here are the musings of someone influenced by a trip abroad to a developing country; someone who has a lot of time for reflection and a chance to gain perspective. I'm not one to label myself as a 'leftie' or a 'capitalist'; I just want what is best for everyone at the expense of no-one. But we have problems that need solving. My question is around how much education should/can do to address these huge societal issues... 1. Intolerance. Born out of ignorance and a sense of 'threat' instilled from a variety of sources. We are all equal and all want to love and be loved. 2. Identity. What is it to be British and are these shared beliefs positive and understood for/by all members of society? 3. Acquisition. The need to have the best, to obtain goods, experiences at the expense/exploitation of others. 4. Respect. For others but also for morals, for doing and knowing what 'the right thing' is. 5. Selflessness. A sense of injustice limits how much we are willing to do for others if we are not treated justly. Wholesome growth is stunted as a result. 6. Entitlement. A get-rich-quick and sense of automatic deservedness is fostered through a lack of understanding of what hard, work study and perseverance truly are. We must address these issues head-on or what we have seen in recent weeks will be repeated again and again. Societal unrest will only grow. I believe societal reform is necessary; we need to make the right people famous and the right behaviours, attitudes and values celebrated. We need to fill the gap the abandonment of our own religion amongst the populous has created and replace with moral direction from somewhere as this doesn't always come from home. Education has a huge, but not the only, role to play in this reformation.

can anyone help..

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Today I went for business interactions with some heads and owners of private schools. I am still surprised at how heads and owners of private basic schools undermined the importance of professional counselling services within schools. My experience today has once again highlighted the level of knowledge we as a people have towards professional counselling services and our unwillingness to learn, unlearn and relearn. A country that doesn’t regard professional counselling services may face several negative consequences such as; 1. Mental health stigma 2. Undiagnosed and untreated mental health issues 3. Increased mental health crises 4. Reduced productivity and economic 5. Strained healthcare system 6. Social and relationship problems 7. Limited support for vulnerable populations 8. Perpetuation of cycles of trauma 9. Reduced quality of life 10. Increased burden on support systems We need to recognise professional counselling services and invest in mental health resources to support wellness. #thebrightproject #counselling

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How do you drive change in schools? Our new report explores how to maximise the impact of innovation in education - with insights for teachers, school leaders, academics, policymakers, and charities on ways to increase your influence. It’s based on the lessons learned from our evaluation of the Templeton World Charity Foundation ‘Big Questions in Classrooms’ initiative to promote inter-disciplinary teaching. Some of the key findings include:  ☑️ Involve teachers in research. ☑️ Focus on culture.  ☑️ Target school leaders & multi-academy trusts. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eaqZHzGp 

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Thinking about becoming a school governor? Experience our interactive activities that allow you to react to scenarios you might face in the role, then hear from experienced school governors 📚 🔗Uniform policy: https://bit.ly/3OZGNhs 🔗Attendance: https://bit.ly/3wz57QM

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Project N-GAGE's Proven Impact in Secondary Schools: Revolutionising Student Support and creative social & emotional mental health💛 I am thrilled to present the latest Project N-GAGE Impact Report in collaboration with Sir Graham Balfour School. 💡 In the past, I would often reach out to schools to inform them about the various projects I and Elements Support CIC could offer. Nowadays, I seldom do this, as I understand it may be perceived as a sales pitch. However, had these schools opted in like Sir Graham Balfour have, they would have realised it was a necessity, not a sales pitch. 😀 The N-GAGE project was first implemented at Cottenham village college, where I mentored 15 students, receiving outstanding feedback from the school. This feedback can be viewed on our YouTube channel- https://lnkd.in/eJMzjbjb 👀 Recently, we delivered the project for the second time at Sir Graham Balfour School, supporting 18 students across three groups of six, including specialised 1:1 mentoring sessions for a child in urgent need. 💭 Initially, this child was reluctant, saying, "Who are you? I’m not coming to those sessions." I responded, "Why don't you join one session, and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to come back." 🧐 While group sessions were challenging for her, she attended all her 1:1 mentoring sessions and expressed that she had never had someone to talk to on such a deep level before. 😊 The Impact Report will be released soon, and I believe once schools, particularly secondary schools, review it, they will be eager to reach out to us. So far, a total of 36 young people have been supported through the N-GAGE project, with results that speak for themselves. 📊👏 There is no need for embellishment; the project delivers exactly what it promises: engagement. 🌟 Did you know, recent data reveals a troubling trend: in the 2022/23 academic year alone, there were over 3,000 permanent exclusions and approximately 264,000 suspensions in England alone. 📊 😳 This underscores the urgent need for effective intervention programmes like the N-GAGE project. ▶ If you or your team are interested in learning more about project N-GAGE and how it can support your students this September, please feel free to reach out to [email protected]. 💯 If you are concerned about the high levels of exclusions, behavioural issues, #cannabis, #vapes, #knives, and undiagnosed mental health issues prevalent in schools, then the N-GAGE project is here to help. 😊 For more information, contact us today and discover how N-GAGE can make a difference in your school in the new academic year. #Education #StudentSupport #NGAGE #Impact Drip By Drip, Day By Day, we find a way!

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📚 Teaching Sex and Relationships Education: A Safeguarding Perspective 🛡️ Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) is critical to safeguarding young people, yet many teachers find it challenging to deliver confidently and effectively. According to a 2022 survey by NASUWT and the NSPCC, 46% of teachers report lacking confidence when teaching this vital subject. This highlights the need for further support and resources to ensure the safe and effective delivery of SRE in our schools. The NSPCC Learning Podcast, featuring Childline ambassador Natalie Dormer, recently discussed the hurdles teachers face when addressing SRE and explored practical solutions. Effective SRE equips students with knowledge about healthy relationships, consent, and personal boundaries, all of which play a significant role in preventing abuse. For schools, taking a whole-school approach to teaching SRE is essential. This ensures that the curriculum is delivered in a way that is inclusive, age-appropriate, and aligned with safeguarding principles. By engaging with students openly and thoughtfully, schools can create a safe environment where difficult topics are discussed with sensitivity and care. #SRE #Safeguarding #TalkRelationships #NSPCC #SchoolSafety #SexEducation #PreventingAbuse https://lnkd.in/eh_J7VcW

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What is county lines? Do you know what to look for? It can be hard to imagine very young children being targeted, but that is exactly why they are vulnerable. Learn about county lines here: https://bit.ly/40wOaTY #EYFS #Safeguarding #Childcare #EarlyYears #ChildProtection #Abuse #county lines

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Something we really need to see delivered soon

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Education is key...

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As the deadline for the PACES: Educational #assessment fast approaches, people often ask for advice about applications and how to get their best selves across. In this webinar, I give some top tips to help show that you are University of Cambridge ready! Cambridge University Press & Assessment Cambridge International Education Cambridge University Press & Assessment English.

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I’ve seen enough of this. As a journalist, and even worse, as a teacher, the double standard is glaring. When some individuals express anger, it’s celebrated as assertiveness or leadership. For others, the same behaviour is labelled as hostile or threatening. These stereotypes don’t just stay out there—they seep into our classrooms, shaping how teachers and peers perceive students’ emotions. The result? Black learners’ voices are stifled. Passion is misread as defiance, and enthusiasm is diminished under the weight of bias. This isn’t just about perception; it’s about power. It’s about whose voices get to be heard and whose are silenced. As educators, we have a responsibility to reflect on our biases and dismantle these barriers. By fostering inclusive, equitable spaces, we can empower all students to express themselves freely and confidently. Change begins with awareness—and we, as educators, must lead the charge.

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Interesting how black students have been at the centre of highly problematic, racialising, deficit based narratives and policies for decades, being targeted for ‘failing’ to attain or achieve. Interesting how black and other racially minoritised staff have been the subject of various ‘remedial’ mentoring initiatives due to their ‘inability’ to attain and achieve the same standards as their / our white counterparts in promotions and awards. And yet Universities have consistently, systematically and blatantly failed to uphold the basic duties and requirements of public bodies to deliver services on the basis of equality, dignity and respect, without questions or consequences. And yet Universities are STILL asking ‘How can we become anti racist?’…’What do we do?’…’How do we do it? Or worse: ‘We have decolonised x, y, and z.’ In the midst of the most extensive availability of info, critique, theory and praxis in the history of knowledge, University structures still fail at this task. Makes you think, right? When students of colour ‘fail’ to ‘attain’, they are penalised. When minoritised staff ‘fail’ to achieve, they prevented from being promoted and sometimes are removed. And yet Universities are allowed to be on this never ending ‘journey of self discovery’…making ‘learning journey mistakes’, whilst perpetuating intersectional oppressions. Multiplied ten fold with Palestine and Gaza genocide. I would ask: At whose expense is your constant antiracist ‘learning’ happening? At what point, in your ‘learning journey’ will you realise your own culpability in reinforcing the very same structural whiteness that you have separated from your self and turned into a self-discovery reading list? The demand is nothing short of epistemic and material dismantling, to make way for compassion, liberation and global justice. To borrow from the the Zapatistas, we want to live, learn and teach in a world where lots of worlds are possible. “Un Mundo Donde Quepan Muchos Mundos”. (A World Where Many Worlds Fit’)

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See , ether way its all very beneficial, one could say a blessing in a way because, what ever way you look at it my L5 Diploma studies are continuing, and, its getting to a stage it is all becoming quite familiar, even though the awarding body and the training providers content do not marry, its still all very relevant, just one could say its some what rusty and not well oiled 🧐 Like with any subject or multiple subjects the more we keep doing them, all the better, and when it comes to me as a training provider and looking at the content and the question bank, by the time I pass I will know their question bank,, I am not completely knocking it, its great, if this was the model for delivery👍👍👍😅 Lets look at the positives, and the benefits for the delegate, for me it allows me to look at all the areas I didn't know or have an in-depth understanding and look deeper, it allows me to challenge my self, and reflect on areas to research, so for continuing professional development, Cool 😎

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Who is a Black figure that inspires you? #BlackHistoryMonth #LinkedInNewsUK Reflecting on Black History Month, I think about the Black Leaders who have inspired my journey, particularly Barack and Michele Obama. I will never forget the first time I heard President Obama speak during his election campaign. His message about the importance of Black Leaders across industries resonated deeply with me. He emphasised that no matter the field we work in, we have the power to be role models, someone that young people can look up to. This powerful message inspired me to step up as a Black Leader in the Early Years Sector; representation matters. Seeing leaders who look like them is transformative for young children, especially Black Children. It instils a sense of possibility, pride, and belonging. For Black women, having someone in Leadership to look up to demonstrates that we can and should take up space in leadership roles. Obama’s leadership style also left a lasting impact on me. I strive to embody his calm, thoughtful, and inclusive approach to leadership every day. He led with grace, empathy, and a strong sense of purpose, principles I've incorporated into my leadership style. Whether in my interactions with children, families, or colleagues, I am to lead with kindness, courage, and authenticity values that resonate with Obama’s leadership. As a Black leader in the Early Years, I hope to inspire the next generation of children, just as the Obamas inspired me. Representation is not only about being present; it's about paving the way for others to believe in their ability to lead and succeed. #BlackHistoryMonth #Leadership #ObamaLegacy #Earlyyears #RepresentationMatters

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