RESOURCES FOR LEARNING offers comprehensive as well as cost-effective support for all aspects of library and learning resources provision.
We provide a high quality service:
- supplying a comprehensive range of resources and back-up services to support the delivery of the National Curriculum in schools
- helping and advising schools in the management and organisation of their own resources
- assisting in the development of information skills and in helping pupils to become independent confident library users
- promoting books and reading.
You benefit directly by using our service through:
- value for money access to a very large stock of resources, including more expensive items such as videos and resource packs, that is regularly updated
- professional expertise and experience and a range of services designed to help save your time
- ease of use; an attractive, accessible centre to visit and a door-to-door delivery service
- flexibility of choice and friendly personal service
- economies of scale and cost-effectiveness: multiplies the value of each pound by six times (DfES).
We pride ourselves on the flexibility and value of our services and are always pleased to talk about improvements and developments. We would be particularly pleased to hear from Community Learning Partnerships on ways in which we can be involved.
Suitable for: primary, middle and special schools
This package is designed to provide for immediate curriculum needs, while also maintaining your central resource collections.
Services offered
- Flexible system of loans to suit individual school needs.
- The Archive Education Service.
- Advice and practical assistance with the management and improvement of resources in schools.
- Delivery and collection service.
- Discounts on all services listed as Menu Options including book processing and off-air recording.
- Schools can borrow books and audio visual items within an entitlement of 6 items per pupil, with a minimum of 500 items.
- There is the flexibility of having short term loans for immediate curricular support, longer term bulk loans to augment existing collections, or a combination of both.
- Teachers can visit our Centre to choose materials, select from a catalogue, or have collections tailored to meet specific requirements and delivered to the school.
The following are available:
- Project/topic loans of books and audiovisual materials to meet curriculum demands.
- Loans of fiction to provide range, variety and quality.
- Red Star Selections (pre-packed topic/fiction collections), Six-of-the-Best (sets of six books for group reading) and videos , all of which can be booked in advance to help with curriculum planning and resourcing
- Bulk loans to augment existing library or classroom collections; usually kept for a year, with part exchanges possible. Quantity and type by prior arrangement.
Note: We cannot guarantee to supply material against every individual request, since we operate within the constraints of published output, overall demand and purchasing power. We will, however, ensure that all of the loan allocation can be taken up.
- Access to the joint provision of material from the Archive Education Service and Resources for Learning.
- The Archive Education Service encourages and supports the use of local archives in history teaching and in all other subjects where it is appropriate.
- The following are included:
Resources: Primary source material can be researched and copies of documents made for individual projects. These can be retained for future use.
Newsletter: You will receive a newsletter twice a year that features a teaching topic and includes background information, copies of documents and suggestions on how to use them.
Teacher support: In-service training can be arranged for groups of teachers at school or at the Records Office to cover both use of archives in the classroom and particular subjects.
Teaching aids: Curriculum related copy document sets with transcripts where applicable and supporting teachers' notes are available for purchase.
Group visits: Classes can use the schoolroom for an introductory talk on the Record Office and archives, or, by arrangement, to investigate particular topics. A small administrative charge may be made for this service.
Enquiries direct to Sue Berry, Archive Education Service Manager on (01823) 278805
email sberry@somerset.gov.ukManagement and improvement of resources
- Advice, training and back-up support are available to help ensure the effective purchase, maintenance and use of books and other resources. We can carry out audits of your book stock, tidy, classify and process books, move books and shelving around, plan new libraries, advise and assist in computerisation, help in book selection and purchase, assist in developing library policy, etc. An initial advisory visit is free of charge.
- Services available are shown in the Menu Options List, and can be accessed within the package or at discounted rates.
Delivery and collection service
- Door to door delivery and collection service all around the county. Includes delivery for Somerset Music and other County Council departments and school to school deliveries.
The Standard Package offers discounts on all services listed as menu options, which allows inexpensive addition of top up and 'pay as you use' services.
This package provides a wealth of resources for the Literacy Hour and group/guided reading.
Access to a very large collection of Big Books and group readers (over 32,000 books and more being added).
- KS1 and KS2 Big Books
- Sets of six group readers (fiction and non-fiction)
All items are bookable in advance. The loan period is two weeks (or multiples of two weeks). Ten or more sets can be borrowed by each school for any one loan period.
A catalogue of all the titles in the collection is available. This gives a guide to year, term, type, band and literacy strand for each title, and indicates whether a Big Book, set of six readers, or both are in stock.
Resources can be selected directly from the catalogue but a reference collection of all titles in the catalogue is maintained at the Centre and can be viewed at any time. Teachers are welcome to visit Resources For Learning to select their resources.
All resources are delivered to your school and collected.
Excellent value for money - potential of borrowing 1,200+ books, worth, minimally, £4,500 during one year!
Suitable for: secondary schools
This package is designed to provide essential support and access to extra low cost service options as required.
Services offered
- Flexible system of loans to suit individual school needs.
- The Archive Education Service.
- Advice, training and backup support.
- Delivery and collection service.
- Discounts on all services listed as Menu Options and extra discount on book sale offers.
The following are available:
- Short term loans of books and audio-visual materials to meet curriculum demands.
- Secondary Loans scheme giving access to the County Library's stock and the SW Regional Library lending system.
- 'Red Star Selections' (pre-packed non-fiction and fiction collections) and 'Six-of-the-Best' (group readers).
- Videos and CD ROM collections.
- Guaranteed entitlement to borrow 250 items, providing loans returned on time and complete. Facility to top up with extra loans at discounted rate.
- A catalogue of all bookable items (videos, CD ROMs etc) is available to help with curriculum planning and resourcing.
Note: We cannot guarantee to supply material against every individual request, since we operate within the constraints of published output, overall demand and purchasing power. We will, however, ensure that all of the loan allocation can be taken up.
- Access to the joint provision of material from the Archive Education Service and Resources for Learning.
- The Archive Education Service encourages and supports the use of local archives in history teaching and in all other subjects where it is appropriate.
- The following are included:
Resources: Primary source material can be researched and copies of documents made for individual projects. These can be retained for future use.
Newsletter: You will receive a newsletter once a term that features a teaching topic and includes background information, copies of documents and suggestions on how to use them.
Teacher support: In-service training can be arranged for groups of teachers at school or at the Records Office to cover both use of archives in the classroom and particular subjects.
Teaching aids: Curriculum related copy documents sets and supporting teachers' notes are available for purchase.
Group visits: Classes can use the new schoolroom for an introductory talk on the Record Office and archives, or, by arrangement, to investigate particular topics. A small administrative charge may be made for this service.
Enquiries direct to Sue Berry, Archive Education Service Manager on (01823) 337600
email sberry@somerset.gov.ukManagement and improvement of resources
- Advice, training and back-up support are available to help ensure the effective purchase, maintenance and use of books and other resources. Resources for Learning staff can work with school library staff to catalogue books, to withdraw books, to move books and shelving or any other task for which assistance is required. An initial advisory visit will be free of charge.
- Services available are shown in the Menu Options List, and can be accessed within the package or at discounted rates.
Delivery and collection service
Door to door delivery and collection service all around the county. Includes delivery for Somerset Music and other County Council departments and school to school deliveries.
The Core Package offers discounts on all services listed as menu options which allows inexpensive addition of top up and 'pay as you use' services. A bonus discount will also be available on any book sales from Resources for Learning.
You can make up a package to suit your school's needs and budget, selecting options from the menu. In this case the type and amount of service required is determined in advance.
Any usage above the agreed levels would incur extra charges which would be based on 'pay as you use' prices with sliding discount scale according to your initial level of commitment.
If you wish to pursue the option of a Self-Design Package, please indicate on the order form and we will contact you to discuss it further. At the time of ordering, please also indicate the likely price band (from the range given) within which you wish to negotiate a package. This will not commit you in any way, but will help us in the immediate and longer term planning for this service.
Menu Options may be used in a flexible way:
- to top up an existing level of service
- to tailor a service more closely to your needs
- to purchase services separately as and when required.
Click here to see Menu Options.
ARCHIVE EDUCATION SERVICES: PAY AS YOU USE
The following Archive Education Services are available to non-subscribing schools on a 'pay as you use' basis, with priority being given to subscribing schools:
- Visits to schools.
- Teacher support.
- Individual project support.
- Newsletter.
- Research enquiries.
- Teaching packs/photocopying service.
For further information about Archive 'pay as you use' services please contact Sue Berry, Archive Education Service Manager on (01823) 337600 or email sberry@somerset.gov.uk.
SOMERSET TOTAL COMMUNICATION (STC)
Somerset Total Communication is a Joint Strategy between Somerset Health and Social Care NHS Trust, Education and Social Services with partner agencies. STC aims to ensure that all people with total communication needs in Somerset have a consistent and coherent approach to meeting those needs throughout their lives in living, working, learning, community and leisure environments.
The tools of total communication are available to us all: gesture, body language, facial expression, signing, speaking, objects, photographs, drawings, symbols, written words and access to modern technology.
Developing our use of communication tools enables us to listen and clearly express ourselves to each other: pupil with pupil: pupil with school staff etc. Graduated training, networking and the development of shared resources based on common language are vital to effective implementation of STC.
It is a legal requirement that schools plan for the training needs of staff at Primary, Middle and Secondary Schools to ensure effective and accessible communication. (See Somerset Accessibility Plan.)
For training request forms, resource order forms, more information or to pre-book your visit to see the resources, please contact:
Somerset Total Communication
(01278) 444949
Fax (01278) 447114
Email stc@somerset.gov.uk