By Peter BramleyTraining evaluation is much more than finding out if the training was delivered effectively. The author argues that there should be evaluation before any training takes place to find out whether learning is necessary or if the desired changes can be achieved some other way. There should also be an assessment of how the training will be integrated with the organisation’s goals and the level of involvement required from supervisors and colleagues. 

A report out today says around 700,000 children in rural areas live on the margins of poverty, and it highlights some of the work being done to ensure that deprived children in the countryside get better access to services and facilities.The report from the Countryside Agency says historically the needs of children in rural areas have been difficult to tackle and are often overlooked because the children are dispersed and live some distance from services. 

Head teachers are calling for radical changes in the checks made on people applying for jobs in schools, including extending the number of posts where vetting is necessary.