6,526 research outputs found
Towards universal early years provision : analysis of take-up by disadvantaged families from recent annual childcare surveys
The findings of this study suggest that lack of awareness of the entitlement to free early years provision and a low level of information about local options for nursery education and childcare were important factors affecting take-up of early years provision by disadvantaged families. In addition, the way the entitlement to free early years provision is delivered through a range of providers appeared to have an impact on its uptake by the disadvantaged families
Red Runaways: Hypervelocity Stars, Hills Ejecta and Other Outliers in the F-M Star Regime
In this paper we analyze a sample of metal-rich (>-0.8 dex) main sequence
stars in the extended solar neighborhood, investigating kinematic outliers from
the background population. The data, which are taken from the Sloan Digital Sky
Survey, are kinematically profiled as a function of distance from the Galactic
plane using full six dimensional phase space information. Each star is examined
in the context of these kinematic profiles and likelihoods are assigned to
quantify whether a star matches the underlying profile. Since some of these
stars are likely to have been ejected from the disc, we trace back their orbits
in order to determine potential ejection radii. We find that objects with low
probability (i.e. `outliers') are typically more metal poor, faster and, most
importantly, have a tendency to originate from the inner Galaxy compared to the
underlying population.
We also compose a sample of stars with velocities exceeding the local escape
velocity. Although we do not discount that our sample could be contaminated by
objects with spurious proper motions, a number of stars appear to have been
ejected from the disc with exceptionally high velocities. Some of these are
consistent with being ejected from the spiral arms and hence are a rich
resource for further study. Finally we look at objects whose orbits are
consistent with them being ejected at high speeds from the Galactic center. Of
these objects we find that one, J135855.65+552538.19, is inconsistent with
halo, bulge and disk kinematics and could plausibly have been ejected from the
Galactic nucleus via a Hills mechanism.Comment: 17 Pages, 12 Figures, Accepted to A
Discovery of statistical equivalence classes using computer algebra
Discrete statistical models supported on labelled event trees can be
specified using so-called interpolating polynomials which are generalizations
of generating functions. These admit a nested representation. A new algorithm
exploits the primary decomposition of monomial ideals associated with an
interpolating polynomial to quickly compute all nested representations of that
polynomial. It hereby determines an important subclass of all trees
representing the same statistical model. To illustrate this method we analyze
the full polynomial equivalence class of a staged tree representing the best
fitting model inferred from a real-world dataset.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figure
Relationships between High School Studentsâ Perception of Teacher Effectiveness, Attitudes towards Hospitality and Intent to Select Hospitality as a Career
The aspects of the learning environment have the potential to be an important influence in the career decision-making process of students. Teacher effectiveness was also a revealed as a component of student success. However, the connection between teachersâ effectiveness and studentâs career development exhibited a gap in the literature. The idea that a teachersâ effectiveness in the classroom can have a direct impact on a studentsâ decision to choose a vocation, particularly hospitality, as a post secondary career path has not been thoroughly examined. The purpose of this study was to explore possible relationships between student perception of teacher effectiveness and student attitudes toward hospitality as a career path. This study had three objectives. First, the study explored whether teachers attitude towards a career had an influence on their effectiveness in teaching. Second, the study explored if a studentâs attitude towards the career area influenced their perception of the teacherâs effectiveness in the classroom. Third, the study looked at studentâs intent to choose hospitality as a post secondary career choice. The participants for this study were teachers and students involved with the Distributive Education Clubs of America. Membership in the high school division of DECA is restricted to students with a career interest in hospitality, finance, sales, service, management and entrepreneurship. Analysis of the results indicated there is a significant relationship between the variables of teacher perception of effectiveness, student perception of teacher effectiveness, attitude towards hospitality as a career and intent to select hospitality as a career
Divergence or convergence? Health inequalities and policy in a devolved Britain
Since the advent of political devolution in the UK, it has been widely reported that markedly different health policies have emerged. However, most of these analyses are based on a comparison of health care policies and, as such, only tell part of a complex and evolving story. This paper
considers official responses to a shared public health policy aim, the reduction of health inequalities, through an examination of national policy statements produced in England, Scotland and Wales respectively since 1997. The analysis suggests that the relatively consistent manner in
which the âpolicy problemâ of health inequalities has been framed combined with the dominance of a medical model of health have constrained policy responses. Our findings differ from existing analyses, raising some important questions about the actuality of, and scope for, policy divergence since devolution
Early education pilot for two year old children : evaluation
This report provides the findings of the evaluation of the early education pilot for disadvantaged two year old children (the pilot). This study aimed to assess the impact of the pilot by looking at: how well the pilot was targeted, parentsâ experiences of taking up a pilot place, the quality of the pilot settings, the impact on the childrenâs behaviour, and parentsâ views and experiences of using a pilot place.
The pilot provided free early years education to over 13,500 disadvantaged two year olds between 2006 and 2008. The main purpose of the pilot was to improve childrenâs social and cognitive outcomes, e.g. their social confidence and independence, and their verbal skills and reasoning ability.
Additional aims were to have a positive impact on childrenâs parents and wider family e.g. on the relationship between parents and their children, or on parentâs emotional wellbeing. The funding offered these children 7.5 or in a small number of local authorities 12.5 hours of early years education per week for 38 weeks of the year.
The pilot places were available in a variety of early years settings e.g. nurseries, play groups and with childminders, but all were required to operate the Birth to Three Matters curriculum.© National Centre for Social Research 2009. The full text of this report is not available in ORA. You may be able to access the report at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-education-pilot-for-2-year-old-children-evaluation (URL checked 26 March 2014) or via the publication website link above
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