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What is involved

Application and preparation phase: September-December 2008

Activity	Learning opportunities and resources
19 September - applicant information available and online group application window opens on 19 September. Groups meet and put together their application (see the eligibility and how to apply pages). 10am, Tuesday 14 October - deadline for online group applications.	Group application process provides opportunity to consider the specific challenges of the local context and reflect on current collaborations and review progress to date.
Week commencing 20 October - groups notified of the outcome of the application process and receive further details about the launch event. 4 November - two representatives from each group attend launch event. Groups provided with self-review framework, action plan guidance and additional resources.	The self-assessment and action planning process provide an opportunity to: reflect on the current capacity of the group and member organisations to lead to narrow the gap consider the local contextual factors influencing the gaps in outcomes for children and young people, identify strategies to minimise them and discuss what the group needs to do next The materials provided will draw on the most current work and resources from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA), NCSL and the Local Government Association (LGA)/Improvement and Development Agency (IdEA).
28 November - groups submit action plans. 19 December - groups receive feedback and funds.

19 September - applicant information available and online group application window opens on 19 September.

Groups meet and put together their application (see the eligibility and how to apply pages).

10am, Tuesday 14 October - deadline for online group applications.

Group application process provides opportunity to consider the specific challenges of the local context and reflect on current collaborations and review progress to date.

Week commencing 20 October - groups notified of the outcome of the application process and receive further details about the launch event.

4 November - two representatives from each group attend launch event.

Groups provided with self-review framework, action plan guidance and additional resources.

The self-assessment and action planning process provide an opportunity to:

reflect on the current capacity of the group and member organisations to lead to narrow the gap
consider the local contextual factors influencing the gaps in outcomes for children and young people, identify strategies to minimise them and discuss what the group needs to do next

The materials provided will draw on the most current work and resources from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA), NCSL and the Local Government Association (LGA)/Improvement and Development Agency (IdEA).

28 November - groups submit action plans.

19 December - groups receive feedback and funds.

Activity phase: January-May 2009

Activity	Learning opportunities and resources
Groups work on the activities identified in their action plans. It is anticipated that, depending on the starting point for each group, these activities will range from developing further understanding of context and deeper planning, to setting up and launching interventions to narrow the gap. National initiative consultants - one in each of the North, Central and South regions - will contact each group in both late January and late February 2009 for interim support and monitoring. Informal telephone contact will also be available in the interim. Leadership Network regional leaders (two per region) may facilitate local and regional support if required.	The activity phase provides the opportunity to: select from the national materials on Narrowing the gap and apply them in the local context select from a range of learning processes, for example; learning study visits to other groups, action research groups benefit from the support of national initiative consultants
An event will be held in late March 2009 - one in each of the North, Central and South regions - for representatives from each group.	The learning events, held in March 2009, provide opportunities to work with colleagues from the region to share progress and strategies to Narrow the gap and benefit from further input.

Groups work on the activities identified in their action plans.

It is anticipated that, depending on the starting point for each group, these activities will range from developing further understanding of context and deeper planning, to setting up and launching interventions to narrow the gap.

National initiative consultants - one in each of the North, Central and South regions - will contact each group in both late January and late February 2009 for interim support and monitoring.

Informal telephone contact will also be available in the interim.

Leadership Network regional leaders (two per region) may facilitate local and regional support if required.

The activity phase provides the opportunity to:

select from the national materials on Narrowing the gap and apply them in the local context
select from a range of learning processes, for example; learning study visits to other groups, action research groups
benefit from the support of national initiative consultants

An event will be held in late March 2009 - one in each of the North, Central and South regions - for representatives from each group.

The learning events, held in March 2009, provide opportunities to work with colleagues from the region to share progress and strategies to Narrow the gap and benefit from further input.

Review phase: May-June 2009

Activity	Learning opportunities and resources
Each group will receive a visit from a Leadership Network regional leader to support the group’s self-review processes. Information will be also be collected to support the evaluation of the national initiative. This visit will take place in late May 2009. Groups submit a brief final report of their activity to the national initiative consultant. Participants will receive a copy of the final overall evaluation report of the national initiative by the end of July 2009. The information from the visits, the final reports and the overall evaluation report will contribute to what is known about effective leadership for narrowing the gap nationally. It will also inform the planning of any future Leadership Network initiatives in 2009-10.	Whilst the activity in the group continues, the review phase will offer the opportunity to reflect and review progress to date. Leadership Network regional leaders will carry out evaluation visits to each group within the framework of the evaluation process and support the further learning and future planning of the group.

Each group will receive a visit from a Leadership Network regional leader to support the group’s self-review processes.

Information will be also be collected to support the evaluation of the national initiative.

This visit will take place in late May 2009.

Groups submit a brief final report of their activity to the national initiative consultant.

Participants will receive a copy of the final overall evaluation report of the national initiative by the end of July 2009.

The information from the visits, the final reports and the overall evaluation report will contribute to what is known about effective leadership for narrowing the gap nationally. It will also inform the planning of any future Leadership Network initiatives in 2009-10.

Whilst the activity in the group continues, the review phase will offer the opportunity to reflect and review progress to date.

Leadership Network regional leaders will carry out evaluation visits to each group within the framework of the evaluation process and support the further learning and future planning of the group.

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