Sheila Blackburn

The nature of sweating and the origins of low pay legislation are of fundamental social, economic and moral importance. Although difficult to define, sweating, according to a select committee established to investigate the issue, was characterised by long hours, poor working conditions and above all by low pay. By the beginning of the twentieth century the government estimated that up to a third of the British workforce could be classed as sweated labour, and for the first time in a century began to think about introducing legislation to address the problem. Whilst historians have written much on unemployment, poverty relief and other such related social and industrial issues, relatively little work has been done on the causes, extent and character of sweated labour. That work which has been done has tended to focus on the tailoring trades in London and Leeds, and fails to give a broad overview of the phenomenon and how it developed and changed over time. In contrast, this volume adopts a broad national and long-run approach, providing a more holistic understanding of the subject. Rejecting the argument that sweating was merely a London or gender related problem, it paints a picture of a widespread and constantly shifting pattern of sweated labour across the country, that was to eventually persuade the government to introduce legislation in the form of the 1909 Trades Board Act. It was this act, intended to combat sweated labour, which was to form the cornerstone of low pay legislation, and the barrier to the introduction of a minimum wage, for the next 90 years.

In Stewie Scraps and the Space Racer is specially designed to appeal to reluctant boy readers. In the story Stewie spends all week wishing that Friday afternoon would come. It is Art and Craft on Friday afternoons, the only lesson Stewie willingly takes part in. When Mr Melling announces the start of a new project on space, Stewie knows exactly what to design, a spacecraft. Slower learners will identify with Stewie, who isn't very good at school, but does like technology.

In Stewie Scraps and the Giant Joggers is specially designed to appeal to reluctant boy readers. In the story Stewie goes away on an overnight school trip. It is his first time away from home and his first time in the countryside. His head is full of ideas for making this and making that. Slower learners will identify with Stewie, who isn't very good at school, but does like technology.

In Stewie Scraps and the Star Rocket is specially designed to appeal to reluctant boy readers. In the story Grandpa invites Stewie to come with him to the firework display at his local pub. Stewie is spellbound by the firework display. He's never seen such big rockets before. The next day, it takes only a couple of hours to find all the bits needed for his Super Star Rocket. But what will happen when Stewie tries to launch it? Slower learners will identify with Stewie, who isn't very good at school, but does like technology.

In Stewie Scraps and the Trolley Cart is specially designed to appeal to reluctant boy readers. In the story Alfie Battersby, just about the cleverest and richest boy in Mr Melling's class, invites Stewie to his karting-party. Stewie is on Alfie's team at the karting track. He tries to remember everything he's been shown but it isn't as easy as he expects. His new design doesn't go according to plan either. Find out what goes wrong and how Grandpa comes to the rescue. Slower learners will identify with Stewie, who isn't very good at school, but does like technology.

Stewie Scraps and the Super Sleigh is specially designed to appeal to reluctant boy readers. In the story, which takes place just before Christmas, a new boy starts in Stewie's class and they soon become friends. Then Stewie realizes that since Miles came along, he hasn't come up with any new designs. But will his super sleigh fly? And will he meet Santa? Slower learners will identify with Stewie, who isn't very good at school, but does like technology.

The nature of sweating and the origins of low pay legislation are of fundamental social, economic and moral importance. Although difficult to define, sweating, according to a select committee established to investigate the issue, was characterised by long hours, poor working conditions and above all by low pay. By the beginning of the twentieth century the government estimated that up to a third of the British workforce could be classed as sweated labour, and for the first time in a century began to think about introducing legislation to address the problem. Whilst historians have written much on unemployment, poverty relief and other such related social and industrial issues, relatively little work has been done on the causes, extent and character of sweated labour. That work which has been done has tended to focus on the tailoring trades in London and Leeds, and fails to give a broad overview of the phenomenon and how it developed and changed over time. In contrast, this volume adopts a broad national and long-run approach, providing a more holistic understanding of the subject. Rejecting the argument that sweating was merely a London or gender related problem, it paints a picture of a widespread and constantly shifting pattern of sweated labour across the country, that was to eventually persuade the government to introduce legislation in the form of the 1909 Trades Board Act. It was this act, intended to combat sweated labour, which was to form the cornerstone of low pay legislation, and the barrier to the introduction of a minimum wage, for the next 90 years.

Your Chance to Score! is a teacher resource to accompany Set A of Sam's Football Stories, a series of engaging football stories designed to appeal to reluctant boy readers. The photocopiable worksheets build on the stories, and help to develop reading comprehension and key literacy skills. Comprehension questions help to evaluate and assess how well each pupil has understood the story. Activities include synonyms and antonyms, adding prefixes and suffixes, compound words, contractions and silent letters.

The two stories in this book - "The Fish Dish" and "Who Can Run the Fastest?" - are designed for a parent and child to read together, providing opportunities to practise key phonic skills. Both stories contain easy-to-read words, essential high frequency words and colourful illustrations.

The "Letterland Early Readers" series takes children on a careful progression from the earliest stages of reading to reading whole sentences within a story context. With simple vocabulary that builds from book to book, these stories should help to make learning to read fun.