Education Noticeboard

Welcome to the Education Noticeboard. A round-up of news, guidance and key updates for education settings. Included in this update:

Director Update

Dear colleagues,

After last week’s bumper edition, we have a more concise noticeboard for you this week – but no less interesting.

There are some important updates from the DfE this week which I would like to highlight, with a chance for you to offer your feedback on Minimum Service Levels.

There is also information on some important and interesting workshops such as the Food Standards webinar, Keeping Children Safe parent workshop, and the conference for Delivering Early Help in Education. Please take some time to look into these opportunities.

Lastly, there is also some key information in regards to having conversations with our children about the conflict between Israel and Gaza. This is clearly a very challenging issue, so please take some time to read the information provided on that as it may help you in your discussions with children in our schools.

I hope the rest of your week goes well.

Best wishes

Simon

Simon Wellman

Director: Education & Skills

New Sensory Room at Church Street Day Nursery

Church Street's Day Nursery in Wellington has developed a new sensory room in the heart of the nursery. Previously the room was nearer the front door, and it was challenging for some children to transition to and access. The new room is located nearer the rooms. This has had a positive effect in meeting the needs of children with SEND in the setting. The SENCo is Shannon Upton and she has done an excellent job of using Inclusion panel funding to develop the space.

Action for all settings: Share your views on Minimum Service Levels by 30 January 2024

The department launched a consultation on Minimum Service Levels (MSLs) in education last term, and it is open until 30 January 2024 for you to provide views to help shape this policy.

The consultation aims to gather views from teachers, parents, employers and other sector leaders, and learners as they all have a stake in the outcome. The Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan sent an email to teachers outlining what minimum services are for.

Share your views through the consultation.

Information for schools: Workload Reduction Taskforce initial recommendations published

We know that heavy teacher workload is a longstanding and complex issue. Reducing workload requires a joint effort from the DfE, Ofsted and school and trust leaders, to find better ways of working and sharing good practice.

Our Workload Reduction Taskforce, made up of representatives from all four teaching unions, teachers, leaders, academics and other sector experts, have agreed their early recommendations. These initial recommendations, and the final recommendations which will come in Spring, will support our ambition to reduce working hours for teachers and leaders by five hours within the next three years.

You can review the initial recommendations at Workload reduction taskforce: initial recommendations - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). In the latest edition of DfE’s Teacher Bulletin you can also find a selection of resources to support staff wellbeing and workload

Change of date for Secondary Schools School Food Standards Webinar

The Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 introduced new School Food Standards that have been mandatory in all maintained schools, new academies, and free schools since January 2015, with Governors responsible for ensuring these are being met.

Telford and Wrekin has been part of a national pilot to explore if schools are compliant with the Department for Education’s School Food Standards Regulations.

The pilot was led by the Health Protection Team where addition questions from the school food standards were added to the environmental health inspections that determined if a school was compliant with the standards.

You can read more about this in the September edition of the Leading Magazine in the article on the School Food Standards.

The pilot has now finished and the results showed that majority of Telford school of all age groups were none complicate across the whole school day, breakfast clubs/morning break, and lunch and afterschool clubs.

As we appreciated that the content of the article may be new to you, the Food Safety, Healthy Weight, and Health Protection Hub Teams held a School Food Standards webinar in November to support schools to understand the standards, their role in compliance and promote the support on offer to become complicate. Feedback from this session was that the information was easy to understand, and that all attendees would all recommend others attend the session.

After receiving this feedback we have now added additional sessions specifically for Secondary schools.

This information session will include:

· The basic requirements of the School Food Standards

· The role of School Leadership in compliance

· Feedback from the pilot survey in Telford & Wrekin

· Support & resources available

· Q&A session at the end

Please book you places here:

Secondary Schools: Tuesday 27th February 5pm to 6pm:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/t-jzqojvp

In the meantime, The School Food Plan, in collaboration with the National Governors’ Association, has produced good guidance to support governors in championing a whole school approach to food and help create a culture and ethos of healthy eating. It is designed to be used alongside other School Food Plan resources including the Headteacher Checklist and What Works Well website. School-Governors_Guidance.pdf (schoolfoodplan.com)

We look forward to seeing you at the session.

Keeping children safe parent workshop Telford and Wrekin

With more access than ever before to phones and other technology, it can be difficult to understand how to keep your child safe in an increasingly digital world.

The workshop is fully funded and will cover:

What online harm is and online gang recruitment.
Ways you can effectively help and support your children
Understand why and how children can become victims
How your response can support your child
An award-winning approach to support young people at risk of exploitation
Delivery by lived experienced professionals

To access the workshop (delivered via Teams – Teams app not necessary for participation), please click on the link below just before the training begins.

Thursday 25 January 2024 5-6pm

Click here to join the meeting

Safer Streets Project for Secondary Schools in Telford & Wrekin

Axis have been successful in a bid as part of the Safer Streets initiative, as part of this bid Axis are looking at working and collaborating with schools to deliver the initiative.

The bid asks for us to work with a school in the following way:

Ambassadors of Violence Prevention, based on research and practice by Jackson Katz (1993), delivered as a collaboration between WMRSASC and AXIS, is a whole school programme focused on equipping the school community to recognise inappropriate sexual behaviours and have the skills and knowledge to safely challenge them.

Delivery will include:

Accredited training for teachers,
Core bystander approach delivery to pupils,
Development of co-created resources for teachers and ambassadors to use
Development and support of a school peer ambassador team equipped with the skills to raise awareness, challenge thinking, support group work and restorative conferencing within the school community.
Axis view this working is that each school will benefit from wrap around support for disclosures from the two organisations (at nil cost to the project) and ongoing supervision and support for the ambassador team from sexual violence/education experts to ensure ethical programme delivery and support the modelling of supportive leadership development programmes for the ambassador team.

The train the trainer project consists of the following:

Accredited Training for Teachers/School Staff

Axis will be offering a 2.5 Day level 3 accredited training programme. This will cover:

Skills for responding to disclosures of sexual violence.
Myths and Stereotypes around sexual violence, gender stereotypes and misogyny and victim blaming societal responses that can lead to inappropriate sexual behaviours.
The active bystander approach in safely challenging inappropriate sexual behaviours.
Introductions/supporting the ambassador programme within your school setting.
Ambassador project
Recruiting/inducting 5 or 6 Ambassadors from your school ( Year 8’s who will be Year 9 from September 2024)
To support Ambassadors to help facilitate sessions within schools with other children and young people on the active bystander approach in safely challenging inappropriate beliefs and attitudes and behaviours that can lead to sexually inappropriate behaviours.
To act as a peer contact for other children who are concerned about something they have seen/experienced and enable them to seek help /support from the DSL/pastoral staff for signposting or specialist support.

Axis are keen to do this in collaboration with you and the young people to ensure it is a programme that work for you, Axis envision co-creating materials and the approach with you and the ambassadors.

For more information or if your school is interested in taking part in this project please contact:

Dawn Shanaha - Adult ISVA

dawn.s@axiscounselling.org.uk

What to do if you think your child has measles and when to keep them off school

Measles is an infection that spreads very easily and for some people can cause serious problems. There’s no specific medical treatment for measles, so it’s important to get vaccinated as it’s the best protection against becoming seriously unwell. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is one of the routine childhood vaccinations, so most children are already vaccinated against measles. If your child has received both doses of the vaccine, they are unlikely to have the virus. Here, we explain everything you need to know about the rise in measles cases:

What to do if you think your child has measles and when to keep them off school

Free Professional Development Training Opportunity to Support Children’s PSED From 2-4 Years

SMILE is a PSED resource that combines a number of approaches to support children developing social communication, theory of mind and independence skills for children aged 2- 4yrs. Approaches include; using puppets to tell social stories, adult guided learning activities, story time and reflecting on continuous provision.

The practitioner's resource contains

A collection of social stories to be used with puppets to teach social conventions and practice vocabulary related to social communication
Poster to prompt social communication phrases for adults in the environment
List of published children's stories that can be used to support the 5 aspects of SMILE
Ideas to support PSED through routine, resources in the environment and through play and interaction
Collection of adult led circle time or small group intervention activities

The resource booklet for supporting parents includes

Baseline audit of PSED skills that can be completed with or by parents
Independent skills checklists, including toilet training, reducing bottle use, dental health and dummy use
Step by step advice sheets for parents to support independent skills including independent sleeping and social communication
Collection of ideas for parents to support PSED through home routines

Training dates

Session 1: Face to Face: 24th February 9-12pm at Mercure Hotel, Telford

Session 2: Online: 6th March 2024 6.30-7.30pm

Session 3: Online: 20th March 6.30-7.30pm

To express your interest in this free fully-funded programme, please visit:

https://forms.gle/ZdVVQaqW7nZBKTHx8

Free Early Years Send Reviewer Training (Nasen)

About the FREE training

The SEND review process is designed to be a supportive, collaborative process.

Early Years SEND Reviews provide an effective tool to aid continuing reflection, ensuring that provision meets the needs of all children. This helps to provide an inclusive and positive Early Years educational experience for children.

SEND Review Benefits

Provides your setting with a clear plan for the whole staff to work to – giving everyone a voice
Helps you identify staff training needs
Improves relationships with parents and carers, and enables co-production for children with SEND
Provides a cycle of reflective practice for continual development of provision for all children
Provides an opportunity for Level 3 SENCOs to continue their journey into leadership of SEND

Aims of the SEND Review

To support Early Years settings to ensure that they meet the legal requirements for SEND provision
To develop an effective SEND audit for Early Years settings
To support Early Years practitioners to develop an accurate view of the quality of their SEND provision
To ensure that practitioners and settings are celebrating their successes
To provide recommendations for further improvements to inclusive practice.

After attending the training, you will conduct an EY SEND Review in your setting to ensure a real, lasting impact on inclusive practice and outcomes for children and families.

To book, please go to: https://nasen.org.uk/events/early-years-send-reviewer-training-telford-and-wrekin

View the Training Flyer

Family Hub funded training opportunity to support early Literacy in the Home Learning Environment

Making it REAL (Raising Early Achievement in Literacy) is an evidence based award-winning training programme that develops children’s early literacy by supporting parents to create a positive early home learning environment.

Parents [and carers] play a key role in children's learning. They are experts on their own children, and they are a child's first and enduring educators (National Children’s Bureau -NCB, 2010).

Making it REAL Training will be taking place in: Telford on the 1st and 8th March: 9:15 until 4:00pm (Both sessions must be attended) settings/school nurseries can request up to 2 places.

At: The Mercure Hotel, Forge Gate Overdale Telford TF3 4NA

Ofsted have recently recommended in several inspection reports that supporting children’s learning and development in partnership with parents/carers as an area for development.

There will be funding available for the 2 days training and to purchase resources necessary to the programme. To book places email: talkingchildcare@telford.gov.uk

NCB has worked in partnership with Oldham Local Authority since January 2018 to support delivery of the Raising Early Achievement in Literacy (REAL) project in targeted wards. The EYFS Profile results 2019 confirmed a 4% increase in the number of children with a good level of development in Oldham.

Both parents and practitioners were very positive about the project, and the children on the project children developed a real love for reading, rhyme and writing. Feedback from early years practitioners who recently attended this training stated:

“An incredibly valuable training course. The training has both enabled me to reflect on my practice and provided a foundation of ideas to support children and families going forward.”

“I really enjoyed both sessions and I learned a lot about REAL that I will use at my setting and to encourage parents as well.”

Making it Real Training Timetable

CPD courses to February half term 2024

The CPD Booklet for the remainder of the 2023-24 academic year can be viewed via Telford Education Services.

As always, courses can be booked by completing and returning a CPD booking form to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk (unless denoted differently)

Establishing Yourself as a SEND leader, for new and returning SENCOs (LSAT 302) - part 2	Monday, January 29, 2024	9.15am to 3.30pm
Talk for Work (new LSAT course)	Monday, January 29, 2024	9am to 3.30pm
Meeting the OFSTED requirements and developing reading strategies for EAL learners at KS2 (CPD 714)	Tuesday, January 30, 2024	1.15pm to 3.30pm
Safety Intervention Refresher Training (BSAT 212) - CPI accredited	Tuesday, January 30, 2024	2pm to 4.30pm
School Attendance Briefing Updates (AST 004)	Wednesday, January 31, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Safety Intervention Training (BSAT 201) - Part 2 - CPI accredited	Thursday, February 01, 2024	2pm to 4.30pm
Listen with Lucy (EY 023)	Thursday, February 01, 2024	1.15pm to 4pm
Accredited Safer Recruitment Training HR course – please book on Ollie or send an email to co-operative.admin@telford.gov.uk	Thursday, February 01, 2024	9am to 4.30pm
In-person: Improvisation Project CPD Session (Free of charge) Please book via telford.music@telford.gov.uk	Thursday, February 01, 2024	1pm to 4pm
NEW: SOS+ Criminal Exploitation Training for Education Professionals	Thursday, February 01, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
NEW Conference: Developing Early Help in Education	Tuesday, February 06, 2024	9am to 2pm - TBC
Improving EAL pupils' writing through Oracy, grammar and tier 2/3 vocabulary acquisition (CPD 727)	Tuesday, February 06, 2024 Moved to 12 March 2024	1.15pm to 3.30pm
The Importance of the Early Years Foundation Stage in Schools (GO 603)	Tuesday, February 06, 2024	5.30pm to 7pm
Cover Supervisors - preparing for the role (PSS 010)	Tuesday, February 06, 2024	3.30pm to 5pm
Talk Boost KS2	Tuesday, February 06, 2024	TBC
Schemas in the EYFS (EY 340)	Wednesday, February 07, 2024	1.15pm to 4pm
Taking the Chair (GO 504) - part 2	Wednesday, February 07, 2024	4.30pm to 6.30pm
Preparing for Statutory Assessment at the End of KS2 (CPD 504)	Thursday, February 08, 2024	9am to 12.30pm
Meeting the Statutory Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the EYFS (EY 009)	Thursday, February 08, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Raising Awareness of Prevent (SG 101)	Thursday, February 08, 2024	1pm to 2.30pm
Safeguarding Induction Training for Governors (SG 103) - part 1	Thursday, February 08, 2024	5.30pm to 7.30pm
SEND Music Network Meeting (Free of charge via Teams) Please book via telford.music@telford.gov.uk	Thursday, February 08, 2024	4.30pm to 5.30pm
Webinar: Kapow Primary (Free of charge via Zoom) Please book via telford.music@telford.gov.uk	Friday, February 09, 2024	4pm to 5pm

Delivering Early Help in Education – Telford & Wrekin Conference – Tuesday 6 February 2024

This conference is taking place Tuesday 6 February 2024 at a local Telford hotel – the venue will be advised within the joining instructions which will be sent to delegates next week.

The conference is designed for strategic leaders with responsibility for the delivery of early help in schools and colleges.

The event will provide strategic leads with an opportunity to consider their setting’s delivery of early help and build even stronger partnerships with partners.

Each school in Telford & Wrekin, including independent schools and post 16 institutions, will receive one free place for their strategic lead. If you have not done so already, please book your place as soon as possible in order that additional places over and above the one free place can be offered at a cost of £25 per person.

The keynote speaker is Edwina Langley MBE, Lead Attendance Officer for Birmingham City Council, Children and Families Directorate and Chair of the Network for Legal Intervention in Education.

In addition to the keynote inputs, delegates will have the opportunity to attend three workshops, with a focus on:

Attendance
Neglect
Models of delivering early help

Programme for the day

8.45am Arrival refreshments

9.10am Welcome / housekeeping

9.15am Conference opening

9.30am Reflecting on delivering early help - Mandie Haywood

9.45am Keynote: Edwina Langley MBE

10.15am Morning break and an opportunity for delegates to visit the marketplace)

10.45am Workshop 1 – Attendance

11.15am Change over

11.25am Workshop 2

11.55am Change over

12.05pm Workshop 3

12.35pm Marketplace and buffet lunch

1.15pm Whole group session ‘Building on early help in your setting’ – LA led

1.55pm Closing remarks

2pm Close

To secure your free place, and to request additional places, please send a completed CPD booking form to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk

Please note that our standard terms and conditions apply for any cancellations within 5 working days or any ‘no shows’ on the day – for both free places and any chargeable places. Please refer to the CPD Booklet on the Telford Education Services website for further details.

TAW EPS response to the Israel-Palestine conflict

The coverage of the conflict between Israel and Gaza leads to conversations with children and young people about what’s happening, but navigating these discussions can be difficult. The recent news regarding the Israel and Gaza conflict has been very distressing and children and young people may be wondering why the conflict is occurring. Whether directly or indirectly impacted by the conflict, children and young people may be feeling distressed by what they are seeing and hearing and have difficulty in comprehending what is currently being reported in the news. Parents/ carers and school staff are trusted adults in children’s lives who are best placed to help young people navigate these tragic events.

Emotional responses to trauma can be complex and lead to feelings that young people find hard to regulate. Our brains are hard wired to protect us from danger and thus, witnessing mass violence activates our survival instinct, resulting in a fight, flight, freeze response which may manifest itself in various ways in CYP who might lack the emotional vocabulary to articulate their feelings. Traumatic events such as this also serve to disrupt the child’s view of the world, therefore spaces that help re-establish a sense of safety are imperative in helping reframe children’s perceptions of future situations.

Ultimately, through fostering safety, providing reassurance and aiding CYP to navigate these events in a way that is age appropriate, we can help protect their mental health in a way that does not disregard the tragedy that they have witnessed. After all, the more children and young people understand about the situation, the more they will be able to cope with upsetting news and images.

In light of this, Telford and Wrekin EPS have signposted some resources below to support conversations with children and young people in response to the conflict:

Support to explain the difficult concepts associated with current events – news delivery designed for children and young people and provided by Newsround.	https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround#more-stories-2
Advice for children and young people if they are upset by the news – provided by Newsround.	https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/13865002
Place2Be - Talking to children and young people about war and conflict.	https://www.place2be.org.uk/about-us/news-and-blogs/2022/march/talking-to-children-and-young-people-about-war-and-conflict/
Guardian article from February 2022 which was related to the Ukraine war.	‘A delicate balance’: experts’ tips on dealing with Ukraine anxiety in children \| Children \| The Guardian
Healthy Children have produced guidance for parents on how to Talk With Your Child About the Israel-Gaza War.	https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-the-israel-hamas-war
Save the Children- How to talk about war and conflict with children, according to Child Counsellors	How to Talk About War and Conflict with Kids \| Save the Children
The National Education Union has produced guidance on dealing with the reactions of pupils and the wider community to the Israel/Palestine conflict.	https://neu.org.uk/latest/library/israelpalestine-issues-schools

This entry was posted by Oliver on Thursday, 25 January 2024.

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Every week during term time we publish a new update for the education community. It includes essential briefings and specialist information about education.

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