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,

I can scarcely believe that I am already writing to wish you a restful half-term break. Though this has been a short half-term, that doesn’t mean it has been less busy! We have had plenty of developments within Education & Skills over the past five to six weeks.

Speaking of half-term, this of course means the return of our ever popular Kids4£1 and our latest Urban Games offer. Please make sure that you share the information included in this Noticeboard with the young people and families you work with. These are fantastic opportunities for our children to keep active and engaged throughout the break.

This week is National Apprenticeship Week, and you can read more on what has been happening in Telford with regards to that this week, while there are also some free resources to help settings speak about NAW in lessons.

There is also information on the Outdoor Essentials Grant which I would highly recommend you taking some time to read. We are all aware of the positive impact that outdoor education has on our young people, therefore I would encourage to take advantage of any potential support you could receive with this.

Finally, I want to thank you for all of your hard work this half-term. January can certainly feel like a long month, so I hope you all manage to enjoy some well-deserved time to relax next week.

Best wishes

Simon

Simon Wellman

Director: Education & Skills

February half term fun returns with Kids4£1 activities

It’s February half term next week and we are launching another action-packed week of activities for kids to keep them entertained.

Families can make the most of activities on their doorstep at venues across the borough, between 12 February and 18 February, for just £1.

Activities on offer include swimming, tennis, golf, tobogganing, soft play and lots more – encouraging people to stay local and spend less.

Urban Games February Half Term 2024

Telford & Wrekin Council’s urban games offer a free and safe space for everyone from toddlers through to teenagers, to learn new skills and spend time doing something fun during half-term.

Sports sessions in your local park including football, cricket, cycling, hockey, Chinese dance & arts and lots of others.

Hosted by qualified coaches, there’s something for everyone at community centres, sports centres and local parks.

Urban Games February 2024 Flyer

Job Box celebrates National Apprenticeship Week 2024

Telford & Wrekin Council’s Job Box service is backing National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2024 and celebrating the ‘skills for life’ which apprenticeships provide.

A range of apprenticeships are available to people of all ages across the borough and Job Box will celebrate the value they bring to employers and individuals next week, (February 5 to 11), as well as highlighting an exciting range of council apprenticeships.

This year’s theme is ‘Skills For Life’ which reflects on how apprenticeships can help individuals develop the skills and knowledge needed for a rewarding career and help businesses to develop a talented workforce equipped with skills for the future.

Apprenticeships give people the opportunity to earn while they learn, achieve nationally recognised qualifications ranging from Level 2 to degree level, and gain valuable workplace experience.

Across Telford & Wrekin Council (including the local authority’s maintained schools), over 500 apprentices have started apprenticeships with the council since 2017.

Some of the most popular apprenticeships have been delivered in areas such as business administration, teaching assistants, housing and property management and customer service.

During NAW, Job Box will signpost people towards the Telford Skills Show which is at Telford International Centre,Telford on Thursday 14 March 2024 (11.30am-7pm).

It’s the largest, free event of its kind this side of the NEC in Birmingham and is open to people of all ages, giving them the chance to find out more about local apprenticeship, employment and training opportunities.

Telford & Wrekin Council is working with other main event sponsors - The Careers & Enterprise Company, Integrated Care System (NHS Shropshire Telford and Wrekin), Telford College and Harper Adams University - to host the event.

On the day, visitors can take part in hands-on activities delivered by employers and training providers to gain a better understanding of apprenticeships and roles available and speak to employers that may be in a business sector they are interested in.

Employers will be able to offer support and advice and help people make that all important decision about their first career move or even a change of career path.

You can sign up for the Telford Skills Show here.

The council’s Job Box team will be on hand during National Apprenticeship Week to offer advice about apprenticeships and latest vacancies.

Councillor Eileen Callear (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Vistor Economy said: “We’re excited to be celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2024.

“The week brings together businesses and apprentices across our borough and shines a light on the positive impact apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

“We offer a wide range of apprenticeships at Telford & Wrekin Council and they are an excellent way to gain essential experience, earn while you learn and gain nationally recognised qualifications which really do provide ‘skills for life.’

“For some, the apprenticeship route may not be an obvious choice but it’s the perfect way to gain new skills and start on an exciting career pathway.”

You can find out more about National Apprenticeship Week 2024 here: https://www.lifereadyworkready.co.uk/naw2024

Or call Job Box on 01952 382888 for more information about apprenticeships which are available locally or with Telford & Wrekin Council.

Telford Skills Show

Are you thinking about an apprenticeship? 👷🏽

The Telford Skills Show at Telford International Centre on Thursday 14 March 2023 (11.30am-7pm) is the perfect place to find out about apprenticeships on your doorstep as well as employment and training opportunities.

Open to all ages, discover hands-on activities delivered by employers and training providers so that you get a better understanding of the apprenticeships and the roles available.

You can also speak to employers that may be in a business sector that you are interested in.

They will be able to offer advice and support to you about options which are available and help you to make that all important decision about an apprenticeship, your first career move or even a change of career path.

#NAW2024

‘Built By You’ aims to boost construction skills across the borough

A flagship initiative to boost skills and support people into a future career in the construction industry has been launched in Telford and Wrekin.

Telford & Wrekin Council, Lovell Partnerships, Telford College and Nuplace (a wholly owned council company) have joined forces to launch ‘Built By You’- a new recruitment and skills programme which could pave the way for future employment.

Construction provides huge job opportunities and types of work ranges from practical trades like carpentry, bricklaying and architecture to project management and civil engineering.

Over the next few years, Telford & Wrekin Council, Nuplace, Lovell Partnerships and a number of other local housing partners will be delivering a significant number of new build, mixed tenure housing schemes across Telford - providing many job opportunities.

In recognition of this, and in response to the construction skills crisis faced by many organisations, partners have come together to launch ‘Built By You’ to ensure local people can benefit from training and on site placements and work experience equipping them for a career in construction.

The initiative has been developed to be replicated across future projects by Lovell to support the national skills gap and to attract the next generation of built environment specialists.

For the launch site, Telford College will provide the programme funding, training and facilities at the college for the taught part of the programme, while Lovell Partnerships will offer practical, on site work experience opportunities and placements.

Up to 10 candidates will come through the skills programme at any one time and there will be up to four opportunities to join each year, with each programme running from Monday to Friday for 4 weeks.

To mark the launch, partners from across the borough have been invited to a Built By You ‘Meet the Buyer’ event at Telford College on Wednesday 14 February 2024 (8am-10am).

The event will give attendees the opportunity to learn more about the ‘Built By You’ programme and give organisations the opportunity to be part of this exciting initiative.

It will also help them learn more about some of the housing developments that are being delivered by partners throughout the borough.

Councillor Eileen Callear (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Visitor Economy, said: “The launch of ‘Built By You’ is exciting news for employers and jobseekers across the borough.

“Through the new programme, people will be introduced to careers in housing construction and benefit from training and work experience which could offer them a route into full-time employment.

“Built By You’ is the perfect platform for people to learn new skills to support the construction industry’s future workforce and take part in training and practical experience for specific trades such as carpentry, bricklaying and architecture.”

Refreshments will be provided at the ‘Meet the Buyer’ event which takes place at Telford College, The Orange Tree, Haybridge Road, Wellington, TF1 2NP.

Councillor Richard Overton (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes & Enforcement, said: “There are many housing initiatives which are being delivered across the borough or are currently in the pipeline.

“This is a fantastic partnership initiative which aims to address the shortfall of housing construction skills locally and across the UK so we are better equipped for the future to meet our housing needs.”

Stuart Penn, Regional Managing Director at Lovell, said: “We’re committed to building homes in areas where people want to live and future proofing those communities by tackling issues identified by our partners.

“‘Built By You’ is the first step in engaging the next generation of built environment experts by demonstrating the broad range of careers within construction and giving them invaluable experience or a route directly into work.

“We’re pleased to be working alongside Telford and Wrekin Council and Telford College to deliver the first Built by You initiative – we are also looking for partners to drive it further forward.

“We want to encourage more construction firms to get involved and use this scheme to their advantage as a strong recruitment tool and as an opportunity to support the next generation.”

Janet Stephens, Telford College’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “Companies want to recruit and retain the best quality staff to grow and thrive, and it’s the role of education to work closely with them to make it possible.

“Our most important objective here at Telford College is to deliver students with the calibre and skills sets that local businesses need – working together is the best way to get there.”

For media enquiries please contact Kali Dennett or Hannah McManus at Cartwright Communications on 0115 853 2110 or email LovellMids@cartwrightcommunications.co.uk

PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHOTOGRAPHS AND INTERVIEWS AT THE BUILT BY YOU ‘MEET THE BUYER’ LAUNCH EVENT FROM 8AM ON WEDNESDAY 14 FEBRUARY AT TELFORD COLLEGE, THE ORANGE TREE, HAYBRIDGE ROAD, WELLINGTON, TF1 2NP.

Ready, set go! Top litter pickers needed for the Great British Spring Clean!

Dear colleagues,

We’d like to invite your school to get involved in the Great British Spring Clean, the nation's BIGGEST mass-action environmental campaign, that takes place between Friday, 15 March and Sunday, 31 March 2024.

We’re calling on #LitterHeroes across the country to clear litter from streets - what is good for our environment is good for our mental and physical health too. Plus, there are some great prizes up for grabs too!

Telford & Wrekin Council, with help from street champions, volunteers, community groups, businesses and partners, will be holding litter picks across the borough and we sincerely hope you can join us.

We’ll be on hand to help with equipment so taking part couldn’t be easier!

Competition time!

Why not join us and arrange a litter picking activity along a pre-planned route near your school between 11-22 March 2024.
Ten students have one hour to collect as much litter as they can during this set time, separating general waste from recyclables.

Share your photos/videos on your social media or school newsletters, we can help share the good news to!

Winners:

The winning schools (one primary, one secondary) will be those that have collected the most rubbish at the end of their one hour activity (measured by the number of fully filled rubbish bags)
Winners will be announced after the Easter holidays and awarded with prizes. We will confirm the prizes over the coming weeks.

Council’s support

We will:

Lend your school 10 litter pickers and blue and clear bags for disposing of the rubbish collected
Arrange for the rubbish to be removed as early as possible after collection.
Promote those taking part and use as case studies
Award prizes to the winning teams.

Interested?

If you have any questions or would like to register to join in with the litter challenge please email us at pride.officer@telford.gov.uk

The Great British Spring Clean is a campaign by Keep Britain Tidy - a leading independent environmental charity that works to inspire, educate and enable everyone in this country to value the environment on their doorstep.

We look forward to seeing your bags of litter soon!

Young people could win £2,000, plus fun days out, by applying to Make a Change

Inspiring projects that better lives or the environment in Telford and Wrekin are wanted for the Make a Change competition.

Make a Change seeks to empower young people, 11-18, to make a real impact where they live, either by improving the physical or mental health of residents or making the borough cleaner or greener.

Teams with the best five ideas will bag £2,000 each to make their idea happen, plus a host of other exciting prizes.

The competition is run by Telford & Wrekin Council, in partnership with the Young People’s Forum, and is part of the Safer & Stronger Communities project funded in part by the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner and the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Councillor Kelly Middleton (Lab), Cabinet Member for Healthy, Safer & Stronger Communities and Partnerships said:

“I’m thrilled we have launched Make a Change for a second year. The competition is all about inspiring young people to work together to deliver positive changes in their community.

“It’s a fantastic platform for them to raise awareness of something they feel passionate about. It will also look great on their CV and build their confidence.”

West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion, said:

“Young people are often the most vulnerable in our society and it is important they are being given the opportunity to take a more positive direction in their life.

“This project is going to not only benefit the young people taking part but the community too and I look forward to seeing what creative ideas young people have.”

The closing date for applications is Friday 3 May 2024. Winners will be invited to an awards celebration in June.

Make a Change launched in 2023 and among winning ideas was one put forward by Dawley Youth Club to set up a mental health project with the support of Telford Mind.

Hayden Banks-Morgan, aged 13, was one of the young people involved.

“I’m more confident because of the mental health group. I have less social anxiety and now I can talk to new people.

“Make a Change could benefit other children, so I definitely think they should apply.”

For more information about Make a Change and to apply online visit www.telford.gov.uk/makeachange or email saferstronger@telford.gov.uk

Early Help in Education Conference

The vast majority of schools and providers joined the Early Help in Education Conference held at the Mercure this week. There were almost 200 people present and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive in terms of providing an opportunity to think about and review what Schools, Colleges and providers can offer to families in order to help at the earliest opportunity and prevent issues escalating.

From the opening remarks by Emma Martin Service Delivery Manager for Family Connect, Strengthening Families and Emergency Duty Team to the closing comments from Liz Smith Service Delivery Manager for Achievement and Enrichment, delegates had opportunities to hear about good practice, consider the national and local context and review how this links to the changing landscape of what schools can offer.

The 3 workshops facilitated by schools were very well received. Delegates had an opportunity to see how early help offered by Milbrook Primary had made a difference to the life of ‘Abena’ and her children. The initial presentation of the family at school could easily have been perceived to that of neglect, but the sensitive support from the school helped to keep the family from needing to draw on other statutory services and are now in a position where the mother and children are thriving.

Schools heard from the Learning Community Trust about the range of offers they have in place remove the barriers that can prevent pupils from attending school, and Donnington Wood Infants and Ladygrove Primary, shared how they have developed a whole school offer and how they have considered measuring the positive impact that it has.

All the workshops were inspirational in terms of what is possible, and in many cases without significant additional resources, but an ethos and a desire to make that change and leadership that was determined to ensure that the school was doing the best it could for the needs of their children and families.

Delegates took a good opportunity to visit the Market Place showcasing a wide range of providers that could be drawn upon to supplement the school’s early help offer. They included: Community Voluntary Services, Cranston, Crisis Start, Department for Work and Pensions, Early Years Childcare Funding, Haven, Maninplace, Home start, Public Health, Recharge, Shropshire Community Health Trust, Stay Telford, Steer Clear, Strengthening Families, Family Hubs and Family Connect, Telford Young Carers, West Mercia Cyber Crime Choices, Wrekin Housing, PODS, SENDIASS, Telford Crisis Support and Access Counselling.

Those attending the conference had an opportunity to consider how they might want to review and re-shape their early help offer. In particular schools and providers were asked to consider the services mapped in the threshold guidance and link in what other services they offer or sign post to for their families.

Those who attended were challenged to consider their own internal structure’s for the delivery of early help and how it must begin with governance. It’s important that leadership structures consider carefully with governance how the changing and growing early help and safeguarding needs of our population are evolving and how the school or college identify their responsibilities as defined in legislation.

We were delighted to welcome back Mandie Heywood to share her reflections on what underpins how this can be done and we are very proud to work with schools, colleges and providers who clearly have the best outcomes from children and their families at the heart of everything they do.

For those who attended the slides from the presentations and workshops, along with the contact details from the providers will follow shortly.

Telford and Wrekin Education Strategic Partnership Board Summer Term Briefing and Networking Event

Telford and Wrekin Education Strategic Partnership Board, a collaboration between education leaders in Telford and Wrekin and the Local Authority, is pleased to announce a Summer Term Briefing and Networking Event for headteachers and CEOs of all schools across Telford and Wrekin following the great success of the Leadership Conference for Headteachers and CEOs which was held on 12 October 2023.

This event has been organised in response to the valuable feedback from the Leadership Conference in October 2023 where attendees told us that they would value a Summer term event which will allow them the opportunity to network with other headteachers and CEOs.

During the morning there will be a full data presentation on the performance of our schools across the Borough to look at trends over time including achievement, SEND, CiC, Fairshare and suspensions to focus a strategic discussion on a range of issues challenging our schools. Additionally, there will be an inspiring session with a key note speaker to be announced in the coming weeks as well as the opportunity for you to meet with your clusters to discuss the priorities for the next academic year as well as network with other delegates in attendance.

Booking Information

Summer Term Briefing and Networking Event - Wednesday 3rd July 2024, 9am-1pm

The board is delighted to welcome all headteachers and CEOs to this event and early booking is advised. There is also space for Deputy Heads to attend too, but we ask they only attend alongside their Headteacher and not as a replacement. Tickets for this event are priced at £60.00 per person or a discounted offer of £100.00 for two tickets when booking from the same school. We have priced this event so that we cover our costs only. Lunch will be included! This event will be held at a venue within central Telford and you will be sent details of the venue confirmation 10 days prior to the event date.

To book your place for this Leadership Conference, please send a completed booking form at cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk

We really hope you can make it and it would be great to have representation from across all our schools and academies!

Best Wishes,

Gill Eatough

Independent Chair of Telford and Wrekin Education Strategic Partnership Board

Booking Form

Report gender pay gap data by 30 March 2024

Action for all settings (mandatory): Report gender pay gap data by 30 March 2024

Employers with 250 or more employees are required to report specific gender pay gap data on the gender pay gap service and their own website every year. This includes schools, colleges and academy trusts.

The deadline for reporting each year is 30 March (based on a snapshot date of 31 March the previous year) for most public authority employers.

Employers can report and publish their gender pay gap information at any time before the deadline.

Further details can be found at Gender pay gap reporting and Search and compare gender pay gap data.

Independent Appeal Panel Members Needed

We are looking for volunteers to join our Independent Appeal Panel which deals with primary and secondary school admissions and exclusion reviews.

The admissions panel considers appeals from parents or carers whose children have been refused admission to their preferred school. Our independent panel members consider the cases put forward by parents and schools and decide whether or not the appeal should be upheld.

You can find out more about this role: https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20026/school_admissions/802/school_admission_review_panel_members

Supporting The Home Learning Environment Conference

‘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).

As a strand of the Family Hub programme, we have been utilising interventions and approaches that are evidenced based to support children’s Speech, Language, Communication and Literacy at home. This is your opportunity to learn more about these tools and the importance of the Home learning environment from a range of national speakers.

Speakers from National Organisations include:-

Speech and Language UK – Louisa Reeves Director of Policy and Evidence, Talk Boost and more.
National Children’s Bureau – Making it REAL (Raising Early Achievement in Literacy)
NASEN – Alex Grady, Supporting children with SEND.
NSPCC – ‘Look, Say, Sing and Play’ and ‘Talk Pants’

Who should attend - professionals working with Early Years Children 0 – 5, parents/carers, Voluntary Organisations who support families, Strengthening Families teams works, Social Workers, Health professionals, including SALT, Health visitors and community nursery nurses, schools, and EY settings.

Monday 11 March 2024

Venue: Mercure Telford, Forge Gate, Telford, TF3 4NA

Times: Arrival for 9:30am - Start 10:00am, Close 3:30pm

Cost – Funded, a buffet lunch will be provided.

Booking via talkingchildcare@telford.gov.uk

Talking Training Booking Form

Supporting the Home Learning Environment Conference Flyer

Do Something BIG – National Recruitment Campaign

This DfE campaign will shine a light on the great careers available in the sector and recognise the lifelong impact childcare professionals have on children during their most formative years:

Do something Big, recruitment campaign.

We are incredibly excited to introduce our new national recruitment campaign for early years and the childcare sector; Do something BIG. Work with small children. This campaign will shine a light on the great careers available in the sector and recognise the lifelong impact childcare professionals have on children during their most formative years. It will run across TV, cinema, social media, online, radio and billboard advertising. We would be incredibly grateful if you could help to promote the campaign through your channels and use the hashtag #dosomethingbig on social media.

We have created a new website https://earlyyearscareers.campaign.gov.uk/ for people to find out about working in early education and childcare and the qualifications available, discover how uniquely rewarding early years and childcare careers can be, and search for vacancies via the DWP Find a Job platform. We are asking you to amplify these messages at a local level and will soon be sharing the ‘Do something Big’ communications toolkit. It contains information and resources to help communicate the campaign messages and amplify recruitment activity.

We want users to see as many vacancies as possible, and providers to have vacancies seen by as many users as possible so we would be grateful if you could encourage your local providers to list any current or upcoming roles in their setting on Find a Job. We have attached instructions on how to create an employer account and post vacancies. Providers should use the term ‘early years’ in the title of their job adverts and select ‘Education jobs’ for the job category.

Useful links

YouTube playlist – Our 15 second and 30 second adverts on a playlist

Be part of something Big (short version) (youtube.com)

DWP Find a Job Instructions

Outdoor Essentials Grant

An award of £500 is offered to Primary and Special Schools and a double award of 2 x £500 (£1000) to Secondary Schools. Priority will be given to schools with underserved pupils in areas of high deprivation.

Grants are available for the following options:

Nature and Nurture – school grounds improvements
Transport and Travel – transport costs to Outdoor Learning venues
Wellies and Waterproofs – outdoor clothing

What can be funded:

Any UK state-funded Ofsted (or regional equivalent) registered Primary, Middle, Secondary or High School with higher than average percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals
Any UK state-funded Special or Alternative Provision School
Multi Academy Trusts, but applications must be made by the individual school.

For more information please follow this link:

Outdoor Essentials Grant – The Ernest Cook Trust

CPD courses to the end of February 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)

Very best wishes to everyone for an enjoyable and relaxing half term.

Primary Music Leadership Certificate Session 2: Planning & Assessing Music in your School Please book via telford.music@telford.gov.uk	Monday, February 19, 2024	1pm to 4pm
Assessing and Monitoring of Progress in EAL (CPD 701)	Tuesday, February 20, 2024	1.15pm to 3.30pm
Taking the Chair (GO 504) - part 3	Tuesday, February 20, 2024	4.30pm to 6.30pm
Behaviour Support Intervention Refresher Training - non-accredited (BSAT 301)	Wednesday, February 21, 2024	8.45am to 12.30pm
Designated Safeguarding Leads' and Safeguarding Governors' Termly Update (SG 106)	Wednesday, February 21, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Preparing for Statutory Assessment at the End of KS1 (CPD 505)	Thursday, February 22, 2024	9am to 12.30pm
Literacy Pathway	Thursday, February 22, 2024	am and pm
Get to Know Sparkyard! Please book via telford.music@telford.gov.uk	Thursday, February 22, 2024	4.45pm to 5.45pm
EAL and SEND? (CPD 601)	Tuesday, February 27, 2024	1.15pm to 4pm
Designated Teacher for Children in Care Network Meeting (Post 16 ) – by invitation from the Virtual School Team	Wednesday, February 28, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Positive Behaviour Management in the Classroom (PSS 008)	Wednesday, February 28, 2024	1.15pm to 4pm
Safeguarding Induction Training for Governors - part 2 (SG 103)	Wednesday, February 28, 2024	5.30pm to 7.30pm
Raising Awareness of Child Protection (SG 108)	Thursday, February 29, 2024	9.30am to 11am

Assessment of and monitoring the progress of EAL Learners training

Telford and Wrekin are aware of the ever increasing need to ensure progress of EAL pupils is tracked to ensure they make accelerated progress, particularly in light of recent developments.

The training course will explore how schools can:

establish a robust baseline assessment of EAL learners' English language skills on first arrival, identify appropriate targets and next steps, and track progress against expected rates of language development
use a variety of EAL assessment frameworks to show evidence of progress, particularly for those pupils without prior attainment data and those working well below age-related expectations
integrate EAL assessment and monitoring into the school’s existing systems

There will be an opportunity to use case study material to identify how to evidence and demonstrate:

a) tracking of pupil progress in English language development

b) how to set targets

c) show progress and identify areas of concern.

Tuesday, 20 February 1.15pm - 3.30pm online via Microsoft Teams

Costs per delegate*:

Schools & Academies - £99

Non-T&W Schools - £118.80

*10% discount per delegate for two or more bookings on the same course from the same school.

MDT support for individual schools to deliver quality bespoke CPD is available upon request.

If you would like to attend or express an interest in the training, please contact the MDT team.

To book a place on the training course please click here

Crucial Crew 2024 ‘SAVE THE DATE’

Crucial Crew is back for the 29th year!

Crucial Crew is a multi-agency partnership event aimed at Year 6 students designed to provide them with life skills and knowledge that will help to keep themselves and others safe, both now and in the future.

Crucial Crew aim to raise students awareness of important safety issues, encouraging them to think about their own and others safety and guiding them on what to do in a number of potentially unsafe situations.

This year the event is taking place between 24 June 2024 and 12 July 2024, excluding transition days, so ‘SAVE THE DATE’.

Booking forms will follow shortly.

FREE National Apprenticeship Week Lesson Resources

As this week is National Apprenticeship Week, Morrisby Futures have shared a link for you to download a FREE lesson plan, presentation & Poster to help support National Apprenticeship Week!

https://www.morrisby.com/naw

Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel - 11 to 22 March 2024

The Big Walk and Wheel is back for 2024 and it’s celebrating 15 Years of active journeys!

It’s that time again, we’re almost at the end of February and the Big Walk and Wheel will soon be here!

As you may remember the Big Walk and Wheel is the UK’s largest school-based walking, wheeling and cycling challenge. Taking place over 2 weeks (10 days), the challenge encourages pupils and their families to make active journeys to school, improving air quality locally, reducing congestion and encouraging behaviour change.

The Big Walk and Wheel will take place from 11 – 22 March 2024 and this year they are celebrating 15 years of the challenge! By logging pupils journeys onto the Big Walk and Wheel website, your school will be in with a chance of winning daily prizes. But this year is a bit different…

This year the Road Safety and Active Travel Team will be running our own competition alongside the Big Walk and Wheel!

Exclusively for Telford and Wrekin schools, the school with the highest number of active journeys recorded at the end of the competition, will win a fantastic prize for their school!

We would like to make this year even better and get as many pupils as possible across Telford & Wrekin making these active journeys.

Can we count on you to support us with this challenge? Registration for the Big Walk and Wheel is free and is now open, via their website: Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel 2024 If you would like to take part and be in with a chance of winning a prize for your school, please sign up and then email me at helen.smith2@telford.gov.uk and I can send you the relevant resources.

Thank you for your support.

Children's Mental Health Week

It's Children's Mental Health week and the theme is 'my voice matters'. To mark this, the British Psychological Society created a video featuring Educational Psychologists from across the country, including Telford & Wrekin EPS, explaining why it is so important that children's voices are heard.

Thanks to the EPs who collaborated with the BPS on this video!

https://t.co/k1hxH7CnKj

Embracing Equality: Race Equality Week 5- 11 February 2024

This year's Race Equality Week, encapsulated in the powerful hashtag #ListenActChange, serves as a rallying cry for collective action and transformation. It speaks to us all about the importance of actively listening to the diverse voices and experiences within our communities and acknowledging the challenges faced by marginalized groups. By listening attentively, we gain a deeper understanding of the issues at hand, laying the groundwork for meaningful change. The theme emphasizes that listening alone is not enough but becomes a foundation for action. It encourages individuals, organisations and society, to as a whole take concrete steps towards dismantling racial barriers and fostering an environment where equality is not just an aspiration but becomes a reality.

A key element of Race Equality Week is acknowledging the challenges faced by marginalized groups and actively listening to their experiences. When we foster open and honest conversations about race, we create a space for meaningful dialogue and a deeper understanding of the issues at hand. This year's theme encourages us to celebrate the progress made in the journey towards equality while recognizing the persistent hurdles that continue to exist.

Creating meaningful change is at the heart of Race Equality Week, prompting organisations and individuals to critically examine their policies and practices. By identifying and rectifying biases, we pave the way for a society where equal opportunities are the norm rather than the exception, which then becomes the rule. This commitment to change extends beyond mere rhetoric, it's a call to action for tangible, positive transformations.

As part of the initiative, staff members are encouraged to take up a 5-day challenge, dedicating 5 minutes each day to contribute towards creating an inclusive workplace. This could involve actively seeking out diverse perspectives, challenging biases, or fostering a culture of open communication. Small, intentional actions can lead to significant strides in building a workplace where everyone feels valued and heard.

In essence, Race Equality Week 2024 urges us to celebrate the strides we've made while acknowledging the work that lies ahead. By listening to the challenges faced by others, committing to meaningful change, and actively participating in the 5-day challenge, we can collectively contribute to a world where equality is not just celebrated during a designated week but is woven into the fabric of our everyday lives.

This entry was posted by Oliver on Tuesday, 06 February 2024.

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