Education Noticeboard - 31 March 2022

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

Included in this update:


Director Update 

Dear all,

I hope you are having a good week.  Just when it was starting to feel like Spring I had to defrost my windscreen this morning!  Let’s hope this cold snap will quickly pass through.  I have ordered wall to wall sunshine for us all over the two week Easter holiday season!

It’s been quite a week in terms of announcements.  The white paper for education and green paper for SEND have finally landed.  My comments here are purposefully relatively light.  This is in recognition that everyone continues to be extremely busy, I know, with the day job and we have plenty of time to digest and consider next steps.  It does looks like the role of the Local Authority, RSC/DfE and MATs will move to be clearer and that new options will be on the table regarding the structure of the school system.  Ultimately we will want our settings to be in the strongest position to achieve the very best outcomes.  We can review, discuss, ponder and plan the future pathway together, whilst recognising the autonomy of settings and your decision making.  More anon on this very soon.  You all do a cracking job, from early years providers through to schools post 16 provisions.  I know none of us want to distract ourselves from what matters; which is getting the best deal for children and young people of Telford and Wrekin.

In the noticeboard this week we feature a reminder of the procedure we ask settings to take when it is necessary to restrict attendance due to the impacts of COVID-19 on the workforce. The virus is still a very-present issue and I thank you all whole-heartedly for your continued efforts here.  

For the maintained sector our school improvement consultation is ongoing, and I encourage you all to make your voice heard!   The feedback form closes on 8 April, so do take a look.

Additionally we provide some information about our support to minimise exclusions, suspensions and AP processes.  Information about the HHAF programme is also included alongside other holiday schemes that are available for our children and young people in the Easter holidays

Best wishes

Simon

Simon Wellman

Director: Education and Skills


COVID-19 

COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Update: vaccination offer to all 5 to 11-year-olds

For decades, vaccinations have protected our children and young people from potentially serious diseases, including measles, flu, meningitis and mumps.

By the time they leave school, a child will typically have been offered vaccinations against 18 different diseases or infections – the COVID-19 vaccine is one more vaccine that children will soon be able to have to protect them from illness.

We all want to get back to normal – we want our children to go to school, do the things they love and catch up on lost time spent time with family and friends. But COVID-19 is still active and causing some children to miss out on their education and things they enjoy.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommends that 5-11 year olds be offered the vaccine, which has been approved by the UK’s medicines regulator, to boost immunity and increase their protection against any future waves of COVID-19.

The NHS in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin wants to support families to make an informed choice, and to make things convenient and child-friendly for those who do decide to get it.

The COVID-19 vaccine is already making a big difference to help protect us all. The vaccine does not remove the virus, but research and experience in countries around the world shows it can prevent the worst effects of COVID-19 and reduce the risk of infection to your child and those around them.

From Monday 4 April, you will be able to get your child vaccinated at a site and time convenient for you – at either a vaccination centre, community pharmacy or GPs offering jabs for this age group. From Saturday 2 April you can view these sites and make an appointment through the National Booking Service or by calling 119.

Some walk-in sites are also available to vaccinate this age group. Simply check the walk-in finder website before attending to make sure they can vaccinate your child.

Children aged 5-11 with no other underlying health conditions will be offered two paediatric (child) doses of the vaccine, with at least 12 weeks between doses. A paediatric dose is smaller than doses given to those aged 12 and over.

If a child has had COVID-19 they will still get extra protection from the vaccine, but they will need to wait 12 weeks before getting vaccinated.

Those 5-11 year-olds who are more at risk from the virus can already get two paediatric (child) doses, eight weeks apart, and their GP or hospital specialist should have been in touch to arrange this, if not parents will be able book an appointment on the National Booking Service from 2 April.

To access a vaccination parents can:

*Please note:

  • Appointments will be available from Monday 4 April.
  • Check clinics day & times on the day of travel as they are subject to change.

Children who have recently tested positive for COVID-19:

Please note that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommend:

  • Children aged 5 to 11 years will need to wait for 12 weeks following a positive test for COVID-19 before having their first or second COVID-19 vaccination.
  • Children aged 5 to 11 years who are at increased risk, should wait 4 weeks (28 days) from a positive test result, before having their vaccine.

For further information:

There is more information about the COVID-19 vaccination. Resources for children aged 5 to 11 years can be found here: GOV.UK (www.gov.uk):


Restricted Attendance

Decisions and notification procedure for schools/academies and settings that need to restrict attendance due to COVID-19

Where the difficult decision is made to restrict attendance at a school then this is taken by the Head Teacher in collaboration with their Chair of Governors. During working hours it is likely that you will have initially spoken to the Health Protection Hub. Where decisions to restrict access are based on operational reasons (i.e. workforce availability), maintained schools may want to consult with the duty officer in the education team, by contacting COVID19@telford.gov.uk  however - to confirm - the decision lies directly with the school. We understand Early Years Providers, academies and FE colleges will follow their own Trust decision-making processes. Sometimes decisions will be necessary outside of working hours, where it is not possible to speak with either the health protection hub or, for maintained schools the education duty officer.

When schools (including academies) and settings make the decision to restrict attendance, in all circumstances we request that you email COVID19@telford.gov.uk to inform us of your decision.

This should include :-

  • School/setting name.
  • Reason for restricted access (i.e. 2 teaching staff and 1 TA in year 4).
  • Impact of closure (i.e. 2 x year 4 classes for example).
  • Anticipated timeframe for closure.

This information will help Telford & Wrekin to deal with any enquiries that come through to the Local Authority and help build intelligence about the extent of restricted access across educational settings in the borough.  


Changes to measures and guidance for managing COVID-19 in education and childcare settings from Friday 1 April

On Tuesday 29 March, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, set out the next steps for living with COVID-19 in England from Friday 1 April.

Free COVID-19 tests will continue to be available for specific groups, including eligible patients and NHS staff, once the universal testing offer ends on Friday 1 April.

Updated guidance will advise:

  • Adults with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature
  • Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They can go back to school, college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend
  • Adults with a positive COVID-19 test result should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days, which is when they are most infectious. For children and young people aged 18 and under, the advice will be 3 days

The population now has much stronger protection against COVID-19 than at any other point in the pandemic. This means we can begin to manage the virus like other respiratory infections, thanks to the success of the vaccination programme and access to antivirals, alongside natural immunity and increased scientific and public understanding about how to manage risk.

For education and childcare settings from Friday 1 April:

  • Regular asymptomatic testing is no longer recommended in any education or childcare setting, including in SEND, alternative provision and children’s social care settings. Therefore, settings will no longer be able to order test kits
  • Residential SEND settings may be advised by their local health protection team to re-introduce some time-limited asymptomatic testing. This would be an exceptional measure, for targeted groups of staff and pupils or students (secondary age or above) in the event of a possible COVID-19 outbreak. These settings are scheduled to receive an automatic delivery of contingency supply test kits during the week commencing Monday 28 March
  • The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will publish new guidance. Most of the specific COVID-19 guidance for education and childcare settings will be withdrawn from GOV.​UK on Friday 1 April. The operational guidance on the testing in education settings document sharing platform will also be removed on the same day.

Reminder for education and childcare settings on distributing existing stocks of self-test kits

Now that regular asymptomatic testing in mainstream education and childcare settings is no longer advised, you may have surplus stock of self-test kits that are no longer required.

UKHSA will issue further communications in due course about how to manage any excess stock of test kits from Friday 1 April. Please do not hand out any test kits to staff, pupils, or students unless advised by your local health protection team, local authority or director of public health. Expired stock is classified as municipal waste and may be disposed of with other waste.


School Improvement Arrangements Consultation

School Improvement Arrangements – Telford and Wrekin Maintained schools – Let’s start the conversation

Since 2017, the Local Authority School Improvement Monitoring and Brokering grant has been allocated to LAs to support them in fulfilling their statutory school improvement functions. The DFE consulted on and then implemented changes to this grant which will result in allocations being halved from April 22 and removed completely from April 23. However the LA statutory duties currently remain and are summarised as follows:

  • monitor performance of maintained schools including governance,
  • broker SI provision,
  • intervene in maintained schools as appropriate.

These statutory duties are set out in Part 4 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 with additional SI expectations set out in the Schools Causing Concern (SCC) guidance.

School Forum recently agreed to de-delegate funds to plug the gap for 22-23 but with an understanding that further conversation would take place to clarify the offer, review quality and streamline partnership arrangements.

Feedback from our maintained schools will now allow us the opportunity to:

  • refine and improve processes while continuing to fulfil statutory role,
  • review the quality of both the monitoring and brokerage roles of the LA,
  • clarify the role of the LA and other partners in improving the effectiveness of our schools and how this interfaces,
  • explore with schools alternative approaches to fulfilling this statutory role effectively and efficiently.
  • Consultation opens on 17th March 2022 and closes on 8th April 2022.

Link to consultation here 


DfE Updates 

This is an update from the Department for Education

An update for schools on children and young people arriving under the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine

Read more about the schools white paper and its ambitions in the Teacher Bulletin email that was sent on Monday 28 March.

All children and young people arriving under the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine, will have the right to access state education whilst in the UK. We believe that the best place for all children to be educated is in schools. Local authorities will work with families to enable all children to attend school in the local area as soon as possible, even if these places are not in the immediate vicinity of their accommodation. We understand the challenge of finding suitable school places for new arrivals and will work with local authorities where helpful, to make this as smooth as possible.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has published guidance for local authorities regarding the Homes for Ukraine scheme, as well as a frequently asked questions resource. We also have a dedicated team at DfE working on support for children and young people arriving from Ukraine. If you have any further questions, please contact the team by email.

Update for schools on the National Tutoring Programme (NTP)

An additional £65m of funding has been transferred to the School-Led tutoring route in the NTP, providing schools with greater flexibility to source their own tutors.

Each school will receive a 15% minimum uplift in their final School-Led tutoring payment this academic year. Detailed allocations will be shared with schools in April.

Schools can use School-Led tutoring alongside Tuition Partners and Academic Mentors, to maximise the benefit of tuition for pupils who need it most, with a continued focus on the needs of pupils eligible for pupil premium. For those using Academic Mentors, please encourage them to complete their timesheets and upload them to the Tuition Hub in a timely manner, to ensure prompt payment, and to accurately show the support schools are receiving. For any queries, please visit access tuition support for your school.

For further information please see the frequently asked questions.

Information on gas and electricity contracts

The energy market remains volatile and prices remain high. This has the potential to impact on all sectors, including education.

The situation facing individual settings will depend on:

  • the contract length (typically 12, 24 or 36 months),
  • if the energy rate is variable, or fixed for the life of the contract,
  • when the contract is due for renewal,
  • who the suppliers are.

DfE approved energy framework suppliers are available to provide renewal quotes for schools. These frameworks provides a compliant route to market and different options based on a school’s need.We recommend that settings do not allow their existing contracts to expire and contact their current supplier to discuss a contract extension, as buying energy out of contract is more expensive than buying at the market rate.

The Get help buying for schools procurement team is available to provide schools with further free advice and guidance on their energy contracts. Please contact them for assistance.


Update on Schools White Paper 

This is an update from the Department for Education

This week the DfE has published the schools white paper – opportunity for all: strong schools with great teachers for your child. This sets out the department’s long-term vision for a school system that helps every child to fulfill their potential, by ensuring that they receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time.

This rests on four pillars of delivery:

  • an excellent teacher for every child,
  • high standards of curriculum, behaviour and attendance,
  • targeted support for every child who needs it,
  • a stronger and fairer school system.

Read the Schools White Paper here

Read the Teacher Bulletin from the DfE here


SEND Green Paper

Information from the DfE

The Government’s SEND and alternative provision green paper has been published (Tuesday 29 March), it sets out a vision for a single, national SEND and alternative provision (AP) system that will introduce new standards in the quality of support given to children across education, health and care.

You can access a copy of the Green Paper on gov.uk

Alongside the Green paper, we have also published:

The ambitious green paper is the result of the SEND Review, commissioned to improve an inconsistent, process-heavy and increasingly adversarial system that too often leaves parents facing difficulties and delays accessing the right support for their child.

The plans to reform the system will be open for a 13-week public consultation, giving families frustrated by the existing, complicated and bureaucratic system of support the opportunity to shape how a new system will work in the future - and give them confidence that their local school will meet their children’s needs so they can achieve their full potential.

Capital funding allocations worth £1.4 billion have also been published. This funding is for councils to pay for new places and improve existing provision for children and young people with SEND, or those who will benefit from high-quality AP. This funding will help stabilise local systems ahead of any further legislation from the green paper proposals.

The Government will also look to approve up to 40 new special and AP free schools in regions where they are most needed. This is in addition to over 60 special and AP free schools already in the pipeline.

Low-income families with seriously ill or disabled children will be further supported through investment of £27.3 million next year. This funding will help pay for equipment, goods or services - from washing machines and fridges to sensory and educational equipment that they might not otherwise be able to afford.

Over £10 million will also be invested to train over 200 more educational psychologists from September 2023, to give advice and input into EHCP assessments, advise schools on how to support pupils with SEND and offer wider wellbeing support to them, their families and teachers.


Kids4£1 is back for the Easter Holidays

The two week activity brochure includes great value Kids4£1 activities like tobogganing, tennis and swimming which are scheduled to take place every day across the different centres in the borough. 

Telford Ice Rink and Horsehay Golf and Country Club have planned their very egg-citing Easter egg competitions which includes the chance to win a 6 month junior golf membership.

Easter Activity Brochure


 

Swim4Life

Swim4Life crash courses provided by Telford & Wrekin Council Leisure, are an excellent way to keep the kids active during school holidays and learn great new skills in the water.

Crash courses start for children from as young as three years old.

To find out more including dates, times and prices check out the school holiday’s activities brochure:

Easter Activity Brochure


Big Biking Weekend 9 and 10 April 2022

Weekend of family cycling fun in Town Park on 9 & 10 April

Families are in for a treat on the weekend of 9 & 10 April, as Telford Town Park plays host to a packed schedule of fun, FREE biking activities, with bikes and helmets included!

The Big Biking Weekend’s FUN, FREE ACTIVITIES for all ages include:

  • Tandem try-outs
  • ‘Learn to ride’ & bike maintenance sessions
  • Guided group cycles to Coalport & around the Town Park
  • ‘Smart water’ bike marking & Dr Bike cycle ‘MOT’s
  • Justin the unicycle juggler
  • …and more!

Some of the activities require booking, others you can just turn up. But they are all FREE, with bikes and helmets provided!

Just head to Telford Bike Hub in Telford Town Park behind the Visitor Centre.

Book now & more info


Transgender Day of Visibility 2022

Today, Thursday 31 March, marks the 13th year of Trans Day of Visibility (TDoV).  It is a day dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of the discrimination faced by Trans people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society.

Trans is ‘an umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth.’

‘Trans people may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms, including (but not limited to) transgender, transsexual, gender-queer (GQ), gender-fluid, non-binary, gender-variant, crossdresser, genderless, agender, nongender, third gender, bi-gender, trans man, trans woman, trans masculine, trans feminine and neutrois.’ (Taken from Stonewall Glossary of Terms). 

Trans people in the UK face huge levels of abuse and inequality.  According to recent statistics:

  • Two in five Trans people have had a hate crime committed against them in the last year.
  • Two in five Trans young people have attempted suicide.
  • One in eight Trans people have been physically attacked by colleagues or customers at work. 

However, the statistics only tell one side of the story as trans people around the UK have rewarding lives and careers, relationships, families, just like any other group of people do. Andrea Beech (Customer Services Officer) who has become our new friends/colleagues from the City of Wolverhampton council, shares with us her personal story and her journey…

“Back in 2004 when I was Andrew William James, I started to feel different, but I was not able to identify that I had a Gender Dysphoria.

It took me 12 years and so much courage after a charity event for me to feel comfortable as Andrea.

Try to imagine telling a parent of 84 years old that you don't want to be a man anymore.

The conversation was difficult for me and all the family.

I am married to a lovely lady; the support and love she has given and still gives me means so much.

We also have two children together. (Boys of 12, and 9.)

I approached my manager at Midcounties Cooperative, and poured my heart out to her.

Little did I expect to be given so much support and guidance to help me on my journey.

It really touched my heart.

I then reached out to my GP and we started a journey with a Gender Identity Clinic in Hammersmith London.

It took over 1 year and two psychiatric evaluations for me to be accepted onto a Hormone stage of treatment.

I then changed my name from Andrew to Andrea.

Moving forward 5 years I am now at a stage where re assignment surgery is being discussed, and even though I have come so far, I know that I still have a long journey ahead of me with so many decisions to make.

I wanted to thank everyone at the City of Wolverhampton Council for accepting me and making me feel welcome.

Together we can all make a difference.”

What can you do to support?

What the statistics show us is that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to tackle the discrimination that is faced by the Trans community. 

One of the key ways you can support the Trans community is by using the correct pronouns.  Being misgendered and the assumption of gender is a common occurrence within the community and can cause hurt and offence when it happens time and time again. 

One way that we can stop this is when in meetings when introducing yourself to include your pronouns such as ‘He/Him, She/Her, They/Them.’  It is as simple as "Hi, my name is George, and my pronouns are he/him.” 

Why not try this on Trans Day of Visibility?

For more information about Trans Day of Visibility, you can visit:

Mermaids

Trans Unite


Telford Education Strategic Partnership Board

Strategic Partnership Board Newsletter

With the most recent education strategic partnership board having taken place, our insight team had the opportunity to demonstrate the Local Area Education Dashboard we have been developing. We’ve included snapshots of this dashboard in our latest March Newsletter as we are keen to show you what we are working on as a Board.

March Newsletter

Telford Education Strategic Partnership Board Website

We have gone live with the strategic partnership webpage.  We listened to your views and will keep this as a landing page to store information about the board, to give our work more visibility.  The page is still under development and will continue to be added to. Watch this space!

Website

 


World Earth Day

Celebrate World Earth Day On Friday 22 April 2022

Earth Day, is celebrated on 22 April each year. This year is the 50th anniversary and it is a day to think about our planet and what we can do to keep it special; to think about saving water and energy, reducing pollution, recycling, protecting our animals, trees and plants, and generally getting children and young people  interested in protecting their environment.

There are a number of ways you could celebrate World Earth Day with your students for example:

  • Brainstorm ways to go green. (Ask your students to brainstorm how they can help protect the environment at home, at school, and in the community).
  • Plant a tree or work in your school garden
  • Learn about the earth through music.
  • Read books about the earth.

If your school wants to get involved, and celebrate this great day, there are a number of resources available

Visit Work with Schools for some ideas.

We would also like you to share your news on how you have been celebrating World Earth Day.  Please send us your stories and photos to education.noticeboard@telford.gov.uk


Pre-Exclusion Hotline

Pre-exclusion Hotline 07816 372459

The pre-exclusion hotline is working well. It has been used by schools that are considering an exclusion.

A member of the BSAT team has been able to offer immediate intervention by discussing the exclusion in more detail, and offering a preventative solution. This support is available for both the individual child and their school.

One example of this was a school who telephoned the pre-exclusion hotline requesting support.

Contact was requested because a child had got into trouble swearing and telling staff that they were going to kill them. The issue was that this individual had previously been on a fixed term exclusion. The school had noticed that the child had complex needs and had previously utilised alternative provision.

The school felt that the information provided to them by a colleague did not evidence the complex needs and support that was previously provided to the child. As Local Authority (LA) officers, the Behaviour Support Development and Advisory Team (BSATs) were able to check the protocol system to see the extensive support that had previously been provided to the child and they were able to discuss this in more detail with the school. 

A visit was planned which allowed the BSAT team to support the child and discuss the reasons for their behaviour using a restorative approach. An offer of a restorative justice session with the child and the teacher involved enabled the exclusion to be prevented. Following this, the school purchased further support sessions from BSAT. 

In this instance, the ongoing support has allowed the BSAT team to check in weekly with the child, who has remained in the school and is now doing well. This demonstrates that with the right support at the right time can prevent exclusions.

The Pre-exclusion Hotline number is 07816 372459.


Suspensions, Permanent Exclusions and FAP referrals

Following a review of roles and operations, we have attempted to make the processes simpler for schools by bringing all related functions together under one role. I’m pleased to let you know that Sara Bickerton has been appointed to that role and will now be the lead officer and first point of contact for all suspensions (fixed term exclusions), permanent exclusions and also for the Fair Access Panels.

Pre-Exclusions Hotline

Sara will be the main point of contact on the pre-Exclusions Hotline, 07816 372459. To remind you how this works, if you are thinking of issuing a suspension (fixed term exclusion) contact Sara on the hotline and she can talk through options with you. In particular, it is usually possible to allocate a member of the Behaviour Support Advisory Team to come into school and support with strategies for the young person. This initial consultation is free to schools, although there may be a charge for any follow up work.

Notification of Suspensions

A reminder that the notifications for all suspensions need to be sent the Access and Inclusion email address: AccessandInclusion@telford.gov.uk. We have reviewed the notification paperwork so that we can capture suspensions for children with a social worker to support the Virtual School with the new duties, please find the updated paperwork attached. We would be grateful if you could use these new notification forms from Easter onwards.

If the exclusion is for 5 days, we are particularly keen track these, especially if they might lead to a permanent exclusion, so for 5 day exclusions could you please mark these ‘FAO Sara Bickerton’ when you sent to this email address.

Permanent Exclusions

We are working alongside schools to implement early interventions, including intervention places at the Linden Centre, to prevent permanent exclusions. Occasionally, where there is a significant incident in school, you might need to consider a Permanent Exclusion. Where this is the case, please contact Sara as soon as possible and she will be able to explore options with you. Again please use the email address AccessandInclusion@telford.gov.uk and mark this ‘FAO Sara Bickerton’, or call the Pre-Exclusions Hotline 07816 372459.

Also included is an updated notification form for permanent exclusions. When sending letters to parents with regard to permanent exclusions, you’ll also need to include Sara’s contact details for the parents:

Sara.Bickerton1@telford.gov.uk; 01952 380152.

FAP Referrals

Referrals to the Fair Access Panel can be sent directly to Sara at her email address:

Sara.Bickerton1@telford.gov.uk; and copy in AccessandInclusion@telford.gov.uk.

Please note, you may have Sara’s old email address on your system, ie without the ‘1’ after her surname. If so please delete this to avoid confusion.

Download Permanent Exclusion Form

Download Suspension Form


Ofsted Webinar - Effective Culture of Safeguarding in Schools

A presentation on an effective culture of safeguarding and inspection for schools from two Senior HMI in the North East Yorkshire and Humber region.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlzAFiRDJ8g


Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021 Part 1 & Annex A ...translated

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. That is why ALL school staff must read and understand Part 1 or Annex A of the DfE's statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education.

As many schools employ speakers of English as an additional language who are not required to have a high level of English for their role, it can be challenging to ensure that everyone understands the full meaning and principles of the guidance.

That is why, as part of LGfL's commitment to helping schools keep children safe, they have commissioned translations of KCSIE Part 1 - and now also Annex A - into twelve community languages.


Not-racist v anti-racist: what’s the difference?

Resource for schools, shared by the Counter Terrorism Unit regarding racism.

BBC Bitesize resource


 

Telford Children's Autism Hub Launch

Telford and Wrekin Council, in partnership with Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is funding and developing a Children’s Autism Hub – a service providing information, advice and guidance to families whose child has been diagnosed with autism.

Telford Children’s Autism Hub is delivered in partnership with its lead provider Telford and Wrekin CVS, Autism West Midlands and Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Parent Carers’ voices provided by Parents Opening Doors (PODS) are helping to shape the services of the hub.

Telford Children’s Autism Hub is based at Hazledine House in Telford Centre and is open to all children and young people aged 0-18 and their families, who have a diagnosis of autism.

The services of the hub are being gradually developed, with the hub offers  peer support, activities, training workshops and other opportunities for autistic children and young people and their families. Councillor Shirley Reynolds (Labour), Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “I am delighted to see the Children’s Autism Hub funded by our Council and “Telford and Wrekin CCG” starting to take shape in our borough. It will make a difference for our children with autism and their families, by offering access to local support services as well as opportunities to meet with other families who experience an autism diagnosis. The Children’s Autism Hub is a fantastic example of partnership working – in developing the services provided by the hub, our partners have heard from families with autistic children across the borough as to what matters to them and how we can make their life easier.

Debbie Gibbon (Chief Executive for Telford and Wrekin CVS) said: “We are excited to be leading this exciting new service for families across Telford.

“We are working in partnership with other services to ensure children diagnosed with autism receive the best support available. Our adult’s autism hub will work closely with the children’s team to ensure transition from childhood to adult service provision is smooth and consistent.”

Jayne Stevens, Strategic Co-ordinator at PODS (Parents Opening Doors) Parent Carer Forum said:"In working with partners to setup the Telford Children's Autism Hub, we heard from local families who shared their experiences, to make sure the Hub's services meet their needs.

“We want to reassure families that we will continue to represent their experiences as the wider Autism pathway and offers are developed".

Claire Parker, Director of Partnerships, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin CCG said:

“We are delighted to be working together with Telford & Wrekin Council and local partners to create such a vital service, where children and young people with autism and their families are well supported, benefitting from a range of services in one place.”

To access the Telford Children’s Autism Hub, families need to be residents of Telford and Wrekin. They can find out more about the support the Hub can offer on Telford Children’s Autism Hub website or by calling 01952 262062.

 


Autism Lead Professionals Training

Autism Lead Professionals Training in Telford and Wrekin

Gratitude is expressed to everyone who bought into the new drive for the Autism Education Trust training across Telford & Wrekin schools. There was a huge response and there is now an autism lead professional in almost 80% of schools across the borough.

The next step of the programme of professional development is to deliver training to classroom practitioners plus all additional staff. This will consist of two training inputs: The Good Autism Practice (GAP) is for classroom teachers and Making Sense of Autism (MSA) is for all additional school staff. 

The Autism Standards document was distributed during the LGAP training last term, and is the document that will help you to evaluate your school. Many attendees completed an action plan at the training, and this should continue to support you in your role. The benefit of engaging in additional training will be to further equip your staff in understanding autism and how to not only adapt the curriculum, but to also adapt learning environments to further include young people and be able to understand the perspective and experiences of the young person.  A positive outcome of this training will be an increase in attendance in schools as well as an increase in attainment levels, alongside improved experiences of positive mental health and wellbeing. 

Jo Jenks (SENDCo, Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge CE Primary school) wrote: "In order to develop our knowledge and, more importantly, our understanding of Autism, we recently received the Good Autism Practice and Making Sense of Autism training for all the staff in school.  This training has enabled us as a school to reflect upon our approaches and strategies when working with autistic children.  It has given all staff the knowledge of the key areas of differences, and how these impact learning.  Following the training, we have carefully considered our learning environments and have made simple adaptions so that all the children in our school experience a positive education that supports their wellbeing."

To access GAP and/or MSA training, please make direct contact with Michael Lane via email to michael.Lane@Telford.gov.uk. Either an EP or LSAT staff member will then be allocated to you. 

The costs of the training packages are:

GAP £300 
MSA £100

GAP is a 3 hour session which can be delivered in one whole or via twilight sessions. 
MSA is 1 hour and can be delivered via twilight or otherwise depending upon your schedule.

The aim is to accept and commit to all the training by July 2022 so please take the time to assess your training needs before you make contact. If you have questions, please liaise with your link EP and/or your LSAT link.  If you have not undergone the initial leadership training with AET and would like to receive the training, you can also make contact using the email address above.


CPD

CPD courses for school staff, senior leaders and governors

The CPD Booklet continues to be available on the Telford Education Services site.

Course bookings with a course code are made by sending a completed CPD booking form via email to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk

Other courses and briefings without a course code are usually booked by sending your email address name and school name to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk (unless stated otherwise).

Supporting SEND in the classroom for newly qualified teachers

(LSAT 502)

Tuesday, April 05, 2022

9.15am to 12noon

EYFS: Areas of Learning and Development
Session 4: Literacy (EY 309)

Tuesday, April 05, 2022

4pm to 5.30pm

Development Matters, Birth to Five Matters and other non-statutory Guidance for the EYFS (EY 317)

Wednesday, April 06, 2022

4pm to 5.30pm

SENCO Network Meeting - Transition Workshop (Cross Phase) (LSAT 227)

Thursday, April 07, 2022

4pm to 5.30pm

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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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