Education Noticeboard

Education Noticeboard - 19 May 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 colleagues

As we hurtle towards half term, another bumper Education Noticeboard for you.

A number of young people from the borough have taken part in the County Athletics Championship, including Lewis Howard from Burton Borough who managed to take home two first place medals – well done Lewis!

This week I know many schools in Telford & Wrekin have been involved in this year’s Young voices season. The NEC has hosted hundreds of young people over seven concerts and it has been great to see your social media posts. I am off to see the event tonight as my daughter is taking part, which I am really looking forward to!

Many thanks to those who took part in the Early Years engagement event last weekend. I know there was lots of representation from providers and interested parties. It is really important that we continue to develop our early years workforce and ensure we have accessible childcare, to support our ambition that all children achieve the best start possible.

Can I say a huge well done to all children who undertook their SATS last week and very best wishes to those pupils who are starting their exams in secondary schools and post 16 settings. Feedback has been that in the main our children and young people are coping admirably, no mean feat given they are the first cohort to experience exam season following the events of the last two years!

Just to remind all that the new upgraded IRIS system goes live on 1 September 2022 and we request all schools to have at least one member of staff trained on the use of the system, including how to complete the annual report, before then. Engagement of all schools with the new upgraded system will ensure we are meeting our legal requirements in relation to tackling racism. Further information on how to sign up to a training event is provided below.

To highlight a particular article, there are some major changes to the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Panel and the referral pathway into the BEE U service. These come into play immediately, so please familiarise yourself with the new process.

Other articles include DfE updates, information around equality and diversity and a repeat of the consultation link around school improvement arrangements. We really do value feedback from the maintained sector here so if you haven’t had a chance to complete the survey we would still welcome your views.

Best wishes

Simon

Simon Wellman
Director: Education & Skills

Burton Borough student wins two first place medals at the County Athletics Championship

Burton Borough School are super proud of Lewis Howard from year 7, who attends the school. He won two 1st place medals at the county athletics championship, in the 800m and 1500m events. He ran the 1500m in an amazing time of just 4 minutes 53 and is now ranked 13th in the UK for his under 13 age category.

Platinum Jubilee celebrations

After 70 years of service to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth Her Majesty the Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. Queen Elizabeth II was 25 years old when she acceded the throne on 6 February 1952.

To help your school or setting to celebrate this important milestone in history, there are resources and activities available online:

School Resources for the Platinum Jubilee

We would love to know if you have anything special planned to celebrate this historic milestone. Maybe you are having a Jubilee party, a picnic, or creating commemorative gardens, or planting trees etc.

Could you please send your pictures and news items to show us how you celebrated this great event to education.noticeboard@telford.gov.uk or tag us on your twitter posts @TelfordWrekin.

More general information about the Platinum Jubilee can be accessed on the GOV.UK website.

White Paper: Extended school day

Opportunity For All, the recently published White Paper sets out the governmental expectation that all state funded schools will be offering a minimum of a 32.5 hour week for all children. The expectation is that this will be met as soon as possible and by September 2023 at the latest.

Governors and Heads are urged to ensure that they have reviewed their own schools hours and identified what they will need to do to meet this expectation if it is not already being done.

The paper notes:

A discrepancy of teaching time in schools. The paper notes that it is unfair that a child who receives 20 minutes per day less of teaching time loses out on around 2 weeks of schooling a year.
Whilst there is a minimum expectation on the length of the school week of 32.5 hours for all mainstream state-funded schools, most schools currently met this.
All mainstream state-funded schools should be working towards meeting this expectation as soon as possible and by September 2023 at the latest.
Children should have fair access to high-quality time in school regardless of where they live.
This time should be delivered through a richer, longer average school week which makes the most effective use of time in school and ensures children enjoy a rounded education.
Schools are strongly encouraged to deliver two substantive morning and afternoon sessions each school day, with appropriate flexibility for religious observance.
When considering the wider benefits of increased time for pupils, including more opportunities for learning, socialisation with peers and enrichment, they are encouraging all mainstream state-funded schools to explore going further than 32.5 hours if possible.
Specialist settings, including alternative provision providers, support a wide range of pupils with diverse needs and therefore currently structure their school week in more varied ways than mainstream schools. Therefore, it is not thought appropriate to set an expectation for a minimum school week in specialist settings.
It is however expected that these settings should share the overall ambition to extend and enrich the school week where it would be beneficial to pupils for them to do so, whilst taking into account operational and financial considerations.
The Government will publish guidance on best practice in the summer to support both the minimum expectation for mainstream schools and the wider ambition for all schools to consider increasing time in school where appropriate. This will include case studies from schools that deliver longer weeks and examples of how additional time can be used, including to support pupils’ literacy and numeracy.
As part of a richer school week, all children should be entitled to take part in sport, music and cultural opportunities. These opportunities are an essential part of a broad and ambitious curriculum, and support children’s health, wellbeing and wider development, particularly as we recover from the pandemic.
The Government will publish updated plans to support sport and music education in 2022, and will publish a cultural education plan in 2023, working with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council England. This will include how best to support young people who wish to pursue careers in our creative and cultural industries.
The Government intends to build on high-quality citizenship education by supporting the National Youth Guarantee, promoting volunteering and expanding access to the Duke of Edinburgh Award and Cadet Schemes.

Full details are available on the GOV.UK website.

Please direct any queries, via email, to Cathy.Hobbs@telford.gov.uk.

Happy Healthy Active Holidays – applications for the Summer

Telford & Wrekin Council are now looking for schools to apply for grant funding to run holiday clubs over the Summer and Christmas school holidays.

You can apply for just one-holiday term, the whole year, or even for next year, as we have grant funding until 2024. Applications are flexible.

The grants are part of the council's Happy Healthy Active Holidays scheme. So far, 22 local organisations have successfully applied for funding to help put on 427 holiday clubs during the past year.

Each holiday club is for children who receive income-related Free School Meals (FSM) in Telford and Wrekin. The children who attend can enjoy fun activities such as sports, music, arts and crafts, and a free nutritious meal each day. The holidays can be challenging for low-income families as costs are increasing. Each holiday club provides much-needed support during this cost of living crisis.

Following the scheme's success in 2021, an extra £843,000 is up for grabs from the Department of Education to run the scheme during 2022.

How schools can get involved

Schools that can provide healthy meals and fun activities, such as sports, arts & crafts, nature or cooking, should apply. However, you can still get involved even if you don't think you can offer the full provision.

There is a helpful 'Delivery Partner' list if you're keen to put on a holiday club but need extra support. You can use grant money to buy these services.

Venues or organisations that can provide holiday club activities can register as a 'Delivery Partner.' Delivery partners can help holiday clubs provide a varied programme when they may not be able to offer the full provision.

You can also offer your venue or be open to working alongside another local organisation.

Applications can be submitted at any time and a downloadable form can be found on the telford.gov.uk page along with further details. (Please note that the deadline for applications is ten working days before the start of the holiday term you would like to deliver in.)

Contact the Holiday Activity Hub team for help and advice

Further conversations to explore how your school can take part are welcome. Also, you can get in touch if you need help completing the application form by emailing the Holiday Activity Hub team at holidayactivityhub@telford.gov.uk to talk further.

Please help to fill the holiday club spaces

The council needs all schools to do their bit to support the scheme, whether you are running a club or not. Any help you can give to make eligible families aware of these holiday clubs would be appreciated. With your support, we can help children from low-income families to enjoy these clubs.

Families can register online for the holiday clubs. However, school holiday club champions and holiday club providers will have printable versions so families can register offline.

Welcoming refugee children

Many Telford & Wrekin schools have been welcoming and supporting children and families from Afghanistan over the past months, and have worked hard to ensure they have settled into their new communities. We are now also welcoming families arriving from Ukraine, and have children starting at new schools.

This website Welcoming Refugee Children: Advice and Guidance for Schools from The Bell Foundation provides guidance for schools around factors to consider when supporting refugee children starting at new schools including:

Prior educational experience
Impact of trauma and their experiences
Language barriers to social integration and learning
Current home and family situation

There is also a webinar, providing more practical advice, as well as the welcoming refugee and asylum seeking learners guidance, for supporting teaching and learning.

You can also find access to parental guidance leaflets in Ukrainian which can be used to support parents to understand the English education system and how you will be supporting their children.

Gypsy and Roma traveller month

June is Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month - an annual celebration which has been marked every year since June 2008. It offers us all an opportunity to raise awareness and explore the history, culture and language of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. It also aims to challenge myths and tackle prejudice and offers a chance to reflect on issues facing travellers in the UK today.

Overall this is a celebration and provides an opportunity to celebrate the richness that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities bring to our everyday lives through their many and varied achievements.

To help children in schools to understand and challenge the discrimination faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities we have collated links to information and resources to help you to plan sessions throughout June or to include in multi-cultural days:

Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month

Babcock LDP - Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month

Free Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month education pack

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Month Historical Association

Gypsy Roma Traveller Month history timeline

Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month participation pack

Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month schools pack

Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month selfie cards

Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month language cards

The Individual and Annual Return Racist Incident Reporting and Recording System (IRIS) relaunch

The IRIS system has been upgraded and improved to include enhanced recording for all racist incidents, to ensure all information needed can be accurately recorded.

Reassuringly, any incident from 2003 to 2022 will be archived from 1 September 2022 but can be accessed in the event of any investigations/ claims. Schools will be able to continue to access the system in Telford & Wrekin for free.

Schools have a user login and password, which will be given to schools in September, to enable them to report any incidents when they occur. The enhanced recording has a new feature to allow the uploading of any evidence, taking into account cyber or social media based incidents. Victim & perpetration information can be more accurately recorded as IRIS now has capability for specific gender recording, extended ethnicity codes and postcode recording to ensure schools and the Local Authority have an accurate picture of school specific and local trends. These enhanced features are automatically included within the annual return.

This report enables schools and governors to analyse their data and therefore target support in the key identified areas. IRIS (individual racist incidents and annual return) information is held confidentially within the council and is used to inform council agencies to ensure that the appropriate support is put in place for schools to access.

Schools can request support from the Multicultural Development Team if they have specific concerns or questions relating to any incidents or IRIS. The free training is available to all school staff responsible for recording incidents on IRIS.

The session will be held on Wednesday 6 July 2022, 3.30pm – 5pm.

If you would like to attend or express an interest in the training, please contact the Multicultural Development Team.

Places for the training course can be booked online.

Free PE Staff meeting to teach Kabaddi

Recent events have highlighted the ever increasing need for pupils to understand about our shared history. South Asian Heritage Month begins on the 17 July 2022, schools are encouraged to start their events earlier in July, to ensure no child missed out.

South Asian Heritage Month is a new celebration, created out of a desire to learn more about South Asian culture and history that has an impact on our world today. This cross-curricular topic not only covers many elements in history but addresses the importance of sports, health and well-being.

The Multicultural Development Team (MDT) are working with the British Kabaddi Association to deliver free training and support, specifically for primary and secondary schools, to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month through sport.

Kabaddi is an extremely popular sport, similar to tig and rugby, which promotes team work. The staff meeting will take place on:

Wednesday 8 June, 3.45pm- 5pm, at Charlton Secondary school in the Sports hall.

It will be led by Moinul Isalm MBE. He is an official representative of the British kabaddi Association who received his MBE for founding ’Outta Skool’ which offers multi-sports to underprivileged young people. He has developed and delivered Kabaddi as a GCSE physical Education syllabus and has been delivering it for the past 15 years. Moinul is currently the National Kabaddi development officer for the English Kabaddi Association.

All staff will need to be in PE kit for a practical session. Please see below the link to understand the rules of the game. Staff will receive training on a non-contact tag version.

Lost Village Games - Games

To book a free place please contact: Multicultural.Development@telford.gov.uk.

MDT support for individual schools to plan and develop staff knowledge around South Asian Heritage month is free and available upon request. If you would like any further information please contact the MDT team.

Changes to the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Panel and referral pathway into the BEE U service (with immediate effect)

In January a review of the Emotional Health and Wellbeing panel took place due to feedback from parents/ carers, schools and professionals. Since then the LA have been having some ongoing discussions with Bee U about the best way forward for the panel and the Neuro Diverse pathways.

It has been agreed that the Local Authority will no longer manage the referrals into the Bee U service, and that the panel as it currently exists will not continue. Bee U has made a decision that they will now accept referrals directly from schools as access referrals, and will communicate directly with schools and parents about decisions made on acceptance onto pathways.

Discussions are continuing about how we could take the feedback from the review into consideration, and use this to develop a productive model for the Local Authority and Clinical Commissioning Group partnership moving forwards. There are plans for a working party to be formed to explore how we can work together on these developments.

From Friday 20 May 2022 all NEW referrals for all BEE U pathways must be sent directly to the BEE U service. BEE U have provided some supporting documents that outline the referral pathway and criteria which can be found below.

If you have already sent a referral into the EHWB inbox, the Local Authority will send these onto the BEE U Service on your behalf. We will include you into the communication to BEE U about your referral.

If you have completed the EHWB Panel paperwork and not yet sent to the EHWB inbox, please send directly to BEE U outlined below.

If you are thinking of making a referral, please complete a BEE U Referral form being clear on if this is for a ADHD, ASD or core assessment referral. This needs to be sent directly to BEE U outlined below.

If you have already made an application and it’s been accepted through the EHWB panel but have concerns of a young person going into mental health crisis, please email 025spa@mpft.nhs.uk or call 08081964501.

If you have a child who is younger than 5 years old, please request that the family make contact with their GP and / or Health visitor. More information about the Child Development Centre can be found online.

If you have a young person over the age of 17 ½ years please make the referral to Adults Autism Hub or through their GP.

If you are a Special School please send the referral to BEE U outlined below, who may send onto the LD team.

If you are a professional who wants to refer a child who is Electively Home Educated, you or the under exceptional circumstances the child’s GP can make the referral outlined below.

If you have a young person that you have concerns about and don’t know where to go for advice and guidance, please raise with support teams within your schools (EP’s / BSAT / LSAT / Your Mental Health Lead / Mental Health support teams in schools) or support services like BEAM / Kooth / BEE U Access team detailed below.

All referrals from 20 May 2022 to be sent via email to 025spa@mpft.nhs.uk. You can also telephone the BeeU Access Team on: 0808 196 4501 Option 1.

Referral pathway documents

ASD Referral Criteria

ADHD advice and support

BEE U Referral form

Please note that the above is subject to further change in the coming weeks but Bee U ND teams and Managers are fully committed to support the developments of both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin in the efforts to improve and have more effective neurodevelopment pathways that are in line with the Community I-THRIVE approach.

More information is available on the SEND Local Offer:
Emotional Health and Wellbeing Panel - SEND - Local offer (telfordsend.org.uk)

If you have any queries about this message please email Natalie.Bevan@telford.gov.uk or Claire.mcguiggan@telford.gov.uk.

New Schools Bill to boost education standards across the country

This is an update from the Department for Education

Following the plans set out in the Schools White Paper, a new Schools Bill, introduced to the House of Lords on Wednesday 11 May, is set to pave the way for all schools to join a strong multi-academy trust, and to strengthen safeguarding as part of government plans to raise education standards for every child, regardless of where they live.

Schools and parents can read the article about how the bill will support boosting education standards across the country and find out more within the everything you need to know about the Schools Bill blog.

Reminder for schools and colleges on the COVID-19 workforce fund deadline: 24 May 2022

This is an update from the Department for Education

The deadline for eligible schools and colleges to submit a claim for absences experienced between Monday 22 November 2021 and Friday 8 April 2022, is 23:59 on Tuesday 24 May.

Further information on the COVID-19 workforce fund is available in our guidance for schools and colleges.

Information on accelerator fund secondary and post-16 Education Endowment Foundation projects

This is an update from the Department for Education

As part of our accelerator fund, EEF is running trials of educational programmes, and offering subsidised access to effective programmes in the regional schools commissioner (RSC) regions of the North, East Midlands and Humber, and West Midlands.

These evidence-informed programmes can help to boost pupils’ attainment and support recovery in your setting. The following projects are currently recruiting schools or post-16 settings:

English mastery – a trial of a two-year programme that involves professional development and resources to English teachers in Key Stage 3, to deliver a knowledge-rich English curriculum.
The 5Rs approach to GCSE maths resits – a trial of a one-year post-16 programme for pupils resitting GCSE maths, with staff training and set lesson structure.
Switch on reading – subsidised access to an intensive 10-week literacy intervention aimed at pupils in year 7 and year 8, who are working well below age-related expectations in reading.
Embedding formative assessment – subsidised access to a two-year programme that aims to improve pupil outcomes by embedding the use of formative assessment strategies across a school.

You can learn more about the EEF accelerator fund offer by visiting the EEF website.

Autism lead professional training

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.

National Launch of 'My Creative Track' for children in care/care experienced young people

The Virtual School is pleased to announce that three of their young people have attended, and presented, at a National Launch event which was held in London on 12 May 2022.

The national Launch of the ‘My Creative Track’ framework for children in care is a key development to support some of the most vulnerable children and young people to access arts and culture, and develop cultural capital.

Head teacher of Telford & Wrekin Virtual School, Michelle Salter, was in attendance at the event along with Kerriann Hughes, Telford & Wrekin Virtual School Arts Lead and the Chair of the West Midlands Virtual Schools Children in Care Foundation (the only Foundation of its kind in England) and a key developer of the ‘My Creative Track’ framework.

Behind the launch is the strong belief that children in care have an entitlement to access arts and culture, that this is critical in developing their cultural, social and economic capital all that all of this contributes to academic achievement and well-being. ‘My Creative Track’ provides an excellent framework for the young people, and those that they support them, to help develop interests, talents, and the cultural capital to take active agency of their futures.

As part of a unique five year partnership the ‘My Creative Track’ framework has been created to enable children and young people aged 0-25 years, and the adults who support them, to have advice, guidance and ideas on how to engage with, progress and develop their interests and talents in arts and culture. This has been developed over three years, through consultation and research with a range of care experienced children and young people across the Midlands, as well as with key adults such as carers, Designated Teachers, Virtual School staff, and involvement from the arts and cultural sectors.

The three young people were involved in meeting other children in care/care experienced and the partners, along with other key national representatives, to provide a platform to advocate for the importance of this work.

The Virtual School team were amazed and proud of these young people, who presented professionally and clearly at the event, shared pieces of their work and interests in the art and culture and even performed a solo song in front of the room.

Schools Pre-Inspection Data and Insight Team’s inspection data summary report – updated with absence data

The inspection data summary report (IDSR) has been updated with absence data from the Summer Term 2021, based on the DfE published data. The report does not include Spring 2021, as this was heavily affected by the lockdown from 4 January 2021. The finance data in the context section has also been updated to 2020/21.

Ofsted Inspection Data - Summary Report

For further information please see the IDSR guidance online.

School improvement arrangements: Telford & Wrekin maintained schools - next steps

As many colleagues will already be aware, Michelle Parker, Quality Assurance Specialist will be leaving her post at the end of the academic year. Michelle has made a huge contribution to the School Performance Team over the last few years, and previously to that as an Attached Adviser to many of our schools. This event, coupled with changes to the way statutory funding is devolved to support this function, has offered Telford & Wrekin an opportunity to work with schools to reform the way the Local Authority (LA) fulfils statutory functions going forward.

Thanks are given to colleagues who responded to the consultation before the Easter break. There were 10 responses received, with some positive suggestions about how the LA can fulfil this role in the future. For those colleagues who would still like the opportunity to respond, the consultation link is still live, and feedback is still welcome.

As a reminder 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.

In order to continue the discussion about how the Local Authority will fulfil its role in the future we would like to set up a working group to develop the model further. If you would like to be part of this working party then please contact Liz Smith, SDM for Achievement and Enrichment know via email: liz.smith@telford.gov.uk.

CPD courses for school staff, senior leaders and governors to the end of the Summer Term 2022

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).

The Role of the Key Person in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EY 106) via Teams	Tuesday, May 24, 2022	1pm to 3.30pm
The Importance of the Early Years Foundation Stage in Schools (GO 603)	Wednesday, May 25, 2022	5.30pm to 7pm
Primary Science and Design & Technology Subject Leaders' Termly Update and Development Meeting (CPD 517) Face to Face	Wednesday, May 25, 2022	2pm to 5pm
SENCO Network Meeting - Briefing (Cross Phase)	Thursday, May 26, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Cover Supervisors - preparing for the role (PSS 010)	Thursday, June 02, 2022	3.30pm to 5pm
Assessment - termly update (morning) (CPD 502)	Tuesday, June 07, 2022	9.15am to 10.45am
Assessment - termly update (twilight) (CPD 503)	Tuesday, June 07, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Youth Mental Health First Aid - Part 1 (PSS 001)	Tuesday, June 07, 2022	9.15am to 4pm
ECT Induction Tutor and Mentor – Termly Update (CPD 516)	Wednesday, June 08, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
EYFS: Areas of Learning and Development Session 6: Knowledge & Understanding of the World (EY 308)	Wednesday, June 08, 2022	1pm to 2.30pm
EYFS: Areas of Learning and Development Session 6: Knowledge & Understanding of the World (EY 309)	Wednesday, June 08, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Governors’ Responsibilities for SEND (LSAT 212)	Wednesday, June 08, 2022	5pm to 7pm
Talk Boost - KS2 (LSAT 511)	Wednesday, June 08, 2022	All day – times TBN
Meeting the OFSTED requirements and developing reading strategies for EAL learners at KS2 (CPD 714)	Wednesday, June 08, 2022	3.45pm to 6pm
Absence Management of Employees	Thursday, June 09, 2022	3pm to 5.30pm
The Role of the Early Years Practitioner in Supporting and Enhancing Play (EY 008)	Thursday, June 09, 2022	1.15pm to 4pm
Supporting Behaviour and Learning - Children with ADHD/ODD & CD (new course – please see separate article)	Monday, June 13, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Primary ICT Coordinators' Update (CPD 512)	Tuesday, June 14, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Meeting the EYFS profile requirements for EAL learners in EYFS (CPD 715)	Tuesday, June 14, 2022	1.15pm to 4pm
Awareness Raising of Emotion Coaching – level 1 (PSS 0041)	Tuesday, June 14, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Governors' Responsibilities for Exclusions (SG 104)	Wednesday, June 15, 2022	5pm to 7pm
Meeting the OFSTED requirements for British Values and Cultural Diversity in the primary school (CPD 718)	Wednesday, June 15, 2022	1pm to 4pm
Developing a Communication Friendly Environment in the EYFS (EY 307)	Wednesday, June 15, 2022	9.15am to 12noon
Safer Recruitment Administration	Thursday, June 16, 2022	3pm to 5.30pm
Raising Awareness of Child Protection (SG 108)	Thursday, June 16, 2022	9.30am to 11am
EAL Network Meeting (CPD 526)	Thursday, June 16, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Understanding Nurture (PSS 101)	Thursday, June 16, 2022	9.15am to 12noon
Verbal Intervention Training (BSAT 213)	Thursday, June 16, 2022	9am to 11.30am
Verbal Intervention Training (BSAT 214)	Thursday, June 16, 2022	3pm to 5.30pm
SEND: Building capacity in your school (LSAT 403) Face to Face	Tuesday, June 21, 2022	9.15am to 3pm
Induction Training for New Governors (GO 502)	Wednesday, June 22, 2022	9.30am to 3.30pm
Early Years Coordinators – Termly Update (EY 007)	Wednesday, June 22, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Talk Boost - KS1 (repeat)	Thursday, June 23, 2022	9am to 4pm
Safety Intervention Training (formerly MAPA training) - Part 1 (BSAT 201) Face to Face	Thursday, June 23, 2022	8.30am to 4pm
Bright Ideas and Inspiration - for your breakfast, holiday and out of school provision (EY 303)	Thursday, June 23, 2022	9.15am to 12noon
Early Career Teacher Network (CPD 720)	Tuesday, June 28, 2022	4pm to 5pm
EYFS: Areas of Learning and Development Session 7: Expressive Arts and Design (EY 308)	Tuesday, June 28, 2022	1pm to 2.30pm
EYFS: Areas of Learning and Development Session 7: Expressive Arts and Design (EY 309)	Tuesday, June 28, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Designated Safeguarding Leads' and Safeguarding Governors' Termly Update (SG 106)	Wednesday, June 29, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Meeting the OFSTED requirements for Equalities and Diversity in the Secondary School (CPD 719)	Wednesday, June 29, 2022	1pm to 4pm
Accredited Safer Recruitment Training	Thursday, June 30, 2022	9am to 4.30pm
Raising Awareness of Prevent (SG 101)	Thursday, June 30, 2022	9.30am to 11am
Safety Intervention Training (formerly MAPA training) - Part 2 (BSAT 201) Face to Face	Thursday, June 30, 2022	8.30am to 12.30pm
Forest School and Outdoor Learning for Practitioners Working within EYFS (EY 201)	Thursday, June 30, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Effective Circle Times in the EYFS (EY 302)	Monday, July 04, 2022	1.15pm to 4pm
Solution Focussed Therapy (PSS 102)	Tuesday, July 05, 2022	9.15am to 12noon
Designated Safeguarding Leads Refresher (SG 107) Face to Face	Wednesday, July 06, 2022	9.15am to 3.15pm
Recently Qualified Teacher Development Programme (CPD 507)	Wednesday, July 06, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
School Duties under the Equality Act 2010 – and how to write an effective Accessibility Plan (LSAT 304)	Wednesday, July 06, 2022	9.15am to 12noon
Teaching Children with SEND: Meeting the Needs. Session 6: Literacy Difficulties (LSAT 508)	Thursday, July 07, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
ELSA Conference (EPS 106)	Thursday, July 07, 2022	9am to 3pm
Safety Intervention Refresher Training (formerly MAPA Refresher Training) BSAT 212	Thursday, July 07, 2022	9am to 11.30am
Virtual School Conference for Designated Teachers and Nominated Governors for Children in Care (CPD 620)	Friday, July 08, 2022	9am to 3.30pm
Supporting Behaviour and Learning - Children with ADHD/ODD & CD (new course –see separate article)	Monday, July 11, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
ECT Induction Tutor - initial training (CPD 520)	Wednesday, July 13, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Newly Appointed Designated Safeguarding Leads' Training (2 days) - part 1 (SG 102) Face to Face	Wednesday, July 13, 2022	9.15am to 4pm
Newly Appointed Designated Safeguarding Leads' Training (2 days) - part 2 (SG 102) Face to Face	Thursday, July 14, 2022	9.15am to 4pm
Verbal Intervention Training (BSAT 213)	Thursday, July 14, 2022	9am to 11.30am
Verbal Intervention Training (BSAT 214)	Thursday, July 14, 2022	3pm to 5.30pm

Early Career Framework – important information from the Department for Education

You can now use the Department for Education (DfE) service to tell them about your ECF-based training for the 2022 to 2023 academic year.

They only need information about new Early Career Teachers (ECT’s) and mentors who’ll start their training in the next academic year (once you know this).

You do not need to re-register ECTs and mentors who started training in the current academic year.

Please follow these steps:

Sign in to the Manage training for early career teachers service: https://manage-training-for-early-career-teachers.education.gov.uk/
Tell us whether or not you expect any new ECTs. If you do, continue with the next steps.
Tell us if you want new ECTs to continue with the same type of training programme, or make a change.
Add information about new ECTs starting in the 2022 to 2023 academic year.
Tell us which mentor is assigned to each new ECT. You’ll need to add information for any mentors not yet registered on our service.

Do not worry if you do not know this information yet. You can sign in and do this later.

This step-by-step guidance explains how to:

access the service
make choices to set up your training programme
make changes.

Read the full guidance online.

You can also do more using this service:

nominate someone else to be your school’s induction tutor
change how you run your training programme (check your options in our guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-for-schools-how-to-manage-ecf-based-training#delivery-options-for-ecf-based-training)
tell us that an ECT is transferring from another school, and let us know how you want them to continue their training
update your contact details.

Read new guidance for schools, ECTs and mentors:

You can find information on induction, training and support for ECTs in the guidance on the GOV.UK website.

Joint Appropriate Body and Teaching School Hub Early Career Teacher Induction Briefing and Update Session - 21 June 2022

Schools may already be aware that a new two year induction programme for new early career teachers (ECT’s - previously known as NQTs) was introduced last September. This programme has a number of important changes which schools need to be aware, including the far more complex registration and funding.

In light of these changes, a briefing session will be taking place 21 June 2022 from 4pm to 5pm.

The briefing will be particularly pertinent to Head teachers, Senior Leaders, ECT Induction Tutors and ECT Mentors and will include:

Inputs from Telford & Wrekin Local Authority’s (LA’s) Appropriate Body Manager, Ant Snowden, together with Ruth Shaw from the Teaching School Hub and the Best Practice Network (approved Early Career framework (ECF) training providers)
An outline of the new two year induction programme, including training and central government funding for schools
Guidance on the new three part registration process
Lessons learned from year one of the BPN programme and changes to future practice
Open forum questions and answers

This briefing session is open to all schools in Telford & Wrekin. It is strongly recommended that any school which does not currently have an ECT ensures that at least one member of staff attend this session.

To reserve your place, please send a completed CPD booking form via email to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk.

Primary Science and Design & Technology Subject Leaders' Termly Update and Development Meeting

The Primary Science and Design & Technology (D&T) Subject Leaders' Termly Update and Development Meeting (CPD 517) will be taking place on 25 May 2022 from 2pm to 5pm – and will be held face to face for the first time since 2019.

This network event is led by Ant Snowden, who will sadly be retiring from Telford & Wrekin Council at the end of this academic year.

Telford & Wrekin are pleased to be able to offer the event face to face, and for each primary science lead booking a place, a further place for the D&T lead is available free of charge.

The agenda for this event is as follows:

2pm to 3.20pm

A hands on exploration of over a dozen new ideas and resources to add zing to scientific enquiry.

3.30pm to 5pm

Regional and national updates:

Ogden Trust – Funding and teaching resources and leadership support.
Recommended reads and resources.
West Midlands Science Ninja Project.
Oxford university press – latest publication and future projects (Helen Hunter OUP.

Towards more effective subject monitoring.

Making reliable end of key stage assessments.

How can we improve the reliability and consistency of these judgments?

CLEAPSS – Turning up the heat on progression and challenge.

Using models to developing higher order thinking.

Coming to a conclusion.

What does a good conclusion look like?
What strategies can we use to plan for successfully progression in this area of enquiry based learning

Delegate fees (for two delegates)*

T&W LA Schools & Academies	£100
Non T&W Schools	£120

* for schools booking a place for the Head of Science, the D&T Lead can attend at no extra cost; outside of the note above, a 10% discount per delegate for two or more chargeable bookings on the same course from the same school

To book your place/s, please send a completed CPD booking form to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk.

Supporting Behaviour and Learning - Children with ADHD / Oppositional Defiance Disorder and Conduct Disorder

PSS 104: Supporting Behaviour and Learning - Children with ADHD / Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) & Conduct Disorder (CD) is a new twilight online CPD course.

The course is aimed at those staff members in schools, both primary and secondary, who work directly with children and young people – including teachers, learning mentors, teaching assistants, school support staff and other childcare professionals.

The aim is to raise awareness and understanding of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorder (CD) as well as, most importantly, helping staff to support children to improve their outcomes – with a focus on supporting behaviour and learning.

Delegates will understand the challenges facing neuro-diverse children and the strategies they can use to avoid isolation and exclusion.

Course dates and times:

Monday 13 June 2022 from 4pm to 5.30pm,
repeated
Monday 11 July 2022 from 4pm to 5.30pm.

Delegate fees

£85 for one delegate.
£76.50pp for two delegates from the same school on the same date.

Whole school cost: As these courses are taking place on a Monday evening, when many schools hold staff meetings, we can offer access to this online course at a whole school price of £250 per school. (Please note: for ‘whole school’ bookings please select one date).

To book please send a completed CPD booking form to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk – if your request is for ‘whole school’ access, please simply state this on your form, rather than listing all the staff at this stage, and we will get back to you to confirm the details.

Collaborate and thrive event – 4 July 2022

The Community Academies Trust Expert Groups are holding a virtual ‘unconference’. This is a free, informal, event where staff of varying experience can share ideas, passions and insights on the theme of ‘collaborate and thrive’.

This is an invaluable CPD and networking opportunity for all staff to come together with the aim of building relationships across schools, and strengthening individual practices.

The event will take place on Monday 4 July, from 3.45-6pm.

Booking can be done via Eventbrite.

Exclusion Reduction Hotline

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

Solihull Approach – free courses for parents, grandparents and carers

Free courses – for everyone, for everyday parenting. Like antenatal classes, but on to the next stages!

To take advantage of this pre-paid, locally funded offer, visit the In our place website, using access code: DARWIN18.
Create an account (or sign in), and start learning.

93% of parents who completed the course said ‘Understanding Your Child’ was helpful.
92% of parents who completed the course said ‘Understanding Your Child with additional needs’ was helpful.
97% of parents who completed the course would recommend ‘Understanding Your Teenagers Brain’.

'I really like these courses. I think all parents could benefit from them.'
‘You don't actually realise what is going on in your child’s brain, this course helped, every parent should do this, i wish i'd done it sooner!’
‘It is great to know that I am not alone as a parent and that what I am experiencing is normal. I can now try to understand why my teenage daughter and son behave how they do and rather than react badly, try to understand and react positively. Thank you!’
‘It's a very good course, I learnt at lot! I liked the, 'science' and reasoning behind [their] behaviour and thinking. I also liked that the course was in modules and I could leave at any point and come back to it when I had more time. Thank you, a grateful parent’

Leisure activities and discounts for families this half term

Telford & Wrekin Council Leisure have just launched their latest School Holiday Activity brochure, full of activities to keep families entertained during the May Half Term.

As well as daily Kids4£1 activities like tobogganing, tennis and swimming there’s plenty to keep families busy for the week off.

Telford Ice Rink are offering £5 junior tickets and £15 family tickets over the jubilee weekend and for those who find themselves venturing to Telford Town Park, Sky Reach is also back open for the summer.

Find out more on the Telford & Wrekin website.

Bring the Power - Commonwealth Games 2022

Bring the Power is the Commonwealth Games Youth Engagement programme, which aims to bring children and young people aged 5-25 closer to this celebration of thrilling, fast paced sport, and exhilarating culture.

To support all schools to participate, from the 18 May 2022, all schools can sign up to the Bring the Power website to access digital and downloadable resources to support them in planning their exciting day. There are separate resources for primary and secondary schools. To maximise flexibility, your activity can take place on any day that suits your setting between the 18 May 2022 and the end of the summer term. This is an opportunity for pupils and teachers to decide what ‘Bring the Power’ means for their school community and host their own events and/or whole school activities.

It is recommended that the day is co-designed by your pupils and can take any form, such as an introductory assembly, sports day, creative activities, literacy, or music exploration. Youth Voice is a key focus of Bring the Power, so we recommend activity which celebrates children and young people as agents of change.

Schools are encouraged to incorporate this activity into any of their existing planned schools’ events, such as British Council activities, Sport England’s School Games and Sport Relief events.

By signing up to the website, teachers will have access to download the FREE Bring the Power Festival Pack with opportunities to win amazing prizes to help you and your pupils deliver an exciting day for your school community.

For more information visit the Birmingham 2022 website.

This entry was posted by Claire on Wednesday, 18 May 2022.

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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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