Notice: 1 October 2020

A round-up of news, guidance and key updates for education settings.

Included in this update


Director Update

Dear colleagues

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Education Noticeboard, which includes updates on government test and trace guidance in relation to the official NHS QR posters as well as further information on the completion of the autumn 2020 census regarding top up funding, please do take a moment to check these out.

In addition, October is Black History Month, and the MDT team in collaboration with the Telford African and Afro-Caribbean Resource Centre (TAARC) are working to deliver free workshops and resource packs to all schools, further details can be found in the Noticeboard. I also wanted to offer huge congratulations to the Interfaith Council and MDT Team who have been awarded National Lottery funding following their successful application to the Coronavirus Community Support Fund. The funding will be used to deliver a focused project to support the specific needs of BAME/EAL/Migrant and Vulnerable children and families in our community…well done all!!

Over the past weeks I have attended both the Primary and Secondary Head Forums as well as the Education Strategic Partnership meeting and it has been really good to be able to meet up with colleagues again, albeit virtually! It has been equally good to catch up with colleagues on an individual basis, specifically where there has been a positive covid case, to help us identify any lessons that could be learnt moving forward.

On a final note, I would just like to extend my thanks for your continuing hard work, commitment and support in ensuring the best outcomes for all of our children and young people in Telford & Wrekin.

Best wishes

Simon Wellman
Interim Director Education and Skills


Displaying an official NHS QR poster

The government has updated their guidance on the requirements under test and trace that includes information for organisations to display an official NHS QR poster. As a building manager or a manager of services that has customers using our facilities, you may want to consider the QR poster and system.

Organisations should display official NHS QR code posters at their venue entrances to help support contact tracing. It’s quick and simple to use for both businesses and users. Ask visitors to scan the QR code when they arrive, using the NHS COVID-19 app. This is to help trace and stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Organisations should still maintain alternative means to record contact details for people who do not want to use the NHS COVID-19 app.

Official NHS QR posters can be generated online.

Organisations can find out more about NHS QR codes and how to generate them on the NHS COVID-19 app website.

Guidance: Maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace.


Priority bookings now open for staff flu vaccinations

We are pleased to launch the flu vaccination programme for Telford and Wrekin employees. This year due to COVID-19 we will not be able to deliver this programme as previous years and we will be using the same delivery model as a drive thru COVID-19 testing centre.

Priority bookings are now open for staff at maintained schools to book there flu vaccination.

At a later date, all staff at Telford and Wrekin Council will be given an opportunity to book there flu jab so please book as soon as possible.

Getting a flu vaccination will help keep you and your family well, but it also important for the community in which you live. Flu is a killer, getting a vaccination prevents the spread of the virus and helps keep older, more vulnerable people safe and takes pressure off the NHS.

Book your place on OLLIE

The vaccine programme this year will take place on the following dates and times and each appointment slot will take approximately 3 minutes.

  • Tuesday 13 October 2020 – 9.30am to 3.30pm
  • Tuesday 20 October 2020 – 9.30am to 3:30pm
  • Thursday 22 October 2020 – 1.30pm to 6.15pm
  • Wednesday 28 October 2020 – 9.30am to 3.30pm.

A facility for vaccinations will be set up using the back 2 rows of Darby House car park.  On booking your appointment slot via OLLIE you must arrive 5 minutes before your allocated appointment time so that information can be checked by officers on site before driving into the gazebo to receive your vaccine.

Book now on OLLIE

Remember your ID badge

In preparation please ensure that you present your ID badge to the officers so that we can record your attendance. Please can you also ensure that you are wearing appropriate clothing (short sleeved t-shirts) in order to present your arm quickly and easily to the nurses to administer your vaccine

Parking arrangements on vaccination days

Staff that are working at Darby House on these dates are encouraged to park their cars in the Addenbrooke House car park. For fire drills taking place on these days, staff will need to go to the Addenbrooke House car park on exiting Darby House.

Walk-in vaccinations

It is recommended that you attend the vaccination in your car. However, if you don’t or can’t drive for any reason then a walk-in vaccination is possible. Please book your appointment on OLLIE as usual and then walk or take public transport to Darby House. Please wear a facemask on public transport.

What to do if you cannot attend or book an appointment

For staff that are unable to book an appointment i.e. do not drive and/or cannot attend can also receive the vaccination via pharmacies, retain the receipt to claim cost of vaccine via My View.

It is expected that local pharmacies will be busy with flu jabs so plan head.

The free flu vaccination

If you are entitled to a free flu vaccination, because of underlying health condition, pregnancy, etc. Please ensure you get your flu jab as you usually would. More information about the free flu vaccination is available on the NHS website.

Questions

If you have any questions please email: renu.purvis@telford.gov.uk.


Teachers Pay Update

The revised School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) was issued last week. This will now be laid before parliament for official implementation on the 14 October 2020.

This confirms the following minimum uplift to teachers pay:

  • the minimum of the main pay range is uplifted by 5.5%;
  • the maximum of the main pay range and the minima and maxima of all other pay and allowance ranges for teachers and school leaders are uplifted by 2.75%;

How this is applied in your schools is something that is determined by your Pay Policy.

We have commenced consultation this week with Teachers Trade Unions on the Telford and Wrekin Model Pay Policy. This policy proposes applying the pay award to all pay points not only the minimum and maximum and also the adoption of the advisory pay points as set out in Appendix 3 of STPCD (as in previous years). Where you wish to deviate from this position then please contact me to discuss as this may require separate Trade Union Consultation.

Consultation with Trade Unions closes on Friday 2 October 2020 and I hope to be able to issue the revised Pay Policy next week for you to take forward through your Governing Boards for adoption. This will be issued via a direct email from me for those of you that buy into Telford and Wrekin HR Advisory Services.

It is anticipated that this would be applied in October pay with any arrears from September 2020.

The final STPCD can be accessed here School teachers' pay and conditions - GOV.UK.

The final Pay Circular dated the 24 September 2020. Download the LGA Pay Ref Circular 24 September 2020.


Black History Month Workshops

Recent events have highlighted the ever increasing need for pupils to understand about our shared history. Black History Month is in October and many pupils and staff have expressed a desire to learn more about key figures and events in history that have an impact on our world today. This cross-curricular topic not only covers many elements in History but addresses many fundamental SMSC and PHSE aspects of the curriculum as a whole.

MDT team are working with TAARC to deliver free workshops and resource pack to all schools. Workshops are Covid-19 secure with risk assessments checked prior to staff and pupil delivery. Appropriate protocols are in place but schools will need to ensure a visitor risk assessment is in place prior to MDT and TAARC staff delivery when booking a workshop. Once a booking is confirmed, MDT will provide the risk assessment for the workshop. TAARC will provide their own risk assessment for their staff and resources.

Pupil’s work, photos and contributions from the Workshop and follow up activities will be displayed in the Telford Council’s Black History live streamed celebration event. Schools have an obligation to produce work to be showcased and are responsible for ensuring that work is produced and that their photos taken on the day have permission to be used in the celebration event and further Council and TAARC publications.

One hour of MDT support for individual schools to plan and develop staff knowledge is available for free upon request. The resource pack, competition flyer primary, competition flyer secondary, workshop information primary and workshop information secondary are available to download. Workshops are on a first come, first served basis.

For more information please email: Multicultural.Development@telford.gov.uk.

Kirsty Holden and Qamar Maqsood
Telephone: 
07855148693 or 07800 671756
Website: MDT Website


Fixed Term Exclusions notifications and amended categories

From Autumn 2020 there have been some amendments in the DfE categorisation of exclusions. 

Schools are now able to identify up to 3 reasons for exclusion. The first collection of these codes will occur in the Spring 2021 census.

It is now no longer possible to code an exclusions as ‘other’ although there are 3 newly added codes.

Exclusions are now categorised by the following codes.

Code

Description

Possible examples

PP

Physical assault against a pupil

fighting, obstruction and jostling, violent behaviour, wounding

PA

Physical assault against an adult

obstruction and jostling, violent behaviour, wounding

VP

Verbal abuse / threatening behaviour against a pupil

aggressive behaviour, swearing, threatened violence, verbal intimidation

VA

Verbal abuse / threatening behaviour against an adult

aggressive behaviour, swearing, threatened violence, verbal intimidation

OW

Use or threat of use of an offensive weapon or prohibited item

carrying or bringing onto the school site an offensive weapon / prohibited item such as knives, sharp instruments and BB guns, carrying any article that has been or is likely to be used to commit an offence, cause personal injury or damage to property, use of an offensive weapon

BU

Bullying

verbal, physical, cyber bullying or threatening behaviour online, racist bullying, sexual bullying, homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying, bullying related to disability

RA

Racist abuse

derogatory racist statements, racist bullying, racist graffiti, racist taunting and harassment, swearing that can be attributed to racist characteristics

LG

Abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity

derogatory statements about sexual orientation (e.g. heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual) and gender identity (e.g. transgender), homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying, LGBT+ graffiti, LGBT+ taunting and harassment, swearing that can be attributed to LGBT+ characteristics

DS

Abuse relating to disability

derogatory statements or swearing about a disability, bullying related to disability, disability related graffiti, disability related taunting and harassment

SM

Sexual misconduct

lewd behaviour, sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual bullying, sexual graffiti, sexual harassment

DA

Drug and alcohol related

alcohol abuse, drug dealing, inappropriate use of prescribed drugs, possession of illegal drugs, smoking, substance abuse

DM

Damage

damage includes damage to school or personal property belonging to any member of the school community, arson, graffiti, vandalism

TH

Theft

selling and dealing in stolen property, stealing from local shops on a school outing, stealing personal property (from an adult or pupil), stealing school property

DB

Persistent or general disruptive behaviour

challenging behaviour, disobedience, persistent violation of school rules, raising of fire alarms falsely

MT

Inappropriate use of social media or online technology

sharing of inappropriate images (of adult or pupil), cyber bullying or threatening behaviour online, organising or facilitating criminal behaviour using social media

PH

Wilful and repeated transgression of protective measures in place to protect public health

Deliberate breaching of protective measures such as (but not limited to): non-compliance with social distancing, causing distress such as through purposefully coughing very near to other pupils or adults, or any other deliberate breach of public health protective measures which the school has adopted.

We would ask that in completing the notification to the LA you highlight the main reason where possible.

For more information please contact us by email: accessandinclusion@telford.gov.uk.


Autumn Census 2020 – Top Up Funding

Top-Up Funding:

We use the top-up funding indicator to calculate high needs funding allocations. In addition, we use this indicator for research purposes and to provide bench-marking information to local areas.

This is a true/false flag to indicate those pupils on roll for whom the school receives, on census day, high-needs top-up funding – either from a local authority or, in the case of a PRU/AP, a local authority or another school. Top-up funding is paid outside a maintained school’s budget share or academy’s general annual grant and relates to a pupil or student identified as requiring additional support, which costs more than a specified threshold. In many cases, the period for which top-up funding is paid may not be defined but the top-up funding will – as with the SEN provision to which it relates – be subject to periodic review.

Usually, but not always, the pupils for whom a primary or secondary mainstream school receives top-up funding are those with an education, health and care (EHC) plan. Sometimes local authorities may also provide support for pupils with code ‘K’ – SEN support.

Sometimes, terminology other than high needs top-up funding is used locally. Schools should check with the local authority if they are in doubt about whether payments received from a local authority are high needs top-up funding.

The specified cost threshold for additional SEN support varies according to the type of provision. For primary and secondary mainstream schools and academies, the threshold is £6,000 per pupil per annum in all cases. Top-up funding is paid in respect of individual pupils whose additional support costs more than this and is for the excess costs over the threshold. However, in the case of all special schools, special academies, special free schools, PRU/AP, the funding they receive is £10,000 per place, and the top-up funding will be for the costs incurred by the school in providing additional support in excess of this funding.

Because the full cost of places in special schools, special academies and special free schools, PRU/AP usually exceeds £10,000, these types of schools will normally receive top-up funding for most, if not all, of the pupils in the school.

What we do need however is any pupil that is out of county that has an EHCP, even if they are not getting top up funding, to be marked as true as having top up funding as we need them to be recorded for the Import/Export reconciliation.

Failure to do this will result in us losing £6K per pupil in the high needs block.

For more information please email: eileen.finnigan@telford.gov.uk or, contact us by phone: 01952 388136.


2020 ARC Virtual Annual Conference

2020 ARC Virtual Annual Conference

Leading the Attachment and Trauma Aware School

  • 24 November 2020 - online
  • Members - £99 +VAT
  • Non-Members - £129 +VAT.

At a time where our educational settings are considering becoming accredited Attachment and Trauma Informed School and operating this model across Telford and Wrekin long term.  This is an excellent opportunity to learn from leading practitioners. The event is designed to support all levels of leadership within educational settings from ‘classroom to the boardroom’.

The safety of our delegates and the ARC Team is extremely important to us and therefore, with this in mind we are excited to announce that we will be offering the full CPD accredited day online. The whole day will be available on-demand for all delegates after the event. 

The day will consist of a series of keynote speaker sessions as well as webinars where you will hear from colleagues that have been implementing attachment aware and trauma informed practices into their schools. Each session will end with a question and answer section and you can submit your questions directly to the speaker. Don't worry if you can't make the full day we will be recording all sessions and they will be available to all delegates to watch after the event.

Details:

Schools and settings face considerable challenges in addressing the mental health and well-being needs of all members of their learning communities: aligning approaches to behaviour management and mental health and well-being; implementing  whole school approaches amidst many other development priorities; commissioning training and support for young people, staff and the SLT; understanding the impact of strategy.

ARC’s 2020 conference will focus on these leadership challenges with inputs from school and setting leaders and researchers who have taken an approach based on attachment and trauma theory and seen its positive impact.

Keynote Sessions:

  • Paul Dix - Member of TBAP Trust
    When the Adults Change
    There has never been a more important moment for adults to change. Isolation and exclusion are forever tainted ideas. Using examples of stunning practice from TBAP and beyond Paul will show you why Relational Practice is more important than ever. He will show you how the most inclusive and successful schools are using Coaching, Mentoring and Outreach to change the game
  • Professor Barry Carpenter - CBE, OBE
    A Recovery Curriculum: Loss and Life for our children and schools in the pandemic
    In this presentation you will be able to consider;
    • the emotional impact of the pandemic on children .
    • the ‘ loss’ experienced and how we might rebuild emotional resilience in children .
    • the aims and purpose of a Recovery Curriculum .
    • the process of re engaging the disengaged.
  • Kim Golding
    In this presentation Kim will explore the impact of attachment and trauma on a child’s development and capacity for relationships and how this can compromise their ability to be successful in the classroom.
  • The impact of Attachment and Trauma in the Classroom
    Children who have experienced developmental trauma and difficulties in attachment grow up with a range of difficulties including trusting adults, entering reciprocal relationships, and shame-based sense of identities. This combined with compromised neurodevelopment can impact detrimentally on a student’s ability to engage with education and to cope with peer relationships.
  • Panel Discussion - Research into Practice – how is attachment theory being implemented?
    The panel will consist of academics and school senior leaders and will explore how attachment research and theory is being applied to schools and settings – the challenges and successes so far.
  • Panelists confirmed:
    • Dr Neil Harrison - Deputy Director of the Rees Centre and is leading on the Alex Attachment and Trauma Programme in Schools which has worked with 250 schools, 4500 teachers and 11500 young people to explore the impact of attachment aware approaches.
    • Stuart Guest - Headteacher of Colebourne Primary School - Stuart has over 13 years' experience as a headteacher and is a father of a birth child and two adopted children. He has developed trauma friendly approaches at his school and has seen the positive impact this can have on pupils, families, staff and outcomes for his school. 

Workshop Sessions:

School Behaviour Policies– a help or hindrance to positive behaviour?

In this session we will take a look at behaviours and discuss the difficulties of applying behaviour policies across a whole school community. We will explore the transformation of policy that has occurred in schools who have developed attachment aware and trauma informed practice. We will also explore in particular, one school’s journey to move from a ‘one size fits all’ policy to a relational based contract between the whole school community.

Plus there will be webinars from the 2019 Alex Timpson ARC Attachment Award winners discussing how they implemented attachment into their school.
Full details of the conference can be found on the arc website.

Michelle Salter
Virtual School Headteacher

Email: Michelle.salter@telford.gov.uk.


Inclusive School Forum Update

Following feedback from SENCO’s and members of the forum there have been some changes made to the request paperwork and the process by which SENCO’s return the ISPP.

  • The ‘blue’ form to request funding from ISF has been updated. This can be downloaded from the SEND Local Offer. Please ensure you are using the updated version.
  • The ISPP form has also been updated, again please ensure you are using the updated version.

The ISPP form now needs to be submitted with the application, meaning that when a new request is sent to the inbox it must include a Costed Provision Map and the ISPP. The ISPP will outline the additional support that you will provide to the child if Inclusive School Funding is agreed.

Reminder: Please be aware that ISF allows one case, per school, per panel. This is due to the growing number of requests.

Reminder: For the purpose of the school census, pupils who are in receipt of ISF and EYIP funding should be recorded as receiving high needs top up funding but logged as SEN Support (K).

All templates for ISF can be found on the SEND Local Offer.

For more information please contact us by email: Inclusiveschoolforum@telford.gov.uk.


Annual Reviews – Reminder

Please can you ensure that Parent/Carer contact details are correctly recorded on the EHC plan and/or Annual Review paperwork at the start of the review.

It is important that an accurate email address is supplied for the Parent/Carer.

For more information or to download the guidance or paperwork please visit the SEND Local Offer.

If you have any questions or would like more information please contact us by email: SENDandInclusion@telford.gov.uk or by phone: 01952 381045.


SENCo Network Meeting – cross-phase

Don’t forget to book your place at the next SENCo Update Meeting on:

  • Thursday 15 October 2020
  • 4pm - 5.30pm
  • The session will be held ‘Virtually’ on Microsoft Teams.

SENCo Network Meetings are an opportunity to find out the latest information from SEND 0 - 25, to network and to provide and receive support from other professionals. They are an opportunity for SENCo’s, senior and middle leaders from primary, secondary and specialist maintained schools to share collaborative working, best practice, policy changes and good news stories of how we all can make a difference to Children and Young People living in Telford and Wrekin.

To book your free place, please email: cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk.

Course Code: LSAT 227


CPD courses through to October half term

Please see below a list of the CPD courses running in the early to mid-October which may be of interest.  Further details of these, and our fuller CPD offer, can be found in the CPD Booklet, available on the Telford Education Services website.

Bookings can be made in the normal way by completing a CPD booking form and sending it via email to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk

MAPA Training (BSAT 201) – two days

face to face training

Thursday 1 October 2020

Thursday 8 October 2020

8.30am to 4pm

8.30am to 12.30pm

Ready for Learning: Support the Social and Emotional Needs of Children with SEND (LSAT 405)

online via Microsoft Teams

Monday 5 October 2020

1.15pm to 3.15pm

Recently Qualified Teacher Development Programme (CPD 507)

online via Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 6 October 2020

4pm to 5.30pm

Creative approaches and new ideas for sharing stories within the EYFS (EY 301)

online via Microsoft Teams

Wednesday 7 October 2020

9.15am to 12noon

Developing the role of the EAL Coordinator (CPD 616)

online via Microsoft Teams

Wednesday 7 October 2020

3.30pm to 6pm

Newly Qualified Teacher Development Group (CPD 522)

online via Microsoft Teams

Wednesday 7 October 2020

4pm to 5.30pm

Best practice in your breakfast, afterschool and holiday provision (EY 104)

online via Microsoft Teams

Thursday 8 October 2020

9.15am to 12noon

The Importance of the Early Years Foundation Stage in Schools – for governors (GO 603)

online via Microsoft Teams

Thursday 8 October 2020

5.30pm to 7pm

Understanding and managing your school budget (GO 508)

online via Microsoft Teams

Thursday 8 October 2020

9.15am to 12noon

Awareness Raising of Emotion Coaching (PSS 0041)

online via Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 13 October 2020

4pm to 5.30pm

Youth Mental Health First Aid (PSS 001) – two days

online via Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 13 October 2020

Wednesday, 14 October 2020

9.15am to 4pm

(both days)

Governors' Responsibilities for Exclusions (SG 104)

online via Microsoft Teams

Thursday 15 October 2020

5pm to 7pm

The role of the Early Years Practitioner in supporting and enhancing play (EY 008)

online via Microsoft Teams

Thursday 15 October 2020

1.15pm to 4pm

An Introduction to EAL for Newly Qualified Teachers (CPD 527)

online via Microsoft Teams

Thursday 15 October 2020

3.30pm to 6pm

MAPA Refresher (BSAT 212)

online via Microsoft Teams in partnership with CPI – involved pre-requisite online modules – please see the CPD booklet for full details

Thursday 15 October 2020

9am to 11.30am (revised time)

Meeting the Statutory Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the EYFS (EY 009)

online via Microsoft Teams

Monday 19 October 2020

4pm to 5.30pm

Understanding Nurture

(PSS 101)

online via Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 20 October 2020

9.15am to 12noon

The Strategic Role of Governors (GO 601)

online via Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 20 October 2020

4pm to 6pm

Restorative Justice (PSS 003)

online via Microsoft Teams

Tuesday 20 October 2020

4pm to 5.30pm

Newly Appointed Safeguarding Governor Induction Training (SG 103)

online via Microsoft Teams

Wednesday 21 October 2020

5pm to 7.30pm

EAL and SEND? (CPD 601)

online via Microsoft Teams

Thursday 22 October 2020 1.15pm to 4pm

Raising Awareness of Child Protection (SG 105)

online via Microsoft Teams

Thursday 22 October 2020 3.30pm to 5pm

Effective Circle Times in the EYFS (EY 302)

online via Microsoft Teams
Thursday 22 October 2020 1.15pm to 4pm

We very much look forward to welcoming you onto our courses.

Sue Dyson
Traded Service Specialist, School Performance and Development

Email: sue.dyson@telford.gov.uk

For bookings please email cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk.

Website: Telford Education Services


Top Tips to Support Young People Looking for Work

Telford and Wrekin Councils Job Box service has been developing support for residents looking for work. A series of short videos are being developed to give some top tips for job seekers, and these may be used to support young people and adults.

Check out two new videos produced by the Job Box team to help people of all ages with CV preparation and interviews. These are part of a series of videos being developed to help job seekers along with a Facebook live event which was held on 29 September 2020.

Job Box - Interview Tips

Job Box – CV Top Tips Q&A

For more information please contact us by email: sue.marston@telford.gov.uk.

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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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