Notice: 25 March 2021

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

Included in this update

The sun is shining and spring is here! To kick off the season, congratulations to Donnington Wood Infant School and Nursery who are featured in the recent Royal Horticultural Society newsletter which tells of stories of schools in lockdown, and how little green fingers have helped to support the wellbeing of children and staff alike. Please follow the link provided in the article below to see their impressive work!

I can’t quite believe it has been a year since the first national lockdown. I know many of you joined in with virtual remembrance events that took place on Tuesday to mark the occasion. I hope you had the chance to commemorate the day and also think about the impact the past 12 months have had on you, your families and friends. Nobody has been untouched by the pandemic. It has affected us all in different ways. Many thanks for the support you have provided to the community you serve. You have all and continue to do, an amazing job.

Updates about Covid testing through the Easter holidays and reminders on how to access test kits for education settings have been provided. Importantly and positively, changes have been made to the Test and Trace support payments for parents, please take a look to see what support is available for families.

Please check out the articles on Equality and Diversity. We are particularly excited to launch an initiative with the University of Wolverhampton about teaching and learning around Sikhism within our schools. This will compliment wider work being completed by SACRE whereby a review of our local resources to support delivery of religious education, across schools in the borough, is taking place. If you are a school interested in taking part during the initial phase of work (see details in the article below) please do let us know. Details about a SACRE conference that will take place during the summer term are also included.

Finally, included in the Noticeboard today are several activities for families over the Easter Holidays. Sky Reach will be reopening on Good Friday and sessions are available to book, this is a unique activity for children and young people. Don’t forget that Sky Reach is available to book for outdoor education during term time alongside being available for leisure use during the school holidays and weekends. Family Easter challenges will also be taking place over the two week holiday. Please do share these resources with your parent/carers.

Don’t forget clocks go forward at the weekend - always a joy although no excuse now for me to miss the evening run!

Best wishes

Simon

Simon Wellman
Director: Education and Skills

Good News Stories

During the summer lockdown Donnington Wood Infant School and Nursery created a Rainbow Garden which has been featured in the Royal Horticultural Society School in Lockdown. Please take a look to see how they developed their garden to grow vegetables, herbs, flowers and created a wildlife area.
Tip: please scroll to the bottom of the page to see their story…

Royal Horticultural Society – Schools in Lockdown

Council calls on government to review school’s Pupil Premium funding allocation

Council Leader Shaun Davies and Cllr Shirley Reynolds (cabinet member for children, young people, education and lifelong learning), together with Primary and Secondary Heads in Telford and Wrekin, have written to Gavin Williamson, the Secretary of State for Education, to raise concerns about the government’s recent decision to change the date at which Pupil Premium funding is determined.

With the government now using school census data from October 2020 instead of January 2021, as has been the norm in previous years, schools within the borough are set to loose £420,000 of Pupil Premium funding.

This is additional funding allocated to schools to help disadvantaged pupils close the attainment gap between them and their peers. Children who are eligible for support are often those who access Free School Meals (FSM).

In their letter to the Education Secretary, Cllr. Shirley Reynolds and Cllr. Shaun Davies expressed their disappointment.

Cllr. Reynolds said: “Three hundred and twenty-five additional children in our borough qualified for Pupil Premium in January 2021 when compared to October 2020. It is an appalling decision that leaves disadvantaged children without much-needed support.

Cllr. Davies added: “At a time when so many families are struggling financially due to the pandemic’s impact, the government has implemented a change that will significantly impact on funding, leaving disadvantaged children to fall further behind.

“We have asked the Secretary of State for Education to reconsider the decision and revert to the usual January 2021 school census data to determine Pupil Premium.

“This is a reasonable request that will ensure more children and families receive vital support at this challenging time. “

Mandie Haywood, Headteacher ay Old Park Primary School has also signed the letter to the Education Secretary, on behalf of Primary Heads within Telford and Wrekin. She says: “We have seen an increase in Free School Meal uptake across the borough’s primary schools, as the pandemic continues to affect many families.

“We are now being given less resources to support these families, at this still incredibly difficult time.

“We are calling for the Government to revert to the original Pupil Premium allocation date so more children can receive essential support”

Krissi Carter, Headteacher Burton Borough School who has signed the letter to the Education Secretary on behalf of Secondary Heads within Telford and Wrekin says:

“Across borough secondary schools, the number of pupils eligible to claim Free School Meals has increased between October 2020 and January 2021, as many families have seen their income significantly reduced.

“To leave these children without additional support in schools is unfair, so we are asking the government to urgently review its decision.”

Testing at home throughout the Easter holidays for schools and colleges

Information from the Department for Education (DfE)

Following the success of the asymptomatic testing programme on the return to school and college, it is vital to keep testing at home throughout the Easter holidays and into the summer term.

Please pass on this message to all of your staff, students and parents:

test twice a week at home from now on (all those who are able to)
report results online as positive, negative or void. This information is critical in helping us to understand the prevalence of the virus across the country
continue to test twice weekly over the Easter holidays
test before returning to school or college for the summer term, either the night before, or morning of, the first day back, to find and isolate any positive cases

Families and households can also access home test kits for adults.

Test kits for pupils, students and staff should be accessed via the education testing programme

Information from the Department for Education (DfE)

Further deliveries of self-test kits for secondary schools and further education (FE) colleges will arrive this week, which should include enough kits to last over the Easter holiday.

Some schools and FE colleges have been registering on the National Workplace Testing website to order test kits or have been directing staff or students to local testing sites to collect test kits.

Schools, nurseries and FE colleges are covered under the education testing programme and will continue to be provided with test kits through this programme. Any registrations by schools, nurseries or FE colleges to National Workplace Testing will be deleted and you will not receive kits via this route.

If you need a replenishment of lateral flow device (LFD) test kits or want to report any issues with a delivery, you can do this by using the dedicated routes detailed below:

primary schools, attached nurseries and maintained nursery schools should use this contact us form.
private, voluntary and independent nurseries (PVIs) should use this contact us form. Please note that you will receive further test kit deliveries between 24 to 26 March, which will accommodate testing until early May.
secondary schools and FE colleges should use this contact us form to re-order asymptomatic test site (ATS) test kits. Further deliveries of self-test kits are being made this week. You can view the delivery schedule here. This should give you enough supplies to last over the Easter holiday.
further details on future replenishment arrangements for self-test kits will be provided in due course.

All orders are processed on a weekly basis. Unless specified otherwise, you need to submit your request by 5pm on Wednesday for a delivery during the following week.

If you feel you have missed a delivery of test kits, before contacting us to report a missed delivery using the relevant contact us forms (above), please do the following:

check with your facilities team and catering department in case they have received the delivery
if a delivery has not arrived, please wait until the day after the scheduled delivery date before reporting it as a missed delivery
PVI nurseries are advised to check for a “Sorry we missed you” card, which provides further information on how to arrange a re-delivery or pick up

When and how to report testing related incidents

All schools, colleges, and nurseries should continue to escalate specific self-testing related incidents to the DfE helpline, for example, reports from staff or students of multiple voids (all voids in one pack or sudden overall increase in void reports), breakages, and other issues with testing kits.

Schools, nurseries and FE colleges should remind staff and students who are testing at home to call 119 to report issues such as damaged, missing or difficult to use items in the kit, or where they are unable to log their results.

If an incident led to, or has potential for, harm (for example, swab breaks in the mouth, bleeding, allergic reaction on using the kit), as well as seeking support from the helplines above, the individual testing at home should report this on the coronavirus (COVID-19) yellow card reporting site.

Test and Trace support payments for more borough families

Following the recent Government’s guidance update on “Test and Trace Support Payments”, Telford & Wrekin Council is inviting borough parents and guardians who are not legally required to isolate due to coronavirus to apply for the scheme – if they need to take time off work to care for a child or young person who has been told to self-isolate.

According to the current government’s guidance, residents might be eligible for a £500 payment if they’ve been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, or if they are the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate.

The £500 payment is in addition to any benefits and Statutory Sick Pay that they might currently receive.

If you’ve been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace because you’ve tested positive for coronavirus or been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive, you’re legally required to do so.
To support you during self-isolation, you could be eligible for a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment if you meet certain criteria detailed on the Council’s website.
If you are not legally required to self-isolate but you are the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate (on or after 8 March), you could be eligible for the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment or discretionary payment - if you meet certain criteria detailed on the Council’s website

To find out more details about “Test and Trace” support payments scheme and to apply, visit the Council’s website.

Test and trace support payments - Telford & Wrekin Council

National Tutoring Programme – subsidised tutoring available for state-maintained schools

Information from the Department for Education (DfE)

All state-maintained schools can access tutoring subsidised by 75% through the National Tutoring Programme (NTP), to support pupils aged 5-16 who need extra help. The NTP aims to ensure that high quality tutoring is available in all parts of the country to disadvantaged pupils who need the most support.

Schools can search for approved NTP tuition partners and enquire directly with providers. This includes specialist provision for supporting students with SEND: 26 out of the 33 providers can support students with SEND, and 17 providers are able to support students in special school settings.

To see NTP in action, please see our latest school story.

National survey from the Children’s Commissioner

Information from the Department for Education (DfE)

The new Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, has begun a major review of the future of childhood, which will address the barriers holding children back in the 21st century. This review begins with ‘The Big Ask’: the largest ever survey of children in England, to gather children’s views on what the government should prioritise in planning the recovery from the pandemic.

The Big Ask will be launched on Monday 19 April 2021 in the form of a short online questionnaire. You will receive a link to the questionnaire shortly after it has launched. We encourage you to share it with as many students as possible.

Updated Covid HR Guidance & Individual Risk Assessments

The Covid HR Guidance has been updated in light of the full opening of education settings and the confirmed position to pause shielding from the 1 April 2021. The guidance is available to download: HR updated schools guidance.

Please note that this also means a change to the Local Authority advice in terms of those who are over 28 weeks pregnant. They are able to return to working on site in line with the changes for those who are classed as CEV.

The individual risk assessment and guidance on higher risk groups have been updated to reflect these changes and are available to download.

Please contact your named HR Advisor should you have any queries.

Email: hrhelpdesk@telford.gov.uk

Free School Meal Vouchers for Easter

Just to let you know that food voucher codes for the Easter holidays for eligible children i.e. those who access Free School Meals were sent out to parents on Friday 19 March 2021.

There are a number of parents who require printed vouchers, have no email address or who we have received a bounce back from their mail box. Vouchers for these children are being hand delivered to their home addresses on Monday and Tuesday.

Should a parent have any enquiries about vouchers for the Easter Holidays could you please direct them to email winterfunding.grant@telford.gov.uk for assistance.

Free school meals claims process for schools

Information from the Department for Education (DfE)

All children should be able to access a nutritious meal at school and these meals are free to those that are eligible. Where pupils eligible for benefits-related free school meals are required to stay at home, you should work with your catering team or food provider to offer good quality lunch parcels.

You can claim for additional costs incurred when providing locally sourced vouchers to pupils eligible for benefits-related free school meals during the period in which schools were closed to most pupils, up to Friday 5 March 2021. You can also claim for lunch parcels provided during this period and up until the start of the Easter holidays. The claims window for these costs will open in early April and will remain open for at least three weeks. Schools will be able to claim directly, or local authorities and academy trusts can claim on their schools’ behalf. Further details will be shared via the weekly Wednesday newsletter from ESFA.

Claims need to be based on eligible pupils, with support provided over the specified timeframe and to the values specified in the guidance. There are no other criteria that claims will be subject to. All claims made will also be cross-referenced with orders made using the national voucher scheme. Claims should not be made in relation to support provided via the Edenred national voucher scheme, as all those costs have already been met centrally.

Schools do not need to provide lunch parcels or vouchers during the Easter holidays. The government provides support with food and other essentials through the COVID Winter Grant Scheme. This scheme, run by local authorities, has operated successfully since November including over the Christmas and February half term holidays. The scheme ensures that individuals, families and children who require it, including those eligible for free school meals, can receive the support they need.

Further information on the provision of free school meals and the COVID Winter Grant Scheme can be found in our guidance on providing school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

SACRE RE Conference

RE: ‘it does what it says on the tin!’
World views and interfaith perspectives, modern British values, diversity, respect and tolerance.

This two day virtual conference is aimed at RE subject leads, headteachers and senior leaders in Telford & Wrekin primary, secondary and special schools

Day 1: Thursday 29 April 2021 - 4pm to 6pm
Day 2: Thursday 27 May 2021 – 9.30am to 3pm
(exact times for Day 2 to be confirmed)

The conference will feature a number of key note speakers and workshops across the two days, which will explore and develop the main issues covered in the new Telford & Wrekin RE syllabus.
Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE).

Richard Kueh HMI, RE Lead for Ofsted, will provide the key note presentation on Day 1

Cost: £40 per school for two delegates (this nominal fee covers both parts and both delegates)

The conference will:

provide an opportunity for teachers and leaders to understand the aims of the new Telford & Wrekin SACRE RE syllabus.
re-inforce the importance of ‘protected characteristics’ as defined in the Equality Act 2010, and referred to in the current Ofsted inspection framework (Sept 2019), and what they mean for the teaching of RE.
raise awareness of the importance of pupils being well-informed, respectful members of society who value diversity and strive to understand others.
support teachers to develop pupils’ knowledge of the beliefs and practices of religions and worldviews so that pupils are able to consider their own responses to questions about the meaning and purpose of life.
ensure that colleagues have access to an up to date directory for visits and current resources to support the teaching of RE.

By the end of the conference colleagues will:

understand the key concepts that pupils will explore from EYFS to the end of KS5 in terms of their knowledge, skills and attitudes.
an overview of the key questions that are considered at each key stage and which underpin pupils’ knowledge and skills.
be able to provide pupils with a toolbox which they can use to explore moral and ethical issues that face our society.

Following attendance across the two days of the conference, schools will receive:

the new Telford & Wrekin SACRE RE syllabus.
sample units of work.
a link to the directory and the resources.

To book your place/s, please complete and return a CPD booking form to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk quoting ‘RE Conference’

Teaching And Learning About Sikhism In Telford: Brief for Participating Schools

Telford and Wrekin Council, in collaboration with the Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies at the University of Wolverhampton are undertaking a review of teaching about the Sikh faith in their primary and secondary schools in order to develop religious literacy around Sikh Identity. This will compliment wider work being completed by SACRE whereby a review of our local resources to support the delivery of religious education, across schools in the borough, is taking place.

The research will take place in phases. For the initial phase, a number of schools will contribute to an audit. This will gain an understanding about the existing syllabus, resources available, teacher confidence in their own knowledge and understanding, engagement with local communities and their leaders and pupil voice. Researchers from the University of Wolverhampton, with involvement from the Multi-Cultural development Team, will visit participating schools during the summer term to liaise with subject leaders responsible, staff and pupils.

Following the scoping exercise, phase two will focus on the production of a report that will present an analysis of the learning and teaching of the Sikhs and their faith in our schools. This will focus on what is working well alongside gaps and areas in need of development. In phase three a high-profile dissemination event, offered to all schools with Telford and Wrekin, will focus on building capacity, sharing best practice resources, identifying further training needs and planning well sequenced curriculum delivery.

The research will be overseen by Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar MBE, Associate Professor of Sikh Studies and Director of the Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies, who is an internationally recognised scholar of Sikh Studies. Further information about Opinderjit can the Centre of Siki and Punjabi Studies at the University of Wolverhampton can be found below

Schools who want further information about this work and/or would like to take part during the initial phase should contact Sue.Dyson@telford.gov.uk.

Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar MBE has been published widely in the form of books and journal articles. Opinderjit, prior to taking up a position at the University, was Head of Religious Education in a secondary school in Nottingham. She also wrote the specifications, together with textbooks and a Teacher’s guide for the OCR GCSE syllabus on Philosophy and Ethics, used in secondary schools across Britain. She has written numerous educational resources, and is consultant, for REToday Publications, a national resource for teaching Religious Education across schools and colleges in the UK. Her 2005 book on Sikh Identity: An Exploration of Groups amongst Sikhs (Ashgate) is used as a key text in a number of Religious Studies courses at Universities around the world. Opinderjit was Head of Religious Studies at the University of Wolverhampton until 2018.

The Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies at the University of Wolverhampton is the first and the only one of its kind in the UK. It is an internationally recognised hub which acts as a centre of excellence for matters relating to the Sikh and Panjabi Community in the UK. Its remit extends beyond academia and positions Sikh and Panjabi Studies on the global platform by raising awareness, sharing knowledge and increasing profile with key stakeholders and influencers.

The Centre’s vision is ambitious and is supported by an equally aspirational mission, which is to:

aid cultural understanding and community cohesion;
offer new perspectives on the Sikh faith – religion, history and politics;
break down misunderstanding and misidentification by addressing negative stereotypes;
enable inter-faith understanding and dialogue;
work locally and globally – helping those on our own streets, as well as on the other side of the world;
attract talented academics and students from around the world; and
provide religious literacy toolkits for diverse workplaces such as the police, NHS, journalists etc.

Telford and Wrekin Council are working in collaboration with Opinderjit due to her extensive research and publications relating to the Sikhs and their faith. She is Board Member of the Inter Faith Wolverhampton and was awarded an MBE in 2018 for her services to Higher Education and the community in Wolverhampton. She was given the award for ‘Inspirational Woman of the Year’ in February 2020 by Asian Today. She was awarded for her contribution to Sikh Studies at the Pride of India Awards, held in the House of Lords London in 2017. Opinderjit is also a regular consultant to the BBC, including EastEnders and two documentaries on the Sikhs – ‘Young, Sikh and Proud’ (aired BBC One, January 2020, and ‘Being Sikh’, to be aired on BBC One 13 April 2021). Opinderjit also delivered the first ever lecture on the Sikhs in British Parliament in 2018.

Spring 2021 School census

I would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you for your assistance and support with the Spring 2021 school census’.

Now it’s all finalised by the DfE please could you email your signed summaries to: School.Organisation@telford.gov.uk

Thank you to those who have already done so.

As you are aware the Summer 2021 census takes place on Thursday 20 May 2021, guidance notes will be provided in due course.

If you have any further enquiries please contact us by email: eileen.finnigan@telford.gov.uk
Or, by phone: 01952 388136

Live Virtual Playing Together Parent Support sessions

Monday – Thursday
1pm-2pm
On Microsoft Teams

What is a Virtual Playing Together Parent Support Group?

We are currently presenting a virtual Playing Together Group. Which is where our Strengthening Families Assistants will invite Parents and Guardians with their children to a Microsoft Teams Meeting. We will engage with the children through activities, talks, story time and also a bit of nursery rhyme singing. We will also engage with Parents and Guardians round day to day life and any topics everyone wishes to discuss.

This is currently in place for our Face to Face groups that normally run.

Activities:

Nursery Rhymes
Story Time
Scavenger Hunts
Teaching Songs
Arts and Crafts
Number Play

Parent Support Topics:

Every Day Struggles
Potty Training
Weaning
Sleep
Development Stages – Is this normal?
Making learning Fun
Routines
Relationships
Ideas are welcome

To find out more or to nook your place please contact us by email: LakesideSouthLocalityAdmin@telford.gov.uk

Or, by phone: 01952 385465/385555

Download: Playing Together Leaflet
Download: Playing Together Easter Poster

Receive a call from Arthog Outdoor Education Centre

The Booking Round for residential trips to Arthog Outdoor Education

Centre is currently open for residential dates in the academic years 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Although hard copies of the Arthog OEC booking information pack have been sent out to Telford schools in January 2021, we appreciate that with the reopening of schools, these packs can be overlooked.

Therefore, the Arthog team is calling all the schools in Telford, to offer the chance to talk about any potential booking a school may wish to place in the next 2x academic years.

TWC Opportunities Fund

Also during the call, the team will inform schools of the specific discount that each Telford school is eligible for under the Arthog Opportunities Fund for a booking up to March 2022.

The Arthog Opportunity Fund is now allocated on schools’ Free School Meal numbers, for all T&W children and young people in both maintained schools and academies.
Each school’s Fund is calculated on a formula based on the ratio of numbers on roll to Free School Meal numbers to give the discount.
T&W schools will receive their allocation from the Arthog Opportunity Fund in the form of a discount off their booking and this will be shown on the course invoice.
Schools will have flexibility over how they use their Arthog Opportunity Fund allocation to best meet the needs of their children/young people and the extent to which they supplement this with Pupil Premium Grant/other sources of funding.
The Arthog Opportunities Fund can be used on any length of course, and at any time of year including weekends and school holidays taking place 01 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.
The Arthog Opportunities Fund April 2022 to March 23 will be published Jan 2022 with the annual booking round.

Price Per Person

As a snapshot, below are the fees per person to attend Arthog OEC, which includes accommodation, full catering, and activities (standard rates, per paticipant).
Supervising Staff and 1:1 Support staff are not charged to attend.

Fees per person to attend Arthog OEC
	September 2021 to August 2022	September 2021 to August 2022	Arrival Time	Departure Time
Monday - Friday (4 nights)	£293	£308	From 12noon	By 1pm
Friday - Sunday (2 nights)	£147	£154	From 4pm	By 4pm
Friday - Monday (3 nights)	£184	£192	From 4pm	By 1pm
Monday - Wednesday Wednesday - Friday	£147	£154	From 12noon	By 1pm

Some schools will already have received a call, but if you haven’t yet and would like to know more, you can contact us by email at info@arthog.co.uk or call 01341 250455.

Alternatively, you could visit the Arthog OEC website to view the course organiser packs.

Arthog Outdoor Education Centre

Thanks
Arthog OEC

Early Career Framework - Severn Teaching School Alliance

The Early Career Framework (ECF) will begin in September 2021, with Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) completing two years of induction rather than one. STSA (Severn Teaching School Alliance) will be working as a strategic partner of the new local Teaching School Hub led by Alison Pope at the Priory School.

The Hub is in the process of evaluating the licence holders for the ECF and the aim is to have a co-ordinated approach for all age schools including academies and maintained schools in Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire. This is being supported by Telford and Wrekin LA. Schools can then, over time, be involved in evaluating the partners linked to the ECF across our area. Therefore, as long as schools in Telford want to operate in this collaborative model, no further action needs to be taken. The Hub will receive funding that will support the co-ordination and delivery of professional development at the start of a teacher’s career. New teachers will now receive development support and training over 2 years instead of one, underpinned by the Early Career Framework. The offer for Early Career Teachers includes:

2 years of new, funded, high quality training
freely available high quality development materials based on the early career framework
funding for 5% time away from the classroom for teachers in their second year
a dedicated mentor and support for these mentors including access to funded high quality training
funding to cover mentors’ time with the mentee in the second year of teaching

There will be more communication and events on the Early Career Framework through the Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Hub after the Easter break.

For more information please contact us by email at: info@severnteachingschool.co.uk

Seven Teaching School Alliance

CPD courses for school staff, senior leaders and governors

The majority of our courses currently continue to be delivered virtually using Microsoft Teams. We hope to move towards a more blended approach as the restrictions around Covid 19 begin to be eased, and when it is safe to do so.

Details of all our courses can be found in the CPD Booklet, which is available on the Telford Education Services website. Unless stated otherwise, the majority of course bookings are made by sending a completed CPD booking form via email to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk.

CPD courses until 31 May 2021
Emotional Based School Refusal: Using applied psychological principles (EPS 203)	Monday 29 March 2021	9.15am to 12.15pm
Governor Briefing	Tuesday 30 March 2021	5pm to 6pm
Taking the Chair - part 4 (GO 504)	Wednesday 21 April 2021	4.30pm to 6.30pm
Bright Ideas and Inspiration for your breakfast, holiday and out of school provision (EY 303)	Thursday 22 April 2021	9.15am to 12noon
Safer Recruitment Training Part 1 Book via co-operative.admin@telford.gov.uk	Monday 26 April 2021	9am to 12.30pm
Handwriting - a whole-school approach to supporting children with SEND (LSAT 504)	Monday 26 April 2021	1.30pm to 4pm
Teaching children with SEND - meeting the need (LSAT 508)	Tuesday 27 April 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
Observing Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EY 011)	Tuesday 27 April 2021	1.15pm to 4pm
Best practice in your breakfast, afterschool and holiday provision (EY 104)	Wednesday 28 April 2021	9.15am to 12noon
Promoting Cultural Diversity and Equality of Opportunity in EYFS (CPD 606)	Wednesday 28 April 2021	1.15pm to 4pm
SACRE Conference Telford & Wrekin Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE)	Thursday 29 April 2021	4pm to 6pm
MAPA - Part 1 (BSAT 201)	Thursday 29 April 2021	8.30am to 4pm
Child Protection Supervision (SG 203)	Thursday 29 April 2021	9.30am to 12.30pm
Safer Recruitment Training Part 2 Book via co-operative.admin@telford.gov.uk	Friday 30 April 2021	9am to 12.30pm
Creating an Engaging Curriculum which excites, inspires and develops the learning of EAL pupils (CPD 716)	Tuesday 4 May 2021	3.30pm to 6pm
Newly Qualified Teacher Development Group: Supporting and Accelerating your Progression (CPD 522)	Tuesday 4 May 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
Forest School and Outdoor Learning for Practitioners Working within EYFS (EY 201)	Wednesday 5 May 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
Raising Awareness of Prevent (SG 101)	Wednesday 5 May 2021	9.30am to 11am
Raising Awareness of Child Protection (SG 108)	Wednesday 5 May 2021	3.30pm to 5pm
Meeting the OFSTED requirements for Equality and Diversity for Governors (CPD 717)	Wednesday 5 May 2021	9am to 12noon
Teaching and delivering outstanding EAL provision for 'new to English' pupils and advanced bilingual learners in primary schools (CPD 712)	Thursday 6 May 2021	3.30pm to 6pm
MAPA - part 2 (BSAT 201)	Thursday 6 May 2021	8.30am to 12.30pm
I’m a Brilliant Learner - are you ready for me? (EY 204)	Thursday 6 May 2021	9.15am to 3.30pm
Recently Qualified Teacher Development Programme (Primary) (CPD 507)	Thursday 6 May 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
Understanding Mental Health – Using psychological research to understand anxiety and depression (EPS 202)	Tuesday 11 May 2021	1.15pm to 4pm
Newly Appointed Designated Safeguarding Leads' Training (2 days) - part 1 (SG 102)	Wednesday 12 May 2021	Time TBC (this may change to face to face delivery)
Developing the role of teaching assistants in supporting SEND (LSAT 507)	Wednesday 12 May 2021	1.15pm to 4pm
Newly Appointed Safeguarding Governor Induction Training (SG 103)	Wednesday 12 May 2021	5pm to 7.30pm
Supporting the emotional well-being of children and young people with learning difficulties: A whole school approach (EPS 208)	Wednesday 12 May 2021	9.15am to 3.30pm
Newly Appointed Designated Safeguarding Leads' Training (2 days) - part 2 (SG 102)	Thursday 13 May 2021	Time TBC (this may change to face to face delivery)
Developing Early Years & Childcare Provision - supporting school sustainability and child outcomes (EY 113)	Thursday 13 May 2021	9.15am to 12noon
MAPA Refresher (BSAT 212)	Thursday 13 May 2021	9am to 12.30pm
Assessing and monitoring progress in EAL (CPD 701)	Monday 17 May 2021	3.30pm to 6pm
AET: Leading Good Autism Practice (EPS 107)	Monday 17 May 2021	1pm to 4pm
ELSA Conference (EPS 106)	Tuesday 18 May 2021	9am to 3pm (TBC)
Effective Support and Supervisions in the EYFS (EY 306)	Thursday 20 May 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
Designated Safeguarding Leads Refresher (SG 107)	Thursday 20 May 2021	2pm to 3.30pm
MAPA - part 1 (BSAT 201)	Thursday 20 May 2021	8.30am to 12.30pm
MAPA - part 2 (BSAT 201)	Friday 21 May 2021	8.30am to 12.30pm
Teaching children with SEND - meeting the need (LSAT 508)	Monday 24 May 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
The role of the key person in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EY 106)	Tuesday 25 May 2021	1.15pm to 4pm
SACRE Conference – Part 2 Telford & Wrekin Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE)	Thursday 27 May 2021	Time TBA

Free online briefing for Governors – 30 March 2021

Governors are invited to a one hour briefing which is being held free of charge.

Tuesday 30 March 2021
5pm to 6pm

How can governors assure themselves that learning is back on track by the end of the summer term and providing:

a broad and balanced curriculum, which is appropriately sequenced across all subjects
evidence of effective learning and that all pupils’ are making at least good progress, and
that pupils can demonstrate they can connect new knowledge with existing knowledge and, through this, develop fluency to unconsciously apply their knowledge as skills

To secure your place, please send an email to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk including the following information:

Governor’s name
School name
Governor’s email address

Thank you.

Outdoor and active ideas for Easter Holidays - Sky Reach High Ropes in Telford Town Park

Sky Reach High Ropes, in Telford Town Park, is opening on Good Friday 2021.

Sky Reach is used during term time for structured outdoor education sessions but is available for leisure sessions during the school holidays and weekends.

It is reopening for Easter in line with Government Covid recommendations to keep everyone safe but keep all the adventure.

Action filled sessions that start every half hour from 12.30pm from Friday 2 April 2021 to Sunday 18 April 2021. Allow 90 minutes for getting ready and getting right round the courses.

Amazing value at £10 per person.

Sky Reach is set amongst the Town Park trees, near the Visitors Centre and within easy walking distance of Southwater Shopping Centre.

Sky Reach is a unique activity that will test nerves, burn off energy and push physical and mental limits. The team at Sky Reach will encourage participants to face fears and extend comfort zones so that everyone can discover what they are truly made of!

Due to Covid restrictions, Sky Reach currently offering just the high ropes package:

The high ropes course is set at two levels the highest being 10 meters off the ground and is suitable for anyone over 1.3 metres. Young, nervous or children under 1.5 metres children should be accompanied by an adult.
The finale is the quick jump which never fails to deliver a heart in the mouth descent to the ground.

To help families make a day of their visit to the Town Park, nearby there are other activities for all the family including sand play areas, jungle gyms, monster climbing frames, games courts and waymarked wild life/heritage walks. Opening later in the Easter holiday are the Adventure golf and Frisbee golf courses.

Please download and share the flyer with families: Sky Reach 2021 Spring Flyer.

For further information and to book please take a look at the Sky Reach website.

Sky Reach

Active Families Easter Challenge

The Active Families Challenge has been development to encourage families to build their confidence around physical activity and use their technology for children to reach their 60 minutes of recommended physical activity a day.

This is a FREE digital resource covering all ages early years, primary and secondary aged children, hosted by Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and presented in a downloadable grid with links to a range of activities. All families need to do is follow the link below to download their activity grid.

Active Families 2021 | Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin

As part of the Challenge we are encouraging families to share their activities on social media using these hashtags.

#ActiveFamiliesSTW
#LetsGetTelfordActive

Please share this resource with your parents and carers via your newsletters, social media platforms and other communication means you might have.
Active Families 2021 | Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin

Grants of up to £5k to bring your green ideas to life

Do you need funding for a project that will reduce carbon emissions and support a green recovery in Telford and Wrekin?

Grants of up to £5k are available to community groups, faith groups, friends groups, schools, and local councils and grants of up to £2.5K to small businesses with a green idea to help reduce their carbon footprint

The Telford and Wrekin Climate Change Fund is a sustainable initiative being offered by Telford & Wrekin Council as part of its commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030, with the aspiration for the borough to be carbon neutral by then too.

Applications for grants are invited for a range of carbon reducing ideas, such as:

Renewable energy generation – solar PV panels, hydro turbines, ground or air source heat pumps
Energy efficiency measures – LED lighting, loft insulation, water conservation, upgrading heating systems, lighting or heating controls, double/triple glazing
Sustainable travel – cycle stands, electric bikes, EV charging points
Reducing waste – re-use initiatives, community composting, reduce single use plastic

Small or large, your green ideas can have a big impact.

Deadline for applications is noon on 19 April 2021.

Full details and to apply

Telford & Wrekin Active Travel – Walking & Cycling Public Consultation 2021

Telford & Wrekin Council wants to hear from walkers, runners and cyclists as part of its work to boost more sustainable travel in the borough.

A new 10 week consultation has been launched to get the views of people who use the borough’s footpaths, walkways and cycleways.

Questions include where and how often people walk, run, jog or cycle, how it can be made safer, what would encourage them to start or do it more and where would be the priorities for investment.

Answers to the survey will help shape the council’s new strategy to help the local authority bid for more money to invest in sustainable travel such as cycling, walking and use of public transport and other services including health and wellbeing and road safety education.

This entry was posted by Marianne on Wednesday, 24 March 2021.

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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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