Notice: 27 May 2021

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 half term approaches I want to thank you all for your continued hard work. It seems we may be rewarded with some sunshine and warm weather (at last!)

It is lovely to share a number of good news stories this week, including our own achievement in being nominated for ‘Co-operative Council of the year’. This award isn’t just about the council, it’s about how we work with our communities and that wouldn’t be possible without all of you and your amazing work. There is so much you do and that has been so evident over the past year since the pandemic hit… so please cast your vote today and let’s secure recognition for the work Telford and Wrekin have done to support its residents.

Also included in today’s noticeboard is lovely news that a group of Hadley Learning Community pupils, who represented Shropshire in the regional Young Enterprise finals, have gone on to win another award! Many congratulations!

There is some key information for you including a reminder about the exclusion reduction hotline number, a selection of human resources updates and all upcoming CPD courses. We have also included information about a free course, provided by the association for child and adolescent mental health, to help schools with addressing self- harm in their settings.

There is information on a free early year’s music conference and a link to get resources to take part in Wild June. Perfect timing to encourage children and young people to get out and about!

The past few weeks have flown by and you have continued to do incredible things to support your communities. I hope you all enjoy a restful bank holiday and half term for those who have it.

Best wishes
Simon

Director: Education and Skills

Telford and Wrekin Council nominated for National Award

Co-operatives UK is the voice for the thousands of independent co-ops across the UK. This year, Telford and Wrekin have been shortlisted in the ‘Co-operative Council of the Year’ category, in their annual awards.

Commitment to a partnership approach and working for, and with, the local community are among the reasons given for the nomination. This is particularly noted in response to the pandemic, which saw a campaign to provide pupils with 750 laptops to support home schooling.

Winners will be chosen by a combination of judges’ scores and public votes. There is just over a week left until public voting closes.

You can show your support, by heading over to the website and registering your vote.

Young enterprise group from HLC represent Shropshire in the regional finals

Couture is a group of year 10 pupils from Hadley Learning Community School (HLC) who, after storming through the Shropshire finals earlier in the month winning “Shropshire Company of the Year” went on to represent Shropshire in the Regional finals last night.

The team completed against other area finalists from across the region. The competition was tough, however they are very proud to announce that they won “Best Sustainable Company in the Region” and were “Company of the Year Runners up for the Region”

A massive achievement and well done to Couture and everyone involved in supporting them on their journey.

Attendance in education and early years settings during the Covid-19 outbreak

This is a briefing from the Department for Education.

Between March 2020 and the end of the summer term, early years settings, schools and colleges were asked to limit attendance to reduce transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). From the beginning of the autumn term schools were asked to welcome back all pupils to school full-time. From 5 January 2021, schools were asked to provide on-site education for vulnerable children and children of critical workers only.

The data on education statistics shows attendance in education settings since Monday 23 March 2020, and in early years settings since Thursday 16 April 2020. The summary explains the responses for a set time frame.

The data is collected from a daily education settings status form and a weekly local authority early years survey. You can download the official statistics from the DfE website.

Previously published data and summaries are also available.

Exclusion reduction hotline: 07816372459

The hotline continues to be used by a number of schools, making contact for support with their exclusions. The team have been able to provide immediate telephone support and offer instant in school support to discuss the potential exclusion.

The hotline has been used really well in order to support schools before an exclusion occurs, in order to prevent it from taking place. Support such as restorative conversations and direct work with a young person and/or colleagues have prevented a number of fixed term exclusions over the past few weeks. For those schools that have gone ahead with issuing an exclusion, the offer of support, with the reintegration meeting, has proved useful in preventing further exclusions.

The Hotline is manned by the current BSAT team and will bring the expertise from members of BSAT in supporting schools. There will be two duty members per day and this will allow contact in addition to support for schools and individuals.

Please remember to use the Exclusions Hotline and share this information with colleagues, as the team are ready to support you.

For more information with regards to the team, please contact BSAT Team Leader (Darren Lennon) by email at Darren.Lennon@telford.gov.uk.

Addressing self-harm in schools

The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) is a registered charity established for over 60 years. They will be delivering free information sessions, to support staff to address self-harm in schools, in July 2021. These virtual sessions are open to anyone working in an educational setting,

The first event will take place on 15 June 2021 at 4pm, with a second session on Tuesday 22 June 2021 also at 4pm with different content and speaker. Booking gives access to both live streams.

For more details or to book please visit the ACAMH website.

Family safeguarding model: Communications briefing

We are nearing our launch of the Family Safeguarding Model in Telford and Wrekin, and there is a great deal of excitement about working in a new way, and being able to support families through the delivery of a more joined up approach.

The model is a whole-system change to the child protection approach, focusing on supporting the needs of children and adults in order that children can safely remain within their families. It involves five core components:

multi-disciplinary skill sets, working together
family safeguarding group discussion
a new way of recording
motivational interviewing
eight module intervention programme and assessment.

For more the background of the model, detail on each of the five components, and additional information please download the newsletter.

Schools financial value standard deadline notification

Maintained schools are reminded that the deadline for submitting their schools financial value (SFVS) standard 2021/21 returns to the local authority is 28 May 2021.

Visit the GOV.UK website for more information on the SFVS, including checklist guidance.

Could any schools who are yet to submit their return please email it to tim.davis@telford.gov.uk.

Your life, your story talking circle: Recording care - Access to records

Do you work with Care Experienced Children, Young People and the adults they become? Consider joining us for our Talking Circle, connecting with like-minded individuals, bringing together the threads of experience and discussing how both individually and collectively we can all #BeTheDifference for those we work alongside.

The Talking Circle is a monthly virtual meet, which takes place on the first Thursday of each month. From 7pm to 8.30pm. The next session, on Thursday 3 June 2021, will be on the following topic:

Recording care - Access to records

For more information please download the flier below, visit the your life, your story website or email amanda@ylys.org.uk.

Download the Your life, your story - Talking Circle flyer

Support staff pay award update

Although the government have confirmed a pay pause for the majority of those working in the public sector, this does not apply to those employed on NJC terms and conditions, therefore support staff employed in schools.

The trade unions submitted their request some months ago and the employers have now responded to confirm they are offering a 1.50% uplift to the NJC pay points. The joint Trade Unions have now come back to confirm that they are rejecting this offer and want urgent talks with the Employers – so it’s a case of watch this space!

Any agreed pay award would be back dated to the 1 April 2021.

Download the pay circular for full details.

As soon as we are aware of any further developments we will share these with you.

Any queries can be sent by email to hrhelpdesk@telford.gov.uk or by telephone on 01952 383601.

Teachers pensions information presentation

You may be aware, as part of the Teachers Pensions training programme, they offer member presentations to help their employees understand their pension benefits. The beginning of term in September is usually a very popular time for member presentation requests due to the inset days that usually occur at this time. To make sure they support as many of you as possible, they’re hosting a series of presentations in the first week of September.

These sessions will be an hour in length and will cover:

benefits of being a member of the scheme
changes to the scheme
contributions
how members can increase their benefits
retirement options
family benefits
TOS website and My Pension Online.

They are asking that schools register on behalf of their employees, and the presentation is then shown more widely. This will mean as many establishments as possible can attend.

For further information, and to book a session, please visit the Teachers' Pensions website.

Any queries can be sent by email to hrhelpdesk@telford.gov.uk or by telephone on 01952 383601.

EU settlement scheme: deadline 30 June 2021

Employees who have not yet applied for residency in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) but intend to do so are reminded that the deadline of 30 June 2021 for applications to be received is fast approaching.

In order to maintain your right to work, study, and access to free healthcare and benefits in the UK after this date, all EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and family members who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 should apply without delay. Information is provided in the employer toolkit.

Visit the GOV.UK website for information about the EU Settlement Scheme: Employer Toolkit

Employers will not need to carry out retrospective right to work checks on existing employees after the 30 June deadline, however from 1 July, new EU, EEA and Swiss employees that are hired will need to demonstrate their right to work either with the pre-settled or settled status, or with a visa under the points-based immigration system.

We are currently awaiting updated guidance from the Home Office on Right to Work checks and will share this in due course.

Please ensure you speak to us should you be recruiting staff from EEA countries to commence after the 30 June 2021 so we can ensure you have the correct documentation in place to confirm their right to work.

Any queries can be sent by email to hrhelpdesk@telford.gov.uk or by telephone on 01952 383601.

Absence Management Training: 10 June 2021- Spaces available

This course is aimed at all members of School Staff that will be responsible for managing employees through the Schools Absence Policy, and who adopt Telford and Wrekin’s HR model policy.

10 June 2021.
3pm - 5.30pm.
MS Team.

Target Audience

This course is aimed at all members of School Staff that will be responsible for managing employees through the Schools Absence Policy.

Content

To provide an overview of the Schools Model Absence Management Policy to enable absence to be managed effectively across the school. This will include guidance on how to conduct a return to work meetings and the more formal meetings within this process. This will also cover the legal requirements of the Equality Act in respect of employees with a disability.
Guidance will also be provided on how to draft and present a report at the final stage of this process. Learning will be reinforced through practical case studies.

Key Learning Outcomes

To ensure absence is managed appropriately in line with the Schools Policy and to be more confident in undertaking absence management meetings.

Charges and Booking

For schools who buy into HR/Employment Services the cost is £40, plus VAT, per delegate.
For all other schools the cost is £55, plus VAT, per delegate.

Where non-attendance or cancellation occurs within ten days of the course date, full cost recovery will be charged, without exception. If you are unable to attend we would encourage you to send a colleague in your place so you will not be charged. These can be made through our online learning platform (Ollie): or via email to: hrhelpdesk@telford.gov.uk.

Any queries can be also be sent by email to hrhelpdesk@telford.gov.uk or by telephone on 01952 383601.

Covid-19 HR guidance update: Quarantine following overseas travel

The following section of the school Covid-19 HR Guidance has been updated. A full copy of the guidance (available for those schools that buy into Telford and Wrekin HR Advisory Services) is available on the human resources SharePoint site.

Quarantine following overseas holidays
Whilst there are still some restrictions on overseas travel and some countries remain red-listed or amber-listed there is the need to consider the position for staff who are taking overseas holidays during any school holiday period.

You should ask employees to let you know if they are proposing to take overseas holidays during school holiday periods and whether these are to countries that have restrictions/require a period of quarantine, either on entry to the country or on return to the UK, further information is available on the Government website.

Visit the GOV.UK website for guidance on how to quarentine when you arrive in England

The National Joint Council (NJC) who set the national terms and conditions of schools support staff have set out the following principles for employers to follow in this situation and we would advise that this is the relevant advice you should follow. This is also the agreed position for teaching staff.

If possible the option to work from home/alternative location off site should be considered for those who return from overseas and are required to quarantine for 10 days in the UK, where this impacts on them being able to return to work.

If they are unable to work from home/an alternative location you could require employees to:

take additional paid annual leave (from their usual leave allowance) – for those that work the full academic year
take unpaid annual leave
take special leave (paid/unpaid)
make up the 10 days’ leave over a period of time.

These arrangements should be clear, understood and agreed by both parties before the employee embarks on leave that will require quarantine.

You should consider using a combination of some or all of the different types of leave options shown above and give sympathetic consideration to certain circumstances which could include:

an employee who has extenuating circumstances such as a family funeral abroad
pre-booked holidays that cannot be cancelled without incurring financial cost (ie. insurers will not reimburse cost) that were arranged before quarantine could have been envisaged
pre-booked holidays that the tour operator has not cancelled but has instead rescheduled on fixed dates which, if cancelled by the customer, would be at financial cost to them.

Where the status of a country changes whilst the employee is in that country then the above options should also be considered, there is no requirement to grant paid special leave in these circumstances.

Any queries can be sent by email to hrhelpdesk@telford.gov.uk or by telephone on 01952 383601.

Primary and secondary music network meetings: New dates released

The Music Partnership has released the next set of dates for Music Network Meetings for June and July 2021. The meetings will be held via MS Teams and will be tailored to the following areas:

Assessment for Learning in the Music Curriculum
Planning and Progression in the Music Curriculum through the Key Stages
Musical Progression in SEND settings.

The sessions are aimed at both Primary and Secondary and content will include:

Planning and Progression in the Music Curriculum - The session will provide opportunity to relate the generic principles of curriculum planning to the specific context of a music curriculum. Providing suggestions of what progression is, and how it can be achieved through the effective sequencing of learning. The session will take account those recent changes in inspection practice which focus more specifically on the quality of the curriculum.

Assessment for Learning in the Music Curriculum - The session will follow through the principles of good planning for progression and to consider how assessment should be used to support learning in the music curriculum. Participants will have opportunity to share their own assessment practice during the session.

This table shows the dates.
Date	Time	Title
Monday 14 June 2021	4.30pm	Planning and Progression in the Music Curriculum EY and KS1
Tuesday 15 June 2021	4.30pm	Musical Progression in SEND settings
Thursday 24 June 2021	4.30pm	Planning and Progression in the Music Curriculum KS2
Tuesday 29 June 2021	4.30pm	Planning and Progression in the Music Curriculum KS3
Wednesday 30 June 2021	4.30pm	Assessment for learning in the Music Curriculum KS1 and KS2
Thursday 8 July 2021	4.30pm	Assessment for learning in the Music Curriculum KS3

To book your space please email musicservice@entrust-ed.co.uk.

For up to date information about our events and future network meetings please go to our Facebook page.

Soundpots online early years conference: 17 June 2021

Soundpots is an award winning and ambitious programme of Early Years music delivery and training. To date the project has worked with thousands of children and provided training and mentoring to hundreds of Early Years practitioners.

The conference has key speakers, along with lots of practical ideas for you to take away and use in your settings.

The cost is £35.00 per educational setting.

Download the Soundpots early years conference leaflet.

To book a place please email info@make-some-noise.com giving your name, setting name and email address.

For up to date information about our events and future network meetings please go to our Facebook page.

30 days wild: June 2021

The Wildlife Trusts are challenging everyone to do one wild thing a day throughout the month of June. Each day your random act of being wild can be small, or big… it doesn’t matter as long as it is wild!

Signup is free (though you can make a donation to cover the cost of your pack, if you wish) and can be done for you, your family or an early years or education setting.

When you sign up, you’ll get a free pack of goodies to help plan your wild month, plus lots of ideas to inspire you to stay wild all throughout June (and beyond!) These include things like finding an insect or creating a lovely collage with materials found outside.

For more information, and to signup, visit the Wildlife Trusts website.

Last minute places: Newly designated safeguarding leads two day training

Four places have become available on the newly designated safeguarding leads two day training, running immediately after half term. Please act quickly to secure a place!

The course will take place on the 9 June 2021 and 10 June 2021, and will be the last time this course runs between now and the Autumn term.

To book, please email at completed booking form to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk by 2pm on Friday 28 May 2021.

CPD courses for school staff, senior leaders and governors

With the exception of ‘essential training’ (MAPA and Safeguarding) all courses continue to be delivered online using Microsoft Teams. We hope to move towards a more blended approach as the restrictions around Covid 19 are eased, and when it is safe to do so. Online courses continue to be charged at a lower rate to reflect savings made by not using external venues.

Details of all of our courses can be viewed in the CPD Booklet - available on the Telford Education Services website.

This table shows the CPD courses.
Course	Date(s)	Times
Assessment - termly update - morning (CPD 502)	Tuesday 8 June 2021	9.15am to 10.45am
Assessment - termly update – twilight (CPD 503)	Tuesday 8 June 2021	4.pm to 5.30pm
Dealing with Racist Incidents Training (book via email)	Tuesday 8 June 2021	6.pm to 7.30pm
Racist Incident Reporting System (IRIS) training (book via email)	Tuesday 8 June 2021	1.30pm to 3pm
Governors Responsibilities for SEND (LSAT 212)	Wednesday 9 June 2021	5pm to 7pm
Newly Appointed Designated Safeguarding Leads' Training (SG 102)	Wednesday 9 & Thursday 10 June 2021	9.15am to 3.30pm
SEND: Building Capacity in your school (LSAT 403)	Wednesday 9 June 2021	9.15am to 3.30pm
Meeting the OFSTED requirements for British Values and Cultural Diversity in the primary school (CPD 718)	Wednesday 9 June 2021	1.15pm to 4pm
The New Appropriate Body Package 2021-22 (book via email)	Wednesday 9 June 2021	4pm to 5pm
Induction Training for New Governors (GO 502)	Thursday 10 June 2021	9.30am to 3.30pm
The role of the Early Years Practitioner in supporting and enhancing play (EY 008)	Thursday 10 June 2021	1.15pm to 4pm
SENCO Network Meeting (LSAT 227)	Thursday 10 June 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
Governors' Understanding Of The Revised EYFS Framework – Briefing (book via email)	Monday 14 June 2021	5.30pm to 7pm
Identifying Racist Incidents Training- Primary, Special and Secondary schools (book via email)	Monday 14 June 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
Induction & NQT mentor network and update (CPD 516)	Tuesday 15 June 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
Bright Ideas and Inspiration for your breakfast, holiday and out of school provision (EY 303)	Tuesday 15 June 2021	9.15am to 12noon
Awareness Raising of Emotion Coaching (PSS 0041)	Wednesday 16 June 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
EAL Network Meeting (CPD 526)	Wednesday 16 June 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
EYFS: Areas of Learning and Devlopment, Session 1: Personal, Social and Emotional Development (EY 308)	Wednesday 16 June 2021	1pm to 2.30pm
EYFS: Areas of Learning and Devlopment, Session 1: Personal, Social and Emotional Development (EY 309)	Wednesday 16 June 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
Early Career Framework - Briefing for Governors (book via email)	Wednesday 16 June 2021	6.00pm to 7pm
Primary ICT Coordinators' Update (CPD 512)	Thursday 17 June 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
Raising Awareness of Child Protection (SG 108)	Thursday 17 June 2021	9.30am to 11am
Developing a Communication Friendly environment in the EYFS (EY 307)	Thursday 17 June 2021	9.15am to 12noon
Understanding Nurture (PSS 101)	Thursday 17 June 2021	9.15am to 12noon
Primary Science and Design & Technology Subject Leaders' termly update and development meeting (CPD 517)	Thursday 17 June 2021	2pm to 5.15pm
Identifying Racist Incidents Training (book via email)	Monday 21 June 2021	6pm to 7.30pm
Newly Qualified Teacher Development Group: Supporting and Accelerating your Progression (CPD 522)	Tuesday 22 June 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
Teaching children with SEND - meeting the need (LSAT 508)	Wednesday 23 June 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
Early Years Coordinators' Update (EY 007)	Wednesday 23 June 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
Governors' Responsibilities for Exclusions (SG 104)	Wednesday 23 June 2021	5pm to 7pm
Cover Supervisors - preparing for the role (PSS 010)	Tuesday 29 June 2021	1.15pm to 4pm
Meeting the OFSTED requirements for Equalities and Diversity in the secondary school (CPD 719)	Tuesday 29 June 2021	1.15pm to 4pm
EYFS: Areas of Learning and Development, Session 2: Communication and Language Development (EY 308)	Tuesday 29 June 2021	1pm to 2.30pm
EYFS: Areas of Learning and Development, Session 2: Communication and Language Development (EY 309)	Tuesday 29 June 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
Designated Safeguarding Leads' and Safeguarding Governors' Termly Update (SG 106)	Wednesday 30 June 2021	4pm to 5.30pm
Recently Qualified Teacher 38Development Programme – Primary (CPD 507)	Wednesday 30 June 2021	4pm to 5.30pm

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 can be booked by sending your email address name and school name to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk.

Priorslee multi-academy trust launch completion to find a new name

Priorslee multi-academy trust are launching a competition for pupils, parents, staff, and the community as a whole, to come up with a new name for the trust. They are keen to hear local suggestions, and entrants are free to come up with as many ideas as they would like.

A new name is sought for the trust to reflect that all schools within it are equal partners, and they would like it to reflect their vision, ethos and aspirations. All reasonable suggestions are welcome; it could be a word which reflects the existing ethos or aims, the name of someone inspirational from the area or a link to a local geographical feature. It might be something else entirely, that you think fits the trust!

The directors of the trust will select the top three entries, and the children at Buildwas and Priorslee will vote to select the winner.

Now that we are able to enjoy a meal with families and friends (observing government guidelines) a prize of a family meal for four at The Priorslee (Flaming Grill) is on offer, up to the value of £100.

You can a download the letter, written about the competition by the trust, for more information. Entries can be made by using the Google form, by 5pm on Friday 11 June 2021.

This entry was posted by Claire on Wednesday, 26 May 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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