Don't miss this opportunity to hear key updates on Early Help support

“Early Help refers to all support available to children, young people and families before formal intervention (such as when children are placed on child in need or child protection plans, or taken into the are of the council).

This includes universal services that are designed to improve outcomes for all, such as children’s centres, open access youth services and health visiting.

While early help is led by local authorities, the local offer usually includes the work of a wide range of agencies, including: the health system; schools; the police; and the voluntary and community sector.” The Early Intervention Foundation 2018

The Children & Families team will be launching their renewed approach to Early Help at the Headteachers Conference on 22 October at Stoneleigh Park and they would like to encourage as many of you as possible to join them from 1.15pm – 3.30pm to learn more.

The changes that have been made to Early Help are in support of the safeguarding and wellbeing of children and young people and it aims to make accessing support easier for parents and practitioners too. We are all responsible for Early Help and by working together, we can help all families help themselves. The sooner that a family gets help, the easier the problem will be to solve.

During the afternoon session the Children & Families team will be sharing information about the changes that will be made to Early Help & Targeted Support which will help strengthen locality networks for practitioners and how family support will be made more easily accessible. There will also information shared about changes to the Children & Family Centres and MASH as well as other areas of the "Front Door Services"

John Coleman, Assistant Director for Children & Families Service and Marina Kitchen, Service Manager for Early Help & Targeted Support Services, MASH, EDT & Initial Response will take you through WCC’s new ways of working and restorative practice, recent successes for the Children & Families team, the changes to the services, the new Children and Family Centres and the varying support that is available for practitioners.

The Headteachers Conference is taking place on Tuesday 22 October at Stoneleigh Park from 9am – 3.30pm. The conference is a free CPD and networking opportunity, for information on how to register click here.

Essential Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness training for education providers

Please click on the image below for a larger version of the flyer.

Why become a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities?

Sarah Mellors, Head Teacher of Alcester Academy, shares her experience of becoming a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) and encourages others to consider taking on this rewarding role, both as an excellent professional development opportunity but also to enable more effective collaboration to further improve the life chances of children in Warwickshire with special educational needs.

The role of SLEs in the context of special educational needs and disabilities is growing ever more important as we continue to champion the wide variety of needs that our children have in school either as SENCos or as senior leaders in schools. We know that these children are often extremely vulnerable. They rely upon adults around them who can continue to develop the very best practice:

‘With high aspirations, and the right support, the vast majority of children and young people can go on to achieve successful long-term outcomes in adult life.’  (Special educational needs and disability code of practice:  0 to 25 years, January 2015.)

The information provided by the Department for Education states that: SLEs focus on developing leadership capacity in schools. While other roles focus specifically on developing classroom expertise, this role is about developing the capacity and capability of other leaders so that they have the skills to lead their own teams and improve practice in their own schools.

This may be done through one-to-one or group support and could involve a variety of activities, such as:

• data analysis
• coaching
• facilitating and training or
• joint action planning

As a less experienced leader of special educational needs, I had the privilege of working along side an SLE in my early years as a Warwickshire SENCo. The school budget was tight, and staff generally knew the workload commitment that being a SENCo entailed. I therefore volunteered to take on the role as the existing deputy head teacher.

I found the wealth of knowledge and information shared by my SLE link just invaluable. Within a landscape of legislation, demands for more positive student outcomes and massive parental expectation, I was able to develop the strategy that the school required with an experienced mentor guiding me through this process.  As an SLE now myself, I look forward to being able to share this experience with other colleagues requiring further support. In doing this I strongly believe that we are all working more effectively in collaboration to improve the life chances of the students in our care.  

There is more information available on becoming a Specialist Leader of Education on the Department for Education website here. Equally, you can approach a nearby Teaching School Alliance for further detail. 

You are required to have been in a leadership position for the last two years, other than in the role of headteacher. You can also be from any type or phase of education. Consideration has to be given to any time commitment away from school that this role will bring however there is no minimum or maximum expectation.

In terms of personal growth and professional development, this is a role that can be so rewarding as an SLE but also for the school or individual receiving it.

If you are interested in becoming an SLE in the area of special educational needs and disabilities please contact Jane Carter, Acting Strategy & Commissioning Manager, SEND & Inclusion 0-25: janecarter@warwickshire.gov.uk

Young Poet Laureate 2020 – applications now open!

The search is now on for the county's sixth Young Poet Laureate.

The competition is aimed at budding poets aged 13-17 who are looking to develop their poetry writing skills and are happy to perform their poetry to an audience. As part of their laureateship, the winner will work with Warwickshire Libraries to promote poetry to people across the county.

Warwickshire’s sixth Young Poet Laureate will receive support to develop his/her own writing and performance skills in the form of mentoring by Jasmine Gardosi, an acclaimed performance poet and writer. They will also work with Warwickshire Libraries to promote poetry to people across the county, with an opportunity to perform their own poetry too.

After being selected as Young Poet Laureate in January 2019, Hannah Owens has had a busy year: 

“Being Young Poet Laureate for Warwickshire is an incredible experience and privilege; you are able to meet really interesting people and poets alike and become part of an amazing poetry community in Warwickshire. You also have the opportunity to see how your poetry develops and how you develop as a performer, and with that what you can do to help other people and inspire them to write or read poetry too.”

Application forms can be found online at: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/youngpoetlaureate. Alternatively, application forms can be obtained from your local Warwickshire library.

Schools can use the attached poster to promote the competition with students.

Deadline for applications is 6pm on Monday 11 November 2019.  The shortlist will be announced on Friday 6 December and shortlisted candidates will be invited to perform in front of judges and an audience at a public event on 18 January 2020

Event for children and young people who have experienced bereavement

A number of charities across Coventry and Warwickshire are hosting an event at Coventry Cathedral in November, providing 'a time to talk and time to think' for any child or young person in Warwickshire who has experienced a bereavement.

The event will take place on Saturday 2 November from 2-4pm.

Young people will have the opportunity to join in with crafts and various activities, as well as join a short service at 3.45pm. It is hoped that this annual event will enable children and young people to come together for an afternoon of remembrance and celebration.

Children can often feel very alone in their grief and so it is hoped that this will provide a forum where they can feel supported and able to share their emotions with others.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Please see the attached flyer for more information and share this with anyone in your school who you think may benefit from attending.

Annual Attachment Research Community (ARC) Conference

This year’s conference is being held at BCEC, Birmingham Conference and Events Centre, on Thursday 21 November.

If you are interested in becoming an Attachment Aware School, it will give you a good starting point. For those already on the journey it will provide useful discussion prompts and ideas.

To sign up please visit: https://the-arc.org.uk/events/arc-annual-conference