The power of community - supporting quality and improvement in the early years

In the summer term 2019, Warwickshire County Council, in partnership with the Warwickshire Teaching School Alliance (WTSA), launched the first of five Early Years Aspiration Networks, with another six being rolled out last autumn and the remaining three set to take off in spring 2020 (14 in total).

The networks provide an opportunity for practitioners working with children aged birth to five in both mainstream and PVI schools and settings to come together on a regular basis to support workforce development, share good practice and lead quality improvement across the early years sector in Warwickshire.

One of the first networks to launch was the Bedworth Aspiration Network, which is already growing and fast becoming a positive early years community support, helping to build skills and knowledge and foster positive working relationships.

Jane Harris, Assistant Headteacher and Reception teacher at Wheelwright Lane Primary School, leads the Bedworth group and has worked with Amanda King and Michelle Hutton from the WTSA unpicking the data to determine the key areas where further support could be given to help raise the teaching and learning outcomes for children in the area. Along with this, input from the network group members has helped to shape an annual plan, which includes training for educators in the locality.  

At the outset, one of the key priority areas highlighted by members was support for children with SEND; with the growing numbers of children being identified with additional needs it is becoming ever more important to be able to identify the signs and provide the right support as early in a child's education as possible.  As a result, earlier this year an event was held at Bedworth Heath Nursery School to give practitioners the opportunity to learn what others are doing to support children with SEND in their settings. 

At the event, the 23 attendees (from PVI, mainstream nursery and school reception settings):

• received guidance on how to apply for the WIncKS award (Warwickshire Inclusion Kitemarking Scheme) which recognises and celebrates high quality SEND provision in Warwickshire’s pre-school settings;
• took part in a sensory processing workshop and a communication in print workshop, fully supported by the Integrated Disability Service (IDS) team;
• were given strategies, ideas and skills from the Bedworth Heath Nursery staff that have been embedded into the school from the continuous support that is provided by IDS.

The meeting was such an excellent example of the power of community and the importance of sharing the knowledge and skills that we have in our settings, of which there is plenty.

The potential for improvement just by sharing this learning across our family of schools is huge - not to mention free - and it is hoped that with the introduction of the Aspiration Networks across the county that this will increase opportunities for all early years educators to learn from each other, build on some already excellent practice and ultimately help all young children in Warwickshire to achieve their potential. 

For details of the Aspiration Network Leads for each area please see this list which also includes contact details of consortium leads.

If you would like any further information about the Early Years Aspiration Networks please contact Michelle Hutton, WTSA Coordinator at Hutton.m2@welearn365.com

Five big questions for under 5s

The Duchess of Cambridge has launched a UK-wide survey to help improve early childhood.

The five-question survey is being conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of The Royal Foundation and aims to spark a national conversation on early childhood and bring about positive, lasting change for generations to come.

Adults over the age of 16, organisations and businesses are all being encouraged to fill in the survey that aims to gather first hand experiences of parents, families and carers and provide vital information to influence the future direction of the early years sector.

The survey can be found here.

Latest update: Wuhan Coronavirus

Current situation

We would like to share the following information with you about the current situation regarding the novel Coronavirus originating from China.

There are now nine patients in England who have tested positive for Coronavirus to date, none of whom are in the West Midlands region. Of the remaining 2512 tests that have been undertaken in the UK to date, all have been confirmed as negative. 

The risk to individuals in the UK remains low.

Key advice for returning travellers

Detailed information and advice for the public can be found here (this is regularly updated).

It is now recommended that all travellers who have symptoms of cough or fever or shortness of breath, however mild, within 14 days of returning from China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, should self-isolate at home immediately and call NHS 111.

However, if you have specifically returned from Wuhan or Hubei province in the last 14 days, please follow this advice even if you do not have symptoms of the virus:

• stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with other flu viruses
• call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the city

Travel advice

Current advice is against all travel to Hubei province, and all but essential travel to the rest of mainland China (with the exception of Hong Kong and Macao). British nationals are also now advised to leave China if they are able.

Updated travel advice can be found here (this is regularly updated).

Communications materials, useful guidance & resources

Guidance for professionals advising the public can be found here.

A national campaign has been launched with clear messages for members of the public about the importance of handwashing, and “catch it, bin it, kill it” messages, important not just for Coronavirus, but also other viruses that circulate at this time of year.

Novel Coronavirus resources (including Chinese versions) can be found here.

Transitioning to the new Early Help Pathway - guidance for schools

Free awareness event - County Lines, Cuckooing and Child Exploitation

Warwick District Council will be running an awareness event on 2 March 2020 at the Royal Spa Centre, Leamington around County Lines, Cuckooing and Child Exploitation.

There will be three sessions running throughout the day at 10am, 1pm and 3.30pm. Each session will last approximately 2 ¼ hours.

Event programme

• Introduction: Councillor Falp / Police & Crime Commissioner Seccombe

• Speaker: Sergeant Simon Ryan, Warwickshire Police. Simon will provide an insight into the local issues relating to County Lines and Cuckooing.

• Theatre Production: Loudmouth. Loudmouth have a long history of working on child exploitation (CE) issues including Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and criminal exploitation such as County Lines. This powerful and thought provoking training gives participants an insight into the real experiences of those affected by child exploitation, helping participants to spot signs of grooming and understand how they can help to protect and support children and young people.

• The training uses drama from our long running and successful Working for Marcus education programme and allows participants to really unpick the complexity of the issues in a safe environment. 

• Closing remarks and direction to information stalls

What is County Lines?

'County Lines' is a term used when drug gangs from big cities expand their operations to smaller towns including the Warwick District, often using violence to drive out local dealers and exploiting children and vulnerable people to sell drugs. These dealers will use dedicated mobile phone lines, known as 'deal lines', to take orders from drug users.

What is Cuckooing?

Cuckooing is a practice where people take over a person’s home and use the property to facilitate exploitation. It takes the name from cuckoos who take over the nests of other birds.

What is Child Exploitation?

Child Exploitation (CE) is a type of abuse. When a child or young person is exploited they're given things such as, gifts, drugs, money, status and affection, in exchange for carrying out criminal or sexual activity.

Why should you attend?

County Lines, Cuckooing and CE is happening in the Warwick District and can have a devastating impact on local communities. These sessions will give you the knowledge and support to spot the signs and information on how to report your concerns. 

How do I book?

If you would like to attend one of the sessions please email joepatterson@warwickshire.gov.uk or Jon.Barnett@warwickdc.gov.uk with the time of the session you plan to attend (either 10am, 1pm or 3.30pm).

News from Warwickshire Music Hub

Warwickshire Music Schools Conference - Tuesday 3 March 2020

Theme: High Quality Music Education - Intent, Implementation, Impact!
Venue: Bulkington Village Centre
Time: 9.30am - 3.30pm

Does your music curriculum meet the standards of the new Ofsted Framework?

Would you like to learn more about the impact of instrumental lessons on learning in other curriculum subjects?

Do you need inspiration to kick start your singing strategy?

Are you ready to experience electrifying stomp-style body percussion with Beat Goes On?

If the answer is yes, you need to attend the Warwickshire Music Schools Conference on Tuesday 3rd March!

How to Book

To secure your place, please sign up here

Once you have done this, we would be grateful if you would complete a short questionnaire so that we can plan the perfect day for you.

We look forward to seeing you there!

School musicians shine at Warwickshire Music's winter concerts

Warwickshire Music's annual Winter event, held in north Warwickshire in January, was a fantastic success.

The event consisted of three concerts at Bedworth’s Civic Hall beginning in the early afternoon and continuing well into the evening, showcasing the wealth of talent in the northern area of the county.

Audiences were treated to performances from Dorothy Goodman School, Oakwood Schools Academy, Exhall Grange School, Woodlands School, Nicholas Chamberlaine School, The George Eliot School and Kingsbury School, as well as many of Warwickshire Music’s groups. 

We have received lots of positive feedback about this event and would like to thank all involved.

For more information on Warwickshire Music’s groups and events, please visit warwickshiremusichub.org or email music@warwickshire.gov.uk.

Free training to help parents and teachers keep children safe online

Online Grooming Keeping Your Family Safe is targeted at parents and front line workers to help them to keep children safe online.

The session discusses the ways in which young people can be groomed and radicalised online and discusses various advice, guidance and resources that can help prevent online grooming and keep children safe when using the internet. 

Two different versions of the session are available; one for parents and carers which usually lasts around two hours and can be offered during the evening, and one for teachers which usually lasts 1 hr 30 minutes.

Trainers will come out to schools to deliver sessions for both teachers and parents/carers and will try and accommodate your requests to find a date/time that works for your school. As an example, schools often organise the training session for teachers to be delivered after school (3.45 - 5.15pm), followed immediately by the parent/carers session from 5.30 - 7.30pm. 

For further information or to arrange a session, please contact communitysafety@warwickshire.gov.uk

How independent travel training has given James a new-found sense of independence

In October 2017, Warwickshire County Council began working with Lift Training (part of National Star College) to deliver travel training to students with special educational needs. We have three travel trainers working with students from schools and colleges across the county, with the opportunity for students to obtain an EdExcel qualification at the end of training.

The programme enables young people to develop the skills to travel to and from school or college independently and has proven very popular with 23 students now successfully trained and another three students currently undertaking training. One student who completed the training during the summer term of 2019 was James, his story is below:

If you are a special school (or mainstream school with pupils with an EHCP) and would be interested in taking part in this scheme, please call 07976 231 383 or email lift-warwickshire@nationalstar.org for more information.

Alternatively, please visit the National Star website where more information about the training programme is provided along with an online enquiry form.

Reading to support children's health and wellbeing

Last week (3-9 February) was Children's Mental Health Week and to coincide with this, national charity The Reading Agency, has launched a new Reading Well for Children booklist.

Reading Well for children supports mental health and wellbeing and helps to provide information and advice for children and their families to cope with feelings and worries, daily life and getting through a tough time.

The new booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 but includes titles aimed at a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers.

The national Reading Well books-on-prescription programme also includes booklists for adults and young people aged 13-18 years has been developed and endorsed by leading health partners and is delivered in public libraries.

How Reading Well works

• Teachers, health and social care professionals, or anyone supporting children and families can use the scheme to recommend helpful reading. People can also self-refer via the booklist.
• Copies of the booklist and the books themselves are available to loan from Warwickshire Libraries with collections based in the larger branches. Books can be requested on loan from other libraries if your local one doesn't keep it on the shelves. 

You can find more information, including an overview of the books on the list on the Reading Well website.

For any other queries or information please get in touch with Deborah Hateley, Senior Librarian Priority Groups at Warwickshire Libraries - email deborahhateley@warwickshire.gov.uk

Fully-funded training - Leading a Mentally Healthy School

Funded by the Warwickshire Improving SEND and SEMH in Schools Project (WISSSP)

A two-session fully-funded CPD programme for SLT members to lead their school to become mentally healthy.

The programme aims to enable and empower senior leaders to put mental health at the heart of strategic school improvement and to equip senior leaders with practical and sustainable approaches that can be implemented on return to school.

Various dates and venues are available to book onto, with courses starting early February.

Please note that Kineton and South Warwickshire Session A (Tuesday 11^th February and Monday 16^th February) has been cancelled. We hope to run a replacement session in the summer term in the central area.

Please see the attached flyer for more details.

Book your place using the online registration form.

This training is run in partnership between WCC, The Griffin Teaching School Alliance and Hillmorton Teaching School Alliance.

For any queries please email gwen.temple@lawrencesheriffschool.com

Warwickshire’s Young Poet Laureate 2020 announced

Warwickshire County Council is thrilled to announce that the position of Young Poet Laureate 2020 has been awarded to Ruby Murphy, a pupil from Rugby High School.

This is a unique position giving a young person an opportunity to work with Warwickshire Libraries. The Young Poet Laureate takes part in events and activities across the county under the mentorship of a professional poet – this year, the role is being undertaken by Birmingham-based poet, Jasmine Gardosi.

Ruby was selected from a shortlist of high-calibre candidates during a selection day on 18 January where each candidate was interviewed and performed to an audience of 60 of their friends and families at Rugby Library.

During the day the shortlisted candidates also worked with professional poet Fergus McGonigal. Fergus gave advice on the creative process and tips on how to perform poetry. The audience were also treated to some of his own work, as well as performances by all the shortlisted candidates, the outgoing Young Poet Laureate, Hannah Owens and poet, Jasmine Gardosi.

This was the sixth Young Poet Laureate competition, run by Warwickshire Libraries, and supported by Poetry on Loan, an initiative supported by Arts Council England that promotes contemporary poetry throughout public libraries in the West Midlands.

This year’s short-listed candidates were:

• Niamh Chalmers, Rugby High School
• Ruby Murphy, Rugby High School
• Grace Ridley, King Edward VI School
• Elise Scotney, Rugby High School
• Jolyon Summerfield, Kineton High School
• Shona Whelan, Rugby High School

Also in attendance were the Mayor of Rugby, County Councillor Bill Lewis and representatives from Warwickshire Libraries who presented certificates and prizes to the winner and runners up.

Poetry Slam at Nuneaton Library

In June 2020, Warwickshire Libraries will also be partnering with Warwickshire Schools Library Service, Poetry on Loan, local schools and poets to hold a Poetry Slam at Nuneaton Library. In the run up to the main event, students from the schools involved will join workshops with local poets to write their own poems and develop their performance skills.

If your school is interested in taking part in future activity, please contact schoolslibraryservice@warwickshire.gov.uk for more information. 

Teaching Assistant CPD - Supporting a Mastery Curriculum

Click on the image below for full size version of the flyer

Key national updates

DfE seeking views on new national plan for music education

The DfE has launched a call for evidence, seeking views to inform proposals as it develops a refreshed national plan for music education.

Views are being sought on a variety of areas, including curriculum delivery, SEND and inclusivity, music education hubs and music technology, and more. The survey gives young people the opportunity to share the music opportunities they have had but also poses some questions specifically for headteachers and other school leaders with opportunities to provide examples of good practice. Parents, teachers and music educators are also encouraged to respond. 

Responses can be submitted up until 11.59pm on 13 March 2020.

Read the press release here

View the draft handbook and respond to the consultation here

Extra funding announced to help disadvantaged pupils

Changes to The Key service for school leaders and governors from April 2020

Over the past seven years, the Council has worked with The Key for School Leaders and School Governors to offer Warwickshire schools a significantly discounted membership enabling schools to benefit from the support available from the service. 

However, following an increase in subscription fees by The Key in 2019/20 and a resulting drop in the number of schools subscribing to the service, we have taken the decision to end our current arrangements with The Key effective from April 2020.

Current membership for most Warwickshire schools will end on 31 March 2020, therefore we would advise that if you would like to continue your subscription that you make contact with The Key before this date to renew your membership to avoid a gap in service.  If you are unsure whether you would like to renew and would like more information about pricing then you can also contact The Key directly at enquiries@thekeysupport.com.

The School Bus - an alternative to The Key

School Governor Finance Trainer

Warwickshire Governor Services has a vacancy for a school or academy finance trainer to join their team.

If you have experience within school or academy finance or administration and would be interested in working with school governors throughout Warwickshire to develop their skills, knowledge and experience in all aspects of school finance we would love to hear from you.

Working as part of a small team, the applicant will be expected to build governors’ knowledge to enable them to oversee the financial performance of the organisation and ensure money is well spent.

• The work is varied and includes delivering centre-based training courses and bespoke training to individual governing boards.

• Trainers are paid according to the work undertaken and out of pocket expenses are reimbursed.

Skills and abilities required

• A confident presenter
• A knowledge, experience and understanding of school finance
• The ability to listen and answer questions confidently
• A knowledge of school governance
• Access to a car and a willingness to travel to different venues throughout Warwickshire to deliver training and development courses

If you are interested or if you would like more information, please contact Gurby Dhesi on 01926 745037 or gurbydhesi@warwickshire.gov.uk

Would you like to support and develop governors in Warwickshire?

• Do you have an interest in School Governance?
• Would you like to support and develop governors in Warwickshire?

If the answer to the above is ‘yes’, then we want to hear from you!

Governor Services offer Warwickshire School Governors access to training, support, advice and guidance and to support our increasing service provision, we are looking to strengthen our team of trainers.

Training is a vital part of the development of every governor and clerk and we are looking for people who are interested and/or knowledgeable in School Governance to join our team.

In addition to delivering training and development opportunities our trainers provide focused advice and guidance in specialist areas e.g. finance, health and safety, SEND. 

The work is varied and can include:  

• The delivery of centre based training courses;
• Providing bespoke/tailored training to individual governing boards;
• Analysing the work of governing boards;
• Supporting and advising governing boards of schools facing tough challenges with targeted advice and guidance.

Governors are volunteers but our trainers are paid according to the work undertaken and out of pocket expenses can also be claimed (actual remuneration will be discussed).

Trainers will also receive training, development and support to ensure they are comfortable and confident in their role

Skills and abilities required

• Practical experience in delivering training and development courses / workshops
• A confident presenter
• A knowledge, experience and / or understanding of school governance
• A willingness to learn and develop your own knowledge
• The ability to listen and answer questions confidently
• A willingness to deliver training and development courses throughout venues in Warwickshire and usually in the evenings

Still interested?

Please contact Gurby Dhesi for more information - email gurbydhesi@warwickshire.gov.uk or phone 01926 745137.

Warning to schools not complying with the Baker clause