COVID-19 News and Information
National and local position and advice - January 2022
Please see the updated guidance on the local and national position surrounding Covid 19 on the new revamped webpages.
Advice and guidance for schools
For LFT information see the updated guidance below:
e-Bug IPC teaching resource roll out to schools
e-Bug teaching resources has being sent to all academies and maintained schools across England in January 2022, accompanied by a letter of support from Jenny Harries, CEO of UKHSA.
These resources have been developed by the Primary Care and Interventions Unit within UKHSA, with input from other relevant departments, for use by teachers to inform students aged 3-16 about infection prevention, control, and treatment.
Please see the attached letter for more information about e-Bug Educational Pack.
If you would like to review these resources in advance, you can find these here and will also be able to access these on the new website once this is launched later this month.
Temporary suspension of confirmatory PCR tests in education and childcare settings
Confirmatory PCR testing following a positive result on a lateral flow device (LFD) will be temporarily suspended from today, Tuesday 11 January. This means that for all education and childcare settings, staff and students who have tested (either at home or through ATS) and reported a positive LFD result will no longer be advised to get a confirmatory PCR test.
This change is informed by public health advice. With high COVID-19 rates, the risk of a positive LFD result being false is very small. We therefore don’t need to ask people to do a confirmatory PCR unless they:
- have symptoms (in which case they need to follow the stay at home guidance, self-isolate and order a PCR test)
- wish to claim the Test and Trace Support Payment
- have been advised to take a PCR test because they are in a clinically vulnerable group
- have been advised to do so as part of a research or surveillance programme
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Education and childcare settings are not expected to trace contacts of a positive case as this will remain the responsibility of NHS Test and Trace. From today, Tuesday 11 January, contact tracing is triggered once a positive LFD test is reported.
Students should be strongly encouraged to test twice weekly at home and to report all results to NHS Test and Trace and to their setting. Anyone with a positive LFD test result should self-isolate and follow self-isolation guidance.
Information on the new arrangements can be found in the stay at home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection.
Reporting test results for schools and colleges
Reporting test results every time pupils, students and staff take an LFD test means the NHS always gets the latest, most accurate information. This helps them to keep track of where the virus is spreading, provide support where it is needed and protect local communities across the country.
Please remind your pupils, students and staff of the importance of reporting all tests results (positive, negative and void) to NHS Test and Trace and their setting. Schools and colleges can access a new template form for pupils, students and staff to report test results. Primary schools can access a new template form for staff to report their results. Tests should also be reported online through the report a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result page which should only take a couple of minutes.
It is important to continue with twice weekly LFD testing and reporting. You can access the updated testing toolkit for examples of good practice and for steps you can implement to increase testing and reporting rates in your setting.
Celebrating Warwickshire’s Family of Schools
Headteacher Wellbeing
A message from Margot Brown:
"Dear Colleagues
I am delighted to share with you our updated information about support available for headteacher wellbeing in Warwickshire.
I would like to remind you that we will fund up to three sessions for Warwickshire headteachers with one of our accredited 'Listening Ear' school professional coaches. This is entirely confidential between the Listening Ear and the headteacher seeking coaching support. Details of all our coaches are included in the attached leaflet so that you can read about their experiences and approaches and choose the person right for you. We are delighted to welcome two new Listening Ear coaches to this service, Ian Lowe and Louise Norris, both of whom have extensive coaching experience.
In this latest update I am also pleased to launch our Directory of Peer Coaches. These are experienced Warwickshire leaders who have undertaken coaching training and are available to work with senior leaders in schools who would welcome peer support. This approach differs from the Listening Ears offer in that headteachers/senior leaders will make their own arrangements re number of sessions and costs directly with the Peer Coaches. Again, there is full confidentiality.
The
attached leaflet also includes a variety of other sources of support which could help in different ways and for differing needs.
Don't miss the opportunity to benefit from additional funding to develop mental health initiatives in your setting
The bidding window for applications to the Mental Health Curriculum in Education Settings Grant will close at 5pm on Monday 17 January 2022. There may not be a second opportunity to benefit from this one-off grant so don't miss out!
The Mental Health Curriculum in Education Settings Grant has been made available by Warwickshire County Council for maintained nurseries, schools, academies and colleges in the county to support children and young people through the curriculum to build their resilience and improve their overall sense of positive wellbeing.
There is still time if you haven’t applied yet, with the closing date for applications Monday 17 January 2022. As this is one-off funding there is no guarantee of a second round - this will only happen if all of the funding is not allocated in the first round of bidding, so don’t miss out on this opportunity to benefit from additional resource to support your pupils’ mental wellbeing.
Maintained nurseries, primary and secondary schools, special schools, academies and colleges within Warwickshire are eligible to apply for any amount between £500 and £2,000 per project and should set out how the funding will be used to provide one of the following:
- Training and teaching resources (for example lesson plans, assemblies etc)
- Physical resources (for example models of the brain, yoga mats, wellbeing rooms etc)
- Staff time to be able to develop the resources and timetable
Settings can expect to receive the grant payment by the end of March 2022 and all funding must be spent within 12 months of being awarded. During this time, successful applicants will be required to provide at least two progress updates demonstrating how the funding has been used and its impact.
Applications must be submitted no later than 5pm on Monday 17 January 2022.
For more information about the fund including eligibility criteria and an application form visit: schools.warwickshire.gov.uk/mental-health-curriculum-in-education-settings-grant-funding
Alternatively, for any queries please email mentalwellbeingfunds@warwickshire.gov.uk
Happy New Year from Team Teach Warwickshire
We are pleased to be making good progress in catching schools up with postponed training. We continue to take bookings for refreshers and Level 1, 6 hour initial training.
In the next few weeks those schools who are due to refresh in academic year 22/23 will be receiving reminders of the date and booking details.
After over 20 years of extremely loyal service not only to Warwickshire LA and schools but also to Team Teach Warwickshire Julia Jessup has retired as of 7th January 2022. She will be greatly missed and leaves a legacy of dedicated support and expertise to the staff, children and young people in Warwickshire schools.
Please be reassured that all bookings that have been made via Julia are going ahead as agreed.
Donna Ward, who is an experienced Team Teach tutor within Warwickshire, has taken over the Team Teach Coordinator role. She can be contacted via email at
Teamteach@unitymat.co.uk
Vanessa Gilbert continues as the Strategic Lead for Team Teach Warwickshire and is contactable on the above email address as well at gilbert.v@welearn365.com
Deadline approaches for Reception and Junior School Places
The 15 January deadline for school applications for children due to start school in Reception or move to a Junior School in September 2022 is fast approaching. This applies to children born between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018 for Reception, and any children currently in Year 2 at an infant school who want to move to a junior school.
All applications received by the deadline will receive a school offer on 19 April, which is National Offer Day. Any applications submitted after the 15 January will be much less likely to be offered a place at a preferred school.
Applications should be made online at: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/admissions where parents and carers can also find useful information on school transport, priority school areas and admissions criteria.
FREE CPD for Maths GCSE Resit
Origin Maths Hub are offering teachers from schools and colleges in Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire the opportunity to participate in this free Work Group.
This Work Group is an opportunity for teachers of Post-16 GCSE Mathematics resit to collaborate with others and explore effective ways of teaching key content to GCSE resit students, especially in the context of Covid recovery.
For more click here.
Free professional development for KS3/4 maths teachers and teaching assistants
Origin Maths Hub are offering primary and secondary schools in Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire the opportunity to participate in this free, research and innovation Work Group.
This Work Group is for primary and secondary (key stages 2 and 3) teachers and teaching assistants of mathematics, and will explore what you can do to help children with SEND to engage, overcome barriers and make progress in mathematics.
Each of the six sessions, which start on 11 January 2022, will be followed up with individual support and reflection.
Find out more here.
FREE Opportunity Cross Curricular Collaborative Teaching in Maths and Science
Origin Maths Hub are offering secondary schools in Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire the opportunity to participate in this free Work Group.
This is an opportunity to develop a collaborative approach between mathematics and science teachers and departments within your school, to establish supportive and cohesive methods.
Please find more information here.
Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics - Primary Teachers Programme
Origin Maths Hub are offering primary schools in Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire the opportunity to participate in this free programme.
This programme is an opportunity for primary teachers to enhance and develop their mathematics subject knowledge and pedagogy.
For more information please click here.
National Professional Qualifications - apply now for February start
NEW SUITE OF FULLY FUNDED NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS – APPLY NOW FOR FEBRUARY START
Did you know that the newly revised suite of NPQs are now fully funded by the DfE for all state schools?
Courses available:
Coventry and Central Warwickshire Teaching School Hub are proud to be working with UCL to deliver these courses – more information is on their website.
To apply for a course with us please go to: https://register-national-professional-qualifications.education.gov.uk/ and select UCL as your provider.
Thrive at Work Wellbeing Programme
Thrive at Work is part of the Mental Health & Productivity Pilot (MHPP), it is a fully funded wellbeing programme that is available to West and East Midlands based schools with more than eight employees.
The programme is based on academic research and provides a structured wellbeing toolkit to support employee health and wellbeing in your school.
It is designed to maximise the potential of employees, reduce sickness absence, improve retention, increase resilience and productivity by assisting employers to create a healthier and happier workforce for all.
Thrive at Work has a dedicated Engagement Team, you can get in touch at thriveatwork@wmca.org.uk for more information or to book a virtual meeting
where you can find out more.
Join the first webinar of 2022 on Tuesday 25th January 10:30-11:15am where you can learn more about the Thrive at Work Wellbeing Programme.
Book your place here
For more information: https://www.wmca.org.uk/what-we-do/thrive/thrive-at-work/
Adult learners urged to improve their learning power.
Those looking to learn a new language, progress their current skills or do something they've always dreamed of, are being urged to look at what's on offer through Warwickshire Adult Community Learning (ACL).
ACL provides a high-quality range of accessible courses for adults across the county, which range from functional skills in English and Maths to languages, arts, crafts and so much more. Some of the courses lead to nationally recognised qualifications.
Courses are starting in January 2022 in a variety of subjects and enrolments are open now.
To find out more, visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/2675/adult-learners-urged-to-improve-their-learning-power
What is the Workpays RONI initiative?
Little Sutton English Hub
