Dear Colleagues,
Next week is the Autumn Term Headteacher Conference and I look forward to meeting colleagues there. The agenda looks stimulating and useful, with a range of speakers including the chance to hear about the experience and good practice taking place in some Warwickshire Schools. This week we had a meeting of Warwickshire's Education Challenge Board which reviewed this summer's performance. Some great overall results for Warwickshire which you can all be proud of. What continues to be an area of focus is the performance for children vulnerable to poor outcomes and this conference provides an opportunity to consider a range of approaches and initiatives that can bring benefits to practice and for the children themselves.
On a different and individual note, last month saw a change in our Early Years Team. And whilst we were sad to see Amanda King leave us as our Lead Commissioner for Early Years Quality, Standards & Safeguarding, it is not quite goodbye as Amanda will continue to work with us as an Early Years Consultant and School Improvement Partner. Amanda has worked for Warwickshire for almost 20 years in different roles and so we are pleased to retain her skills and experience whilst sharing her with some of our counterparts across the region. During her time with us as Lead Commissioner, Amanda’s expertise and knowledge has been pivotal in providing the support and leadership across our Early Years Providers in Warwickshire, but also in being able to represent us and provide advice at a national level. She has also been a valued colleague and friend to many who she worked with. Amanda, we know you didn’t want too much of a fanfare as you move into this new phase of your career, but we were keen to make sure that we say thank you on behalf of the sector for all that you have and continue to do.
And to confirm, though you will already know, Darren Barrow continues with Warwickshire, after last term's announcement that he was going to dip his toe in other waters.
I look forward to seeing colleagues at the conference.
Best wishes
Chris Baird
Interim Assistant Director for Education Services.