Celebrating Warwickshire’s Family of Schools

Save the date - Autumn Term 2023 Headteachers' Conference

Save the Date!

Autumn Term 2023 Headteachers' Conference

Thursday 19th October 2023 (timings to be confirmed)

Venue

Stareton Hall, Stoneleigh Park (NAEC), Stoneleigh, Kenilworth, CV8 2LZ

Agenda and calendar invitation to follow shortly.

Consortia Link Officers for 2023-2024

Consortium 1: Nuneaton East and Stockingford	Sharon Kindred
Consortium 2: Bedworth	Leah Adams
Consortium 3: North Warwickshire	Emma Burnell
Consortium 4: Nuneaton Hartshill	Darren Barrow
Consortium 5: Stratford, Henley and Studley	Darren Barrow
Consortium 6: Bidford and Alcester	Darren Barrow
Consortium 7: Kineton and Shipston	Darren Barrow
Consortium 8a: Leamington North	Emma Burnell
Consortium 8b: Leamington South	Emma Burnell
Consortium 9: Warwick and Southam	Sharon Kindred
Consortium 10: Kenilworth	Emma Burnell
Consortium 11: Rugby Town	Debbie Hibberd
Consortium12: Rural Rugby and East	Debbie Hibberd
Consortium 13: Nursery Schools	Sharon Kindred
Northern Area Secondary Heads and College Leaders	Leah Adams
Rugby Area Secondary Education	Leah Adams
South Warwickshire Education Partnership	Leah Adams
Central Area Secondary Heads	Leah Adams

Working together to improve school attendance

1. Promoting strong attendance message from the DfE

A new school year marks a fresh start for children to reconnect with friends and it’s a chance to reset their patterns of behaviour, including attendance.
Every professional adult and parent that interacts with a child plays an integral part in supporting children back to school.
The first days matter. Last year, of those absent for at least one day in this period, 55% went on to be persistently absent.
Reshare the guidance on good attendance practices such as Is my child too ill for school?to aid in making judgements about mild illness or how to seek support with attendance challenges. The Chief Medical Officer and other health leaders have just written to schools on this, and their letter can be shared with parents to reinforce the messages.

2. Access improved monitor your school attendance data reports to support the return to school

The only 21 schools in Warwickshire have yet to sign up to the DfE data sharing system Wonde. Those that have can now access new and improved attendance reports. The tool helps support schools, trusts and local authorities analyse attendance patterns and target support for the return to school period.

What’s new?

· indicators for termly trends in attendance

· data visualisations for quick trend insight

· weekly view of pupil attendance

· pupil attendance codes from the start of the academic year improved loading times

· fixes to some data quality issues.

To share, log in to your Wonde portal and accept the request. Sharing data is voluntary. Read our data collection principles.

Please agree to share child in need (CiN), child protection plan (CPP) and pupil leaving date, even if you do not record these in your management information system (MIS). To agree, log in to your Wonde portal.

Reminders

3. Letter to school leaders on mild illness and school attendance

On 5^th September 2023, the DfE issued a letter to school leaders providing guidance written by the Chief Medical Officer, Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal Society for Public Health and Royal College of Psychiatrists.

The main points of the guidance are:

It is usually appropriate for parents and carers to send their children to school with mild respiratory illnesses. This would include general cold symptoms: a minor cough, runny nose or sore throat. However, children should not be sent to school if they have a temperature of 38°C or above
Schools are encouraged to share the NHS ‘Is my child too ill for school?’ guidance with parents and carers in your schools and communities which has further information.
More children may be absent from school due to symptoms of anxiety than before the pandemic. Worry and mild or moderate anxiety, whilst sometimes difficult emotions, can be a normal part of growing up for many children and young people. Being in school can often help alleviate the underlying issues. A prolonged period of absence is likely to heighten a child’s anxiety about attending in the future, rather than reduce it.
DfE has published useful guidance on mental health issues affecting a pupil’s attendance and those who are experiencing persistent symptoms can be encouraged to access additional support.
As we head into winter, encouraging high uptake of seasonal flu vaccination and routine immunisations for eligible children and young people will help to reduce absences and the disruption they cause.
The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) recently approved 5 principles to promote school attendance. This should support GPs in having sensitive and reassuring conversations with parents, carers and pupils.

4. RAAC and school attendance

Schools that have RAAC will experience additional attendance related challenges. Although we don’t yet know the full picture, a relatively small number of schools in Warwickshire have so far been identified. The general rule is to follow the standard attendance procedures. Effected schools can contact the Attendance Service on the details below should they require specific support.

5. CME and EHE

We are currently reviewing and updating the CME/EHE processes and procedures. In the meantime, please continue to follow the current guidance. If your school has a named Education Casework Officer from the Attendance Service, then please discuss any children who you are concerned may be CME or have suggested they may withdraw for EHE, prior to a referral to the CME/EHE department.

6. School Attendance Self- Evaluation Framework

All maintained schools across the county should have received the attendance self-evaluation framework. This is the first stage in the free at the point of access offer to all schools by the local authority under Working together to improve school attendance. Please do return your SEF at the earliest opportunity, following receipt of the document your school will be linked with an Education Casework Officer who will then offer you the opportunity to have a termly targeted support meeting.

Academy schools will soon start receiving their attendance self-evaluation framework. Once you receive yours, please complete as soon as possible.

Contact Us:

If you wish to discuss any issues relating to school attendance, please contact your named worker if you have one. Alternatively, please feel free to contact the Warwickshire Attendance Service and we will get back to you:

was@warwickshire.gov.uk

Statutory School Census – 2023/24 Academic Year

The statutory school census dates of the 2023/24 academic year are as follows:

Census Day

Autumn Thu 5th Oct

Spring Thu 18th Jan

Summer Thu 16th May

We ask that all maintained schools submit their return to the LA, via the School Upload System, by the end of the following day i.e. Autumn 23 census by Friday 6^th October.

Data collected via these returns are used by the DFE for funding purposes, to support strategic objectives and to inform policy decisions.

The autumn school census will be used to fund the schools block of the dedicated schools grant and the pupil premium.

It is therefore vitally important that you are satisfied with the accuracy of your schools’ return before submitting it, and that it is returned by the prescribed deadlines.

Prior to each census ICT Development Service will up-load census documentation to the Warwickshire Learning Platform (WeLearn365) which can be found at: http://bit.ly/midaspages and on the download site http://wsd.we-learn.com/downloads. These will assist you in preparing and running your census returns.

If you have any technical queries regarding the SIMS system and generating the return, please contact the ICT Development Service Desk on (01926) 414100.

If you have any other questions about this data collection, please contact Michelle Ali, Business Intelligence on 01926 742169 or by e-mail businessintelligence@warwickshire.gov.uk

Thank you for your continued support with these collections.

WSLS Autumn Newsletter Primary Schools 2023

Please download here a pdf version of the newsletter.

WSLS Autumn Newsletter Secondary Schools 2023

Please download here a pdf version of the newsletter.

Last chance to register for Leadership NPQs before 21st Sept!

Last chance to register for Specialist NPQs before 21st Sept!

Little Sutton English Hub, Free CPD - Supporting Early Language Development Programme

A poster of a child and a computer

Description automatically generated Little Sutton English Hub is now taking bookings for an exciting new FREE CPD opportunity for early years and KS1 practitioners.

This six-session course entitled ‘Supporting Early Language Development’ is designed to equip teachers and leaders with a practical pedagogical understanding of typical language development and how to support pupils who are struggling with language acquisition.

As you are aware, the development of early language is a crucial pillar of a child’s personal growth. However, according to research by Speech and Language UK, at least 1.7 million children in this country are behind with talking and understanding of words. Wider research and data confirm this picture. The percentage of pupils formally identified as having a primary special need in speech, language and communication is steadily rising - up to 22.5% in 2021, compared with 18.8% in 2015.

The course is primarily aimed at EYFS and KS1 practitioners such as early years leads, English leads, and SENDCO. Staff members will take responsibility for the cascading of training within their school. Each session will explore a different issue and it is expected that delegates will attend ALL sessions, so please ensure availability prior to booking.

Session dates are as follows:

Session 1	What is language and how it is developed?	09:15-11:45	17th October 2023
Session 2	Supporting Talk in Schools	13:00-15:30	7th December 2023
Session 3	Teaching words and making them stick	09:15-11:45	30th January 2024
Session 4	Identifying and Supporting speech, language and communication needs	13:00-15:30	12th March 2024
Session 5	Making Change: Sustaining Change	09:15-11:45	23rd May 2024
Session 6	Sharing the School Improvement Journey	13:00-15:30	9th July 2024

Online Cyber Prevent Information Sessions

AI Conference, Rugby School, 6 October

Rugby School is hosting a conference, in partnership with Graydin Coaching, to discuss the profound impact and potential of AI, understand its implications, and work together to amplify the importance of human connection in teaching. AI may look like a monster; we – especially teachers - need to learn to treat it as a useful tool.

Sir Anthony Seldon and Seth Godin (via satellite) are the keynote speakers. Discussions will be led by Laura Knight, Head of Digital Learning at Berkhamsted (who sets the tone by describing leadership in the AI era as ‘about creating the conditions in which humans can thrive in a symbiotic relationship with machines’), and workshops will look at AI and humanity from a number of different angles.

Attached to each ticket will be a questionnaire for delegates to complete with their students before 6 October. At the start of the conference, Justin Muston (Rugby’s Head of Staff & Student Formation) and Laura Knight will share those collected responses with speakers and delegates so that the student voice will be considered throughout the day.

This is not a sit-and-listen conference; it will be dynamic and inclusive with contributions encouraged from all delegates. A summary of the day will be circulated widely which we hope will stimulate wider debate.

Resonance in Education: Amplifying the Magic of Humanity in the AI Era

Friday 6 October, 1000 – 1600, Rugby School, £75 (to cover costs, no profit)

For further details please contact Justin Muston at jdm@rugbschool.net

To register, please go to: https://www.graydin.com/resonance-in-education

Heads Up 15 September 2023