WE2 An empowering curriculum
Focus on Mental Health - support for schools, parents and students
Mental Health Awareness Week - free resources for schools to promote positive body image
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (13 - 19 May). Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, this year's campaign has focused on body image and the direct impact that this can have on everyone's health and wellbeing.
Warwickshire School Health and Wellbeing Service would like to encourage schools to shine a spotlight on this important issue with students.
The Public Health England website has some excellent resources for schools to use to explore what body image is, how social media can impact it and ways to reduce stress or anxiety.
Free drop-in sessions for parents and carers to support young people with mental health issues
A number of free sessions are being run across the county for parents and carers of children and young people dealing with mental health issues. Please follow the links below for further information including more about what each session will cover, venues and times.
Free sessions to help children deal with challenging behaviour and self-harm in North Warwickshire - 3 June
Free sessions to help children deal with school refusal and mental health issues in Rugby - 6 June
Free sessions to help children develop healthy emotions in Leamington - 13 June
Free sessions to help young people deal with self-harm and mental health issues in Alcester - 17 June
Free Mental Health training opportunities for schools
South Warwickshire Foundation Trust are running a number of free Mental Health First Aid Courses in conjunction with Coventry University.
Participants will gain a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Champion qualification at the end of the one-day course, meaning they'll have an understanding of common mental health issues, the ability to spot signs of mental ill health and skills to support positive wellbeing. Various dates are available during May, June and July. Read more
Free training for secondary schools
Every state secondary school in England is entitled to one free place on a Youth MHFA one-day course through the Youth MHFA in Schools programme. The MHFA website has more information.
Mental health services for young people
The WCC website provides a wide range of information on mental health services for young people including the services able to support them and how these can be accessed. Please do share the link to this page with your staff, pupils and families wherever you can.
Year of Wellbeing
In Coventry and Warwickshire we are working throughout our Year of Wellbeing 2019 to inspire and empower people to make changes that will improve their wellbeing, and the wellbeing of people around them.
For more information visit www.yearofwellbeing.org which lists some useful resources and information about wellbeing, including a ‘Boost your wellbeing’ Warwickshire poster to help signpost people to free local services. This might be useful for staff and teachers in schools and parents/guardians.
Consultation on Fair Access Protocol for primary and secondary schools
Each local authority is required to have in place a Fair Access Protocol (FAP) agreed with the majority of schools in its area (School and Standards Framework Act 1998).
The purpose of the protocol is to ensure that, outside the normal admissions round, unplaced children, especially the most vulnerable, are offered a place at a suitable school as quickly as possible. The protocol also seeks to ensure that no school – including those with available places – is asked to take a disproportionate number of children who have been excluded from other schools, or who have challenging behaviour.
A consultation was launched last week on the draft Fair Access Protocol for 2019/2020 and all primary and secondary schools in Warwickshire should have received a copy of this document by email, along with instructions on how to respond.
In order for this protocol to be adopted, the majority of schools will need to agree to its implementation so it is important that ALL schools respond to the consultation (with the exception of special schools who are not covered by the protocol).
The consultation will run from 2 May until 5.30pm on Friday 7 June.
Please ensure you complete the online form (link provided in the email sent last week) to acknowledge that you have received a copy of the protocol and to confirm whether you agree with its implementation from 1 September 2019. There is space on the form for you to add comments and we encourage you to provide any feedback so that this can be addressed throughout the consultation period.
Following the consultation, the next step will be to present the responses and protocol to Cabinet on 11 July.
For any queries or concerns please contact Cheryl Wild, Lead Officer for In-Year Admissions and Fair Access on 01926 742061, 07825 842500 or email cherylwild@warwickshire.gov.uk.
Help to shape Warwickshire's vision for Early Help
As some of you may already know, Marina Kitchen has recently been appointed to a newly created post within Warwickshire County Council which brings together the work of Early Help and Targeted Support services, the MASH and Assessment and Intervention (now known as Initial Response) into one portfolio.
Following her successful appointment, Marina is keen to engage with as many schools, as well as other partners and stakeholders, as possible to help shape provision for Early Help across Warwickshire.
Multiple events will be taking place across the county in June, based in the five districts, with the aim of bringing together all key internal stakeholders and external partners to discuss the vision of Early Help across Warwickshire. The events are an excellent opportunity to share your experiences and suggestions on how the whole system of Early Help, which includes the Family Information Service, MASH and Initial Response, can be improved.
Input from schools is crucial and we would encourage as many headteachers, Designated Safeguarding Leads and SENCos as possible to attend one of these events. You can attend the event that is being held in your particular area of Warwickshire, or if you work countywide you are welcome to attend multiple events in different locations should you wish.
We would really value the opportunity to work with you at these events and look forward to your attendance.
For further information and to book please follow the link to the Eventbrite page for your area below:
Latest updates for RE subject leaders
Don't miss the latest RE Bulletin which includes a whole host of useful updates, resources and training/CPD opportunities for RE subject leaders and coordinators in Warwickshire.
RE Bulletin - Summer Term 2019
RE Network Meeting - 23 May, 4.30-6pm at North Leamington School
The theme for this term's session is 'RE and the Arts' and will focus on sharing RE learning opportunities linked with poetry, writing, art and drama. Louisa Brown, deputy Head Teacher from Knightlow CE Primary, will talk about her experiences of using the arts in RE.
The session will largely be suitable for primary and special schools but ideas could be adapted for secondary.
This is a FREE network for Warwickshire and Coventry teachers of RE.
There is still time to book your place by emailing sacre@warwickshire.gov.uk
Free Child Safety Week resource packs for Reception classes
This year’s Child Safety Week takes place between Monday 3rd and Sunday 9th June, with the theme around Family life today: where’s the risk? The aim is to highlight the new dangers facing families from our modern lifestyles and to offer simple solutions to keep children safe. This week is organised by the Child Accident Prevention Trust.
In support of this campaign, Warwickshire’s Public Health will be sending all Reception year groups across the county, free ‘Staying safe with Sam’ educational resource packs.
The resource packs are designed to engage children in learning, support early reading and writing, enhance children’s understanding of safety concepts and engage parents and carers in their child’s education. They include:
- ‘Staying safe with Sam’ – story book (A3) designed for classroom use
- Teacher’s handbook – includes links to the EYFS curriculum, lesson plans and ideas for extension activities
- Posters for display
- Parent/carer packs – includes ‘Staying safe with Sam’ story book, facts for families and further activities for children to complete at home to reinforce learning
With accidental poisoning being one of the most common reasons for children under five being admitted to hospital or being hurt, the resource pack aims to help children stay safe around laundry and cleaning products.
The educational resource packs will be distributed to all schools before the half term school holiday, by Friday 24 May.
You can find more information, including a free action pack and top tips for engaging with parents and carers on the Child Accident Prevention Trust website.
Please contact jackiekerby@warwickshire.gov.uk for further information or with any queries.
Primary school pupils vote to take on the Daily Mile
Coten End Primary School will be taking on the Daily Mile following a democratic vote in April as part of Warwickshire’s Year of Wellbeing.
The conscientious youngsters held a whole-school debate on whether to introduce a new initiative promoting exercise to their curriculum.
The debate took place during assembly time and was attended by a number of special guest speakers as well as the pupils, who range from Year 1 to Year 6. The subject up for debate was whether the school should introduce The Daily Mile initiative as a way to increase physical activity, or if they should choose a different way to improve activity levels.
Read the full article on WCC News
Training available from the Specialist Teaching Service
Maths Learning Difficulties – Exploring successful support strategies
21 May 2019, 1pm to 4pm, Pound Lane, Leamington, CV32 7RT
Course description: This training explores the different factors that can affect a child’s maths development and outlines theory and research. There will be opportunities to look at the importance of concrete apparatus and visual approaches to support the learner’s understanding of mathematical concepts. This will be an opportunity to refresh your knowledge of the use of Numicon and other resources.
Aimed at: TAs, LSA, Teachers and SENCos who wish to explore maths difficulties further in the Primary Phase.
Click here for more information.
Inference Training
21 May 2019, 9.30am to 4pm at Pound Lane, Leamington, CV32 7RT
Course description: Inference training is a group intervention for pupils in KS2 and KS3 who decode adequately but fail to get full meaning and enjoyment from their reading. Evidence suggests one in ten pupils who decode satisfactorily, fail to get full meaning and enjoyment from reading.
Click here for more information.