Welcome.

Welcome to Heads Up this week.

Supporting an effective transition for pupils with SEND

The National Audit Office Report, published on 5 September 2019, assesses how well pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are being supported. At 39%, Warwickshire has far fewer learners with EHCPs in mainstream secondary schools, compared with 51% in primary schools and 56% nationally.

However, some of our schools have a higher than average number of students with SEND and in particular with EHCPs. One of these schools is Avon Valley School in Rugby, where this year they have had to support around 12 students in their Year 7 cohort with a different model of transition from primary to secondary.  In this edition of Heads Up, headteacher, Alison Davies, shares some of the strategies they have implemented to ensure a smooth transition for these students, showing a positive example of ways in which schools can think creatively to ensure more vulnerable learners are successful.

Headteachers' Conference - 22 October
Please don’t forget that all head teachers are invited to the upcoming Headteachers’ Conference which will take place next Tuesday 22 October at Stareton Hall, Stoneleigh Park from 9am - 3.30pm. The theme of the conference is early help and the Children & Families team will be launching their renewed approach to supporting the safeguarding and wellbeing of children and young people in the afternoon session. You can read more about the conference here  and find the programme here. If you haven’t yet reserved a place, there is still time to do so.  Please get in touch with stephenheight@warwickshire.gov.uk. 

Preparing for Brexit 

With only two weeks left until the UK may leave the EU, we have been seeking to further assure Councillors that we are responding and preparing for Brexit in line with national guidance and local need and that we are well placed to respond effectively to any change in circumstance. 

On Tuesday of this week, a report was taken to Full Council to help prepare for the medium and long term risks, as well as the more immediate risks, and highlighted areas where a ‘no deal’ may result in short term disruptions to service delivery. You can read the full report here. 

In a recent Heads Up, we shared some advice about arrangements for medicines and medical supplies to support pupils with health conditions. To read that advice, please click here. 

For those of you who buy in school meals from Educaterers, we have been assured that they are well prepared and don’t anticipate any disruption to supply – you can read a full statement from Educaterers here, which may also help to reassure parents. Any schools not using Educaterers are advised to seek assurances from their own catering providers if they haven't already done so.

A dedicated page is available on the WCC website to signpost to further guidance and advice, including how to apply for settled-status, so I would encourage you to familiarise yourself with this and check here for any updates.  

If you have any particular concerns then I would be happy for you to send these through to me and we will try and support you wherever we can – please email me at ianbudd@warwickshire.gov.uk.   

With best wishes

Ian Budd

Assistant Director for Education Services