I hope you all had a good Easter break and managed to find some time to rest.  Welcome back to what must be one of the shortest half terms on record, with only 18 working days and so much to squeeze in!  I would like to introduce the leadership arrangements within Education Services for this term and to update you regarding a few key matters.

We said a fond 'farewell' to Paul Senior last week.  We are immensely grateful for the strong support and leadership Paul has provided over the last six months and wish him well with his next venture.  Ian Budd took up his post as the new Assistant Director, Education Services on 1 April.  Unfortunately, Ian is currently unwell so will not be with us for the next few weeks.  We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to him rejoining us soon.  In the interim, with the support of fellow Senior and Extended Leadership Team members, I will be the main point of contact for Education Services.  Mark Ryder, Strategic Director for Communities, will provide additional strategic support during this period where needs arise.  It will continue to be business as usual for the work of the education department along with our teams and all personnel during this period.

From 1 May, there will be some changes within our senior leadership structure as part of the wider transformations across the Council to embed our new operating model. This will ensure we are in the best shape possible to meet the challenges of the future and that we are getting the best from the resources available to us. 

I am delighted to confirm that my new role will be that of Strategy and Commissioning Manager for Education and Early Years.  This role will be a combination of those areas I previously had responsibility for (school improvement, area behaviour partnerships/alternative provision, the Virtual School, children missing education/elective home education, statutory assessment, NQTs, education safeguarding), plus school and early years sufficiency, early years strategy and quality, school admissions policy, home to school transport (mainstream) and education entertainment and licensing.  I am extremely lucky to have a very strong team of professionals to support with all of these areas.  

Amanda King will continue as Strategic Lead for Early Years, Marie Rooney as Strategic Lead for Alternative Provision and during the summer term John Edwards will continue to provide interim support for targeted work streams, particularly those relating to his previous areas of responsibility. 

Jane Carter will continue in the interim to lead the existing SEND and Inclusion Teams: Integrated Disability Service, Specialist Teaching Service, Ethnic Minority & Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS), Flexible Learning, SEND Assessment & Review, Educational Psychology and SEND Board Development. In addition, the Children with Disabilities Social Care team and SEND Transport will be moving across to this area.  A recruitment process will be taking place this term in order to appoint a permanent post holder for the role of Strategy and Commissioning Manager for SEND 0-25.

All of our traded services will sit within a new Education Service Delivery team, I am pleased that Sarah Tregaskis has been appointed as Interim Service Manager for the duration of the summer term pending the appointment of a permanent post holder. This team will include Adult and Community Learning, Warwickshire Music, Marle Hall, education psychology (trading), admissions 11+ (trading), Warwickshire attendance service, EMTAS (trading), governor services, education safeguarding (trading), primary assessment and moderation training and NEETs.  A number of services within this portfolio will be subject to matrix management arrangements with my portfolio.

Members of our senior leadership team are in regular, close contact in order to ensure a smooth transition into the new structure and to provide schools and settings with high quality service support.  Sarah Pratt will continue to provide PA support to Sarah Tregaskis, John Edwards and myself.  Michelle Sherwood will continue as PA to Ian Budd and will support Sarah Pratt during Ian's absence.

One final 'heads up' from me.  Building on the success of last term's headteacher conference, I hope you will join us on the morning of Wednesday 12 June for this term's conference, again at Stoneleigh Park, where we will have a focus upon ethical leadership. We will hear from Carolyn Roberts, Chair of the national Ethical Leadership Commission and James McNeillie, Ofsted Regional Assistant Director, will also be joining us to provide an update.

Have a great half term! 

Best wishes,