Updates from the DfE

Guidance on Mental Health and Behaviour in schools

DfE guidance for school staff to support pupils whose mental health problems manifest themselves in behaviour has been updated. This now includes:

• information about school responsibilities and how to identify behaviours that may be related to a mental health problem;
• working with other professionals and external agencies and where to find extra support.

Updated Mental Health and Behaviour in schools guidance 

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New assessment for year 4 pupils

All eligible year 4 pupils in maintained schools, special schools and academies will be required to take a new online multiplication tables check from the 2019/20 academic year, subject to parliamentary approval.

School-level results won't be published in the performance tables, but the DfE will report on national and local authority results. 

Schools can take part in the voluntary pilot between 10 and 28 June 2019 to familiarise themselves with the check before it becomes statutory in June 2020.

Read more on the Gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/multiplication-tables-check-development-process

Second application round for Warwickshire Workload Charter

Warwickshire schools are going to be one of the first ones in the country to be able to be recognised for the positive work undertaken in managing teacher workload.

A new initiative which is owned by and developed by yourselves in partnership with the teacher trade unions will allow schools to enable its teaching staff to rate the progress of the school against the following workload areas:

• General working conditions
• Planning and marking expectations
• Data collection and communications
• School policies and access to training

Based on the results of the above survey, schools reaching a 90% threshold will be awarded the Fair Workload Charter Status.   This is a kite mark that can be used in recruitment materials and general communication and promotion of the school.   Given the affects the management of workload is having on schools and staff sickness absence and turnover, and the national focus on this area, this could be a very powerful recruitment and retention tool for your school or academy trust to use to tackle these challenging issues.

The Charter status will last for 24 months from when awarded.  Schools not successful at the first attempt will be able to try again in 12 months.  The first round has already taken place this term, and we will be re-opening the participation window in February 2019 for any schools who would like to take part next term.  A nominal subscription cost to cover administration and the materials is £50 per school. 

To participate or for any queries please email at the earliest opportunity: fairworkloadcharter@warwickshire.gov.uk

More information including the survey questions used is available in the Frequently Asked Questions document.

Warwickshire Closing the Gap and Headteachers Conference

We would like to thank all who attended the Closing the Gap and Headteachers Conference on Thursday 15th November. We have been pleased to hear feedback from many schools who reported the day provided excellent practice to take away to help support disadvantaged pupils.

Please see the links below to the presentations and pupil premium action planning toolkit provided by Sir John Dunford. We hope these will also be useful to those who could not attend. 

Strategic School Improvement Slides - Part 1

Strategic School Improvement Slides - Part 2

Strategic School Improvement Slides - Part 3

Sir John Dunford Slides

Updates from WCC Slides

Pupil Premium Action Planning Toolkit

Training Opportunities

Community Academies Trust Teaching School

Raising Confidence 11-16 Maths Suite

Whole day courses focusing on the areas of problem solving and reasoning, providing strategies and resources to use in the classroom with secondary students. The courses are funded by the DfE and are free of charge to teachers working in state funded schools, colleges and academies.  Dates: 12th December 2018 and 23rd January 2019. Venue: The Polesworth School, Tamworth.

See attached flyer for further details.

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Hillmorton Teaching School Alliance

Maths Mastery - 28th November 2018

For any schools interested in the nationally recognised ‘Maths Mastery’ programme, an open morning will be held at Hillmorton Primary School on 28th November. This is an opportunity to see Maths Mastery in action and to find out more about the programme and it's impact. Cost is £50 per person for the morning. 

Power of Reading

Hillmorton TSA, in partnership with the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), is delighted to once again be offering the popular ‘Power of Reading’ training this academic year. There are limited places available for schools wishing to train members of staff. For further information and booking, please see the CLPE website: https://clpe.org.uk/professional-development/courses/power-reading

For further information or to book a place on either of the events mentioned above, see the Hillmorton TSA website http://www.hillmortontsa.co.uk/ or contact Bryony Harrison on mrsharrison@hillmortonprimaryschool.com

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Kenilworth Teaching School

National Professional Qualification in Middle Leadership

The National Professional Qualification for Middle Leadership is a recently revised, nationally accredited programme delivered by trained facilitators from Kenilworth School. This stimulating and engaging programme uses high quality learning materials, offering the opportunity to consider your leadership through discussion and debate with your peers and coach. The programme incorporates personal learning and reflection, self-study of online modular materials; a leadership challenge and support through the programme by a learning coach from your school.

A Level English Language student lecture with Professor David Crystal - 12 December 2018

Renowned writer and lecturer on the English Language, Professor David Crystal, will lead this bespoke lecture for students focusing on general language perspectives, an introduction to grammar (language structure, history, semantics and pragmatics) and child language acquisition. The lectures will target the AQA English Language A-level however they would be suitable for other exam boards. For every 10 student places booked, one free teacher place will be offered. Cost per student £15. 

For more information on either of the above or to book your place please contact Deborah Talbot d.talbot@ksnadmin.ksn.org.uk

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Shires Teaching School Alliance

Teacher Training

Shires Teaching School Alliance is a partnership of local schools in Warwickshire and The University of Worcester, offering you the opportunity to train to teach through a one year post graduate programme. If you would like to find out more you can visit the Welcome Centre, Coventry on Thursday 31st January 2019 between 4.30pm and 7.30pm.

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Southam Teaching Alliance

Closing the Gap - CPD Event

This training event is aimed at middle leaders, disadvantaged pupil champions and/or achievement leaders at Primary and Secondary level. The purpose of the event is to share best practice and practical strategies for supporting the achievement and attainment of disadvantaged students.

Tuesday 4th December 2018, 4.15pm - 5.15pm at The Core, Southam College. Cost £25pp (non-Alliance schools) and £20pp (Alliance schools).

To book a place email STA@welearn365.com or phone 01926 812560.

Christmas concert season for Warwickshire Music

Warwickshire Music has a busy few weeks ahead as all the Christmas concerts take place across Warwickshire. The first set of concerts take place at Warwick School (Warwick Hall) on Saturday 1st December in the Winter Extravaganza! Kicking off the concert will be the Singing Playgrounds Programme and Warwickshire Children's Chorus followed by the central area music groups, and the evening finale showcasing Warwickshire's county groups.

Further concerts take place at Nicholas Chamberlaine School on 5th December, King Edward VI School on 11th December and at St Georges Church, Hillmorton on 13th December.

These events are a chance for students to show how hard they have been working over the last term and experience being part of a live performance. For more information on these events and future events go to www.warwickshiremusichub.org/events

News from School Health Service

Thank you to all schools for assisting us in getting the Health Needs Assessment questionnaires completed and for supporting the review of this process.  We have commenced the analysis of the data collected so far and will be making appointments with headteachers and PSHE leads to discuss the results.

National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP)

The NCMP will be starting in all primary schools from December through to the end of March.  Thank you for your assistance with the smooth running of this Government initiative.  In the usual way we will be contacting parents of children who have been recorded as “very over weight”.  We will be suggesting that families access the Fitter Futures programmes that run throughout the county supporting children and families with weight management concerns.

Support for primary school children - Family Brief Intervention Workers

Did you know the School Health and Wellbeing Service has five Family Brief Intervention Workers?  These workers can support primary school aged children and their families with a range of issues such as; child development, toileting advice, sleep, behaviour, health eating, friendships and medical conditions.

To refer to the service you can use the referral form that has been emailed to school or you can find this on the WCC website here: http://www.compass-uk.org/compass-warwickshire-schools/

Upcoming events

• Medical awareness training is taking place in localities
• Nurses will be making appointments with headteachers to discuss the results of the online year 6/9 health needs assessment

Contact details

• We have one central phone number – 03300245204, please select option 1,2 or 3 depending on where your school is located.

 

This Girl Can: It's time that Fit Got Real

Sport England are launching the latest phase of their This Girl Can campaign, Fit Got Real. They want to break down the stark gender gap within sport by encouraging more women of all backgrounds to get active.

Since it was launched in 2015, This Girl Can has attempted to change these attitudes by encouraging woman to get active or play sport in the way that’s right for them. The next phase will not only support the existing community but aims to connect with those who are part of groups that tend to be less active.

This includes those from low income backgrounds, black, South Asian and minority ethnic communities and teenagers.

You can help to promote the launch of the campaign by sharing their new film across your social media channels. Please use the hashtags #thisgirlcan and #fitgotreal

They’d also love any partners who want to establish local This Girl Can activities to get involved. Find out about how your school could do this here: http://www.thisgirlcan.co.uk/partners/