FREE Secondary Mathematics Subject Knowledge Programme

Would you, or someone in your maths department, like to improve your secondary mathematics subject knowledge?

This new, free programme is designed to support those teaching mathematics in a secondary school to develop specialist knowledge for teaching mathematics.

The programme focuses on the subject knowledge, pedagogy and classroom practice required to teach maths with skill and confidence - thus enabling teachers to better understand, teach and support pupils in maths in the classroom.

Do you want to learn more? Please click here. 

Update on DFE Senior Mental Health Lead Training

FREE A Level Mathematics Pedagogy Opportunity

A programme to provide support for the effective development of pedagogy in the teaching of A level mathematics.
 
This programme provides support for the effective development of pedagogy in the teaching of A level Mathematics to support Covid recovery. 
It will enhance the quality of teaching and the conceptual understanding of students, and the development of participants as leaders of A level teaching professional development in their own school or college.

Find more details here. 

Publication of refreshed PHE/DfE/ CYP MH Coalition guidance/ Senior Mental Health Leads Training

Please find attached a briefing note to update you on the publication of refreshed guidance on Promoting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing: a whole school or college approach.

The guidance, which was originally published in 2015 has been updated to reflect new data, policy developments and signposting to sources of support. DfE has now cobranded this publication with PHE and the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition.

DfE is offering schools and colleges grants of £1200 to cover and contribute to the cost of accessing quality assured training for senior mental health leads to help them implement whole school or college approaches to mental health and wellbeing.

The attached information provides you with the necessary web links and signposts to the DfE press release that was issued recently.

Please share with your relevant networks.

Thinking about adoption?

National Adoption Week is running until 24 October and Adoption Central England (ACE) - the regional adoption agency for Coventry, Solihull, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire - is once again celebrating the week.

 

This year the focus is on sharing the voices of those whose lives have been changed by adoption and all its rewarding and challenging experiences. Throughout the week ACE is sharing adopter stories on their Facebook page @aceadoption [link: https://www.facebook.com/aceadoption]. The case studies will not only provide information about the adoption process but also include stories from adoptive families – giving a true insight into adoption.

 

One adoptive parent speaks openly about the highs and lows of adoption said: “Our adoption journey has been emotional yet exciting, frustrating yet fulfilling and terrifying yet totally worth it. It has definitely not been an easy option, but it is the most rewarding thing we have ever done. We have learned lots about ourselves, our capabilities and limits.

 

“We’ve been amazed by the level of support from the unlikeliest of places. The social workers from ACE have been there for us every step of the journey and have shared in the highs and lows of it all. Our family may not be typical or traditional, but we feel an incredible loving bond with our son. We are proud parents and proud to be adopters.”

 

One of the key priorities for ACE is to recruit and assess families for the many children who need stable and loving adoptive parents and since forming in 2018 ACE has successfully placed more than 350 children with adoptive families. Equally important is providing support to adoptive families. This may be low key such as opportunities to meet with other adoptive families and ongoing training, to more specialist therapeutic help that adoptive families may need as their children grow and develop into young people.

 

As a well-established adoption service ACE has many services in place to support people on their adoption journey, including the recently introduced Buddy Scheme. The scheme pairs up new adopters with experienced adoptive parents who offer additional advice and support to people during those early stages.

 

ACE welcomes interest in adoption from people from all sections of the community whether they are unable to have children of their own, or where they want to extend their home to those children waiting for a family. Interest is welcomed from single people, those in same-sex relationships and from the Black, African Caribbean and other minority ethnic communities.

 

People do have to be over 21 years to apply for adoption and able to provide a stable and secure home for a child who needs to be adopted.

 

If you’d like to find out more about adoption, ACE is waiting for your call. You can contact ACE on 0300 369 0556 or complete the enquiry form on the ACE website www.aceadoption.com. You can also make an enquiry by email on enquiries@aceadoption.com that will be followed up by one of our friendly adoption workers.

Rise and Shine Fest

Dealing with Complex Complaints

Given the challenging times we are currently facing, we are running a session for headteachers and setting leaders who are navigating their way through complex complaints or other difficult situations, with an opportunity to share experiences and provide support

This course is suitable for Warwickshire executive heads, head teachers, heads of school and other setting leaders who may be involved in complaints handling.

This session is being offered free of charge to delegates and is being funded by the Governor Services and School Improvement teams.

This course will:

• Focus briefly on ensuring that the Complaints Policy is up to date and the benefits of having a Complaints Toolkit
• Highlight specific issues to look out for, and identify various resolution options and alternative avenues of support
• Consider the impact of complex complaints on schools, including the wellbeing of those involved.

 

Date:          Wednesday 24 November 2021

Time:         9.30 am – 11.30 am

Trainers:   Sue Casey and Julia Kenny with support from School Improvement and SEND colleagues

Venue:      Virtual – delivered via Microsoft Teams

 

Attendance will be limited to a maximum of 25 delegates to allow participation.  If the session is oversubscribed another one will be scheduled.

To book a place please email governors@warwickshire.gov.uk

or call 01926 745120

Staffordshire Research School Upcoming Training

See below two new training from Staffordshire Research School.

• Putting Evidence to Work – Strategic Implementation Planning for Schools – Online 3 Modules

This remote 6‑hour course (3 x 2 hrs) aims to support senior and middle leaders, looking to implement new evidence-based practices, principles or initiatives in their schools, by using the EEFs guidance and recommendations on Putting Evidence to Work. We are providing this offer for a second cohort due to the success and feedback of the first cohort in Spring 2021.

• Applied Cognitive Science: Evidence into Practice – Online 4 Modules

This course includes a range of remote modules, based on robust research and evidence, following a structure that over the length of the course covers:

> What does the research say?
> What are the implications for my planning?
> Examples, case studies and avoidances
> A chance for reflection – What do I need to do more of and less of to apply these principles of research?
> So how do I do strategically put this evidence to work to give it the best chance of success?

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Time to Read packs will delivered to your schools from November 2021