Securing the Best Start to Life
Visit a National Trust place for free this autumn
The National Trust is giving away a number of free passes for families to use between 18 September and 20 October 2023.
Each single-use pass allows free entry for two adults and up to three children, one adult and up to four children, or two adults on their own.
Find out more here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/escape-into-autumn.
Register for World Nursery Rhyme Week 2023
November is fast approaching and it's time to register for World Nursery Rhyme Week 2023 and get ready for another fantastic week of rhyming.
There are 5 new rhymes this year for the 'Rhyme A Day' challenge.
The dates for 2023 are the 13th to 17th November.
You can register now to download your free resource pack which contains colouring in sheets, posters, certificates, letter templates, activity ideas and some fantastic musical resources.
"Wild Cooking"
Fresh air, sunshine, outdoor play and exercise… a combination that equates to happy children and healthy appetites!
Now imagine woodsmoke wafting across your outdoor space, smelling of grill bread sprinkled with oregano. And, what’s more, the children had helped to build the fire, shape the bread and roast it. Is this a possibility in our settings today?
The adventure of outdoor cooking is an achievable goal, and with the right guidance, support and knowledge, something amazing can begin to happen and flourish in your settings.”
So it’s time to take a small step (or a giant leap!) and join the exciting journey called Wild cooking.
See where it takes you here.
Wild Cooking | Topics | Community Playthings
Early years curriculum: The importance of communication and language
Did you know that Ofsted have a series of short webinars about the early years curriculum and communication and language. They explain:
- why communication and language are so important
- what a good curriculum should look like to support development of communication and language.
- the ways that children make progress through knowing and remembering more.
- how Ofsted look at communication and language on inspection.
Promoting Partnerships with Parents
Ensure that parents are aware of the EYFS curriculum and age-related expectations noted in the Early Years Outcomes.
Signpost parents to ‘What to expect, when’ and ‘EYFS – a parent’s guide’. Use these alongside parental consultations and drop in surgeries to share identified gaps in learning and planned next steps with parents regularly.
Signpost parents to practical activities/strategies such as Warwickshire 50 things and relevant websites that they can use to support current learning in the home.
Autumn Term Managers Meeting- Book Your Place!
Managers Meetings are an opportunity for all Managers, Practitioners and Childminders working in the Early Years to receive updates and useful information on practice, policy and procedures in the Early Years.
They enable practitioners to hear current Local Authority information on Safeguarding, Funding and Ofsted key messages and provide a valuable forum for sharing best practice.
To book your FREE place for this terms meeting please click here
After-school clubs, community activities, and tuition Safeguarding guidance for providers
This is non-statutory guidance for organisations or individuals who provide community activities, tuition or after-school clubs for children.1 These are also known as out-of-school settings (OOSS).
This guidance will help providers run safe settings to ensure the welfare of the children attending them. It covers best practices on:
• safeguarding and child protection
• the suitability of staff and volunteers
• health and safety
• governance
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1185885/After-school_clubs__community_activities_and_tuition_safeguarding_guidance_for_providers.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3gLbPybbgUw-PjH8cXTyO_TLtB-YQWnU63iN393K1nDCaAEIGTibnG5Pk
Supporting Inclusion for SEND and Vulnerable Groups
Warwickshire remains committed to supporting families with SEND
Continued improvements are being made in Warwickshire to enhance support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
That was the finding of the latest Department for Education and NHS England review meeting of SEND services in Warwickshire. During the meeting, inspectors acknowledged the continued efforts of Warwickshire County Council and Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board, who have been working together with a range of partners including Warwickshire Parent Carer Voice to make improvements to the SEND system.
The report noted that the local area has continued to make good progress and most actions outlined in the Written Statement of Action (which serves as the improvement plan following the local area SEND inspection in 2021) are progressing. Particularly good progress has been made with the SEND Local Offer and there is a steady reduction in waiting times for autism assessments.
Nevertheless, the report acknowledges that there is still more work to be done particularly in relation to effective communication with parents and carers. Whilst work has been undertaken in this area and strong foundations for coproduction with parents, carers and children and young people are in place, it still requires further attention and efforts to enhance engagement and support for families. Additionally, as the demand for services continues to rise, it is crucial to proactively manage this increase to ensure that the needs of the community are met.
Key updates from the latest review meeting with the Department for Education and NHS England in the summer are as follows:
Area 1: Autism waiting times and support for families:
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Waiting times for a diagnostic autism assessment have reduced from 242 weeks to an estimated 40 weeks, as of July 2023
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Children, young people, young adults, and their families awaiting a diagnostic assessment or following diagnosis of autism can access a clear and coordinated pathway of support that meets their needs.
Area 2: Communication and engagement with parent carers:
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A whole system approach to co-production at a strategic level with children, young people and their families across education, health and social care has been introduced.
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A wide programme of communications and events continues including themed webinars and the production of SEND Warwickshire, a monthly newsletter for families of children and young people with SEND.
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Work is ongoing to improve responses to complaints and strengthen communications.
Area 3: Inclusion in schools:
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Work to improve inclusion in schools is continuing. It is recognised that this activity will need to be ongoing as needs, challenges and personnel change over time. The local area is working with school leaders to encourage peer to peer collaboration and system leadership for inclusion.
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The Inclusion Framework for Schools trial has received positive feedback from schools and parent carers, and evaluation is now underway.
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SEND change agents and champions have been identified in all school consortia and area networks. They have been involved in the coproduction of a school inclusion charter alongside WPCV, with the support of Contact.
Area 4: Workforce development:
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An interactive slide deck and an online training portal have been developed for schools to access, and view all SEND training.
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Feedback regarding the free training for schools, including mental health and lost at school has been very positive
Area 5: SEND Local Offer webpages:
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Continued improvements to the website, including the landing page with feedback from Warwickshire Parent Carer Voice and SENDIAS.
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On-going promotion of the SEND Local Offer, so it is clear to everyone what is available in the local area.
For more information on Warwickshire’s Local Offer, please visit the Local Offer webpages or the Local Offer Facebook page.
Resolving disagreements survey update
Thank you to everyone who took part in Warwickshire County Council's recent survey to share their experience of challenging decisions around education, health and care needs assessments and education, health and care plans.
During the 20 weeks the survey was open, we received a total of 161 responses from parents and carers, schools and education settings, and staff working across Warwickshire’s SEND services.
All comments are now being considered and will be used to help shape a revised process for resolving disagreements in Warwickshire. The focus of this work will be based around the key themes emerging from the feedback which has highlighted a need for improved timescales and communication around decision-making.
We will be providing further updates as the project progresses to keep you informed.
Top Up Funding Super User Surgeries and final awareness sessions
**Calling all SENCo’s and Leaders**
If you haven't attended a previous Top Up Funding awareness session, or heard about this at the Primary and Secondary Network meetings in June, there are four additional sessions available next week. You are invited to join ONE of these sessions to gain an overview of the Top Up Funding projects aims, learn the principles of the new matrix and provide an opportunity to ask any questions/ provide suggestions.
To read more about the Top Up Funding Matrix and awareness sessions, please use the following link: Heads Up article 15th September 2023
Super User Surgeries
If you have specific queries or require any individual support for transferring pupils across to the new matrix, you are invited to book a slot at our Super User Surgeries. These will run virtually every Thursday, from 2pm to 3pm, with 20-minute slots available to book in advance.
To book a slot at a Super User Surgery please use this form.
FAQs
Following feedback from the initial awareness sessions held in June and July, a list of FAQs has now been compiled. View the FAQs here.
We welcome all questions, feedback and suggestions, please send these to SENDchange@warwickshire.gov.uk.
Celebrating Warwickshire’s Family of Schools
Free School Meals
As we’re sure you already know, free school meals bring advantages to children and schools. Children benefit from gaining a free school meal and eligibility for the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme. Both children and schools benefit from pupil premium funding.
To serve as a reminder, primary schools gain £1455 and secondary schools gain £1035 per eligible child per year (as per funding rates for financial year 2023-24) to help fund effective approaches to raise educational attainment of disadvantaged pupils.
Therefore, we are asking schools to promote free school meals and encourage families who may be eligible to apply.
Please see text below that we kindly ask you to share with families. There is a leaflet which has translated versions and an animation you can share too. The Family Information Service regularly share free school meals messaging via X/Twitter and Facebook that your school might also want to share on your platforms.
Primary school:
Over 18,000 children in Warwickshire already receive free school meals.
Families who receive benefits-related financial support, including but not limited to, Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Child Tax Credits and Universal Credit may be eligible – check here to see if you are eligible to apply.
If your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, they will automatically be entitled to universal infant free school meals. However, if you do meet the benefits-related free school meals eligibility criteria, then it is advised you apply to receive additional benefits including access to the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme and funding for your child’s school to support their education.
You can apply online at any time through the Parent Portal.
If you have any questions or need support with applying for free school meals, please contact the team by emailing freemeals@warwickshire.gov.uk or calling 01926 359189.
View the website for more information: Apply for free school meals – Warwickshire County Council
Secondary school:
Over 18,000 children in Warwickshire already receive free school meals.
Families who receive financial support, including but not limited to, Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Child Tax Credits and Universal Credit may be eligible – check here to see if you are eligible to apply.
Free school meals not only provide your child with a free meal, it also means your child can access the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme and gives your child's school funding to support their education.
You can apply online at any time through the Parent Portal.
If you have any questions or need support with applying for free school meals, please contact the team by emailing freemeals@warwickshire.gov.uk or calling 01926 359189.
View the website for more information: Apply for free school meals – Warwickshire County Council
Save the date - Autumn Term 2023 Headteacher Conference
Thursday 19th October 2023 (10.00am – 3.00pm - final times tbc)
Stareton Hall, Stoneleigh Park (NAEC), Stoneleigh, Kenilworth, CV8 2LZ
Warwickshire Works: Shaping Innovation out of Adversity
Post pandemic Britain is beset by a cost-of-living crisis and recession, the public sector is on its knees. The privilege of our role as educators is that we have influence, and we have choice. As a collective do we hunker down, narrowing our horizons and our aspirations for our pupils…. or, do we innovate, pressing forward together to provide the best and inspire others to follow?
This conference aims to help you as leaders uphold innovation in the face of adversity, to facilitate discussion and to share positive ways of leading education and continuing to provide the best for our pupils in these challenging times.
There will be presentations from WCC teams across education services, providing updates on partnership work, strategies, projects and, innovations to support schools going forward. We are also delighted to confirm the attendance of two fabulous and sought after keynote education speakers.
Keynote Speaker 1
David Hodgson
A wonderfully entertaining and charismatic speaker, David cut his teeth working in careers in the North East of England and created a system that took the best of personality profiling and made it real and relevant for young people. In recent years, David has become increasingly sought-after for his work looking at the neuroscience of learning, memory and achievement, something he puts across in a way that is entertaining, accessible and meaningful. It is David’s ability to take complicated and challenging insights into human nature and achievement and make these principles accessible and understandable that is part of his personal effectiveness and popularity. That, and the fact that he also comes up with creative and straightforward strategies and approaches that allow all elements of the school community to use these new distinctions to good effect.
Keynote Speaker 2
Andy Vass - Education Coach and Mentor in Leadership
When Andy suggests that leadership is about ‘people, change, bravery and people’, he is serious about the people bit. Any leader’s ability to get people on board boils
down to the power of that leader's ability to communicate. This is where Andy Vass can help.
Andy has the rare gift of being able to translate complex ideas and insights about the nature of achievement, human interactions and organisational change into clear down-to-earth language that is accessible and eminently practical.
Andy has over 40 years' experience working in schools and with schools, across the UK and internationally with organisations and individuals to support successful improvement. Andy does this through developing positive behaviours, emotionally intelligent relationships and solution focused coaching cultures.
Full agenda to follow early next week.
Codifying your PP cohort to close the disadvantage gap
Stitch in Time Project for Primary Schools
The Stitch in Time project links maths, computing with design and technology. WMG created this project to celebrate Coventry, City of Culture, and are again continuing to offer this project to primary schools within reasonable travelling distance of the University.
Children create patterns using a language very similar to Scratch, called TurtleStitch (freely available at www.turtlestitch.org). They give instructions to a turtle, moving it around and turning it to create their desired pattern. These patterns can then be stitched onto fabric using a digital embroidery machine. WMG potentially can stitch students designs at Warwick, or alternatively arrange the of loan of a machine (depending on availability).
If you are interested in finding out more information, please get in touch with wmgoutreach@warwick.ac.uk WMG are also gathering teachers feedback on this project as part of a wider project evaluation, although participation in this section is completely voluntary.
More information about the Stitch In Time project is here: www.warwick.ac.uk/turtlestitch/stitchintime
There will be an introduction to TurtleStitch on the 4th of October at 4.30pm online. Register here: www.warwick.ac.uk/turtlestitch
Warwickshire’s Aspiring Headteacher Programme – Register your interest NOW
Warwickshire’s Aspiring Headteacher Programme is an innovative programme intended to support senior and experienced middle leaders who aspire to headship in a Warwickshire school. This course is appropriate for school leaders who have a minimum of 2 years senior leadership experience and are considering applying for a Headship, in Warwickshire, in the next 2 years. It is fully funded by Warwickshire County Council and is being organised by the Gateway Alliance.
The course runs over 2 terms and includes a mix of both face-to-face and online sessions. This year, at the face-to-face sessions, the cohort have heard from a range of practicing headteachers as well and some national speakers. The online sessions included a discussion with a current, serving Ofsted inspector as well presentations from a wide range of Local Authority leaders from HR, Finance, Governor Services, etc.
Here’s what some of the previous participants have said about the programme:
“I embarked on this course, with a nudge from my current Head, thinking it would give me a little more information about being a Headteacher and some all-round beneficial CPD. In fact, what it did was quickly make me realise I had the skills and experience to go for it! Using the tips and learning from the course, I secured a post with my first application and feel that the many inspirational speakers have given me the confidence to make the leap. This is well worth enrolling on for any senior leader in a Warwickshire school.”
Laura
“Just wanted to send you a quick thank you for such a fab year. I found these sessions so informative and inspiring. Even after a tough week, attending these meetings filled up my cup and made me feel excited for the next steps in my career. I think I felt this way because you delivered it with such care and a real a down to earth nature. It is so evident that you care about and want to nurture this cohort of potential heads. I also enjoyed the 'me' time the course provided - it isn't often we get to indulge in some 'self' work, stepping back and thinking about who we are and how we want to lead.”
Rhian
“Really well paced, useful and interesting content from all speakers, opportunities to reflect and talk to colleagues.”
Esther
“Thank you so much for the time and effort you have put in to running the course. Every one of them has been completely inspiring. I genuinely don't have any feedback on how to improve as I think that you've found exactly what aspiring headteachers need (for me anyway), which is valuable time to listen to the experiences of a variety of current and former heads. This was then followed up with small chunks of pedagogy and good practice. Thank you!”
Nick
JOIN THE NEXT COHORT…
If you or one of your team are thinking about Warwickshire Headship in the future, then we’d be delighted to welcome you to join our next cohort starting in January 2024.
To express your interest, please complete this google form or contact Helen Martin on helen@gatewayalliance.co.uk
Primary Engineers Programme
HS2 Ltd, the company responsible for building the new high-speed railway, is offering an opportunity for ten schools in North Warwickshire to be part of a curriculum-mapped engineering project.
The programme will be delivered by Primary Engineer. The Primary Engineer Programmes take the form of themed projects that include physical resources for two classes, teacher training for up to two teachers, digital teaching resources, curriculum mapping, links to engineers and invitations to Celebration Events.
The programme is scheduled to take place over the autumn on dates to be confirmed.
The opportunity is open to primary schools in North Warwickshire in the first instance. The offer will then be extended to other areas in Warwickshire if any places remain available.
To register your interest, please contact Christopher Cresswell at the county council’s HS2 team before Friday 29 September by email at christophercresswell@warwickshire.gov.uk
Register your ECTs for ECF and Appropriate Body services!
PODCAST - Money Matters with Sally
Sally Roberts, Financial Inclusion Shared Services Manager at North Warwickshire Borough Council has launched a new Podcast, Money Matters with Sally.
The first episode is out live and covers ‘The Benefits of a Free School Meal’ with guests Alis and Deborah from Family Information Services. Although her Podcast generally covers Northern Warwickshire, this is important and applicable to all parents across Warwickshire.
Please send the podcast to parents or you can have a link available on your website. The more parents we can get to listen the better!
This podcast, touches also, on Health Start Vouchers and the importance and value for mums to be and new mums….
Listen here:https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-2prp8-1498289
Primary Engineers Programme
HS2 Ltd, the company responsible for building the new high-speed railway, is offering an opportunity for ten schools in North Warwickshire to be part of a curriculum-mapped engineering project.
The programme will be delivered by Primary Engineer (https://www.primaryengineer.com/courses/) The Primary Engineer Programmes take the form of themed projects that include physical resources for two classes, teacher training for up to two teachers, digital teaching resources, curriculum mapping, links to engineers and invitations to Celebration Events.
The programme is scheduled to take place over the autumn on dates to be confirmed.
The opportunity is open to primary schools in North Warwickshire in the first instance. The offer will then be extended to other areas in Warwickshire if any places remain available.
To register your interest, please contact Christopher Cresswell at the county council’s HS2 team before Friday 29 September by email at christophercresswell@warwickshire.gov.uk
Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service bonfire competition 2023
It’s that time of year again when we look forward to celebrating all the sights and sounds of a fun filled bonfire night. It is important that whilst having fun, safety advice is followed to raise awareness and reduce the risk of incidents.
We would like to invite children to take part in our bonfire competition and will be selecting winners and awarding prizes for entries in each year group.
We are hoping for some fantastic, original stories and poems which highlight how we use all our senses to enjoy the celebrations, but also the important things to remember to keep us safe whilst having fun.
Please find here more information.