Celebrating Warwickshire’s Family of Schools
Message regarding Ian Budd from Nigel Mins, Strategic Director - People
I am writing to let you know that Ian Budd will be leaving Warwickshire County Council on 30th September 2022.
I would like to thank Ian for his hard work and commitment that he has shown to the Council and the wider Education community in Warwickshire during his service.
Everyone at Warwickshire County Council wishes Ian all the very best for the future.
Chris Baird will continue as interim Assistant Director for Education Services whilst we undertake permanent recruitment to the role and I look forward to working with you all, as Education Services is now within the People Services portfolio in the Council.
Headteachers' Conference 'Save the Date'
Save the Date!
Autumn Term 2022 Headteachers' Conference
Tuesday 18th October 2022 (9.30am – 3.00pm)
Venue: Stareton Hall, Stoneleigh Park (NAEC), Stoneleigh, Kenilworth, CV8 2LZ
The key themes of the conference will be Levelling Up, and White Paper & Academisation.
Teaching School Hub Appropriate Body Services on offer to Warwickshire Schools
The DfE intend to reform the AB sector so that Teaching School Hubs (TSHs) will become the main providers of AB services and Local Authorities will no longer carry out this role. This will bring clearer accountability, and greater consistency and quality of service for schools through a smaller, more regulated AB sector.
This reform is expected to commence for ECTs starting in September 2023.
Please find here more information related to the 3 Teaching School Hubs, their districts within Warwickshire, links to their AB and ECF offers and the schools within each TSHub geographical region.
Warwickshire’s Aspiring Headteacher Programme
Dear Headteachers,
As the new academic year starts and you begin your teacher’s Performance Management meetings, maybe, as part of those meetings, you are thinking about:
- Succession planning
- How to motivate and retain great senior leaders
- Targeted training for your senior leaders who aspire to lead in Warwickshire
Well, why not tell them about Warwickshire’s Aspiring Headteacher Programme.
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.
The programme will consist of approximately 7 sessions, delivered via a mix of online and face to face sessions. The programme will be hosted by Debby Hughes (Former Headteacher of High Meadow Community School, Learning Improvement Officer for Warwickshire LA and Visiting Fellow for Ambition Institute – NPQSL) and there will be a range of guest speakers inputting into the sessions, including local headteachers, key colleagues from LA services as well as some national speakers.
The programme will run over the course of 2 terms, starting in January 2023, and will cover themes such as:
- Leading the organisation - moral imperative, vision, innovation in the curriculum
- Leading teaching and learning – curriculum, CPD, preparing for Ofsted, using data and closing the gap
- The school as a business - finance, HR, legislation and policy
- Applying for headship and working with governors
This programme is fully funded by Warwickshire County Council and is being organised by the Gateway Alliance.
For more information please see the programme flyer
To apply, please complete this form as soon as possible.
Or contact Helen Martin (martin.h@welearn365.com) for more information
Working together to improve attendance
The information below was recently issued by the DfE.
INFORMATION: Supporting attendance resources for schools and local authorities
Supporting pupils to settle back into their school routines will be a big focus for the coming weeks, including maintaining high attendance. To support this, we have published:
The Children’s Commissioner also continues to support attendance through analysis, back into school webpages and a new evidence-based guide for attendance officers.
ACTION: Schools to share daily attendance data and take part in research
Over 65% of schools in England are now sharing their daily attendance data with us. Sharing data means you, your local authority and trust (if applicable) get access to daily attendance reports. To follow later in September, you will also be able to compare data from the previous academic year, for a school or an individual.
These reports can help to identify pupils needing support earlier, save you time building attendance reports and offer trend insights for different groups, helping you meet new guidance expectations around working together to improve school attendance.
Our supplier, Wonde, has contacted all schools with instructions on how to share data. Check your junk folder or email Wonde for support You can also find out how the data is used.
Please sign up to take part in our research, as your feedback is valuable to us as we continue to develop the reports.
ACTION: Schools to no longer use code X in the attendance register to record COVID-19 related absence
Last year, we temporarily changed the law to allow schools to record absence related to COVID-19 in the attendance register using code X. This legal amendment has now expired, so please no longer use code X (‘not attending in circumstances related to coronavirus’) to record any COVID-19 related absence.
We have withdrawn the guidance addendum: recording attendance in relation to coronavirus and the associated sub-codes guidance. Where a child is unable to attend school because they are ill with suspected COVID-19, their absence should be recorded as code I ‘illness’. Pupils and schools should continue to follow relevant public health advice relating to COVID-19.
The Warwickshire Attendance Service is contacting schools where the use of the X code has been noticed. The X code should now only be used for reception and 6th form for integrations. This contact has been well received and we will continue to do this, however it should be a focus of the school to make these checks.
If you wish to discuss any issues relating to school attendance, please feel free to contact the Warwickshire Attendance Service: was@warwickshire.gov.uk
Warwickshire Virtual School Service
Warwickshire Virtual School Service
The Virtual School has quite a few changes for 22-23. Designated teachers will be given full information on the training sessions running in October and November.
Check Warwickshire Virtual School - for children in care and previously children in care – Warwickshire County Council for training and updates.
Contact details:
Service email: virtualschool@warwickshire.gov.uk
Service phone number: 01926 742018
Here are details of the team for direct contact, but you are welcome to contact any team member and/or the main service email/telephone.
Guidance and support for designated teachers, as well as details for training available at Warwickshire Virtual School - for children in care and previously children in care – Warwickshire County Council
For information on becoming a Trauma Informed Attachment Aware School or for bespoke CPD opportunities for secondary and Post 16, contact Deena.
Look out for opportunities for DSLs and DTs to work together focussing on the 7000+ Warwickshire children in the Ever 6 group of having/had a social worker.
DfE Trust and School Improvement Offer 2022/23
The DfE have launched their ‘Trust and School Improvement (TSI) Offer 2022/23’. DfE know that schools and trusts have rightly been focused on recovery from the global pandemic over the last year, but that they are also determined to return to their priorities of improving outcomes and attainment for children. DfE want to help vulnerable schools and trusts to do that, and through this offer will support them both to focus on their return to usual school improvement priorities but also to continue their educational recovery where that is still necessary.
In summary, support will be offered to standalone schools (Local Authority maintained, Single-Academy Trusts or one-school MATs) that receive a new ‘requires improvement’ judgement during the 2022/23 academic year. The ratings are based on the Ofsted management information which is published monthly.
Support will also be offered to multi-academy trusts that have:
- at least 50% of schools that are Ofsted 'requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’ (includes only schools inspected since joining the trust) or;
- a school improvement score of less than 0 (school improvement score is based on improvement/decline of Ofsted judgements for schools whilst in the trust).
The offer will be focused on system leader time: up to ten days. Further details on the offer can be found in the flyer attached to this e-mail. Support will be provided by a strong system leader, primarily CEOs of sponsor MATs or National Leader of Education (NLEs).
As in the previous academic year, DfE will continue to work with an externally contracted resource (Regional Delivery Partner) who will support their regional team to deliver the offer.
The department’s Regions Group teams will make the final decisions on matching schools and trusts to system leaders, taking into account contextual information of the needs of the schools and trusts and availability of system leaders
DfE will contact the LA if any maintained schools in Warwickshire have become eligible for the offer following an Ofsted judgement of requires improvement. They will let the LA know and seek any contextual information the LA may have that could help in the matching process. DfE will then contact the school to explain the offer to them and confirm whether they wish to proceed to be matched with a system leader.
A new podcast from Warwickshire County Council to keep all school staff up-to-date with safeguarding in Warwickshire
We know it’s not always easy for headteachers and wider school staff to find the time to keep informed about what Warwickshire County Council (WCC) is doing to keep children safe in Warwickshire.
So, we are delighted to launch a brand-new podcast called ‘In Safe Hands – Safeguarding Conversations with the Headteacher Coach’ so you can listen on the go at a time that’s convenient for you.
WCC’s very own Headteacher Coach for Safeguarding, Carl Lewis, is hosting the podcast each month with an array of special guests. Each month, a different theme will be covered to complement the information sent out to headteachers and education settings in Warwickshire, but the topics may also be of interest to other professionals.
The podcast will share some of the work the Council is doing to keep children safe in Warwickshire, talking to passionate people about what they do to generate discussion and dialogue around good practice and how to support colleagues, families and young people.
Episode 1 has just launched, and you can find out all the details and listen on the go below. If you would like to share any feedback about this podcast, please email educationsafeguarding@warwickshire.gov.uk.
Never miss an episode - don't forget to follow/subscribe to In Safe Hands and listen on Podbean. The podcast will be available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts very soon.
Episode 1 - September 2022
In the first episode, Carl is joined by John Coleman, Assistant Director for Children and Families to discuss the year ahead and what to expect from the service. John talks about his role at Warwickshire County Council, his background as a social worker and the work the Council is doing to support safeguarding in schools.
Click here to download the podcast.
Listen to the podcast directly on Podbean here.
Never miss an episode - don't forget to subscribe to In Safe Hands and listen on Podbean or Spotify. The podcast will be available Apple Podcasts very soon.
2022 Autumn Census
There are a number of school census dates throughout the academic year.
Please be aware that the autumn Census date is Thursday 6th October 2022.
- This is critical to have children registered for Free School Meals (Pupil Premium. Data is collected by DFE for who is eligible and ON ROLE on 6th)
- Please consider how FSM eligibility can be used to support families in financial crisis. Incentives such as support with uniform, clubs or trips can also encourage parents/carers to sign up.
- Please also remember to register LAC or other children which bring additional funding.
- Funding for NEXT year's budget is based on pupils registered on 6th October. This includes pupil numbers and EHCP / SEND funding.
- Parents just need basic details as well as their National Insurance number to register online.
Parents and Schools can sign up for Warwickshire Family Information Service updates about help with fuel and other hardship via the FIS website:
https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fis
DFE CENSUS Information
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/complete-the-school-census
Family Information Service - supporting families around the cost-of-living crisis.
As all families are facing challenges around the increased cost of living, the Family Information Service are putting various measures in place to maximise the opportunities for families to access support.
- FIS Helpline and face to face support
The FIS helpline is available from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, the team have great knowledge on the services that are available locally and nationally to support families, and is a great first point of contact for families and professionals working with families. Helpline 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday: 01926 742274. fis@warwickshire.gov.uk
Where a families needs are more complex, or there may be barriers to them accessing services such as language, mental health, SEND or crisis point the FIS team can work face to face with a family for a number of weeks to ensure the support they needs is in place.
In addition to a weekly electronic newsletter the FIS team are now producing a monthly cost of living special edition on the first Thursday of each month. The first of these special editions was published last Thursday and focused on energy saving. A link to the newsletter can be found here. You can sign up to future editions using the link here. Future editions will focus on childcare funding support and accessing free school meals. Many schools either support their families to sign up to the newsletter or forward directly onto them.
- Free School Meals and Pupil Premium
We would like to encourage and support all eligible families to apply for free school meals. We are developing our work around this which will include leaflets, improved webpage information and sessions to support parents to make the online application. We would be happy to work with individual schools to maximise the uptake of free school meals which in turn brings pupil premium into your school budgets. In the short term, and ahead of census day on 6th October, it would be great if all schools could send the message out to parents on how to apply. Suggested wording for you to use/add to below:
We encourage all parents who think they may be eligible to apply for free school meals. Even if you don't think your child would want to further information around free school meals:
- Your child doesn't have to receive a school meal every day, or event at all.
- Sandwiches/cold food options are usually available as well as hot food. Check with your school to see what they provide.
- Your child will be eligible to attend the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme which provides a wide range of holiday activities with a meal during the summer, Easter and Christmas school holidays.
- Children of parents/carers who work, may still be entitled to FSM (dependent on income)
- If your child attends a local authority maintained nursery and is receiving education either side of the lunch period, they might be eligible for FSM
- 16 to 18 year olds in education can gain FSM (must be age 16 to 18 on 31 August to be eligible for free meal in the following academic year). You can apply directly to the college.
- FSM eligibility has been permanently extended to children in households with no recourse to public funds subject to maximum income thresholds.
- Benefits will not stop or be reduced if you apply for FSM.
- FSM applications should be submitted to the local authority your child's school is in, even if you live in another authority.
The free school meals application process is online. More details and access to the application form can be found here
If you need support with applying for free school meals please either contact your school or the Family Information Service.
Family Information Service - helpline 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Tel - 01926 742274
Together with Autism Conferences in Coventry & Nuneaton
Act for Autism are hosting two Together with Autism Conferences to take place in Nuneaton and Coventry.
The conference is free for parents/carers, professionals, and anyone with an interest in autism. These will include keynote speakers, workshops, information stands, and networking opportunities.
A previous conference took place in April 2022 with the following video from the day available: Together with Autism Conference - Warwick 2022 - YouTube.
Conference Dates
10th September 2022 - Whitley Academy in Coventry
19th November 2022 - Nuneaton Campus of NWSLC (North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College)
Registration for the Coventry conference on 10th September is available now through the following link: 10/09/2022 Together with Autism Registration
Registration for the Nuneaton conference will be available on Eventbrite in September.
Find more here.
Post-16 capacity fund for 2023 to 2024
Eligible providers of 16 to 19 education can apply for capital investment to accommodate upcoming demographic increases in 16 to 19-year-olds. The next round of the fund has launched. The page explains who can apply for funding and how. New guidance has been uploaded for applicants and a breakdown of population projections by local authority district, which will support bids for funding.
Post-16 capacity fund for 2023 to 2024
Could you be Warwickshire Libraries’ next Young Poet Laureate?
Warwickshire County Council Libraries are delighted to announce that the competition to become Young Poet Laureate 2022/23 is now open.
The search is on for the county's eighth Young Poet Laureate, who will succeed Daniel Wale in the role for 2022/23.
The competition is open to anyone aged between 13 and 17 who lives and is educated in Warwickshire, and who would like to perform their own poetry to an audience. The Laureateship is a unique opportunity for the successful candidate to develop their writing skills and take part in events and activities across the county under the mentorship of a professional poet. Past Warwickshire Young Poet Laureates have performed on the radio, on film, at festivals and led their own poetry workshops.
Applications are now welcome before the deadline of 6pm on Thursday 6 October 2022. The judges will then get to work and shortlisted candidates will be notified by Friday 28 October. They will then be invited to take part in a Selection Day which includes a workshop with a professional poet, a short individual interview with judges and a performance in front of an audience at a public event. This will take place at one of Warwickshire’s libraries on Saturday 5 November. Please ensure when applying that you are available on this date.
The Young Poet Laureate competition is run by Warwickshire Libraries and supported by Poetry on Loan, an initiative supported by Arts Council England that promotes contemporary poetry throughout public libraries in the West Midlands.
To apply, applicants need to:
- Be 13-17 years old.
- Live and be educated in Warwickshire.
- Fill in the Application Form (available in the weblink below)
- Submit three poems. One should be inspired by Warwickshire; one should be about or inspired by libraries and the third can be of your own choosing.
- Submit a personal statement and explain in 250 words:
1. Why you want to be Warwickshire Libraries’ Young Poet Laureate
2. How you would promote poetry to the diverse range of people
To submit an application, or for help with any questions about the application process, visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/youngpoetlaureate or email libraryevents@warwickshire.gov.uk
Do you have staff responsible for running the library at your school?
Would they like to enhance their skills, knowledge, and confidence in running the school library? Libraries' 'Help, I'm Running the Library' course is available for your staff.
A great opportunity to learn in a friendly atmosphere and network and share ideas with others.
Primary Schools: Tuesday 20th September: 9.30am-12.30pm
Secondary Schools: Thursday 22nd September: 9.30am-12.30pm
Free network meetings for staff working in school libraries
Warwickshire Schools Library Service are delighted to invite your school library staff to primary and secondary network meetings this term. The meetings are a great opportunity to talk to others and share ideas in a supportive environment. We will also have guest speakers and share lots of useful links and resources.
Please click here for more information.
Email at: schoolslibraryservice@warwickshire.gov.uk if you would like to register for a meeting.
CLA Collection of Royalties Data – Spring 2023
The Copyright Licensing Agency is intending to conduct a data collection exercise in selected Warwickshire schools/academies during the spring term 2023.
This will enable CLA to establish what is being photocopied/scanned and/or digitally re-used so that your licence fee can be fairly re-distributed as royalty payments to the authors, artists and publishers of the licensed material you are using. All state-funded schools, including academies, hold a CLA Education Licence through central agreements or regional education bodies.
Your CLA Licence includes enhanced rights; in addition to the existing photocopying and scanning permissions, it now provides all schools with the permission to re-use digital material, such as e-books and certain website content.
In accordance with the current terms and conditions of the Licence, the school and all staff are required, when requested, to participate fully in any such data collection exercise.
If your school is selected, you will receive an explanatory letter from CLA followed by contact from a CLA Royalties Officer who will explain the procedures involved. CLA is aware of teacher workload issues affecting all schools and have refined their procedures accordingly. All data collections are currently being organised remotely.
At the current time, this exercise is expected to be conducted remotely and will begin just after the start of the Spring term, lasting no more than 11 weeks. All schools are required to start and finish the exercise at the same time to ensure robust sampling.
It should be noted that this is not a policing operation (although schools will want to ensure they have the appropriate licences). The re-distribution of licence fees as royalty payments is the reason for the exercise.
The purpose of this note is to give you advance notice of the data collection. Selected schools will be notified in mid-October. Any queries can be directed to myself sophiethompson@warwickshire.gov.uk in the first instance.
Cycle Instructors Recruitment
Could you enthuse the next generation of cyclists?
Thanks to the cycling boom and continued growth, Warwickshire County Council, in partnership with Outspoken Training, are seeking enthusiastic and energetic individuals to deliver fun, inspiring Bikeability cycle training in local Warwickshire primary schools and during holidays.
If you, your colleagues or parents, enjoy working outdoors, love cycling and/or have a strong interest in teaching/coaching, this could appeal to you!
Background
Cycling has the power to positively transform communities by creating fitter, healthier and less congested neighbourhoods. The more journeys made by bike, the better communities can tackle the challenges faced with climate change, air pollution, rising obesity and mental health.
Outspoken Training works with individuals and schools to promote, teach and support good cycling. We strive to give people the skills and knowledge to make riding:
- Fun!
- Accessible for all
- A normal, everyday form of transport
Instructors will be given full, accredited training before working in pairs to deliver Bikeability cycle training courses.
Instructors can specify an area they wish to work in and distance they wish to travel.
Benefits
- Fully funded Level 2 Award in Instructing Cycle Training qualification provided.
- Accredited safeguarding training provided.
How to apply:
For more information, please contact Graham by email: jobs@outspokentraining.co.uk or telephone: 01223 473820
Please do share this with colleagues, parents/carers and the wider community.
Download here the poster.
Warwickshire LA & Teaching School Hubs continue to offer Appropriate Body services to all schools across Warwickshire.
Warwickshire LA Appropriate Body support schools, headteacher, tutors and ECTs providing an independent quality assurance role within the statutory induction process. Appropriate Bodies monitor the support of the ECT and their assessments, making the final decision as to whether the ECT has satisfactorily met the Teachers’ Standards.
The DfE intend to reform the AB sector so that Teaching School Hubs (TSHs) will become the main providers of AB services and Local Authorities will no longer carry out this role. This will bring clearer accountability, and greater consistency and quality of service for schools through a smaller, more regulated AB sector. This reform is expected to commence for ECTs starting in September 2023.
Appropriate bodies have been organised by RSC areas, but schools can choose an appropriate body in any area. Please find here more information related to the 3 Teaching School Hubs, their districts within Warwickshire, links to their AB and ECF offers and the schools within each TSHub geographical region.
The Statutory teacher induction: appropriate bodies list has been updated in August with AB contact details and as soon as the DfE publish further details of intended reforms of Appropriate Bodies we pass this information on to schools. Also published on the GOV.UK ECT Collection webpage is the Backfill payments for ECF mentor training allocations for schools.
ECT and NQTs can be registered with Warwickshire LA Appropriate Body via ECT Manager Warwickshire. A teaching school hub cannot be the appropriate body for an ECT whom it employs, or who has served any part of their induction at that school. For ECTs starting in September 2022 registration must be completed and upload to the TRA by the 19 October 2022.
The first Warwickshire LA Appropriate Body ECT Welcome meeting for 2022-2023 will be on Tuesday 20 September 16:00 to 17:30. Book online via ECT Manager Warwickshire or email ECT@warwickshire.gov.uk or telephone 01926 74 2089 if you have any questions or queries.
Inclusive Swimming and Winning on Wheels 29th and 30th September
Little Sutton English Hub events
Find below flyers for the Little Sutton English Hub Showcase events scheduled for 2022-23.
As you know this is the opportunity for schools to engage with the English Hub, receive advice and guidance on best practice in teaching phonics and reading and find out about how they can receive further support including access to funding.
RBL Flyer Reading Comprehension through Poetry Sept 2022
LSEH Showcase Flyer 2022-23