Securing the Best Start to Life
Bake the Most of Life competition
Sign-up for Warburtons Bake the Most of Life today to ensure you get access to all resources as well as competitions such as Harvesting Family Favourites!
This exciting competition encourages your pupils to explore their favourite family recipes and share them for the chance to have them published on the Bake the Most of Life website!
This helpful website is home to plenty of resources and enrichment activities that can be used for home-learning, plus the competition!
With direct PSHE curriculum links to topics such as healthy eating, respectful friendships, and caring relationships, (as well as supporting Gatsby Benchmarks) this is a great opportunity to break-bread with your class and get to know their family favourites!
The competition only takes 30 minutes to complete and is simple to enter with age specific competition entry forms for 5–7 and 7–11-year-olds!
Don’t miss out, register today!
Entry is totally free using our free-post or scanning and send options!
Learning to talk
There are some brilliant tips and activities for speech development on the Start for Life website.
Help children learn to talk with fun routines. Could these be shared with the families of the children you work with.
Be a Savvy Shopper
Last year, 91 types of toys were recalled because they were dangerous. And a report from the British Toy and Hobby Association found that, of 101 dangerous toys withdrawn from sale on online marketplaces, 65 seemingly identical toys were still on sale a year later.
Despite this, new research reveals that 70% of parents never check to see if a product has been recalled and 93% don’t know how to check.
That’s why the Child Accident Prevention Trust has set up a new advice hub where parents and practitioners can check if the toys and childcare products, they’re buying are safe.
For more information click here.
A Bright Start for Every Deaf Child
The National Deaf Children's Society are running four online, free sessions to help education and support those working in the early years about childhood deafness.
The sessions' details are:
A Bright Start for Every Deaf Child: Together We Can for Deaf Children
The National Deaf Children’s Society are running four live and free online sessions to give those working in the early years information and ideas to support deaf children. Whether you currently have deaf children in your setting or not, these sessions will help you reflect on your practise and equip you to be ready for deaf children now or in the future.
We will cover how deafness impacts development, language and communication, acoustics and lighting, deaf awareness techniques, behaviour and identity.
Our sessions cover:
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Implement Effective Transitions for Deaf Children: 19 April 6-7:30pm on Zoom
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Improve Language and Communication for Deaf Children: 26 April 6-7:30pm on Zoom
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See Parents as Partners: 3 May 6-7:30pm on Zoom.
- Support Social and Emotional Development for Deaf Children: 10 May 6-7:30pm on Zoom
You will also receive two recorded webinars on sensory storytelling and using basic BSL if you attend one or more of the four.
Find more information register here
Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week
This week marks Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week and World Down Syndrome Day.
The Down’s Syndrome Association is a registered charity that is ‘committed to improving the quality of life of people who have Down’s syndrome, promoting their right to be included on a full and equal basis with others.’
You might find the following links of interest:
Celebrating Warwickshire’s Family of Schools
A reminder for parents about free school meals
Increased food and energy costs mean more parents are finding the cost of the weekly shop a challenge.
As we approach school holidays, it might be a good time for parents and guardians to check eligibility for free school meals. As one of the biggest school meal providers in Warwickshire, Educaterers wants to ensure that all school children are fed and happy when in school.
Please do use the following link https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/education-learning/apply-free-school-meals to send onto parents and guardians in your communications around living costs and school meals.
De-escalation and Behaviour Management course
Ofsted | Inspection Data Summary Report
Schools Pre-Inspection Data & Insight Team has updated the inspection data summary report (IDSR). The update is now live and can be accessed here:
Ofsted | Inspection Data Summary Report
They have added the following data:
- Revised key stage 4
- Revised 16-18 (key stage 5)
- Pupil movements between 2021 and 2022
- Revised destinations data
The team has also made changes to the way we calculate key stage 4 subject entries so that they align with the Department for Education’s ‘Find school and college performance’: https://www.find-school-performance-data.service.gov.uk/
For further information please see the IDSR guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-inspection-data-summary-report-idsr-guide
If you have any questions, please email the team at: School.Performance.Data@ofsted.gov.uk
This, and all future updates to the IDSR will also be announced on the IDSR News Page:
IDSR: news and updates - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Working together to improve school attendance
New - School Attendance Lead Network Event
Sam Godfrey from the Stowe Valley Multi Academy Trust and Andy Danks from the Attendance Service co-hosted the inaugural School Attendance Lead Network Event at Myton School on 23rd March 2023.
The event was focussed on the changes in the ‘working together to improve school attendance’ guidance, key things schools need to know and how Warwickshire County Council are implementing their support moving forward.
We look forward to the next event and seeing as many school attendance leads as possible. Watch this space!
Reminders
1. Reminder - Compare pupil attendance with other schools in your local authority
Nationally 78% of schools are now sharing daily attendance data with the DfE. The figure in Warwickshire is 82%.
The DfE are now rolling out new functionality to allow mainstream schools that are sharing data to compare attendance with other schools within their local authority area. The tool will help schools to identify strengths and priorities and signpost to additional guidance and support. To share daily attendance data and get access to these tools, please email Wonde. If you already use Wonde, please accept the request in your Wonde portal.
2. Improving attendance: good practice for schools and multi-academy trusts. There are some really useful effective practice attendance webinars produced by the DfE in conjunction with schools, with good or improved attendance, sharing their good practice. It is highly recommended that your attendance lead/champion access this free resource.
3. Additional attendance resources are available on the Education Hub and Teaching Blogs
4. DFE GUIDANCE: Mental health issues affecting a pupil's attendance: guidance for schools February 2023 - Summary of responsibilities where a mental health issue is affecting attendance and examples of effective practice.
Contact Us
If you wish to discuss any issues relating to school attendance, please feel free to contact the Warwickshire Attendance Service: was@warwickshire.gov.uk
Education Strategy Emerging Priorities: HT Feedback Survey
Completion of this survey is voluntary and anonymous.
Those who attended the Headteachers Conference on 23rd March 2023 were able to share their views on the emerging priorities for the Education Strategy. This form offers Headteachers an additional opportunity.
Your feedback will inform the development of our Education Strategy for Warwickshire.
The closing date for responses is 5:00pm on Friday 31st March 2023.
Zellar Sustainability Project for Schools.
Following on from the Head Teacher briefing on Tuesday, we are pleased to share the presentation from Zellar. This is a funded opportunity, for the first year, for schools to look at how they can become more sustainable, and in turn, save some money.
The slides contain all the information you need, but if you have any questions or would be interested in signing up to the pilot group, please contact darrenbarrow@warwickshire.gov.uk or philleavers@warwickshire.gov.uk by Wednesday 29th March.
There are no limits as to how many schools can join the pilot and we are keen to involve as many as possible.
Please remember this can be as flexible as you need it to be and it can be tailored to work around your school and school’s needs.
Warwickshire are also piloting this at Shire Hall too, so are committed to rolling this out further.
Get into youth work
Warwickshire Targeted Youth Support Service invites residents to learn more about becoming a youth worker and helping young people. Warwickshire places children’s needs at the heart of all it does and works hard to ensure their voices are heard. Our aim is to make our county as safe, stable, and full of opportunity as possible for children and young people with access to good health, education, and other services.
Our youth workers are the heart and soul of the community for young people. They help, guide, and support young people aged 11 to 18 with their development and enable them to have a voice, influence and place in their communities and society. They work in local communities and spend a lot of time working with youngsters to understand how they feel and what motivates them.
The relationship between young people and youth workers is entirely voluntary – youth work often only works because of this voluntary relationship.
If you want to make a positive difference in the lives of children and young people in Warwickshire and may have thoughts of looking at youth work as a career you are invited to our open afternoon at Shire Hall on the 27th of March from 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm.
If you are interested in finding out more about the role of a youth worker and what we do within Targeted Youth Support, email clairecrawford@warwickshire.gov.uk to book a place.
Read more here: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/4043/get-into-youth-work
Warwickshire Waterways Photography Competition
Looking for a fun and engaging activity for your pupils to enjoy during the upcoming Easter holidays? The Warwickshire Waterways Photography Competition is the perfect opportunity for families to spend time together outdoors, while also developing their photography skills and appreciation for nature and wildlife.
Open to all ages, with a special group for children aged 15 and under, the competition runs for one month from 27 March. Winners from each age group will receive a £50 voucher for photography equipment from the Canal and River Trust, and their winning images will be featured on the website and social media channels for all to see.
Encourage your pupils and their families to participate in this exciting competition by sharing the details with them. You could also consider using it as an opportunity to promote outdoor learning and the benefits of spending time in nature.
Full details of the competition, including how to enter, can be found here: https://bit.ly/wcc-waterways.
A poster to print off and display in your school can be found here: https://bit.ly/waterways-poster-schools
We can't wait to see the amazing entries from your pupils and their families, and we wish you all the best of luck!
Easter Egg-citement at Warwickshire’s Country Parks
The team of Education, Community & Health Rangers at Warwickshire’s Country Parks have been busy developing an fun-filled Easter half-term activity programme. Whether it’s pond dipping or Easter egg hunts, toasting delicious s’mores over an open fire or building a wooden Easter bunny, there’s something to get every child immersed and engaged in Warwickshire’s unique natural landscape.
For more information or to book tickets, visit the Warwickshire Country Parks Eventbrite Page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/warwickshire-country-parks-17229016764
Visit Warwickshire Libraries this Easter for plenty of activities for children and grown-ups to enjoy!
Warwickshire County Council’s libraries are encouraging children and families to get involved in all the fun events and activities available to Warwickshire’s local communities this Easter.
The activities include Storytime with Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, Kate’s Storytree event that celebrates the start of spring, as well as opportunities to get involved in creative spring crafts, fabric bowl making for adults, and family learning sessions with Dogs Trust.
Waterstones Children’s Laureate (2022-2024) and award-winning performance poet, playwright, and children’s author, Joseph Coelho, is visiting Nuneaton Library on Wednesday 12 April as part of his nationwide ‘Library Marathon’. During his visit Joseph will read and perform to children in the library as well as register for a library card and borrow a book. His tour is championing local libraries, the vital role they play within their communities, and helping to inspire a love of reading in young people. To enjoy a children’s Storytime session with Joseph Coelho, book your free place on Eventbrite.
Kate’s Storytree session, ‘Jumping into Spring’, will be taking place at Rugby Library on 6 April. The session is all about celebrating the start of the new spring season with stories of cunning foxes and curious birds, followed by children creating and making their own birds to take home afterwards. To book your free place, visit the Eventbrite webpage.
Ideal for families with children aged 4-11 years, join actors from theatre company Highly Sprung to explore libraries through the immersive adventure story “Storm”. Children are encouraged to think creatively whilst making new discoveries about our beautiful planet, from oceans and seas to the forests and trees, which is shared through a funny but thought-provoking piece of children’s theatre. Available at Atherstone Library on 11 April, Southam Library on 13 April, and Kenilworth Library on 14 April, performances begin at 10am, 12 noon, and 2pm and will be available to drop-in with no pre-booking required. Find out more on the Eventbrite webpage.
Suitable for children aged 7+ years, join Dogs Trust Education and Community Officer, Sarah Saunders, at multiple library locations for a free family fun workshop! Each session will teach attendees about safe behaviour with dogs and how to act responsibly around our four-pawed friends. Please note there will be no dogs in attendance, but booking for these events is essential. To find out more and book your place, visit the Eventbrite webpage.
Warwickshire Libraries will also be hosting a number of fun spring craft activities where children can create decorative spring-themed pieces to take home. To find which spring craft sessions are near you, visit the Eventbrite webpage.
Regular children’s activities will also continue throughout the Easter holidays including Rhyme Time, Story Stomp, and Lego Club. Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/childrensactivities to find out which activities are happening at your local library this Easter, or you can keep up-to-date by signing up to the Warwickshire Libraries newsletter.
For ore information please read here.