WE1 Early Years

Department for Education - National Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) profile results 2018

The national EYFS profile data shows that EYFS attainment continues to improve. Overall attainment has increased compared to 2017 across all measures. 

WE2 An Empowering Curriculum

Closing the Gap/Headteachers' Conference - 15 November

There is still time to book before 5 November!

Over 90 delegates are already booked to attend the Closing the Gap conference on 15 November at Coombe Abbey, 8.30am - 3.30pm. 

Please note that the termly Headteachers' Briefing will be combined with the Closing the Gap conference this term.

The conference will share early findings and evidence of impact from the DfE Strategic School Improvement Fund ‘Narrowing the Gap’ project. The morning session offers the opportunity to hear from the schools who have led on each strand and from colleagues working in the named SSIF schools about the work they’ve undertaken, along with the impact it has had on this group of children and young people.

After lunch there will be an opportunity to hear from our guest speaker, Sir John Dunford, National Pupil Premium Champion 2013-15.

The conference will finish with updates from colleagues in the Education and Learning team. 

Who should attend?

Headteachers of SSIF 1 schools. Please note due to venue restrictions this invitation is for Heads or their senior representatives only.
 
Who else is invited to attend?

All Warwickshire headteachers are welcome to attend. There are several options for attendance for those  wishing to attend the morning session, full day or afternoon sessions only - please tick the relevant section on the booking form to help us with all aspects of planning and catering.

How to book

Please book your place using the online booking form by Monday 5 November.

Essential training for school staff on Child Sexual Exploitation

Child Sexual Exploitation - 1 day training course - Monday 12 November 2018

We are strongly encouraging you to review whether safeguarding, curriculum and pastoral leads in your school/setting have accessed this essential and high quality training in order to equip staff and students with the knowledge and awareness they need to identify CSE, risk factors, vulnerability and provide requisite support.

Due to increased demand, Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB) have added a further date to the multi-agency 1 day training course, Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) - Responsibilities, Reporting and Responding to CSE.

The course is free to attend and is available to staff and volunteers who work with children and families in Warwickshire.  The training course will take place at Rugby Fire Station on Monday 12 November from 9.30am until 4.30pm.  

All bookings for courses are made using the learning platform WILMA and, in line with booking conditions will require line manager approval. Should you have any queries regarding making a booking or about the course, please contact either:

Jackie Kerby - jackiekerby@warwickshire.gov.uk
Sophie Parkes - sophieparkes@warwickshire.gov.uk

If your staff are unable to attend on the 12 November, please contact Jackie Kerby to identify alternative dates.

Additional support

Focused support in terms of staff training and the use of excellent curriculum resources in respect of CSE is also available to schools from Katy Shipley, Barnardos Project Worker.  Katy can be contacted on 07702 338667 or at katy.shipley@barnardos.org.uk

Our Families, Our Future safeguarding events

Latest news from the Department for Education

• Ofsted reveals new judgement areas for 2019 framework.

• Education Secretary vows to take action on school exclusions.

WE3 Family of schools

The Education Challenge Board

The Education Challenge Board is completing its first round of meetings for the new academic year. As discussed in earlier articles, our focus is very much upon overall strategy and trying to bring all parts of the education landscape together in order to develop agreed strategies to help pupils in Warwickshire schools.

Amongst early topics under discussion have been some of the key performance indicators for Warwickshire schools. I would emphasise that we do not discuss individual schools, focusing instead upon broad trends and the way in which we can address the objectives identified in Warwickshire’s education strategy, particularly those in the WE3 section of the document. All of us agreed that there was much to celebrate in the performance indicators for all key stages and Warwickshire could be very encouraged by the way its performance compared with similar authorities elsewhere.

We spent some time discussing the important links between education achievement and pastoral provision, before also considering the important role that Special Educational Needs funding played in school improvement.

A particular theme of our discussion was the important role that funding played in school improvement and the need to allocate resources in a fair and equitable manner. Whilst some of these decisions relate to national policy, we will still try to offer constructive advice on local decisions about the allocation of funds to Warwickshire Schools.

The Education Challenge Board continues to be a great example of how school leaders across the county can work together to make sure our pupils get the best possible deal.

Opportunity to shape Warwickshire Education App

In 2019 a new App will be developed to promote the success of Warwickshire schools in relation to WE1, 2, 3 and 4, the four key priorities set out in the education strategy. The Business Improvement team for Education are currently working on this and will be meeting with WCC ICT Services in November to discuss the feasibility of the different options for the App.

To ensure that all aspects of the education strategy continue to be co-produced we want to invite Headteachers and/or Senior Leaders to a focus group next month. This is a good opportunity to be involved in the development of a product, designed to celebrate the work you're doing and your input is invaluable for ensuring maximum impact. 

The focus group will look at the accreditations within the App for which we will be celebrating and ensure that the App delivers the outcomes we all desire.

At this stage we do not have a date for the focus group as this will be dictated by availability of those who have an interest in being involved but will likely be at the start of December for a couple of hours.

Please can you indicate if this is something you may be interested in or would like more information about by 7 November 2018. We can then contact you with updates. 

Many of you have already contributed to the attached list of accreditations that you would like to see your schools recognised for. Even if you are unable to attend a focus group please do feel free to add to this list by sending an email.

Contact for both registering interest for the App focus group and for accreditation suggestions: Hannah Heath el-businessimprovement@warwickshire.gov.uk

Link to accreditations

Creating and maintaining Outstanding - CPD event

DfE: Provisional 2017-18 GCSE results

Provisional data for GCSE and equivalent results: 2017 to 2018 was released last week and shows an increase in pupils achieving grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE. 

Provisional GCSE and equivalent results in England, 2017 to 2018

WE4 Employability

Capability and Capacity Grant 2018 / 2019

In May 2018 a new Capability & Capacity grant was made available for the 2018/19 academic year to enable schools and colleges to implement the new national Careers strategy.

The deadline for applications to this fund is 31 October 2018. 

The guidance and application form are available in the grant funding area of the website here.

Please note that any proposed activity must contribute to the development of the school / college capabilities or capacity to provide enhanced careers support for several years. Activity such as pupil visits and the purchase of annual careers software licences are not eligible as it is not sustainable without further funding.

Headteacher required for new Employability and Skills Board

The council is establishing a new board to champion employability and skills development for residents of all ages to enable them to make informed and effective career choices. The board will shape a new all-age Careers Strategy for the county and enable achievement of priority WE4 in the Warwickshire Education Strategy 2018-2023. Board meetings will take place quarterly in Warwick with the first one to be held on 5 November 2 pm - 4 pm.

If you wish to join the board please e-mail glennrobinson@warwickshire.gov.uk. If more than one Headteacher wishes to join, membership will be alternated accordingly.