WE3 Family of schools
School Admissions Service - Schools’ Questionnaire
As part of the Admissions Service review, we are seeking feedback from schools. We have put together a questionnaire, and would be grateful if you could fill it out.
Confirmation of WCC Mileage Rate from 1st April 2021
Further to the recent consultation period, it can now been confirmed that the WCC mileage rate for Community and Voluntary schools from the 1st April 2021 will come into line with the HMRC approved tax-free amount, which is currently 45p for the first 10,000 miles and then 25p thereafter.
For Academies and Foundation schools, who are able to set their own mileage rates, it is encouraged that you consider bringing your rate in line with the HMRC tax approved rate. If we are your payroll provider, you will need to either raise a request through the Hornbill or by email to hrandpayroll@warwickshire.gov.uk. If we are not your payroll provider, you will need to let your payroll provider know.
Reducing Parental Conflict - E-Learning
Warwickshire is now ready to roll out their Reducing Parental Conflict Practitioner E-Learning training offer (funded by the DWP)
Latest reports suggest that lockdown has led to an increase in parental conflict. This can affect children’s outcomes in the long term, so there is a real strategic focus on supporting families across the public sector during lockdown. Reducing Parental Conflict (RPC) Training has been developed to equip you to identify, discuss and equip parents to reduce and resolve conflict.
This training is designed to support anyone working with families in building awareness and developing the confidence, knowledge and skills to work with parents to reduce conflict and drive more positive outcomes.
Reducing Parental Conflict E-Learning
The e-learning has been designed and tested by a wide range of specialists and stakeholders to ensure it provides a sound and rounded grounding in the area of reducing parental conflict and the 4 RPC modules. Each module takes approximately 45 minutes to complete and the e-learning can be repeated or revisited as often as you like and is accessible for 6 months.
Who is this training for:
These modules are designed as part of an awareness programme exploring the evidence base for parental conflict and its impact on children. Open to a wide range of participants including frontline practitioners, senior leaders, voluntary groups and service designers or commissioners working in a variety of roles across the reach of Local Authorities and associated organisations, for whom increased awareness will lead to greater identification of opportunities for early intervention.
What you’ll learn:
Module 1: Understanding parental conflict and its impact on child outcomes
Module 2: Recognising and supporting parents in parental conflict
Module 3: Working with parents in conflict showcasing a series of tools that can be used to work with parents, encouraging behaviour change and promoting positive communication
Module 4: The role of supervisors and managers in managing people to address parental conflict
To register your interest for you or your colleagues please click on this link Reducing Parental Conflict - E-learning Booking Form
SACRE Annual Report
The latest annual report on the work of Warwickshire Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) has recently been published and is available to read on the SACRE website Annual Report for SACRE 2019/2020
SACRE is a statutory body convened by the Local Authority (LA) to offer advice in relation to quality, standards and progress of Religious Education and Collective Worship in community schools.
It is a statutory requirement that SACRE produces an annual report detailing their activities. The report must be sent to the Secretary of State for Education as well as to key partners, including schools and councillors.
The main purpose of the report is to hold the LA to account, by informing the Secretary of State and key partners what advice SACRE gave the LA during the year and how that was responded to. This includes advice on RE and Collective Worship in those schools for which the LA has responsibility.
You can find more information about the work of the group on the SACRE Website
National Careers Week Resources
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This popup #NCW2020 site holds quick links to all the resources you need to get started with your Careers Week planning & activities.
ncw2020.co.uk
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Skills Builder Benchmark is an online self-assessment tool where you can discover your essential skills strengths and areas for improvement. It is a useful, reflective tool for anyone who would like to learn more about themselves and be able to talk confidently about their skillset.
ncw2020.co.uk
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A celebration of kindness and support shown by the community during the Pandemic
Educational Visit Support
In preparation for when schools are able to return to Educational Visits there is some information we wanted to share with you. Please note the latest government advice as at 22 February 2021 remains unchanged. ‘They advise against all educational visits at this time. This advice will be kept under review’.
New Warwickshire County Council Educational Visits Policy
Whilst there aren’t any significant changes, we would suggest familiarising yourself with the new policy before undertaking your next educational visit. It is worth noting that the new policy reflects the updated school emergency planning guidance from the CSW Resilience Team. As you should already be aware the updated documents encourage schools to use the resources released by the Department for Education, along with updated local guidance and templates produced by the CSW Resilience Team. CSW Resilience Team will no longer support and update the EASEE package.
Training requirements
All EVC’s should be formally trained with update training every 3 years.
EVC’s should provide Visit Leaders with annual training (formal or informal).
Visit leader training can be in-house led by the EVC or by the Educational Visits Adviser. The M-learning Visit Leader Training module is directly available to our Juniper Education Schools. For this, any CPD Visits Training should be logged on the staff ‘profile’ on your EVOLVE system (Access for all WCC Maintained and subscribed VA and non-maintained schools) We are currently offering on-line modules and webinar meeting training due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Our EVOLVE partners are offering free training on EVOLVE for all our maintained and subscribed schools on Thursday 3th. March : - For details and to register for the 09:30 session, please click here - To register for the 16:00 session, please click here
Of course, while you are booking your EVOLVE webinar, please feel free to book any, or all, of our other webinars. They are suitable for both existing users and those looking to add new skills to their EVOLVE repertoire.
If you would like to take advantage of these webinars, please click HERE to select the session that would suit you.
School Educational Visits Policy
There is an expectation that all Warwickshire maintained schools have their latest school visits policy uploaded onto the EVOLVE system. Please can we ask that schools check that their latest policy is available and upload it where applicable. An Exemplar 2021 School Visits Policy can be found HERE
You can upload the updated policy by deleting the exiting policy and then adding the new one – or if no current policy uploaded, then just add a new policy – for help on how to do this Log onto EVOLVE and go to the Help Centre - click HERE (EVC / Head Starter guide – Chapter 17 )
Contact details held on Evolve
To ensure that you do not hold information on EVOLVE contrary to GDPR requirements please can we ask that you update EVOLVE with your current Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC) and Office / Finance support contact. This also helps enable us to communicate with the correct school contact. Emails reminders have also recently been sent out in relation to this.
If you do not currently subscribe to this service, are a non-maintained school and are interested in our support service to ensure you meet your statutory requirements please contact: educational.visits@junipereducation.org or look at the Useful links for more details. https://junipereducation.org/educational-visits/
FIS Newsletter
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Working together to deliver a successful Census 2021
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The Office for National Statistics – which runs Census 2021 – is working with Warwickshire County Council to deliver a successful census and help local services to fully meet future needs.
Understanding the needs of the nation helps everyone from central government to local organisations, such as councils and health authorities, plan and fund public services across England and Wales. Census outputs inform where public funding is spent on services like transport, education and health – on cycle routes, schools and dental surgeries.
The census, taking place on 21 March 2021, will shed light on the needs of different groups and communities, and the inequalities people are experiencing, ensuring the big decisions facing the country following the coronavirus pandemic and EU exit are based on the best information possible.
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Teaching your children at home during lockdown
We understand how difficult it can be to help your child learn whilst juggling working from home, managing the home, feeding the kids and more. Family Lives has compiled some top tips that can help you and your family make this experience less stressful. |
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Nuneaton, Bedworth & North Warwickshire Early Breastfeeding Support Service
Do you want to find out more about breastfeeding? Are you pregnant or have a baby under 8 weeks old? Do you live in Nuneaton, Bedworth or North Warwickshire?
The Early Breastfeeding Support Service is available to support you via a Facebook Group or over the phone. The purpose of the group is to share information, ask questions and seek advice and reassurance from your fellow breastfeeders.
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Green Shoots Community Climate Change Fund 2021
The Warwickshire County Council Green Shoots Community Climate Change Fund provides grant funding to community projects to mitigate against, and adapt to, the impact of climate change. It is aimed at community and voluntary organisations.
The fund is designed to support community projects and initiatives that aim to achieve the following:
- Increase the adaptability and resilience of Warwickshire to the effects of climate change
- Reduce impacts on the environment, particularly regarding climate change
- Ensure funded projects benefit the wider Warwickshire community
The fund is open to applications for projects which require investment of up to a maximum of £25,000. There is no minimum application value. |
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Warwickshire School Admissions Service: parent/carer feedback questionnaire
Warwickshire County Council is reviewing the way its School Admissions Service works. The aim is to ensure every child in Warwickshire is allocated a safe and purposeful place in an education setting as quickly as possible. As a parent or carer your feedback will play an important part in the redesign of the service to try and ensure your needs are met. Share your experience of the service, provide feedback and identify areas for development.
The survey is open until the 7th March 2021. All responses are anonymous.
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Arty Folks workshops for adults struggling with mental health
Arty-Folks is running free Creative Arts on Referral courses and workshops for adults at a low point in life and who are struggling with low to moderate mental health challenges in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Keep checking Arty-Folks website as new courses are added regularly and an extended programme will be launching after Easter.
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A short film to help bereaved children & families to understand grief
Child Bereavement UK has produced an animated short film to help bereaved children and families to understand their grief and how to manage it. Based on The Invisible Suitcase by Ian Woodroffe, the film uses the metaphor of an invisible suitcase to show how we all carry our experiences and emotions through life.
None of us can control how our ‘suitcase’ is packed and when it might spring open, with our emotions being triggered sometimes when we least expect, but we can learn how to react when this happens.
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Neurodevelopmental Diagnostic and Support Pathway - Engagement Survey
Dear All
we are writing to let you know about an engagement survey being launched for Coventry and Warwickshire professionals working with people with neurodevelopmental traits, autism and ADHD, and with their parents and carers. The purpose of this survey is to understand colleagues' experience of the diagnostic and support pathways, what works well, how support for families could be improved in the future, as well as whether there are any gaps in support and training available to professionals themselves.
The survey can be found HERE.
The closing date for responses is 10th March.
Fire safety in schools
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as a new team member with Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service. I started earlier this year as a Community Fire Safety Officer and am based within the Fire Prevention and Arson team at Bedworth fire station.
Going forward I will be involved with the design and delivery of the school programme for Years 1, 5 and 7 . Our aim is to develop children’s knowledge and understanding of fire safety behaviour and to provide them with survival skills in the event of a fire. The input for Key Stage 3 links fire safety awareness to the new National Curriculum subject of citizenship and draws directly from the KS3 Programme of Study. The scheme entitled FIRE! provides pupil and teacher guidance booklets for Year 7 pupils. A session is also delivered to each class by a Community Fire Safety Officer.
Due to the impact of Covid 19 the on site delivery of the education programme has been affected in order to comply with regulations and to keep everyone safe. Further to the roadmap announcement made on 22nd February it will soon be the right time to start returning to schools to continue with this valuable learning addition.
We would like to start to compiling a timetable and therefore ask you to please respond as soon as possible with available dates for the community team to visit your school to deliver the relevant presentations to each year group.
I look forward to hearing from you soon
Sara Beirne
Community Fire Safety Officer
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service
sarabeirne@warwickshire.gov.uk
Support sharing key COVID-19 messages
Support sharing key COVID-19 messages
The latest Government announcement has confirmed that children are due to return to school on 8 March. With this in mind, we want to share some key information and assets with schools to help promote and raise awareness of key behaviours to help keep us all safe.
As important links to so many in our communities we kindly request that you share these messages with your staff and families.
Resources for schools
A dedicated Resource for Schools section on the Stay Safe CSW website includes a list of resources for schools to support staff, pupils and parents, offering a range of information and links to support services.
The materials cover topics including:
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are being offered by the NHS through the planned cohorts. The vaccine can help to protect people from COVID-19, however, it cannot offer full protection therefore following social distancing guidance will still be important. Continuing to keep hands clean, wear a face covering and maintain a 2-metre distance from others is crucial to keeping us all safe.
Testing
Testing when people develop symptoms is vital to help track positive cases and their close contacts. Everyone, including those who have had a vaccine, need to self-isolate and get a test if they develop ANY COVID-19 symptoms; a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, a loss or change in sense of taste or smell.
Hands, face, space guidance
We all know the importance of Hands, Face, Space and how these steps can help to reduce transmission.
Mental health support
Supporting our young people with their mental health and wellbeing is incredibly important. COVID-19 has impacted mental health and wellbeing and it’s important that we encourage conversations about how we’re feeling. A range of services are available throughout the county to support young people with their mental health and wellbeing.
If you would like any further information or to be signed up to our weekly community engagement resource pack, please email headsup@warwickshire.gov.uk
Thank you for your continued support.
School Attendance Guidance from 8th March 2021
School Attendance
Schools coronavirus (COVID-19) operational guidance was issued on 22nd February 2021 and included updated information relating to school attendance.
Recording Attendance
School attendance will be mandatory for all registered pupils from 8th March 2021 and schools should record attendance in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended) for all pupils.
During the week commencing 8th March, pupils will be offered asymptomatic testing on site in secondary schools. Pupils who consent to testing should return to face-to-face education following their first negative test result. Pupils not undergoing testing should attend school in line with any phased return arrangements. Vulnerable children and children of critical workers in secondary schools should continue to attend school throughout, unless they receive a positive test result. Testing is voluntary, but strongly encouraged.
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Secondary school pupils awaiting asymptomatic testing and not expected to attend. This is during the week commencing 08th March 2021.
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Y |
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Pupils self-isolating or quarantining because of coronavirus (COVID-19) in accordance with relevant legislation or guidance published by PHE or the DHSC.
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X |
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Pupils undergoing test/awaiting results for COVID -19.
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X |
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Pupils unable to attend school following a visit to a country outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. This code should only be used for the days following the return to this country and not the period that they were out of the country.
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X |
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Non-compulsory school aged pupils not expected to attend school, e.g. as part of an integration plan.
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X |
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Enforced closure for school or group of pupils due to an unavoidable cause (i.e. snow day).
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Y |
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The advice for pupils who have been confirmed as clinically extremely vulnerable is to shield and stay at home as much as possible while shielding advice applies nationally. You will be able to request from parents a copy of the shielding letter sent to CEV children, to confirm that they are advised not to attend school or other educational settings whilst shielding guidance is in place.
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C |
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The Head Teacher agrees with the reason for absence and considers this an exceptional circumstance. This decision should take into account the specific facts, circumstances and relevant background and context.
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C |
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When a positive COVID test result is received.
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I |
| All other absences reported as illness. (Please see section below relating to medical evidence |
I |
| The Head Teacher is not satisfied for the reason provided for absence. At this time some families are experiencing challenging situations and so any discussion should be handled in a sympathetic, supportive and pragmatic way. Parents/carers should be informed if an absence in unauthorised |
O |
The DfE are aware of schools concerns regarding the impact of COVID-19 on school attendance figures but are clear that schools should continue to code in line with their guidance. The DfE will review and provide further advice to schools in due course on what should be included in pupils’ attendance records in end of year reports.
Medical Evidence
As normal, schools should not encourage parents to request unnecessary medical evidence such as doctors’ notes when their child is absent from school due to illness. It is especially important in the context of the pandemic and the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme. If evidence is required, it can take the form of prescriptions, appointment cards, text or email confirmation of appointments, etc. As usual, input from GPs should only be sought where there are complex health needs or persistent absence issues.
Remote Learning
Schools are required to provide remote education to pupils who are unable to attend because they are complying with government guidance or legislation around coronavirus (COVID-19). Schools should keep a record of this activity but do not need to record it in the attendance register.
Vulnerable Pupils
When a vulnerable pupil is required to self-isolate, schools should notify their social worker (if they have one) and agree the best way to maintain contact and offer support. Schools should have procedures in place to:
- check if a vulnerable pupil is able to access remote education support
- support them to access it (as far as possible)
- regularly check if they are accessing remote education
Encouraging regular school attendance
Some pupils, parents and households may be reluctant or anxious about attending school. Schools are advised to:
- discuss any concerns with parents and provide reassurance on the measures you are putting in place to reduce any risks
- continue to communicate clearly and consistently the expectations around school attendance to families and any other professionals who work with the family where appropriate.
- remind parents that pupils of compulsory school age must be in school unless a statutory reason applies.
- identify pupils who are reluctant or anxious about attending or who are at risk of disengagement and develop plans for re-engaging them. This may include disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people, pupils who were persistently absent prior to the pandemic and pupils who have not engaged with school regularly during the pandemic
To support families who will need additional help to secure pupils’ regular attendance, schools can use the catch-up funding, existing pastoral, support services, attendance staff and pupil premium funding.
If families require additional support:
- Family Information Service - fis@warwickshire.gov.uk - 01926 742274
- Early Help and Targeted Support - Family Support Service - 01926 412412
Additional Attendance Support
Should you require any additional support regarding school attendance, please contact the Warwickshire Attendance Service:
Agenda for Spring Term Headteachers' Conference (4th March 2021)
next Thursday 4th March 2021 (2.00pm – 3.45pm) and will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams. To join the conference on the day, please click on the below link:
Spring Term 2021 Headteachers' Conference 04.03.2021
The focus of this term’s conference will be wellbeing for headteachers and school staff. Please find below agenda with further details. We hope you will be able to join us.
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Programme
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Lead
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2.00pm
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Welcome & Conference Opening
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Ian Budd
Assistant Director - Education Services, Warwickshire County Council
Councillor Izzi Seccombe OBE
Leader, Warwickshire County Council
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2.10pm
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Being the Leader You Set Out To Be
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James Pope
Director - InspirEducate
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2.40pm
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Headteacher Experiences – Impact of Coaching
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Katie Gane, Headteacher, Priors Field Primary School
Dan Powell, Headteacher, Claverdon Primary School
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2.45pm
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Relaxing Teams
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Lorella Medici, CEO of Arty Folk
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2.55pm
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Wellbeing Policy and Toolkit Launch
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Introduction: Jane Le Poidevin, Headteacher, Paddox Primary School
Sue Casey, Delivery Lead, Governor Services
Margot Brown, School Improvement Lead Commissioner
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3.05pm
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Employee Wellbeing Service / EAP
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Jodie Moore, Vita Health Group (WCC Employee Assistance Programme Provider)
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3.15pm
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Headteacher Experience – Supporting Staff Wellbeing
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Hayden Abbott, Headteacher, Kenilworth School
Jen Roberts, Headteacher, Oak Wood Primary School
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3.25pm
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Further sources of support
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Margot Brown, School Improvement Lead Commissioner
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3.30pm
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Closing Remarks
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Mark Ryder
Strategic Director for Communities, Warwickshire County Council
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3.40pm
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Close
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Ian Budd
Assistant Director - Education Services, Warwickshire County Council
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Wrap Around and Out of School Club Provision
With the return to school for all pupils now being planned and the release updated guidance from the DfE around which school aged children will be able to attend out of school and wrap around services schools will need to consider service arrangements in readiness for 8th March.
In response to reduced demand during January and February some out of school services have either reduced their offer or closed. To ensure that provision will be available for the wider demand created with the full return to school we would recommend that contact is made with service providers to agree any reopening work, confirming service delivery and implementing joint measures to protect the wellbeing of all.
It may not be possible for out of school and wrap around providers to commit to meeting the same bubble arrangements as per those implemented by schools. However, with joint working and shared risk assessments, alongside the government guidance, services can be provided for those children that require them. Specific criteria are in place to inform which children can attend services as listed below with further information available for the access Easter School break.
Key criteria to enable parents / carers to access a place from 8th March are: -
- vulnerable children and young people
- other children, where the provision is:
- reasonably necessary to enable their parents and carers to work, search for work, undertake education or training, or attend a medical appointment or address a medical need, or attend a support group
- being used by electively home educating parents as part of their arrangements for their child to receive a suitable full-time education
- for the purposes of obtaining a regulated qualification, meeting the entry requirements for an education institution, or to undertake exams and assessments
It is to be predicted that there will be greater demand for children that require additional access to wrap around and out of school services under the vulnerable category with the ongoing increased impact of Covid linked to family pressures.
Where a school becomes aware that their usual out of school service provider is no longer available to deliver services from 8th March, schools may wish to consider delivery of the services themselves either on a temporary or permanent basis, or to link with a new provider or signpost families to Warwickshire Family Information Service to access alternative services within the locality e.g. childminder services.
To access help, support and advice with out of school provision contact the Early Years (and Childcare) Sufficiency and Business Support Team who will be available to assist - earlyyears@warwickshire.gov.uk
Links to key documents: -
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=e0393ec7-fcce-4713-85cc-c7b009e73174&utm_content=daily
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-parents-and-carers-of-children-attending-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/guidance-for-parents-and-carers-of-children-attending-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak
Teenagers and Young People are Among Those More at Risk of Food Allergy Reactions
A campaign to help young people manage their food allergies has been launched by the Food Standards Agency.
Living with a food allergy can affect people in different ways. Having a food allergy can pose extra challenges to daily tasks and have unexpected impacts on new experiences.
For teenagers and young adults with a food allergy, navigating the new experiences that come with these stages of life can bring about extra risks.
Research shows that children and young people are at a higher risk of experiencing food allergy reactions. And while many are confident about managing their food allergy in general, they are less likely to tell a café or restaurant about their allergy, particularly if they have eaten a meal from the same place before.
It’s because of this that the FSA
#SpeakUpForAllergies campaign aims to encourage young people to always speak to the restaurant about their food allergies, even if it's a meal they've had before. Never assume a meal will be safe, as ingredients can change.
For advice for young allergy suffers eating out in restaurants or ordering take-aways, visit: https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/advice-for-teenagers-and-young-adults-with-a-food-allergy
Simon Cripwell, Senior Trading Standards Officer, Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards
How can we best support students with additional needs in the online world?
Please find details and attached of a new Online Safety course that has been set up in collaboration with Walsall CC Education Support Services to support students with additional needs.
It will run over 2 one hour sessions (Online via MS Teams) 16th March 2021 and 23rd March 2021 (2 - 3pm). The cost is only £50 to attend.
As these are remote sessions, we will need the direct email address of the delegate so they can be invited onto the relevant session which will be emailed to the delegate nearer the date of the course.
How can we best support students with additional needs in the online world?
Course overview
NEW COURSE - Welcoming guest presenter Carol Allen
Carol Allen is an education advisor for ICT and Inclusion in particular supporting LGFL and Hartlepool LA. Carol was named as one of the top ten educators for 2018 in the field of educational technology for her inclusion work.
This course will start from the premise that access to the online world is for everyone whilst acknowledging that for those with additional needs there are a greater range of potentially harmful issues to be considered.
As educators, how can we work to prepare our students to maintain their safety online; manage their digital identity and enjoy the benefits of the Internet without putting themselves at risk?
There are few specific resources designed especially for these instances, and with good reason as the label of SEND or additional needs is so far from being a homogenous group. However, the course will look at what we can use in terms of resources, activities and good practice to support our students effectively.
Why not come along and join the conversation?​
Venue: Online Course
Time: 2 - 3pm
Session 1 16th March 2021
and
Session 2 23rd March 2021
Cost: £50.00
This course is in collaboration with Walsall CC Education Support Services