Support and guidance for early years providers post Covid-19

Managers meetings, facilitated by the Warwickshire Early Years TSA, are an opportunity for managers, practitioners and childminders to hear the most current information from the local authority on safeguarding, funding and Ofsted as well as being a valuable forum for sharing best practice and improving access to support and guidance for those working in the Early Years.  

These meetings are proving extremely popular and for the autumn term these will now be held online via Microsoft Teams - making it even easier to attend as there's no travelling involved!

Settings are now able to book more than two members of staff to attend the meeting with all places being offered free of charge.

Five different dates, one for each geographical area in Warwickshire, are on offer for the autumn term (Sept/Oct), however if you are unable to attend the meeting for your area you are able to book a date/time that is more suitable for you.

The theme of the autumn term meetings will be 'Support and guidance for providers post Covid-19.'

For further information and to book your place visit: www.warwickshireearlyyears.co.uk/book-online

Paediatric First Aid Training Level 3

Warwickshire Early Years is providing Paediatric First Aid training (Level 3 award) to early years staff to equip them with the vital skills to save a life should they need to, which in the current climate is more important than ever.

Training is delivered by MDD First Aid and despite being done virtually via Zoom, will still include practical elements, such as being able to demonstrate CPR.

Two start dates are currently available: 4 July and 1 August 2020.

For further information and to book please visit: www.warwickshireearlyyears.co.uk/book-online

Reception baseline assessment

In response to the 2017 primary assessment consultation, the government announced plans to introduce a statutory reception baseline assessment (RBA) in autumn 2020. Due to the challenging circumstances faced by schools in the context of the covid-19 pandemic, statutory introduction of the RBA has been postponed to Autumn 2021. Instead, schools have the opportunity to sign up to the RBA Early Adopter year.

Please find the guidance here.  

Help to protect against serious vaccine-preventable diseases

Help to avoid a resurgence in serious vaccine-preventable diseases 

During Covid-19 our GPs have reported a drop in attendance for pregnancy and childhood vaccinations across Warwickshire.   

Good vaccination coverage is essential to avoid a local resurgence of serious vaccine-preventable diseases, such a Measles and Meningitis, which could have a major impact on women, children and vulnerable groups, as well as placing a significant pressure on our local NHS.  

Of particular concerns is the risk of a Measles outbreak, as the vaccination rate in Warwickshire prior to the Covid-19 pandemic was low: in 2018/19 MMR 2nd dose coverage was 88.1% in Warwickshire, lower than the 95% required for herd immunity. 

As an important route to many of our families, your support in raising awareness of this concerning issue would be greatly appreciated.  

Please see below a drafted article that could be included in your newsletter, and click here [https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/carryonvaccinating] to access print ready posters for display and notice boards.  

 

Suggested article - Help to protect against serious vaccine-preventable diseases 

During Covid-19 local GPs have reported a drop in the uptake of pregnancy, infant and pre-school booster vaccinations in Warwickshire.  

Attending routine vaccination appointments is important, as it helps to stop an outbreak of serious vaccine-preventable diseases such as Measles, Meningitis and whooping cough.  

If you are pregnant or have a young children, it’s important that you continue to attend your scheduled vaccination appointments on time. If you cancelled these appointments during lockdown, please rebook now.  

Your GP surgery will have all the necessary precautions in place to keep you and your child safe from COVID-19. If you have any questions about the steps they have put in place, why not talk to the receptionist to help ease your concerns. 

Attending your routine vaccination appointments not only protects you and your children from very serious illnesses, but also protects more vulnerable people who would be at very great risk if they were to contract these diseases.  

If you’re unsure about the schedule and when vaccinations are due, check your child’s Red Book or visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/nhs-vaccinations-and-when-to-have-them/ 

 

An update on Team Teach training

As a result of the pandemic, a significant amount of courses from Team Teach training have been postponed. Following advice taken from Team Teach National the following catch-up plan has now been released. If circumstances change again Team Teach are in a position to respond accordingly.

Autumn term 2020

Priority will be to re-book postponed refresher training to ensure that trained schools maintain their three year accreditation. We will also book and deliver any refresher training that is due, to avoid further schools lapsing. Contact will be made with the schools to which this applies.

Spring term 2021

Priority will be for those schools which are due to refresh and to re-book postponed six hour training. At this point, new six hour training courses may start to be booked.

Summer 2021

Priority will be for those schools which are due to refresh. It is hoped that by this time the usual six hour training days and open courses will be on offer too.

Vanessa Gilbert (Strategic Lead for Team Teach Warwickshire) has been in touch:

"We appreciate that you and your staff may be anxious about undertaking this training in the future. We have taken advice from Team Teach National and please be reassured that all training will be delivered adhering to all Covid secure requirements."

Please contact Julia Jessup (juliajessup@warwickshire.gov.uk) for further information.

Time to Read is returning for 2020

Time to Read aims to get primary school starters reading more often with their families.

Each year Booktrust gifts a free book pack to every reception child in England. This year Booktrust will continue to deliver directly to schools in the autumn term from September. Aftercare support will be available from September to December to help schools order any additional numbers.  

Given current circumstances timings may change.  

For more information, please visit the 'Time to Read' page on the Book Trust website or contact Deborah Hateley: deborahhateley@warwickshire.gov.uk

 

Updated Psychological First Aid (PFA) Training Module

An updated training module from PFA is now available.

On 15 June, Public Health England (PHE) launched an updated Psychological First Aid (PFA) training module, aimed at all front-line and essential workers and volunteers.

The course teaches the key principles of giving psychological first aid in emergencies and aims to increase awareness and confidence to provide this support to people affected by Covid-19.

The course is free, and no previous qualifications are required. By the end of the course, outcomes will include:

• understanding how emergencies like the Covid-19 pandemic can affect us
• recognising people who may be at increased risk of distress
• understanding how to offer practical and emotional support.

Access the course via the Future Learn website here.

CSW Virtual School Games - winners and new Olymp-mix challenge!

Think Active has been setting schools in Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire the challenge of competing in their virtual school games challenges, with an exciting programme of sporting competition running throughout the summer term.

The challenges give all children the chance to represent their school team and prizes are up for grabs for the top individuals and schools in each challenge.

Schools across all three areas have really got stuck in to the challenges and the most recent Basketball challenge saw a record-breaking 3,482 participants from 153 schools!

Warwickshire schools in particular have made some fantastic efforts in the last three weeks of the games with plenty of prizes being awarded to our pupils for individual performances and to the schools with the highest percentage of participants by the end of each challenge.

Congratulations to the following schools for winning their category for the highest participation across the tennis, dance and basketball challenges:

Austrey CE Primary - Tennis, Dance and Basketball (Primary)

Myton School - Tennis (Secondary)

Campion School - Basketball (Secondary)

Arden Fields School - Tennis (Special school)

Round Oak School - Basketball (Special school)

From Monday 29 June to Friday 10 July Think Active will be running the Olymp-Mix competition! Schools will have two weeks to complete four challenges in football, volleyball, athletics and gymnastics. 

For more information check out the Think Active School Games Virtual Challenge webpage. You'll find details of the School Games Organisers for each area and how to enter.

Follow @ThinkActiveCSW to keep updated and get involved by sharing your photos and videos!

Ridgeway and Round Oak Schools amalgamation approved

On 14 May 2020, Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet approved the amalgamation of two existing special schools in Warwick - Ridgeway School and Round Oak School.

The decision was made following a public consultation which ran from 9 March to 3 April 2020. It brings central Warwickshire in line with other parts of the county by joining the primary and secondary schools together to form one all-through special school based across the two school sites.

In response to feedback received during the consultation, the Council consulted with pupils and parents to come up with a new name for the school.

The Evergreen School, as it will be known from September 2020, will be situated on the two existing sites, with primary aged pupils mostly based at Deansway and secondary aged pupils at Brittain Lane.

Evergreen School’s newly appointed headteacher, Nick Evans, who is excited by the new challenge said:

“Our focus is on developing an outstanding all age curriculum framework that meets the individual needs of the pupils as outlined in their EHCPs, that can be delivered over the two sites. I am eager to support the County Council’s vision in supporting SEND provision in mainstream schools and resource bases, building on the outreach support that Ridgeway School has been able to offer over the last 12 months.”

“The school is now full for September, which is fantastic news as there has been an increased demand for special school places due to property development over the last few years in central Warwickshire.”

Evergreen School is currently in the process of preparing for September and developing a new website.

New service offer to academies and MATs from WES

Warwickshire Education Services (WES) has launched their new service offer to academies and multi-academy trusts for September 2020. The service offer provides a number of new services, including:

GEMS Compliance Audit

New audit of an academy's compliance against the DfE's Good Estate Management Guide for Schools (GEMS) providing:

• Position reports for individual academies and trust
• Action plans for individual academies and trust
• Presentation for SLT detailing the overall estate position relating to compliance

Employee Wellbeing Support Service

For only £10 per person, this service offers unlimited counselling and therapy sessions for staff based on the assessed, individual requirement and is supported by a 24/7 helpline for employees.

HR Consultancy Service

WES have enhanced the range of services available for bespoke HR consultancy support. HR Consultancy Support is available for subscribing and non-subscribing schools and can be purchased upon request.

Schools Library Service (SLS)

• The new Reading for Pleasure subscription supports wider reading within your school and provides access to a range of SLS reading events.
• The new Pods subscription for psimary Schools provides you with an annual provision of reading for pleasure books.

If you would like to discuss any of these services please contact James Long on 01926 418175 or email jameslong@warwickshire.gov.uk

All academy subscriptions will need to be processed through the WES website by 13 July 2020.

Schools Forum elections

Schools Forum elections for headteachers (or senior leadership representatives) and governors opened last Friday 19 June 2020. This is a great opportunity for you to make a difference in Warwickshire schools.

The role of The Schools Forum is to act as a consultative body with regard to a range of funding decisions as listed in the Warwickshire Schools Forum Terms of Reference and the Education and Skills Funding Agency publication 'Schools Forum Powers and Responsibilities'. 

If you are elected to Schools Forum you will be required to serve for a period of two years.

Elections will take place for representatives from primary schools, secondary schools and special schools, both maintained and academies.

The term of office for successful candidate’s will start in the summer term 2020. Meetings are held in Warwick, usually on a Thursday starting at 1pm and finishing around 3.30pm.

Future meetings dates

1 October 2020

3 December 2020

14 January 2021

18 March 2021

Further information and nomination papers

To view further information about the election process and for nomination forms please click the links below:

For mainstream headteachers

For mainstream governors

For special school headteachers

For special school governors

Deadline for nominations to be submitted is Friday 17 July.

For any queries, please email Neill Butler at schoolfunding@warwickshire.gov.uk.

Would you like to contribute to evidence-informed school improvement across the West Midlands?

The Staffordshire Research School is expanding its team and is looking to recruit a number of Evidence Leads in Education (ELE).

ELEs will be designated by Staffordshire Research School, supported by the Education Endowment Foundation and will contribute to evidence-informed school improvement across the West Midlands region.

Successful candidates will continue in their current roles, work in partnership with the Staffordshire Research School and be deployed to work with and support other schools, in agreement with their Headteacher.

Applications are welcomed from primary and secondary colleagues who have the capacity and commitment to support right across the West Midlands. 

Deadline for applications is Friday 3 July 2020.

Read more information about applying to become an ELE (pdf)

ELE application form (word)

WES service delivery update for all schools

Supporting young people transitioning from Year 11 into post 16

To help school leaders and careers leaders evaluate the support they are providing Year 11 students in their transition to post-16 destinations, here are some key questions for you to consider: 

A: What proportion of your current Year 11 have a known destination?

B: What numbers are you currently aware are transitioning into:

1. Further education college or other further education provider
2. School sixth form
3. Sixth form college
4. Other education destinations (special schools and special post-16 institutions, alternative provision, independent schools or colleges)
5. Apprenticeship
6. Employment with training
7. Employment without training
8. Not known

C: For those students who do have a planned post 16 destination:

• How is the school keeping in touch with these students to ensure they are prepared for this transition?
• What is the nature of the contact you have? What does it involve?
• Are you communicating with parents about this transition?
• Is your support for those with SEND, EHCPs or who are otherwise vulnerable, different, and if so, in what way?

D: For those students who do not have a planned destination after the end of Y11:

• What contact have you had with them?
• How are you supporting them to arrange a post 16 destination?
• What other support are they receiving?
• Are you in contact with parents?
• Is your support for those with SEND issues, EHCPs or who are otherwise vulnerable, different, and if so, in what way?

Further information about the support available from Prospects for 16 and 17 year olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) during Covid-19 is available in this Heads Up article.