Celebrating Warwickshire’s Family of Schools
Funding opportunity for education settings to develop mental health in the curriculum
Warwickshire County Council is inviting education settings in the area to apply for one-off funding from a new grant being made available to support children and young people's mental health and wellbeing.
The Mental Health Curriculum in Education Settings Grant, which opens on 4 January 2022, is aimed at supporting maintained nurseries, schools and colleges to develop mental health initiatives within the curriculum to help children and young people build their resilience and improve their overall sense of positive wellbeing.
Maintained nurseries, primary and secondary schools, special schools and colleges within Warwickshire will be eligible to submit a bid for funding, which will be used to achieve the following outcomes:
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Children and young people will be supported to set their own mental wellbeing goals, focussing on their strengths and abilities
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Staff will be supported to develop their confidence in delivering a mental health curriculum
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Education settings will have a comprehensive and accessible mental health curriculum
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Education settings will have an environment that supports positive mental wellbeing
Bids can be submitted for the minimum amount of £500 up to the maximum of £2,000 per project. Settings will need to complete a short application form (available from 4 January 2021), answering two questions that will provide information about how they will use the funding to provide one of the following:
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Training and teaching resources (for example lesson plans, assemblies etc)
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Physical resources (for example models of the brain, yoga mats, wellbeing rooms etc)
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Staff time to be able to develop the resources and timetable
Settings can expect to receive the grant payment by the end of March 2022 and all funding must be spent within 12 months of being awarded. During this time, successful applicants will be required to provide at least two progress updates demonstrating how the funding has been used and its impact.
The first round of funding will open on Tuesday 4 January 2022 and closes on Monday 17 January 2022. Only one application per education setting can be made initially, however there may be an opportunity to apply for additional funding at a later date if not all of the money is allocated in the first round.
Statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms
On Friday 19 November the Department for Education published new statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms. The new guidance is available on GOV.UK.
School uniform should never be a burden for parents or a barrier to pupils accessing education. This guidance means that schools will have a legal duty to take steps to keep uniform costs down.
The guidance requires schools to think holistically about the cost of their school uniform and so covers a range of issues including branded items, supplier arrangements, and second-hand uniform. The guidance also sets out when schools are expected to implement the changes required.
The Department has also updated the wider non-statutory advice on developing and implementing a school uniform policy.
The Department has also produced a resource aimed at parents to help explain some of the key changes. Schools are invited to share this with their parents.
Chimp Management: Mind Management Skills for Life Programme
The Chimp Management: Mind Management Skills for Life programme is a tailor-made ‘CPD accredited’ online course that enables you to enhance your resilience, improve your communication skills, establish more productive relationships and gain insight into your mind, using The Chimp Model.
The programme provides practical support to understand The Chimp Model and to help improve individual mental and psychological well-being; is research based and has been developed by Professor Steve Peters (author of The Chimp Paradox). It explains and simplifies the neuroscience of the mind, helping participants to understand how their mind works, offering practical guidance and helping individuals better manage their mind.
The programme, starting in Spring 2022, is being FULLY FUNDED by Warwickshire LA (RRP £400pp), for Warwickshire school staff.
The programme has been designed to:
- Bring insight and awareness into how the mind works; through teaching about the neuroscience of the mind.
- Help participants apply this understanding of the mind, so they can manage their mind in a way that can optimise their quality of life.
- Bring insight into the way in which their mind is working and relate this to thoughts, behaviours and emotions
- Develop an emotional skills base to apply to their professional and personal lives
- Build confidence and self-esteem
- Approach personal and professional lives in a constructive and realistic way and improve morale
- Aid understanding of the way in which the mind of others works and use this to improve human interaction
- Develop skills to improve personal happiness, peace of mind, create a sense of purpose and belonging
- Prevent, remove or manage stress from perceived difficult situations both personally and professionally
All participants will also receive a COMPLIMENTARY COPY OF PROFESSOR STEVE PETERS LATEST BOOK ‘A PATH THROUGH THE JUNGLE’.
For more information about the programme please see the programme flyer or watch this short video from Professor Steve Peters.
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Gateway Alliance have worked in partnership with Chimp Management to trial the programme with schools and this is some of the feedback received:
“It has enabled me to understand people's reactions to situations, especially children’s, and deal with situations on a human level.”
“I have become more aware of myself and my own reactions & how I come across to others. And of course I now have a greater understanding of other people's behaviour.”
“I think the most helpful and amazing thing has been the truths and values on my stone of life. I am still working at focusing on these, but they have already helped me to genuinely stop worrying about the things that I cannot change. This is something that for the last 30 years I have really struggled with, so this has felt like a real breakthrough for me.”
“Working with some challenging children has enabled me to think deeper in what I want an outcome to be rather than just jump straight in.”
“I have been able to Identify the Chimp in me and it has been amazing for me personally to be able to notice a change in my thinking on a daily basis.”
“I have found the Skills for Life sessions both informative and highly engaging. It has given me time for personal reflection, and I am very mindful of my Chimp's responses! I also feel less self-critical and more accepting of myself/life. I have built in time first thing in the morning where I think through my day and potential 'situations' which could occur and reflect on these. I have found this to be very positive.”
SUMMARY…
What?
8 online workshops, delivered via Zoom.
When?
Starting in the spring term 2022, workshops will run every 2 weeks and take place 3:30-5:30pm. Sessions will NOT be recorded and we would ask that participants are able to commit to all 8 sessions.
Who?
This programme is for teachers or support staff working in Warwickshire schools. We would recommend that 2 members of staff from a school should attend. Places are limited to a maximum of 2 people per school.
How Much?
The programme is being funded for Warwickshire schools by Warwickshire County Council (RRP £400pp).
ACTION: To apply to join the programme please complete this form. Places are limited and will be offered on a first come first served basis.
This programme is being organised by the Gateway Alliance.
For more information please contact Helen Martin on martin.h@welearn365.com.
EEF’s ‘A Tiered Approach’ Primary Programme for Spring 2022
Following the presentation by EEF on their Tiered Approach the summer term headteacher conference we have worked with Staffordshire Research School and EEF to develope the attached programme. We are inviting senior leaders from two schools per primary consortia group to a short modular course focusing on:
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- The EEF’s Tiered Approach to School Planning (Updated Oct 2021)
- Disadvantaged and Post-Covid gaps
- The Updated EEF toolkit (Updated Sept 2021)
- ‘Putting Evidence to Work’ and effective implementation
The course is being fully funded by the LA with support for cover costs included. Represented schools will be asked to cascade the key programme content within consortia meetings.
Please find further details here with information on how to sign up.
Annual Christmas gift collection for local children in need
The Market Hall Museum team are appealing for donations to their annual collection of Christmas gifts for Warwickshire Children’s Services.
Over the last few years people have been very generous and it has been a highlight for the museum team to facilitate the collection.
If you would like to donate a Christmas present it can be dropped at the museum between 10am and 5pm Tuesday - Saturday. The collection will run between Wednesday 10th November – Saturday 11th December. Gifts must be new, unwrapped and suitable for ages 0-16.
If you require any more information, please contact victoriagoodall-barber@warwickshire.gov.uk
How schools and parents can spot and tackle online abuse of teachers
There has been coverage in the media of teachers and other school and college staff receiving abuse on social media platforms including TikTok and Instagram.
The Department of Education has put together an article where you can find out the facts about what online abuse is, what schools can do to tackle it, and what the DfE is doing to support schools.
Please continue reading here.
Bring joy to vulnerable children this Christmas by donating with the Family Information Service
Christmas, a time for giving, is very nearly upon us, and the Family Information Service (FIS) are continuing their tradition of working in partnership with the Salvation Army to deliver presents.
Each year, the Salvation Army run their Christmas Present Appeal, asking the public to donate new, unwrapped toys and gifts for children which are then distributed to children who might not otherwise receive a Christmas present.
The FIS team inform local Salvation Army centres of families that need support and help to distribute the presents to the family homes in time for Christmas. In December 2020, they referred 56 families and delivered presents to 148 children across the county – making Christmas day special and full of joy for children who may not otherwise receive a Christmas present.
The FIS team are the embodiment of Child Friendly Warwickshire, making sure families and their children are heard, safe, healthy, skilled and happy. This year, help the FIS team by donating new, unwrapped gifts for children aged between 0-16. Salvation Army will be collecting presents until mid-December.
Please read more here.
Warwickshire County Council shines a light on the right of carers on Carers Rights Day 2021
Warwickshire County Council is once again highlighting the rights of carers in Warwickshire for Carers Rights Day 2021 which will be on Thursday 25th November 2021. Covid-19 is proving difficult for everyone, non-more so than those with a caring responsibility, who may also have a full-time job and a family to support. We would like to encourage as many carers as possible to let their caring role be known so they can receive the right advice, information and support.
The key objective for the campaign is for carers to ‘Know their Rights’ and the council is keen to ensure carers know where to seek help and support and to raise awareness of the needs of our residents who look after family, neighbour or friend who couldn’t manage without their help.
Cllr Margaret Bell, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health said: “Warwickshire County Council is able to provide a statutory carers assessment to help provide carers with the help they need. Working with our partners from across Health and Social Care, we want to engage with as many carers, who don’t realise they can access help when providing a caring role. We encourage carers to get in touch with the Council, or our support services, so we can help them access the support and help they need.”
Carers should know where they can get help and support The Council and its partners can offer a wealth of support and guidance through localised community support. All of the essential support information is included in Warwickshire County Council’s Carers pack, which can be found on the Councils website at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/carers . Our main provision of support includes:
The Carer Wellbeing Service, www.carerstrusthofe.org.uk provided by Carers Trust, Heart of England, can provide wellbeing support, which allows the carer to receive guidance and advice on their individual situation. Carers can also access groups as well as support with contingency planning should the unexpected happen and they need to leave the cared for.
Warwickshire Young Carers https://www.warwickshireyoungcarers.org.uk/ is a charity which supports young carers across the county as well as providing access to groups and activities and work with schools to support our young people who support their families.
Parent Carer Support Pathway https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/carers/parent-carer-support-pathway is provided by the council’s Children with Disabilities Team who can support parents of children with SEND to access the right kind of support.
Carers should know their rights The services mentioned above would be able to support you to access the right assessment. Carers have the right to a statutory assessment of their need. By contacting the Adult Social Care Team at Warwickshire County Council they can help ensure access to services to fit around an individual’s caring responsibility. However, should you have any queries please contact customer services on 01926 410410 and they will be able to direct you to the right team.
Lastly, through campaigns such as this, we can all raise the awareness of the needs of carers. Caring can be isolating therefore its important to share support through group events such as joining a forum, such as Carers UK. Alongside likeminded people, carers have the opportunity to tell their story and make lasting friendships with others who have a caring responsibility. Informally, anyone can hold a virtual cuppa to highlight the issues of informal caring. To sign up to a national virtual cuppa go to https://www.mobiliseonline.co.uk/cuppa or alternatively, start your own with your friends and family.
Please get in touch today to find what support you or someone you know are entitled to by visiting, www.warwickshire.gov.uk/carers
Alternatively, please contact our carer support services:
Period product scheme for schools and colleges in England
The period product scheme is available to all state maintained schools and 16 to 19 education organisations in England. It provides free period products to learners who need them in their place of study. The scheme is available for organisations to order until July 2022.
To make sure organisations have access to a wide range of period products in the most cost-effective and efficient way, we have a contract with Personnel Hygiene Services Limited (phs). This allows you to order period products and have them delivered when you need them.
This guidance contains information on:
- choosing and ordering period products
- distributing products within institutions
- tackling stigma
Please continue reading here.