Launch of the new Warwickshire Education Strategy (2018- 2023) and web pages
We are pleased to share that the Education Strategy was approved by Council on 26 July and implementation from 1 September has gone ahead as planned.
We have produced some new web pages with further information about the strategy and how it will be delivered, including information about the various boards and structures already set up or being implemented that will contribute to its delivery. Please have a look and let us know what you think, we would welcome any feedback to be sent to el-businessimprovement@warwickshire.gov.uk. We would also encourage you to share the link to these pages in your next school newsletter and with all school staff, you may also want to provide a link from your school website.
Education Strategy web pages: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/educationstrategy
Information sharing with WCC – Your Perspective Lite Account
All schools should now have received an email from the Perspective support team containing a link to activate their Perspective Lite account which will give you access to data and information shared with you by WCC.
For support in using the system you can contact the Angel Solutions support team via the online chat facility or by email perspectivesupport@angelsolutions.co.uk; Tel: 0845 129 7196. WCC will be making arrangements to demonstrate the system to headteachers.
If you haven’t received your account details from the Perspective support team or if you have any other questions around Warwickshire’s intended use of the system please contact: el-businessimprovement@warwickshire.gov.uk
Sending of final EHCPs to educational establishments
In response to requests from headteachers asking for quicker communications, from the 1 October SENDAR will be issuing all final Education, Health and Care Plans to educational establishments electronically via WeLearn or Egress email addresses. This will allow us to send out plans securely during periods of school closure and provide evidence of the date of issue.
Department for Education – latest news
Pay rises and teachers’ pay grant details confirmed
The final version of the 2018 School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD), alongside initial information about how the teachers’ pay grant will be calculated for the upcoming year has been published.
STPCD: www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-teachers-pay-and-conditions
How the teachers’ pay grant will be calculated: www.gov.uk/government/publications/teachers-pay-grant-methodology/teachers-pay-grant- methodology
Workload Toolkit
In July the government published the workload toolkit and video on curriculum planning – both of which can be found here. The teacher workload team is keen to receive feedback on the toolkit and is looking for schools to help them in their user research during the year – if you would like to get in touch, they can be contacted at: Workload.SOLUTIONS@education.gov.uk
Information: free school meals pupils should remain eligible until at least 2023
Pupils in receipt of FSM immediately prior to 1 April 2018, and those who become eligible during Universal Credit roll out, will retain eligibility until the end of this roll out period. Following this, if they are still in education, they will continue to be eligible until the end of their phase of education. This means that schools should not remove FSM eligibility from pupils until at least 2023, continuing to offer them meals and record them as eligible on the census.
For more information, please see the free school meals guidance for schools and local authorities, or contact the free school meals team at Freeschoolmeals.MAILBOX@education.gov.uk.
Other DfE updates
Ofsted News (July and August 2018)
- New website for inspection reports – meeting users’ needs
- Ofsted calls for early years experts
- Staff qualifications in nurseries and pre-schools: do they make a difference to outcomes?
Ofsted News (July 2018)
Ofsted News (August 2018)