Have your say on preschool health services in Warwickshire

Are you a parent to be, parent or carer of a child aged 0-5 in Warwickshire? If so, Warwickshire County Council (WCC) wants to hear from you to help shape the future of the 0-5 Public Health Nursing service.

This service supports parents from pregnancy to the time their child starts school. It includes both health visiting and the family nurse partnership.

A short survey to gather these views is available here and open until 15 September 2021.

The council wants to hear about the experiences and opinions from as many parents and carers as possible who have used any element of the service. The feedback will help to understand parents and carers expectations and experience of the 0-5 Public Health Nursing Service, pre-COVID and during the pandemic, and what matters most to them. This information will be used to review the service and shape the future offer. 

The 0-5 Public Health Nursing Service aims to build the confidence of parents, promote child development, and strengthen parent, infant and family health and wellbeing. It works with families who all have different levels of need, to get them the right help at the right time.  

Your time and opinions are important to help shape the future of the service.
  
For a paper copy of the survey, an alternative format, queries or assistance to complete it please email familywellbeingteam@warwickshire.gov.uk or call 01926 731443 or 01926 737765.

Free Training for Senior Mental Health Leads

The DfE will shortly be contacting all schools and colleges to offer the opportunity to apply for a grant to pay for senior Mental Health Lead training from autumn 2021.  

While many schools and colleges already have a mental health lead, the knowledge and skills they have varies, and with mental health and wellbeing being a top priority for schools and colleges, our goal is to provide senior leads with the development they need to lead change and develop or introduce a Whole School or College Approach to wellbeing and mental health, focussing on prevention, identification, early support in school and referral to external specialist support.

Grants will be available for up to a third of schools and colleges in England between September 2021 and March 2022, with the aim of all schools and colleges benefitting by 2025.  

Ahead of this, we are encouraging schools and colleges to identify a senior lead with the capacity to lead change within their setting. Existing senior leads might start to consider their own personal development priorities and confidence to deliver change across each of the PHE principles, as this will help them, from September, to opt-in for a grant and identify the most appropriate learning from a list of quality assured courses.

More information is available here. 

Change to 2021/22 school dates

You may be aware that an additional bank holiday has been agreed for Friday 3rd June 2022 in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Warwickshire schools will already be on their summer half-term holiday on this day. The additional one day holiday will therefore be taken on Friday 22nd July 2022, meaning that the Summer Term 2022 will now end on Thursday 21st July 2022. 

We understand that most of Warwickshire's neighbouring local authorities, with the exception of Leicestershire County Council, will also be reducing their school years by one day at the end of the year.

Warwickshire County Council (WCC) is responsible for setting school term and holiday dates for all Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools. The majority of Voluntary Aided, Foundation and Academy schools typically choose to follow the same term and holiday dates.   

The updated calendar is available on our website here (please insert link to - https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/education-learning/school-term-dates-induction-days-training-days-holidays/2) for use in communicating the change to parents and your wider school community as appropriate.

Update on Marle Hall

As you may have seen already, the decision has been taken that Marle Hall, the County Council’s residential facility for outdoor education activities, will cease operating and close on a permanent basis in October.   

This is not a decision that the Council has taken lightly. Marle Hall has been a much-loved and valued facility over the last 50 years, and it has delivered a range of activities that have enhanced social skills and personal development of many residents in Warwickshire and beyond. 

However, Marle Hall exists within an open and competitive market, with schools able to choose from around 50 other providers within a three-hour radius of Warwickshire. Over the last 7 years it has been consistently under-utilised and the cost of running the service has not been met by the income it has generated. If it continued to operate, the significant amount of investment needed would mean it would continue to make unsustainable losses. 

We appreciate the timing of the decision, which took place over the summer break, was not ideal. We can assure you that this was solely because it was dependent on various formal governance processes which concluded at the end of July. We have been in contact with schools with an existing booking and support has been offered to them with the practicalities of finding an alternative provider.   

More information on the decision and outdoor education for Warwickshire schools can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/marlehallfaqs  

Still time to get involved in new climate emergency website

Warwickshire County Council is launching a new climate change website and we want schools across Warwickshire to get involved. 

The climate change website, or hub, is a place to bring together organisations and individuals from across the county, all working towards the same goal of achieving net zero emissions. 

We know schools are involved in lots of climate change activities and are working hard to help us achieve this goal, so we want to showcase some of the things you’ve been doing. 

Maybe you’ve installed solar panels or introduced meat free Monday. Perhaps you’ve started growing your own vegetables or set up a climate change committee in school to come up with innovative ideas. Whatever you’re doing we’d love to hear about it and share your stories on the new website. 

If you’d like to get involved, please email us at climateemergency@warwickshire.gov.uk.

EdTech Demonstrator programme

The EdTech Demonstrator programme provides schools and colleges free peer-to-peer support on effective use of technology in education. The Demonstrators are schools and colleges who have significant experience and expertise in the effective use of education technology.

The Demonstrator network support schools and colleges to use technology to:

• Help improve students' outcomes
• Reduce unnecessary teacher workload burden
• Support school/college improvement plans
• Help schools/colleges manage their resources effectively
• Secure an accessible and inclusive curriculum, including for pupils with SEND

You can read testimonials from demonstrators and some of the schools and colleges they work with on the EdTech Demonstrator website.

Who the programme is for

Any publicly funded school or further education institution in England can apply for support from an EdTech Demonstrator. Independent schools and training providers are not eligible for the scheme.

How to apply for free training and support

Visit the EdTech Demonstrator website and register your interest. You’ll then be contacted to find out more about your EdTech needs.

EdTech Demonstrator National Webinar Series lines:

The EdTech Demonstrator Programme has recently shared the National Webinar Series schedule for the September and October. Topics covered by the upcoming webinars range from the case for creating a digital strategy to digital wellbeing for pupils, and the power of technology to reduce workload. For more information and to sign up to the webinars:
Register for the national webinar series.

 

Preparing for Autumn Term webinar

Link to the webinar on the G Drive Training - Google Drive –  Ref RP158 Preparing for Autumn Term  

Aims of Autumn Term webinar:

• Remind school and college leaders of Step 4 changes to Covid safety measures.
• Provide an update on vaccinations.
• Support preparations for testing at the start of the Autumn term.
• Provide update on managing COVID cases in settings.
• Answer FAQs:

1. 1. Self-Isolation: Should staff who choose not to be vaccinated be paid when isolating for ten days?
   2. ATS: Why are settings being asked to stand up on-site testing for students first two tests in September rather than going straight to home testing?
   3. What definition of ‘close contact’ will be used by NHS Test and Trace in educational settings? Will the PHE definition of ‘close contact’ still apply to educational settings?
   4. Contact tracing: What if a setting doesn’t agree with the close contacts that have been identified by one of their pupils, students or legal guardian?
   5. What’s taken the Government so long to make this announcement on ventilation? Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and other countries internationally already have a strategy in place?

Updated Health and Safety guidance for educational settings

The Health & Safety Team would like to make all Education settings aware of the recently updated government guidance. As you will see the updates mostly relate to CO2 monitors as control measures. Please take note of this information and update your COVID Risk Assessments if and where necessary.

Please see these updates below:- 

Special schools and other specialist settings: coronavirus (COVID-19)

Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak

Protective measures for holiday or after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Actions for FE colleges and providers during the coronavirus outbreak

Mental Health in Schools Teams: due to roll out into 8 schools in North Warwickshire

Rise Early Help are so excited to share we will be rolling out Mental Health in Schools Teams (MHSTs) in North Warwickshire from September 2021. We will be in 8 schools delivering low intensity, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), evidence-based interventions delivered 1:1 or in groups-often described as ‘guided self-help’. Alongside this, we will deliver educational workshops and assemblies or class-based activities using a ‘Whole School Approach’ to enhance what schools already deliver to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. Staff training will also be delivered with parent and carer workshops also available. Educational Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) will work in their allocated schools to support children and young people experiencing mild mental health difficulties.

Our approach aims to meet as much of the school community as possible-flooding the environment with opportunities to reduce stigma around mental health and support the wellbeing of the children and young people we serve.

Mental Health in School’s Teams will work in partnership with schools to enable the best outcomes and support for children and young people.

Schools are:

Ash Green school-secondary

Goodyers End-primary

Hartshill-secondary

Kingsbury-primary

Kingsbury-secondary

Michael Drayton-junior

Middlemarch-junior

Nuneaton Academy-secondary

For more information-please contact Rebecca Habberley-Rise Early Help Service Manager Rebecca.Habberley@covwarkpt.nhs.uk

School-led Tutoring Grant

This latest DFE Guidance sets out three approaches to Tutoring as part of the National Tutoring Programme:  Tuition Partners; Academic Mentors; School-led Tutoring

School-led tutoring grant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

OFSTED Inspections from September 2021 - useful documentation

The Department for Education has confirmed that the full programme of graded school inspections will resume in autumn 2021.  The following have been updated and will be useful for leaders to be aware of:

School inspection handbook - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  (The guidance highlights how inspectors will respond to the impact on schools of the pandemic)

Education inspection framework - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Teacher Standards have also been updated to reflect the Early Career Framework:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1007716/Teachers__Standards_2021_update.pdf

DFE have updated the list of statutory policies schools and academies should have in place:

Statutory policies for schools and academy trusts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

In June 2021 DFE published  optional guidance for school leaders in Reception and Key Stages 1 to 3: Teaching a broad and balanced curriculum for education recovery (publishing.service.gov.uk)

In July 2021 DFE published 'The reading framework: teaching the foundations of literacy'.  DFE regard this as a key document which also includes advice on catch up work.

The reading framework - teaching the foundations of literacy (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Our Education Assessment Team are providing training: 'The New Reading Framework - summary and implications for schools' on 16th September - please look out for the invitation in your inboxes from edassessmentteam@warwickshire.gov.uk, sent on 1st September.

Headteacher Wellbeing - Further opportunity to join James Pope's Network Support Sessions

Dear Colleague,

As part of our continued commitment to supporting headteacher wellbeing and following excellent feedback from Warwickshire headteachers who joined James Pope/HeadsUp4HTs Network Support Sessions last term, I am delighted to be able to open this opportunity up to a further cohort of interested headteachers.

You may remember that James spoke at our Spring Term Headteacher Conference and held a follow up webinar to provide more detail about keeping yourself well as a leader and the successful model of support and coaching that HeadsUp4HTs run for Headteachers nationally.  The webinar is attached here for those who need a reminder or who missed it and are interested this time round.

This latest round of Network Support Sessions will run for a period of 6 weeks from early autumn term. They will be weekly sessions that:

• are for headteachers only (officers at Warwickshire County Council do not attend the sessions and are not aware of which headteachers join the groups)
• are a safe, open and transparent space
• provide the opportunity to reflect on your challenges and successes
• allow you to receive support from peers and provide support to others
• will take place outside of normal school hours in order to ensure that you have the dedicated time you need, free from distraction.

Please indicate if you would like to join these sessions (or not) by completing the google form 

Once James and his team know how many Headteachers are participating, HeadsUp4HTs will structure the groups and will be in touch to let you know the next steps.

From here on your relationship will be with your network groups and with HeadsUp4HTs – we just wanted to get you started on the process of self-care. However, we are always here to support Warwickshire headteachers in any way we can so do please keep in touch.  Please also remember our Listening Ear service and look out for our upcoming Peer Coaching Directory.

With very best wishes

Margot Brown

School Improvement Lead Commissioner

 

Preparation for Headship: Free WCC cpd for Senior and Middle Leaders

Warwickshire’s Aspiring Headteachers Programme is a new and innovative programme intended to support senior and experienced middle leaders who aspire to headship in a Warwickshire school. This course is appropriate for school leaders who have a minimum of 2 years senior leadership experience and are considering applying for a Headship, in Warwickshire, in the next 2 years.

The programme will consist of approximately 5 sessions, primarily online twilights, plus a face-to-face launch day. The programme will be hosted by Darren Barrow (Schools Sustainability Lead Officer and Headteacher at St John’s Primary School, Kenilworth) and there will be a range of guest speakers inputting into the sessions, including local headteachers, key colleagues from LA services as well as some national speakers.

The programme will run over the course of 2 terms starting in autumn 2021 and will cover themes such as:

• Leading the organisation - moral imperative, vision, innovation in the curriculum
• Leading teaching and learning - using data and closing the gap
• The school as a business - finance, HR, legislation and policy
• Applying for headship and working with governors

This programme is fully funded by Warwickshire County Council and further details will be made available in due course.

ACTION: 

If you are interested in securing a place on the first cohort of this fully funded programme, starting in the autumn, please complete this expression of interest form as soon as possible. 

The Aspiring Headteachers Programme is being organised by the Gateway Alliance on behalf of Warwickshire LA. 

If you have any queries, please contact Helen Martin on martin.h@welearn365.com.

Information regarding 9/11

Colleagues will be aware that we are approaching the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attack when 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon, and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which triggered major U.S. initiatives to combat terrorism with consequences we still deal with to this day. The Educate Against Hate website has made available a range of information specifically designed to address this occasion within schools.

They have provided an assembly pack and supporting frequently asked questions document created by charity SINCE 9/11 to help explain the events of 11th September 2001 to secondary school pupils. This assembly pack and supporting FAQ helps develop the critical thinking skills of young people and promote dialogue by explaining the events of 9/11. This can be found via the following link

https://educateagainsthate.com/resources/since-9-11-20th-anniversary-september-11-2001-assembly-pack-frequently-asked-questions/

Crisis in Afghanistan

We have all seen news reports about the situation in Afghanistan; it is indeed a humanitarian crisis that will have affected many people. Lots of you will want to be involved in fund raising events and supporting in whatever ways you feel are appropriate. The news coverage of this has been explicit in images and content. Many of our schools may have families with relatives unable to leave the country or families of military personnel who have previously been deployed in the area.  Please be aware of the challenges these people may be facing now and the impact it may have on pupils and families in Warwickshire schools. There may be additional emotional support required and we are happy to advise and support where necessary.

Also, schools have been already asked to provide places for pupils who have arrived in the county.  The first group of families have arrived and are in temporary accommodation. Thank you for your kind offers of support. A task group is working on placing these children. We realise that this will put additional pressure on some settings and the LA will be supporting schools in this position. In terms of timescales, these placements can be relatively short term and we will know more, as and when, firm provision is made for these families.

If anyone does require further advice or support, please contact Darrenbarrow@warwickshire.gov.uk in the first instance and queries can be signposted to the relevant people.

 

Information on school attendance expectations

School attendance has been mandatory, for all registered pupils, since 8th March 2021. Schools should record attendance in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended).  Further information on DfE coding guidance, expectations and absences relating to COVID-19 is available here.

Parents/carers have a legal duty to ensure that their children of compulsory school age receive a suitable full-time education. They can do this by enrolling them at a school or taking responsibility for their learning at home (elective home education).

To promote excellent attendance this term, the government expect schools and local authorities to continue to:

• communicate clear and consistent expectations around attendance to families
• identify pupils who are reluctant or anxious about attending or who are at risk of disengagement and develop plans to re-engage them, especially those who are persistently absent or at risk of persistent absence
• use the additional recovery funding, attendance staff, resources and pupil premium funding, as well as existing pastoral and support services, to put measures in place for those families who will need additional support to secure pupils’ regular attendance
• work closely with other professionals to support regular attendance

Guidance for parents on school attendance can be found on WCC's website.

The DfE have updated the guidance, setting out how schools should record pupils who do not attend school for reasons related to COVID-19 (code X.  The guidance is available here. 

There have been some changes to the sub codes that schools can use to record non-attendance related to COVID-19.   The updated codes can be found here.

COVID-19 Attendance Advice

If you have any specific questions about COVID-19 related absence, please feel free to email the Warwickshire Attendance Service:

was@warwickshire.gov.uk

Reminder to complete the educational setting status form for schools and colleges

Schools and colleges are asked to resume completing the educational setting status form from the start of the autumn term. Please complete the form each day by 2pm.

The government is asking you to continue to submit your attendance data daily throughout September, so they can monitor attendance in schools and colleges after the summer break.

They have made some changes to the form to align with the latest guidance for schools and colleges, however this does not impact the way that you complete the form. They have updated the questions on COVID-19 related absence and have added a new set of questions about managing COVID-19 in your school or college.

Further information on completing the educational setting status form, including an updated set of attendance sub-codes, can be found in their guidance.

Latest Kooth resources

Please see below the latest Kooth resources: (Posters are also attached for ease of reference). 

• Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) – 6-8^thSeptember – VIEW HERE
• World Suicide Prevention Day – 10^thSeptember – VIEW HERE

What’s on Kooth in September: 

Please see attached 'What's on Kooth in September' poster highlighting the upcoming Live Forums and also Discussion Boards for September.

⮚  Friday 3^rd September – Making Friends
⮚  Wednesday 8^th September – Tackling Discrimination
⮚  Monday 13^th September – The Importance of Identity
⮚  Friday 24^th September – Overcoming a “Reputation”
⮚  Wednesday 29^th September – Social Takeover: Creative Writing

Eventbrite sessions:

Please see attached poster for details of Eventbrite sessions for professionals, parents and carers and 18-25 year olds. Please kindly share these with your wider networks. We are really keen to get as many 18-25 year olds signed up to the specific session aimed to support them as well as provide parents and carers the opportunity to learn about Kooth.  

Finally, if your Team or Service has any upcoming team meetings and you would like to book a brief update, staff training or see a live demo of the site, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

DFE Updates on Remote Education obligations and provision

Remote education webinars

Page summary:
How to access school-led webinars on remote education to help share good practice.

Change made:
Added link to Statutory obligations and expectations – Get Help with Remote Education.

Time updated:
2:15pm, 3 September 2021

Review your remote education provision

Page summary:
A framework to help schools and further education (FE) providers in England identify strengths and areas for improvement in their remote education provision.

Change made:
School framework guidance: updated statutory obligations and expectation, attendance and testing information. Added links to updated EdTech demonstrator programme. FE provider framework: removed outdated information and added links to EdTech demonstrator programme.

Time updated:
2:15pm, 3 September 2021