Making the most of free opportunities to support families

The Family Learning Team is part of the Adult and Community Learning Service. They work with parents to enhance their understanding of their children’s learning and development. 

There is a clear focus on the Home Learning Environment, and natural ways to promote education. The courses and workshops complement the more formal learning provided in School or via remote education.

The Family Learning team partner with settings across Warwickshire, such as schools, nurseries and children and family centres to provide our courses and workshops for free. This team also offers training for practitioners.

Please click here below for more information about current activities for families

They also offer bespoke courses to suit the interests of families or to support our settings in focusing on areas particularly relevant to them.

Please get in touch if you would more information by contacting:

Jan Lennon, Family Learning Programme Manager: janlennon@warwickshire.gov.uk

Have your say - SEND Transformation Programme

This is a request for Head Teachers from secondary, primary and special schools to meet with the SEND Consultant, Penny Richardson, who is co-leading a review with her colleague Peter Gray.

The review is part of the Council’s SEND Transformation Programme and is looking specifically at the contribution and impact of its SEND Support Services.

This is an opportunity to provide information that might inform future decisions about the council's organisation of current services to better support your priorities. The review includes:

• • • 0-5 services that work with children at home and in early education settings and transition them into primary school
    • Specialist teaching services for children and young people in mainstream settings with:
      • Physical disabilities and complex needs
      • Hearing and visual impairments
      • Specialist teachers in the areas of ASD, learning and behaviour

If you are interested in taking part then please email linseyedgeller@warwickshire.gov.uk to express your interest prior to Friday 12th February.

Launching the Key Worker Pilot Project

Last week saw the introduction of the Key Worker Pilot project and the new keyworker roles to support children and young people with autism and/or learning disabilities across Coventry and Warwickshire aged 14-25 years. The roles commence from 25th January 2021 and will be hosted by Coventry and Warwickshire Mind on behalf of Arden’s Transforming Care Partnership.

The aim is to deliver flexible, personalised and child-centred support, to ensure the complex and often varying needs of children, young people and their families are met. The key worker role will work with children, young people, their families and clinical teams to ensure we all work together to get the best outcome for them.

Please see below the letter for all stakeholders giving you an overview of the project along with:

• Letter to our stakeholders introducing the pilot
• FAQ - frequently asked questions
• Job description of the Key worker role
• Functions of a key worker

If you have any questions about the pilot, please contact Maria Dainter on Maria.dainter@cwmind.org.uk

Cameron Grant Memorial Trust - Mental Health Charity Focussed On Young People

Cameron Grant Memorial Trust is delighted to announce Cameron Grants, a new programme to support innovation in mental health.

The need for mental health support has never been greater and will be driven higher by this pandemic.  The programme is centred on the idea of innovation – trying things that are new, progressive and explore new ways of doing things. Innovation, by its very nature does not always succeed. The programme is open to discussing a change of focus throughout any project as learnings arise, and will encourage open and positive dialogue on things that have not been as successful as hoped so we can benefit from the project’s learning overall.

Applications for a grant of between £100 & £2,500 will be considered. The grant can be used to trial a new service, create an asset, a technology, a performance, fund research, or otherwise experiment in any way that supports the treatment mental health. The emphasis will be on innovation – using new methods, channels, technology, ideas or approaches to reach out and effect change. Ideas should typically fit into one of the following categories:

• Destigmatising Mental Health
• Reducing Barriers to Mental Health Care
• Improving Mental Well Being

Note the grants are for project-based activities that demonstrate clear innovation. They will not be made to fund ongoing operational expenses or salaries.

Please see the website for more information.

Home Learning Resources

Warwickshire's Learning and Development Team have produced a fun and educational resource pack developed by leading experts to help inspire home learning for all ages.

For more information please click here.

To download the resources pack please click here.

David Didau: aka The Learning Spy

Explore the world of the English curriculum according to David Didau.

Three FREE opportunities to spend 90 minutes with David Didau as he questions many of the foundations on which our assumptions about teaching and education were founded with a particular focus on English.

David Didau’s blog, The Learning Spy, is one of the most influential education blogs in the UK, and he has written a series of books that challenge our assumptions such as, What If Everything You Knew About Education Was Wrong?, What Every Teacher Needs To Know About Psychology and Making Kids Cleverer.

• The Concept-led English Curriculum - 24 February 2021-  9.30 – 10.30 (Online Free to attend)
• Building a Reading Culture -24 March 2021 - 1.00 – 2.30 (Online Free to attend)
• What do English teachers need to know about cognitive science - 21 April 2021 - 9.30– 10.30 (Online Free to attend)

Please click here for more information and details on how to book your place.  Please note that spaces are limited.

WCC changes to Mileage Rate

WCC has agreed through the Staff and Pensions committee to increase the Council’s mileage rate to be in line with the HRMC approved tax-free amount, which is currently 45p for the first 10,000 miles and then 25p thereafter.   

The Council rate has been 40p for the first 10,000 miles and 25p thereafter since 1st April 2011, which at the time was in line with the HRMC tax-free approved rate, however when the HRMC increased their rate to 45p in April 2012 the council did not increase its rate at that time.  It has now been agreed to increase the Council rate to always be in line with the HRMC rate. 

Traditionally schools have followed the Council mileage rate for both teaching and NJC staff, therefore we recommend that all schools continue with this and bring their rates in line with the HRMC tax-free approved rate. For community and voluntary controlled schools where they follow WCC terms and conditions, it is proposed that the rate will change to 45p from the 1st April 2021.    

Therefore, for Academies and Foundation schools, you are able to set your own mileage rates, but may wish to consider bringing the rate in line with the HRMC 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, and you wish to increase the mileage rate you will need to let your payroll provider know. 

For Community and Voluntary schools, we are consulting with head teachers on the proposal, we would welcome your responses by the 12th February 2021.  We will then consider the responses and have further discussions with you prior to the final decision being made.  Please forward your responses to katesullivan@warwickshire.gov.uk.  

Please contact your finance link should you wish to discuss the financial impact on the school. 

Scam Publication Warning to Businesses, Schools, and other Organisations

POST 16 programme for late arriving EAL Young People

Who is the Foundation Programme for?

The Foundation Programme is a unique opportunity designed to support late arriving EAL students to the country (Year 11 onwards) who have a range of prior educational experiences. In particular, students may be at the early acquisition stage in learning the English language.

What are the aims of the Foundation Programme?

The curriculum provides a programme of Foundation courses designed to support progression to further study at either Level 2 or Level 3. In addition to curriculum subjects, the Foundation Programme includes: language support, comprehensive careers support through the CAIEG programme, access to the Post 16 Bursary Scheme, communication and advice from local colleges on next steps, work experience and enrichment opportunities.

For more information click here.

Links to the enrolment forms can be found here.

Megalabs - Laboratory Support Technician STEM Career Opportunities For Young People

NHS Test and Trace in Royal Leamington Spa have an exciting opportunity for those early in their STEM career who are interested in helping the UK back to a more normal way of life. 

With the national NHS Test and Trace programme being key to stopping the spread of the virus, there is a Laboratory Support Technician role which is relevant for those early in their STEM career who are looking to play their part during this unprecedented time.

This role is ideally suited for school leavers and college students over 18 with a keen interest in science. No previous experience is necessary, but a good level of literacy and numeracy is needed to be considered for the role.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to take a simple online test on a computer, laptop or tablet.

Please click here for more information.

National Apprenticeship Week - Online Jobs Fair

The Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) Mercia Media Team have joined forces with Black country and Birmingham and Solihull media team running an apprenticeship hour on Twitter between 2pm & 3pm every day of apprenticeship week.

Mercia Support for schools’ advisers have also put together a brief presentation on apprenticeships which includes an overview of the levels, Higher/Degree Apprenticeships, Traineeships and how to find both Apprenticeships and Traineeships. The team can deliver short or longer versions depending on your requirements.  

If anyone is interested in the Schools advisers delivering these sessions, please get in touch with Akhil Chawla (Schools Advisor Department for Work and Pensions) - AKHIL.CHAWLA@dwp.gov.uk

Social Mobility Business Partnership

National Online Work Insight Week - 5th - 9th April 2021

SMBP is pleased to announce that applications for their very first National Online Work Insight and Skills week
is now open! SMBP has worked with many of our partners to provide access to a variety of live business insight and
skills development sessions taking place 5th – 9th April 2021. In addition to the live sessions, students will be given
access to the SMBP Student App with online modules and career support and lifetime access to the SMBP Group
Mentoring Platform.

This opportunity is available to eligible Year 12 students across the UK.

Click Here to access further information.

Click Here to download the poster

Click Here to apply for a place.

A Career in Video Games Awaits You

Did you know that the Coventry & Warwickshire area is home to some of the biggest and most successful video games studios in the UK?

Or that, collectively, these world-class companies are amongst the biggest employers in the region?

Are you interested in video games, or in working in a highly creative industry that is continuing to grow, despite any of the obstacles the world is currently facing?

Interactive Futures is a FREE digital event that’s been designed specifically for children, students, young people – and their parents. Taking place during Half Term, from Wednesday February 17 to Saturday February 20, Interactive Futures will allow you to:-

• Find out about the video games companies based in the Coventry & Warwickshire area
• Discover the range of careers available in this fast-growing industry – whether your skills lie in maths, science, story-telling, art or music, there’s something for everyone
• Learn the basics of creating a video game yourself via a series of tutorials
• Enter game design competitions to put yourself on the path to success as a creator

Tickets are FREE – and you can opt to attend as many sessions as you like! Simply visit www.interactive-futures.com to find out more.

Click Here to download the flyer