Need-to-know updates

EFA confirms budget forecast return deadlines

The Education Funding Agency (EFA) has confirmed that from this year onwards, academy trusts must complete 2 budget forecast returns. The first is the Budget Forecast Return: Outturn (BFRO) and the second is the Budget Forecast Return (BFR). The deadline is 19 May for the BFRO and 28 July for the BFR.

Teachers' Pensions introduces Monthly Data Collection

Monthly Data Collection (MDC) has been introduced by Teachers' Pensions for employers to provide their service and contribution information, and will replace the Annual Service Return from April 2018.

All employers must be set up to use MDC at the very latest by December 2017 as this will be the only way to submit information to Teachers' Pensions from April 2018. 

Teachers' Pensions have advised that when employers commit to 'onboard' to MDC, they will be given at least a 3-month lead time to prepare, and submit into a test system for the first 3 months. Employers will be notified when they have passed the success criteria, and will then be moved into the live environment.

Employers can join MDC at any time by completing an activation form and returning it to mdc@teacherspensions.co.uk

For more information: https://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/employers/managing-members/administration/monthly-data-collection.aspx

News round-up

Government announces plans to scrap KS1 SATs

The Department for Education last week announced plans to scrap Key Stage 1 SATs, to replace them instead with a baseline assessment for pupils in reception. According to the DfE, the new approach would enable pupil progress to be measured throughout primary school.

A consultation was opened on 30th March to seek views on the proposed plans and will run for 12 weeks until 22 June 2017. You can submit a response and read about the plans in more detail here.

This year's KS1 SATs will go ahead as planned.

2017 key stage 2: assessment and reporting arrangements 

The statutory guidance for assessing and reporting the national curriculum at key stage 2 in the 2016 to 2017 academic year has been updated (21 March 2017). Clarification to section 4.1: Square grids are provided to support pupils to answer particular questions, in each of the mathematics papers. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2017-key-stage-2-assessment-and-reporting-arrangements-ara#history

Tips for good behaviour management in new report

A new report providing practical guidance to teachers on how to tackle bad behaviour in classrooms was published last week (24 March 2017). Tom Bennett, the DfE's behaviour expert, highlights examples of where behaviour is managed most successfully and puts forward recommendations for schools and the government based on his findings.

The report 'Creating a culture: how school leaders can optimise behaviour' concludes that while there is no 'silver bullet' for behaviour management, there are a range of strategies that can be used to tackle poor behaviour. The report also highlights the importance of leadership in creating the right culture for tackling this issue.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-report-with-practical-advice-for-teachers-on-pupil-behaviour

Proposed revisions to school exclusion guidance

The DfE is consulting on proposed changes to the statutory guidance on the exclusion of pupils to make the rules that apply to exclusions and the process of review clearer. The revisions include both statutory and non-statutory information. The consultation opened on 14 March and closes 25 April 2017. To read about the changes and to submit a response go to: https://consult.education.gov.uk/school-absence-and-exclusions-team/statutory-exclusion-guidance/

NUT and ATL to merge from September

Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) teaching unions have voted to combine the two organisations. The National Education Union (NEU), which will exist from September 2017, will have a membership of over 450,000 and will be the biggest education union in Europe. The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) school leaders' union has backed the merger. 

Apprenticeships reforms: guide for schools

The DfE has published a guide for schools on apprenticeships reforms, and how the apprenticeship levy and public sector apprenticeship target apply to schools in England. Read the guide here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeships-reforms-guide-for-schools 

Resources for schools to support service children and families

Little Troopers is a charity that supports children with a parent serving in the regular or reserve British Army, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force. Support comes in various forms but predominately tangible resources to help children feel included and in control of their emotions when they have a parent serving away from the family home. 

The charity also offers some recognition schemes and events to promote re-connection of the family unit.

You can view more about the support available here: www.littletroopers.net/what-support-is-available/

Schools may be interested particularly in one of the charity's new projects, Little Troopers at School, which aims to empower parents and help schools when supporting service children. The first stage of the project has been to produce easily accessible information sheets for schools and parents on a wide range of topics including the challenges military children may face and moving schools frequently.

You can access the sheets here to download/print: www.littletroopers.net/little-troopers-at-school/ (The site requires you to register by providing an email address to gain access to the information sheets).

Schools can also sign up to the Little Troopers mailing list to receive further updates and information here

Little Troopers, and its founder, Louise Fetigan has received numerous awards for its work and is also recognised and supported by The Department for Education

GCSE 9 to 1 grading: Justine Greening’s letter