Early Years Transformation Academy

At the end of January it was announced that the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) is launching a new Early Years Transformation Academy to support local partners to use evidence in the planning of maternity and early years services.  

EIF is seeking local partners to participate in a 12-month intensive applied programme to develop the local maternity and early years system in the light of the latest evidence.

A prospectus for 2019/20 has now been published which sets out the arrangements for the 12-month programme and invites local areas to participate. Initial expressions of interest are welcomed and can be submitted up until 15 February 2019.

Warwickshire 'Time to talk' programme

Warwickshire ‘Time to Talk’ is an award-winning programme supporting early years practitioners in reception, nursery and younger with children’s speech, language and communication needs.

The model has been highlighted as an example of best-practice in the recent 'Bercow: Ten Years On report' - an independent, national review of support for children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).

Find out more about the programme here.

Free 30 hours workshops for schools

This is for schools already delivering 30 hours or those who may be considering it.

'30 hours and schools:  an opportunity to maximise occupancy and secure your future sustainability'

This half day workshop aims to support schools to:

• Reflect on progress to date
• Review delivery models
• Consider the importance of future financial sustainability
• Consider models of delivery which increase flexibility and choice for families
• Discuss the day-to-day practicalities and challenges of offering increased flexibility

PLEASE BOOK NOW TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE!  Email mandybell@warwickshire.gov.uk or phone 01926 742633

News of SEND and Inclusion interim arrangements and appointments

As mentioned in Paul's introduction, Pat Tate, Strategic Lead for SEND and Inclusion, leaves Warwickshire at half term. Pat has held a number of senior roles, including Head of Learning and Behaviour Service, Programme Manager for the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) and Head of Early Intervention Services. We wish her well with her new work life balance and phase as an independent consultant.

Through the Council's Transformation Programme, a new strategic role covering SEND will be designed and advertised later in the summer.

During this interim period, Jane Carter will be Acting Strategic Lead for SEND and Inclusion. Many of you will already know Jane through her management of the Integrated Disability Service, lead for Disability Access and training for governors, heads and SENCOs. Jane is also the Vice Chair of the Physical Disabilities Network (PDNET) and is currently coordinating a DfE sponsored education programme.

In addition, Paul Fellows, Specialist Teaching Service Area Manager, will be leading the work to implement the SEND and Inclusion part of the High Needs Recovery Plan.

At Christmas, SEND and Inclusion said goodbye to Dr Helen Kendall, Principal Educational Psychologist (EP) and SENDAR Manager and wished her well in retirement. Ann Ricketts, the Principal Educational Psychologist in Hertfordshire, has been appointed and will be joining Warwickshire on 1 April. During the interim period, Kerry Stace, Senior EP will be Acting Principal Educational Psychologist, and Ellen Gadd, Senior Plan coordinator will be Acting SENDAR Manager. Both colleagues will be familiar to many of you.

Contact details :

janecarter@warwickshire.gov.uk   Tel 01926 742347

paulfellows@warwickshire.gov.uk Tel 01926 413777

kerrystace@warwickshire.gov.uk   Tel 01926 413258

ellengadd@warwickshire.gov.uk    Tel 01926 742155

Alternative Provision – a framework of approved providers now in place

Last July, Warwickshire County Council's Cabinet agreed to an Alternative Education Provision Framework.

Following the first round of tenders the new framework is now in place with a published list of approved alternative education providers for secondary aged pupils either at risk of, or already permanently excluded, from school. 

As a result of the new framework, the Local Authority has now established a brand new Alternative Provider Alliance consisting of approved providers and those wishing to join the framework in the near future. There will be a drive to develop and embed quality assurance processes with the support of lead practitioners in secondary schools through this alliance model.

The framework will be refreshed in March 2019 and it is anticipated that additional providers will be approved to deliver provision from July 2019.

To access the full directory of approved providers please click here.

For general information about the Area Behaviour Partnerships please contact Jamie Barber Goodall, ABP Coordinator and Support Officer, Education Entitlement Team:

Office: 01926 742294

Mobile: 07584 337206

Email: jamiegoodall-barber@warwickshire.gov.uk 

SACRE guidance on withdrawal from RE

Warwickshire Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) has produced some updated guidance for schools to help if pupils decide to withdraw from RE, including top ten tips for managing withdrawal in your school.

Supporting a broad and balanced curriculum - how Warwickshire Music can help

The video below speaks for itself!

Check out Warwickshire Music's website for more info.

Schools Library Service (SLS) - benefits to schools

There are various benefits for schools to signing up to the Warwickshire School Library Service (SLS). 

Schools can borrow books more cheaply and are able to buy them through the library supplier - there is also an option to have books bound with wipe-clean plastic. The range of books is much wider than with high-street bookshops, and the service can also help with selecting books.

You can contact SLS to talk to them about the discounts available on buying high quality books for curriculum topics and reading for pleasure - and the savings to be made by borrowing resources too.

Email the service at schoolslibraryservice@warwickshire.gov.uk or ring 01926 413461 / 413462.

Take part in the 2019 Big Pedal

     

The Big Pedal 2019 is the UK’s largest cycling, walking and scooting challenge for schools. Signing up is a great way to get actively involved in the Coventry and Warwickshire Year of Wellbeing.

Organised by the walking and cycling charity Sustrans, the competition will run from Monday 25 March to Friday 5 April, and will encourage young people from across the UK to travel by bike, foot or scooter for their journey to and from school. Primary, secondary and special schools will compete with one another to make the most journeys. The competition is completely free to enter!

In 2018, 82% of Big Pedal schools surveyed said pupils continued to travel actively to school following the competition.

Dozens of schools across the UK will register for the first time to close the road outside the school gates to motor vehicles. This is to limit the volume of traffic and help reduce air pollution while creating an environment in which cycling and walking are safe, convenient and enjoyable. New research shows 40% of our children are breathing toxic air at school, leaving them at an increased risk of developing lifelong conditions including asthma. Walking and cycling can play a key role in improving air quality outside the school gates while helping to boost children’s activity levels. It's also a great way to take part in Warwickshire's push to support active travel.

The theme of this year’s Big Pedal is ‘Travelling around the body’, with pupils tracking their progress on a wall chart, learning about the human body and how active travel benefits their health as they go. 

The Big Pedal 2019 is open to individual classes as well as whole schools, with hundreds of thousands of pupils expected to take part. For schools unable to take part in the main challenge there is also a one-day version, which can include cycling, walking and scooting activities during the school day as well as on the journey to school.

Schools and classes will be entered into a daily prize draw for rewards, including scooters, if more than 15% of the school cohort cycle, walk or scoot on each day of the challenge.

For more information check out the Big Pedal 2019 website. In the 'Resources' section you'll find a handy powerpoint for introducing this in school and some top tips on making it a success if you decide to register!

New government scheme to help care leavers access education and employment

Last week, Education Secretary Damien Hinds, announced the launch of a new project to improve the education and training of young people leaving care.

The government will be investing £5 million in pilot schemes that will aim to reduce the number of care leavers ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’ (NEET). The programmes will be designed to develop care leavers' confidence, communications and skills needed to help them make the transition into independent life.

Read more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-schemes-to-help-care-leavers-access-education-and-employment

Development programme to support leadership and management

Warwickshire Governor Services has launched it's Professional Development Programme for 2019/20 for school governors, clerks and headteachers.

This provides the Warwickshire family of schools with professional, tailored governance development and support to strengthen the impact of leadership and management.

The programme brings together everything that is available to schools and academies through various subscription options and this year includes some new services such as facilitated self-reviews of governance and website compliance.  

NGA initiative: lobbying fairer funding for schools

Sent on behalf of Clive Sentance, Warwickshire representative for the fairer funding campaign

On Thursday 28 February, the National Governance Association (NGA) will be leading a lobby of parliament to call for more funding for schools. Governors and trustees care passionately about the education their school provides to its pupils; tens of thousands of volunteers across the country are concerned about the adverse impact insufficient funding is having on children and young people.

This day of action will give governing boards the opportunity to join together and urge MPs to invest in the future of children. Whether your governing board has taken specific action because of funding pressures or you have concerns about the long-term picture in your school, we need governing boards from all school types, phases and locations to come along in support.

On the day, we are asking governing boards to arrange a meeting with their MP to speak to them about their concerns. NGA also plan to hold a meeting on school funding in parliament to make clear the scale and severity of the concern of school governors and trustees; by coming along you will be helping us – and thousands of other NGA members – to amplify the voice of governance on school funding.

If you would like your governing board to take part in the action, the first step is to contact your fellow governors/ trustees and encourage them to take part. You do not need to wait for the next meeting – email them today.

As governance is a collective action, governors and trustees cannot act alone and should agree a position.

If your governing board decides to take part, please register your interest by emailing Shelby Roberts shelby.roberts@nga.org.uk and we will keep you updated on the plans for the day and provide resources you can use to make the meeting with your MP effective.

DfE publishes new teacher recruitment and retention strategy

The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a new strategy for recruiting and retaining school teachers in state-funded schools. 

The strategy has been developed collaboratively with representatives across education, including teachers, headteachers and teachers' unions. 

Along with the policy document, the DfE have produced:

• a one-page summary for schools 

• a video explaining the strategy and its main priorities

EU exit: no deal preparations for education providers

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Education (DfE) have published information for local government, schools and other education providers, in preparation for Brexit and the possibility of a no deal situation.

Information includes the following topics:

• new arrivals
• school places
• data protection
• food supplies

Follow the links below to specific information depending on type of provider:

• EU exit: no deal preparations for schools in England

• EU exit: no deal preparations for further education and apprenticeship providers

• EU exit: no deal preparations for higher education institutions

This is part of a government public information campaign to ensure that anyone who may be affected by the changes are well informed and can take practical steps to be prepared, whether the result is a deal or no deal scenario. 

All information will be published on the Prepare for EU Exit website.

Ofsted consultation on new inspection framework

Ofsted is currently consulting on its consultation on the new inspection framework. There are some significant differences to the current framework for schools:

• Maintained schools and academies waiting to be brokered or re-brokered will receive monitoring visits within nine months
• The quality of education will be assessed by looking at the intent, implementation and the impact of the school’s curriculum, teaching and the outcomes achieved
• The new framework has a keen eye on gaming, exclusions and off-rolling as well as arrangements for pupils accessing off-site or alternative provision
• The safeguarding section has also been expanded to include information on the segregation of pupils whilst in school.

The consultation runs until 11.45pm on 5 April 2019.  

Education Inspection Framework Consultation

Draft copies of the inspection handbooks

The proposals will affect how Ofsted inspects schools, early years settings and further education and skills providers. 

Warwickshire Skills Conference - 6 March 2019

Don't miss the Skills Conference on Wednesday 6th March, 8am to 10am at the National Agricultural Exhibition Centre, Stoneleigh.

This event is for businesses and education providers with a real interest in enabling local young people to move into higher level jobs in the local workforce.

This year's conference will reveal the latest forecast for higher-level skills shortages through to 2026 and present delegates with all the latest skills forecasts specific to Warwickshire, compiled from new research undertaken by the county council.

More information is in last week's Heads Up here.

Quarterly Labour Market Bulletin