Key COVID-19 update information for schools and settings

We know that your preparations and response to COVID-19 has played a significant part in your preparations and work for the new term. Attached are a range of documents to support you. They have been prepared by public health and education colleagues across Coventry and Warwickshire, and are specific for Warwickshire. 

Please note that for post 16 and adult and community settings the same materials can be used as for schools.

The documents included are:

• Key advice for schools and early years settings for January 2022 
• Schools Flowchart (changes in highlight)
• Letter for staff close contacts
• Letter for child close contacts 

All will be available on the website and updates will be posted there.

Schools and settings with a specific query about their situation should contact: 

dphadmin@warwickshire.gov.uk or 

education-corona@warwickshire.gov.uk 

 

Early Years COVID-19 Updates

We know that your preparations and response to COVID-19 has played a significant part in your preparations and work for the new term. Attached are a range of documents to support you. They have been prepared by public health and education colleagues across Coventry and Warwickshire and are specific for Warwickshire. 

The documents included are:

• Key advice for early years and childcare settings for January 2022 
• EY & Childcare Flowchart 
• Letter for staff close contacts
• Letter for child close contacts 

All will be available on the website https://schools.warwickshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/early-years-childcare-settings-covid-19 and updates will be posted on our Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/wccearlyyears/

 Settings with a specific query about their situation should contact: 

 earlyyearsadvisors@warwickshire.gov.uk or 

 dphadmin@warwickshire.gov.uk  

How to apply for a DfE funded air cleaning unit

Please see this link for information on how to apply for a DfE funded air cleaning unit.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K9jZhgH1fjbBvYKg2b4sjIMiVWrQK1vH/view

6 January – Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Update to all education and childcare settings and providers from DfE

Today’s email includes:

• information on the announcement that confirmatory PCR tests to be temporarily suspended for positive lateral flow device (LFD) test results
• information on the vaccination programme for 12 to 15 year olds
• an urgent call for support to encourage qualified teachers to return to teach on a temporary basis
• a reminder to complete the educational setting status form
• information for schools on the Accelerator Fund
• a change to the UKHSA advice service opening hours

Confirmatory PCR tests to be temporarily suspended for positive lateral flow device (LFD) test results

Confirmatory PCR tests following a positive lateral flow device (LFD) test result are to be temporarily suspended from Tuesday 11 January. This will mean that anyone who receives a positive LFD test result will be required to self-isolate immediately and will not be required to take a confirmatory PCR test.

Information on the vaccination programme for 12 to 15 year olds

Thank you for all your work to support the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme for 12 to 15 year olds in schools. Around half of 12 to 15 year olds have now received at least one dose.

Young people aged 12 to 15 in England are now being offered a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a minimum of 12 weeks from the first dose, following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

Parents can book vaccinations for their child, if aged 12 or over, through the NHS booking system.

Vaccination for this group will also continue to be carried out by the school age immunisation service (SAIS). In school vaccination will begin from Monday 10 January. Your SAIS team will be in touch if you have not yet heard from them.

To support the ongoing vaccination rollout, we have updated the “how to” guide for schools. This guide includes useful information and resources for schools, including a template letter that can be used to communicate with parents.

Please see the guidance on COVID-19 vaccination: resources for schools and parents for further information and resources on the vaccination programme.

Urgent call for support to encourage qualified teachers to return to teach on a temporary basis

COVID-19 continues to impact schools and colleges in England and we are seeking your help to invite qualified ex-teachers to consider returning to teaching on a temporary basis. We want to make sure that as many supply staff as possible are available, by encouraging ex-teachers from primary, secondary and further education to consider returning to support colleagues and the nation’s children and young people through this difficult time.

If you are still in contact with colleagues who may have the time and want to help, we have published an urgent call for qualified teachers which explains what is required and how to register with a supply teaching agency.

Reminder to complete the educational setting status form

The educational setting status form reopened on Tuesday 4 January. Please begin completing the form from the start of your term and provide your data by 2pm each working day. Thank you for your continued support.

This information remains vital in monitoring and understanding the impact of COVID-19 in schools and colleges. It continues to be shared and used across government and with SAGE and other health experts, as part of tracking infection and transmission of the virus, and to inform decision-making.

We have updated the guidance on how to complete the educational settings status form to include the updated list of questions for schools and colleges.

Information for schools on the Accelerator Fund

As part of the government’s £22 million Accelerator Fund, we have announced that the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) will receive over £10 million to support the availability, and scale-up, of well-evidenced programmes and help disadvantaged pupils catch up. EEF will prioritise three Regional Schools Commissioner regions that have experienced substantial learning loss – the North of England, East Midlands and Humber, and the West Midlands.

The fund, announced in February 2021, aims to scale-up and spread effective teaching practice to ensure pupils have the best chance of catching up following the pandemic. Just under half (£10 million) of this funding is being used to focus on English and Maths catch-up sessions.

Further information about the programmes and activity, including how schools can get involved, will be announced in early 2022 by EEF.

UKHSA advice service opening hours

The UKHSA advice service (for information and advice on dealing with outbreaks in settings) opening hours have changed. The advice service is available between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.

If you think you have an outbreak of COVID-19 at your setting and need help taking action, please call the helpline on 0800 046 8687 (during these hours) and press option 1, then option 1 again.

The information below has not changed since our last update

Department for Education COVID-19 helpline

The Department for Education COVID-19 helpline and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advice service are available to answer any questions you have about COVID-19 relating to education and childcare settings and children’s social care.

Department for Education guidance

Our guidance to support education and childcare providers, local authorities and parents during the COVID-19 pandemic can be accessed using the links below:

·        Guidance for early years and childcare providers ·        Guidance for schools ·        Guidance for further and higher education providers ·        Guidance for local authority children’s services ·        Guidance for special schools and other specialist settings ·        Guidance for parents and carers

DfE Come back to teaching campaign

Warwickshire County Council is supporting the Department for Education (DfE) come back to teaching campaign.

This campaign aims to encourage former teachers to return to the profession in order to help our children and young people to recover from the education lost as a result of national lockdowns and to ensure that no further face-to-face teaching time is lost due to staff shortages following positive tests and/or outbreaks affecting staff.

The campaign aims to attract the following people back into teaching:

• Retired teachers
• Retired OFSTED inspectors
• Teachers taking a career break
• Early Career Framework (ECF) teachers that may not have secured a position in schools
• Overseas teachers that have returned to this country

On a local level, we are encouraging former teachers to register with their local schools, which will enable them to be called upon in the event of staff shortages.

We would really appreciate it, if this information could be shared on your school’s website and social media platforms.

A link to the media release can be found here: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/news/article/2684/come-back-to-teaching-in-2022

There is a range of advice and support available to former teachers looking to return to the classroom and this can be found here: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/returning-to-teaching

 

Two new specialist leaders of Early Years appointed

The Warwickshire Early Years Hub has recently recruited two more Early Year's Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs) adding to their group of Early Years specialist leaders:

• Rachel Hartley from Lighthorne Heath Nursery
• Katie Brown from St Nicolas C of E Academy, Nuneaton

The group now encompasses 11 SLEs who have a wide range of backgrounds, skills and experience to help with any aspect of teaching and learning in the early years.

In a year of significant changes within early years and continuing challenges due to COVID-19, the SLEs are ideally placed to provide specialist guidance and support with a range of deployments. One area you might consider utilising their expertise is with COVID-19 'catch up' which would be an ideal use of your schools' Catch Up Premium.

To explore options and decide which SLE might have the right skills and background to support your setting and staff teams please contact Warwickshire Early Years Hub via the Hub Coordinator Michelle Hutton - email Hutton.m2@welearn365.com.

Introducing a new addition to the Early Years and Childcare team

Welcome to  Zoe Harwood, who will be working part time with the Early Years Advisory Team this term.

Zoe has worked with schools, early years settings and multi-disciplinary services for over 34 years, and 24 of those years have been in Warwickshire so many of you may recognise her (and her Rochdale accent).

Zoe is very much looking forward to her new role and meeting with people in the weeks ahead. With her wealth of experience, Zoe will be a valuable asset to the team and it’s great to welcome her onboard.

Early Years and Childcare safeguarding development opportunities

Early Years and Childcare Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Network Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 12 January 2022, 6.30pm - 7.30pm (please note this is a change to the date originally scheduled). To register your attendance and to receive the joining instructions please email earlyyearsadvisors@warwickshire.gov.uk.

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Early Years and Childcare Safeguarding Training

There are spaces available on the following courses. To book please click here.

Free subject knowledge opportunity for Early Years teachers

Origin Maths Hub are offering early years teachers from primary schools in Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire the opportunity to participate in this free programme.

Do you want to be part of strengthening inclusive provision for children with SEND in Warwickshire?

Are you a dynamic and self-motivated Headteacher who is solution-focused? 

Are you motivated to drive forward strategic leadership empowering all pupils and staff to excel across the family of schools in Warwickshire?

Do you want to be part of a team that delivers benefits and improved outcomes for children and young people?

If yes, then you could be who we're looking for!

We are looking to appoint a Headteacher Lead for our SEND and Inclusion Change Programme who will be part of a transformation programme working to strengthen the inclusive provision for children and young people who have special educational needs and disabilities in Warwickshire.

If you’re the kind of person who is prepared to get stuck in, who wants to do the best job possible, who approaches everything with passion and purpose, then this is the role for you. You’ll be able to apply your educational knowledge and expertise in an area that matters to people and communities.  

For the full job description and details on how to apply visit: https://ce0242li.webitrent.com/ce0242li_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107GF.open?VACANCY_ID%3d907821fj9i&WVID=580773AtpY&LANG=USA 

The closing date for applications is Midnight, Thursday 13 January 2022.

 

 

 

 

Virtual School for Children Looked After - Designated Teacher CPD sessions

At the Virtual School we continue to strive to close the gap in academic performance for Children Looked After while also providing advice for Children Previously Looked After and children with a social worker.

We are providing a training offer that responds to the issues that you have raised regarding best ways to understand and support Children Looked After. The training can be found on the Virtual School section of the Warwickshire education webpages - www.warwickshire.gov.uk/school-attendance-exclusions/warwickshire-virtual-school/3

There is currently a mixture of online and face-to-face training provided as part of the Virtual School support to schools. Topics include:

• An introduction to Trauma
• An Introduction to Attachment
• Understanding teenage brain development and possible implications for learning and behaviour
• An Introduction to Resilience
• Emotion Coaching

Thank you to those who attended last year's Designated Teacher (DT) training, from which we received a lot of positive feedback. We know that many were unable to attend due to staffing and factors within schools. We are therefore offering the Virtual School elements of the training as a half-day session on Thursday 7 April either from 9am - 12pm or 1pm - 4pm to be held at Pound Lane, Leamington. This training is for all DTs and DT Supports, not just those new to the role. This is a good opportunity to network with others and share good practice.

The sessions will be delivered by the Virtual School Education Advisers with a focus on:

• What makes a good PEP meeting?
• The impact of PP+, interventions and use of EEF
• The importance of high aspirations and longer term career goals
• Effective use of Strengths, Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQs)

To book a space, please email virtualschool@warwickshire.gov.uk with your name, role, setting and the time of the session you wish to attend.

Professional learning programme - 'Thinking differently for disadvantaged learners'

This term we are excited to work with the West Midlands Virtual Schools to offer a professional learning programme - 'Thinking differently for disadvantaged learners'.

This will be delivered through a series of six sessions with all learning and resources done online. Your Designated Teacher will have been sent further information about this programme. It is a great opportunity to access high quality training, resources and share ideas that could influence how you support disadvantaged leaners in your setting. 

Proposal to establish a new all-through free school in Warwick District

Warwickshire County Council is seeking proposals from Academy Proposers interested in sponsoring a new all-through free school in Warwick District comprising a two-form entry primary phase and a six-form entry secondary phase.

This new provision is being created to support the provision of school places as part of the urban extension that is currently building out to the south of Leamington/Warwick.

Please use the following link to access further information on the required provision and timelines for the presumption competition:

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/school-planning-policies-performance/new-schools/4

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 18 March 2022.

Apply now for funding to develop mental health in the curriculum in your setting

In November we announced a new one-off grant being made available to education settings in Warwickshire to support the development of mental health initiatives in the curriculum.  

We’re now pleased to be able to invite submissions to this fund with the first bidding window now open. Applications close on Monday 17 January 2022. 

The Mental Health Curriculum in Education Settings Grant is aimed at supporting nurseries (maintained), schools, academies and colleges to develop mental health initiatives within the curriculum to help children and young people build their resilience and improve their overall sense of positive wellbeing. 

Nurseries (maintained by the local authority), primary and secondary schools, academies, special schools and colleges within Warwickshire will be eligible to submit a bid for funding which will be used to achieve the following outcomes: 

• Children and young people will be supported through the curriculum to build their resilience and positively manage their mental wellbeing 
• Children and young people will be supported to set their own mental wellbeing goals, focussing on their strengths and abilities 
• Staff will be supported to develop their confidence in delivering a mental health curriculum 
• Education settings will have a comprehensive and accessible mental health curriculum 
• Education settings will have an environment that supports positive mental wellbeing 

Bids can be submitted for the minimum amount of £500 up to the maximum of £2,000 per project and should set out how the funding will be used to provide one of the following:  

• Training and teaching resources (for example lesson plans, assemblies etc) 
• Physical resources (for example models of the brain, yoga mats, wellbeing rooms etc) 
• Staff time to be able to develop the resources and timetable 

Settings can expect to receive the grant payment by the end of March 2022 and all funding must be spent within 12 months of being awarded. During this time, successful applicants will be required to provide at least two progress updates demonstrating how the funding has been used and its impact. 

Applications are now being accepted up to and including Monday 17 January 2022.  

Only one application per education setting can be made initially, however there may be an opportunity to apply for additional funding at a later date if not all of the money is allocated during the first round. 

For more information about the fund including eligibility criteria and to apply visit: schools.warwickshire.gov.uk/mental-health-curriculum-in-education-settings-grant-funding

For any queries please email mentalwellbeingfunds@warwickshire.gov.uk

KOOTH - supporting your pupils' mental health and wellbeing

The new year can be a stressful time with pressure to set goals, make big changes and be successful. It's important for young people not to put too much pressure on themselves and for them to remember if they're finding things difficult, that there is always someone to talk to.

It's a great time to remind your pupils, parents and carers and staff of the free online support service available in Warwickshire for 11-25 year olds - Kooth.com. This is a service commissioned by Warwickshire County Council to provide additional support for young people who may be struggling with their mental health.

Young people will find a safe space to chat about anything to do with their mental health and wellbeing and to access support and self-help resources to help them navigate the challenges life throws at them. 

To find out more about Kooth.com and how to access the support and resources, you can watch this introductory video or check out this handy list of resources to help you promote Kooth to the children, young people and families that you work with.

What's on in January

Click the image below for a large version of the 'What's on' guide for Kooth this January and please feel free to share.

Deadline approaches for Reception and Junior School Places

The 15 January deadline for school applications for children due to start school in Reception or move to a Junior School in September 2022 is fast approaching. This applies to children born between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018 for Reception, and any children currently in Year 2 at an infant school who want to move to a junior school.

All applications received by the deadline will receive a school offer on 19 April, which is National Offer Day. Any applications submitted after the 15 January will be much less likely to be offered a place at a preferred school.

Applications should be made online at: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/admissions where parents and carers can also find useful information on school transport, priority school areas and admissions criteria.

New Sugarsmart pilot scheme to promote healthy eating and good oral health

Above image taken from the Sugarsmart website

Many people start a diet in January and something people often try to work on is reducing sugar intake. The NHS Live Well site has plenty of ideas on how to cut down, recipes and information on daily recommended amounts.

To support our residents with reducing sugar intake, Wellbeing for Life is working with some primary schools across Coventry and Warwickshire on a pilot to become 'Sugarsmart'. By signing up to the Sugarsmart pledges and working with children and families, we can tackle healthy eating and oral health in a fun and interactive way that will have longer lasting effects.

You can sign up to Sugarsmart as an individual, community group, education setting or workplace and if you are a primary school interested in joining our pilot scheme, please contact josouthan@warwickshire.gov.uk for more details.

Careers support - routes into Children's Social Work

Young people across Warwickshire are our future and some of them will become Children's Social Workers by 2026, protecting and supporting children and families across the county.

We are always looking to recruit the social workers of tomorrow, so we have developed a useful brochure for anyone thinking of becoming a children's social worker. View the brochure here.

If you think students in your school might be interested in finding out more, WCC's Children and Families service can send representatives to support schools and colleges with any upcoming careers events to share an insight into their own career in social work.

If you'd like to find out more or let us know about an upcoming careers fair, please email workforus@warwickshire.gov.uk.

Share your views on family health programmes

Researchers from Coventry University, together with Warwickshire County Council and Connect for Health/Compass, want to hear from parents and carers about their views on family health programmes and the National Child Measurement Programme. Parents and carers in Nuneaton & Bedworth with children in reception through to year 6 are invited to complete a short online survey.

Survey link: tinyurl.com/ConnectForHealth

QR code: 

The researchers would also like to talk directly with parents and carers (online or via telephone) to better understand their views about family health programmes. If you are interested, please email Lauren.Bell2@coventry.ac.uk for more information.

Free professional development for KS3/4 maths teachers and teaching assistants

Origin Maths Hub are offering primary and secondary schools in Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire the opportunity to participate in this free, research and innovation Work Group.

This Work Group is for primary and secondary (key stages 2 and 3) teachers and teaching assistants of mathematics, and will explore what you can do to help children with SEND to engage, overcome barriers and make progress in mathematics.

Each of the six sessions, which start on 11 January 2022, will be followed up with individual support and reflection.

Find out more here.

National Professional Qualifications - apply now for February start

Did you know that the newly revised suite of NPQs are now fully funded by the DfE for all state schools?

Courses available:

• National Professional Qualification for Headship
• National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership
• National Professional Qualification for Leading Teacher Development
• National Professional Qualification for Leading Teaching
• National Professional Qualification for Leading Behaviour and Culture

The following Teaching Schools will be delivering these courses - please follow the links below for further information:

Coventry and Central Warwickshire Teaching School Hub in partnership with UCL. The deadline for submitting applications to UCL is 28 January 2022. For more information visit the UCL website.

The John Taylor Teaching School Hub in partnership with Ambition Institute. For additional information about each course please click the link below for the corresponding flyer.

• NPQLT – Leading Teaching
• NPQLTD – Leading Teacher Development
• NPQLBC – Leading Behaviour and Culture
• NPQSL – Senior Leadership
• NPQH - Headteacher

Additional information can also be found at www.jttshub.co.uk. To apply, please send your name, email address, school name, TRN number and the NPQ you wish to apply for to j.taylor-perks@jths.co.uk. 

Regardless of which provider you register with, you will need to complete the DfE registration first to obtain government funding via this link: https://register-national-professional-qualifications.education.gov.uk/

Fully Funded NPQs & Fully Funded EEF Twilights

This new offer of two free online sessions, will support schools to purposefully identify key development priorities for their setting in the wake of the pandemic. It will give guidance on using evidence to identify potential solutions to challenges schools are facing, and provide tools and worked examples of putting new initiatives into practice.
The content explores current challenges, and models how to utilise EEF evidence, before clarifying how school leaders can engage further, with RSN and EEF activity. These twilights will include:

• Twilight 1 is a 90-minute remote session – ‘Exploring the challenges’. It has a focus on exploring the challenges of educational recovery, recognising school efforts, whilst signposting our relevant evidence and resources.
• Twilight 2 is a 90-minute remote session – ‘Preparing and planning for recovery’. It has a focus on restating the value of the tiered model as a central lens to explore challenges and evidence-led approaches, with the twilight offering a more sustained exploration into how we ‘ensure curriculum access’ via reading and a stronger awareness of language challenges.

Schools in the West Midlands can sign up using the link below to attend these after-school online 90 minute sessions, which will run monthly from January 2022.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-3gEsz0fn5llcqZjO-6nfodhn0fQUep8snuwznx3tOSAPRw/viewform

Upcoming CPD, Preparing for Ofsted - SEND The Deep Dive, Metacognition and SEND through the Curriculum

The following courses are being offered by the John Taylor Teaching Hub this half term:

Preparing for Ofsted – the SEND Deep Dive

Tuesday 11 January 2022

1pm - 4pm

John Taylor Teaching School Hub

Beccie Hawes

£65 per delegate

This session will explore:

• How to explore and develop the quality of SEND provision through every subject;
• Ensuring that your SEND vision is clearly communicated and comes to life in every subject;
• Using your own school information to develop your own lines of SEND specific enquiry to develop policy, procedures and practice;
• Effective pupil and parental engagement;
• What an OFSTED inspector may explore.

 

Metacognition

Tuesday 18 January 2022

13pm - 4pm

John Taylor Teaching School Hub

Beccie Hawes

£65 per delegate

This session will explore:

• What metacognition is and how we can use it to enhance teaching and learning
• What cognitive load is and the impact it can have upon learning
• How our memories work and how we can effectively support memory from learning
• Supportive quality first teaching and intervention approaches
• Transferring learning

             

SEND through the Curriculum

Wednesday 26 January 2022

1pm - 4pm

John Taylor Teaching School Hub

Beccie Hawes

£65 per delegate

This session will explore:

• Ensuring that the curriculum intent, implementation and impact for each subject is appropriate in meeting the needs of learners with SEND;
• Ensuring that your SEND vision is clearly communicated and comes to life in every subject;
• SEND friendly knowledge organisers and concept maps;
• Effective teaching for recall strategies;
• Subject specific teaching tweaks and non-negotiables to make every subject accessible for learners with SEND to maximise engagement and progress.

If you would like to book a place on any of the above courses please provide the delegate name and email address to j.taylor-perks@jhs.co.uk.