Consultation on new SEND and Inclusion Strategy
The Warwickshire Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) & Inclusion Strategy has been revised to reflect current challenges and to set out a new vision for learners with SEND in Warwickshire.
A public consultation will take place on the new draft strategy between 12 November and 21 December 2018. Responses will be invited from a wide range of partners and stakeholders across the education sector and the results will inform the final decision about the vision and key targets for the new SEND & Inclusion Strategy 2019-2023.
More information will be going out to educational settings in the next week, including a leaflet to share with parents and learners.
There will be a variety of ways to respond to the consultation including an online questionnaire and drop-in sessions at various schools around the county. A children and young person's survey will also be made available for settings to use.
Please look out for further information on the launch of the consultation, including a link to the draft strategy and online questionnaire in next week's Heads Up.
Strategic Lead for SEND and Inclusion
After 24 years with Warwickshire County Council, Pat Tate is leaving her post as Strategic Lead for Special, Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion on the 18th February to undertake independent SEND consultancy work. Pat remains passionate about children with SEND and support for their families and schools but is keen, as she reaches a certain age, to recalibrate her work life balance.
My respect for Pat has grown and grown through the last year; she is highly principled and holds outcomes for children and young people at the very heart of all her work. Typical of Pat's dedication is her desire to provide strong transition for her teams into the 'new world' that 2019 will bring.
Thank you Pat for all those years of insightful hard work, which are very much appreciated.
Chris Malone
Covering the role of Assistant Director Education Services
DfE guidance relating to parental responsibility updated
We work closely with schools and in terms of sharing the right information we need to ensure we record the correct parent details and child surname for our families. This ensures we can follow a child's journey and not risk missing information and safeguarding issues.
The Department for Education (DfE) recently updated guidance related to names and parental responsibility. This helps schools to understand their obligations and duties in relation to the rights and responsibilities of parents, as recognised by education law:
Understanding and dealing with issues relating to parental responsibility - updated DfE guidance
We would encourage all school staff and governing bodies to be made aware of this new guidance.
National funding opportunities to support curriculum development
Deadlines are imminent for a number of national grants available to support different subject areas in schools.
Primary and Secondary - Chemistry
The Royal Society of Chemistry has grants of up to £1,000 available for primary or secondary schools to promote chemistry outside of the usual timetabled science activities.
The next application deadline is 15 November 2018 (there are 4 deadlines each year: 15 February, 15 May, 15 August and 15 November).
Primary and Secondary - Mathematics
The London Mathematical Society has grants of up to £400 available to facilitate professional development for teachers of mathematics from primary up to A Level or equivalent. The grant can help to cover attendance costs at one or two-day conference and training events and can also be used to cover the cost of external trainers visiting schools.
The next application deadline is 30 November 2018 (there are 4 deadlines each year: 31 January, 30 April, 31 August and 30 November).
Primary - Arts
Grants are available to primary schools from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Teacher Development Fund to support the development of effective arts-based teaching and learning opportunities in the classroom.
The Foundation expects to make around five grants of up to £150,000 each year to promote partnerships between arts/cultural organisations and up to ten primary schools (minimum of 5), who will commit to work together for two academic years.
The latest application round is now open for projects beginning in September 2019 and closes on Wednesday 5 December 2018 at 12pm. The Fund has one deadline per year.
A new national plan for RE: Religion and World Views the way forward
The Commission on Religious Education Final Report (known as the CoRE Report) was published recently and attracted some attention from mainstream media and MPs. It sets out the current state of Religious Education (RE) provision for the nation, as well as recommendations on what needs to happen to improve outcomes for pupils and CPD for teachers.
RE subject knowledge for trainee teachers and existing staff is a key factor in the report, alongside ensuring adequate teaching time is allocated to the teaching of RE within a broad and balanced curriculum. As well as the broadening of the name of the subject to ‘Religion and World Views’, to include non-religious world views such as Humanism, Secularism and Atheism.
We would encourage you to read the executive summary available on the Commission on RE website, along with the final report and a short animation explaining the vision of the Commission.
We want to hear your views
SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) are very interested in hearing your views on the report. Please send any comments you have to: sacre@warwickshire.gov.uk