Education Noticeboard

Welcome to the Education Noticeboard. A round-up of news, guidance and key updates for education settings. Included in this update:

Director Update

Dear colleagues,

I hope you have all had a good week so far, and of course I hope you have all enjoyed World Book Day today. I am sure there have been some fabulous costumes on show.

We have a bumper noticeboard for you this week. There are some extremely important updates from the DfE in regards to attendance, so I would highly encourage you to read through this information when you are able to.

There is also plenty of information on opportunities for development in this week’s edition. So please do take a look at the CPD courses, and various conferences and webinars that are on offer.

Lastly there are also some key updates such as the pre-suspension hotline, the medical needs policy, and some information from Arthog OEC around their services and how to access these going forward.

Enjoy the rest of your week,

Best wishes

Simon

Simon Wellman

Director: Education & Skills

Over 95% of children in Telford and Wrekin get a preferred secondary school place

On National Offer Day, 1 March 2024, parents and carers found out which secondary school their child has been allocated from September 2024. For the third successive year, over 95% of children in Telford and Wrekin were offered a place at one of their preferred secondary schools.

The council received 2,396 on time applications for secondary schools and offered every applicant a school place.

In total, 2,289 (95.7 per cent) of pupils were offered a place at one of their preferred secondary schools - 1,942 (81.1 per cent) received their first preference, 277 (11.6 per cent) their second preference, 54 (2.3 per cent) their third preference, and 16 (0.7 per cent) received their fourth preference.

Councillor Eileen Callear (Lab) cabinet member for education, employment and visitor economy said:

“We are delighted that this is another year when so many parents and carers (over 95%) have secured places for their children at one of their preferred secondary schools and when every single applicant has received a school place offer.

“This is also credit to our council’s significant investment to expand schools’ capacity across the borough by hundreds of places.

“Over the past ten years, we have rebuilt and refurbished every secondary school in our borough to create more school places. We are committed to drive this investment forward over the coming years as well, so even more youngsters can attend their preferred local secondary school and benefit from modern spaces for growth and learning.”

On 1 March, during the day, the council will be notifying parents and carers by email of their secondary school application outcome.

To view their secondary school offer, parents and carers can also log on the Parent Portal account on the Council’s website: https://education.telford.gov.uk/Live/SynergyWeb/Parents/default.aspx

Parents and carers whose children have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) have already been informed of their offered secondary school.

Oakengates Nursery School relocation plans unveiled

Telford & Wrekin Council has announced a significant development in the ongoing remodelling of the Telford Theatre. As part of this Central Government Levelling Up transformative project, Oakengates Nursery School, currently located within the theatre premises, will be relocated to a new, purpose-built facility.

Subject to planning permission, the move is scheduled to take place in autumn 2024. During this transition period, Oakengates Nursery School will continue to operate on Limes Walk until the construction of the new building is completed.

The new nursery facility will be situated at on Charlton Street currently where Cartlidge House is located, conveniently just a third of a mile from the old nursery.

The new nursery on Charlton Street will have a capacity for 108 children, maintaining the same intake as the current facility. This purpose-built nursery will have dedicated parking, modern amenities, and landscaped outdoor space, providing an optimal learning environment for young children.

The decision to relocate Oakengates Nursery School follows a thorough consultation process. Initially, alternative sites were explored. However, after further consideration of various factors such as access, parking and site layout, the site at Cartlidge House emerged as the most suitable location for the nursery.

Councillor Shirley Reynolds (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Young People said: "Education is the key to unlocking the potential of our children. The relocation of Oakengates Nursery School to its new purpose-built facility reflects our dedication to providing the best possible start in life for every child in our community."

"We are excited about the relocation of Oakengates Nursery School as part of the Telford Theatre remodelling project," said Councillor Eileen Callear (Lab) Telford & Wrekin Council Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Visitor Economy. "The new facility at Cartlidge House will offer enhanced amenities and accessibility, ensuring that children continue to receive high-quality early education in a modern setting, which we as a council are absolutely committed to doing".

Denise Garner, Executive Headteacher at Oakengates Nursery School, expressed enthusiasm about the relocation, stating, "This move presents an exciting opportunity for Oakengates Nursery School. We are looking forward to the enhanced facilities and learning environment that the new purpose-built facility will provide, ensuring that we continue to deliver outstanding education and care to the children of our community."

The Telford Theatre remodelling project represents a significant investment in the community, complementing the regeneration works taking place adjacent to the building in Theatre Square.

The remodelling of Telford Theatre will welcome a comprehensive rebuild, remodel, and expansion of Telford Theatre, complete with a new modern entrance, a new auditorium and new studio theatre, community art room, additional toilets, and improved front and back of house areas, securing a contemporary theatre in Oakengates for the future.

Meanwhile, Oakengates Theatre Square will bring the 1960s shopping precinct up to date with new shops, NuPlace homes, as well as new market and event space.

For more information about the Telford Theatre remodelling project visit: https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/21918/telford_theatre

Councillor Shaun Davies Visits Lawley Primary School

Thank you to key stage 2 children from Lawley Primary School who welcomed Leader of the Council, Councillor Shaun Davies to their school assembly last week! The visit was all about helping Telford's future generation to understand more about the real-life behind our council services. The children asked some super impressive questions and there were most definitely some future councillors in the audience!

Hot topics were the importance of putting rubbish in bins, looking after our local environment, council budgets and investing in our play facilities.

Thanks to again to Lawley Primary School.

Local housebuilders build new sandpit for Holmer Lake Primary School

Construction staff from Bovis Homes and Linden Homes have designed and built a new sandpit for children at a primary school in Telford.

Members of the site teams at The Quarters @ Redhill location in Telford took a digger and dumper truck to excavate a new 20-tonne sandpit in the outdoor play area at Holmer Lake Primary School in Brookside, just four miles away.

Bovis Homes and Linden Homes, which are both part of Vistry Group and are building 450 homes at The Quarters, also donated five tonnes of sand to allow the pit to be completed, as well as donating outdoor equipment for the new play area.

Anna Baylis, Assistant Headteacher at Holmer Lake Primary School, said: “The children had requested a sand pit to play in at lunchtimes after we had invested in the OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) school development programme. Installing a sandpit is not cheap so we reached out to Vistry to see if they would lend us a digger and some manpower.”

Helen Watson, Assistant Headteacher said, “We had already managed to secure some sand from Blists Hill museum and just needed somebody with expert digger driving skills. Before we knew it, Vistry had replied to our request, visited the school with their fantastic grounds team and designed a fabulous sandpit (even including a tyre dragon!) – all for a great cause. Our children could not be more excited to start building sandcastles and digging for treasure in the coming weeks.”

Freya Halsall, marketing manager for Vistry North Central Midlands, said: “When the staff at Holmer Lake Primary School contacted us to see if we could help them deliver a new sandpit, we were more than happy to help.

“The site team at The Quarters @ Redhill were enthused by the project and enjoyed the experience of building the sandpit and interacting with the staff and pupils as they went about their work. It was wonderful to see how excited the children were to see the digger in action.”

“At Vistry, we are keen to get directly involved in the local community so we can help out and make a positive impact in the areas where we build new homes. We have developed a lovely relationship with this local school and this huge sandpit, complete with a tyre dragon, which will provide a place where the children can enjoy hours and hours of outdoor fun and learning.”

For more information about The Quarters at Redhill, visit bovishomes.co.uk or lindenhomes.co.uk.

New Regulations for Schools and the Next Stage of Attendance Drive in bitesize pieces

The DfE guidance - ‘Working together to Improve School Attendance’ (link below) has been revised and will become statutory on 19 August 2024.

The DfE have laid regulations and publishing details in a new ’National Framework’ for Penalty Notices to support consistency of attendance enforcement across the Country.

Regulations have been laid to modernise attendance codes and granting leave of absence to improve the accuracy of attendance data to help schools and LAs put better, more targeted support in place as early as possible.

The DfE will also be providing training sessions on all the key changes.

Sharing of attendance data will be mandatory from September 2024 and schools will be able to analyse and compare their days using the ‘View Your Education Data’ portal.

In line with the changes as described in the new National Framework and the reviewed ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance’ – The Attendance Support Team will include a series of articles on the Education Noticeboard and arrange an additional ‘Attendance Briefing’ to talk schools through the changes.

Working together to improve school attendance

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/attendance-hubs

Sharing Attendance Data

The sharing of daily school registers will form a new world-leading attendance data set that will help schools spot and support children displaying worrying trends of persistent absence or those in danger of becoming missing in education.

Schools, trusts and councils will be able to access this data via an interactive secure data dashboard maintained by the department for education. This will allow them easy use of the data to not only spot pupils in need of support but also to understand how their attendance position compares locally and nationally so they can look at where they might need to drive improvements.

These reforms are the next phase in the government’s plan to improve attendance following the pandemic which has seen a worldwide rise in absence and persistent absence driven by broken habits of attendance, and new and exacerbated barriers like mental ill health.

Read the full article:

New regulations for schools in next stage of attendance drive

National Framework for issuing Penalty Notices

Parent fines for unauthorised absences will be brought under a National Framework to help tackle inconsistencies in their use. A fine to parents must be considered if a child misses 5 days of school for unauthorised absence.

Alongside this, costs for fines will go up from £60 to £80 if paid within 21 days and from £120 to £160 if paid in 28 days which will ensure all parents are aware of when they might face a fine to ensure all councils are issuing fines appropriately.

Any second Penalty Notice issued within 3 years to the same parent for the same child will be at a flat rate of £160

If absences continue within a three year period of the first Penalty Notice being issued, alternative enforcement will be imposed.

Penalty Notices may be issued if the criteria is met of 10 unauthorised sessions of absence within a 10 week period as set out in the National Framework.

The Attendance Support Team will begin the process of consulting with schools and the police to amend the local Code of Conduct for Penalty Notices and will circulate all relevant information to schools.

The DfE will be holding training webinars relating to all the changes.

New regulations for schools’ registration coding changes

Schools will need to be aware of changes to the absence codes which are detailed in the revised ‘Working together to Improve School attendance’ :

Code K is introduced: Attending Education Provision arranged by the local authority
Code Q is introduced – Unable to attend school because of unavoidable cause
3 categories of authorised absence Code C are introduced
H code is removed (approved holiday) this will become C code, exceptional circumstances)
7 categories of Y code are introduced Y1 – Y7

AST Will arrange some briefing sessions to explore the changes in codes and it will also be addressed in the Red Book training – see the detailed information relating to these codes in the ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance guidance – see the link below.

Working together to improve school attendance

The DfE have recently updated their guidance on Behaviour in Schools

The DfE have recently updated their guidance on Behaviour in Schools (19th February 2024). Please see the attached link which provides advice to schools on behaviour in schools and the related legal duties of headteachers, and members of staff. It includes guidance on support for pupils to behave well and the powers of staff when responding to misbehaviour.

A reminder that it is for individual schools to develop their own best practice for managing behaviour. The purpose of the document is to provide guidance to schools and multi-academy trusts to support them to improve and maintain high standards of behaviour. Creating a culture with high expectations of behaviour will benefit both staff and pupils, establishing calm, safe and supportive environments conducive to learning.

For any further support, please contact Darren Lennon (Darren.Lennon@telford.gov.uk)

Behaviour in Schools - Advice for headteachers and school staff Feb 2024 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

The DfE have updated their guidance on Mobile Phones in schools

Please see the link below to the update from DfE regarding Mobile Phones in school. The DfE are determined that all schools should prohibit the use of mobile phones throughout the school day – not only during lessons but break and lunchtimes as well. This should also be clear within the school behaviour policy.

Attached guidance from 19 February would aid you in this further.

For any further support, please contact Darren Lennon (Darren.Lennon@telford.gov.uk)

Mobile phones in schools - February 2024 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Medical Needs Policy

Please find enclosed the Telford and Wrekin ‘Education of Children with Medical Needs’ policy, March 2024. This replaces the previous version first published in 2023. There has been extensive consultation with a range of partners, including schools and health professionals and well as council services in the development of this policy. It is also compliant with DfE legislation and guidance.

Pre-Suspension Support - You said, We did!

Following feedback, we have reviewed the current Pre-Suspension Support process and, as suggested, we are reinstating the hotline number – 86380.

In the case of an imminent suspension, please call the hotline for immediate support – 86380.

For all other Pre-Suspension Support, please follow the link and complete the online form: https://forms.office.com/e/TczFuCjLrX

‘Lunch and Learn’ Webinars focused on Domestic Abuse

On Monday 11 March 2024 from 12noon to 1.30pm the Education Safeguarding Team, together with The Haven and West Mercia Women’s Aid, will be holding the first of three ‘Lunch and Learn’ webinars focused on Domestic Abuse.

Each webinar will be offered free of charge and will focus on a key theme which is relevant to the contextual needs of Telford & Wrekin, underpinned by nationally recognised strategies and understanding.

The theme for the first session will be:

Who does domestic abuse affect? – The “Think Family” and “The inclusive approach”

This will be followed by 2 further sessions exploring, what domestic abuse looks like for different family members and a final session focusing on how to effectively support those who share concerns, allegations or disclosures, where and how to refer and support that schools can provide.

The sessions will equip school-based staff with the necessary understanding and tools to help effectively support pupils and families who are, or who have, experienced domestic abuse.

Bookings can be made for the first session by simply sending an email stating the delegate’s name, school and email address to: cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk

(A completed booking form is not required on this occasion).

A new webinar: Prevent Duty Requirements for Education Settings - completing the Annual Risk Assessment using the DFE template to support your audit

This new webinar will take delegates through the requirements placed on leaders and governance under the Prevent duty, looking at the template risk assessment produced by the DFE to support you in undertaking your Prevent Duty annual risk assessment.

The webinar will provide advice on what you may wish to consider as part of this duty to reduce the likelihood of individuals being radicalised and to prevent education settings becoming permissive environments for extremism and radicalisation.

This webinar will take place twice on Wednesday 13 March 2024 (please note: delegates only need to attend one session) - 1.30pm to 2.30pm, repeated at 4pm.

Following the session delegates will:

be familiar with the requirements for an annual risk assessment under the Prevent Duty
understand the risks within education settings
be able to complete a robust risk assessment to demonstrate the approach taken by leaders which fulfils their responsibilities under the Prevent duty

The cost for up to three delegates per school is a total cost of £80 per school.

To book your place/s please complete and return a CPD booking form to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk

Research into Early years Creative and Cultural Provision in the Midlands – CREC

Arts Council England's Let’s Create Strategy 2020-2030 recognises the importance of early years and, through its various funding streams, already supports a range of activity for Early Years children (defined as children aged 0-5 years old) and their families. However, it also knows that access to culture and creativity remains unequal and that complex barriers to access and participation prevent some families from taking part at all.

CREC has been commissioned by The Arts Council (Midlands region) to help it quickly consolidate what it knows about the current state of creative and cultural provision for Early Years children and their families in the Midlands so that it can take an informed approach to where and how it might target development work most effectively in the future.

As the first part of our mapping process we are asking all organisations & individuals (in the early years, creative and cultural, sectors) working in the Midlands region to complete this: online survey.

We would also appreciate it if you can please share this survey with any early years, creative or cultural networks that you have contacts with. The survey will take 5-10 minutes to complete depending on you how much early years creative and cultural work you have to share. The survey will be open for a period of 4 weeks from 19th February.

Please note that we are only gathering information on work taking place in the Midlands region - we apologise if you work outside this region but we cannot capture and share that data. Please do help us though by sharing this survey with networks, organisations and individuals you know who may work in the region. Here is the link to the CREC Web Page which includes the Survey link:

https://www.crec.co.uk/announcements/call-out-to-midlands-based-early-years-creative-and-cultural-organisations-we-need-your-help

Should you have any questions or wish to provide any additional information about your practice/provision please email us via : enquiries@crec.co.uk

Thank you so much for contributing to this research and helping to collate what is happening in early years in the Midlands. This research will help in advocating to Arts Council Midlands that there needs to be more support for children 5 and under, and their families, to engage in quality arts and culture at such a critical time of their lives.

Pepita

Pepita Hanna

Arts Education Consultant working as part of CREC’s Research team on the ACE:

Research into EY Cultural Provision in the Midlands

Telford & Wrekin Designated Teacher Conference

On Friday 7 June we will be hosting our Annual Telford & Wrekin Designated Teacher and Nominated Governor Conference at The Mercure Hotel from 8:30a.m – 4p.m

This conference is open to Designated Teachers, Designated Safeguarding Leads, School Leaders, Pastoral Staff and Nominated Governors, as we work together to increase the progress Telford & Wrekin children in care make in school and beyond. Even if you currently have no children in care at your school, it is important that you remain up to date with processes and expectations, should a child join you. In addition, Ofsted is looking quite closely at the relationship schools have with the Virtual School, and information gained at network meetings has proven very useful to many schools during inspection. Educational outcomes for children in care and children in need are a key priority for Ofsted in the West Midlands Region and inspectors have told us that they will be looking closely at how a school prioritises work with children in care when making inspection judgements.

We have some amazing speakers and workshops this year, including Lisa Cherry, Ric Flo, Joanna Buckard and Andrew Baxter, as well as workshops covering FASD, the Power of Creativity, Supporting young people with loss, multiagency working to support families and looking at what really makes the difference for our young people.

Those who attended this year found the event to be useful, moving and impactful. Some of the many positive comments we received were:

“The conference was exceptional - so powerful and engaging”

“What an amazing day… so thought provoking and totally inspirational! THANK YOU!!!”

“Brilliant and inspiring”

“Just to say a big thank you for all your hard work in planning and preparing such a valuable, inspiring day”

“It’s been a brilliant day and I know that the things that I can take back to my organisation will have a such a positive and direct impact on the support we provide.”

“Of all the conferences I attend in education, this is the one I most look forward to. It the one that provides me with the most time to reflect on both my own and my schools practice and consider how we can do more and better for not just children in care, but all children”

Thank you on behalf of our Virtual School Headteacher for continuing to be the champions for our young people. Dream, believe, achieve!

Conference Flyer

Conference Booking Form

Improving EAL pupil’s writing through Oracy training

Telford and Wrekin are aware of the ever-increasing need to ensure that schools enable EAL children to develop their writing so that they meet age appropriate expectations.

The training course will explore how schools can:

The course will:

Explore the potential barriers to successful writing for EAL learners
Provide guidance on successful strategies to support the development of writing
Provide expectations of progress and identification of whole class/intervention strategies, which can enable children to develop their writing and meet age appropriate expectations. These approaches are equally relevant to monolingual pupils who struggle with writing.

Key Outcomes

Delegates will explore:

The process of children’s additional language development when they are in the early stages of developing English competency in writing
Barriers to becoming a successful writer
Strategies to develop writing accuracy including sentence structure, grammar, usage of Tier 2 and 3 vocabulary in writing
Using speaking, listening and reading strategies to broaden and deepen vocabulary usage to engage the reader of their writing
Supporting the development of EAL children’s independent writing

Tuesday 12 March 1.15pm - 3.30pm online via Microsoft Teams

MDT support for individual schools to deliver quality bespoke CPD is available upon request.

Training Flyer

Important advice for schools during Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is one of the holiest months of the Islamic year for Muslims. The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle. As this is shorter than the solar year, the month of Ramadan begins 10 or 11 days earlier each year. The month of Ramadan begins on Monday, 11th March.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims believe that fasting has many benefits. For instance: it strengthens self-discipline; it creates sympathy for the poor and the destitute; it reminds them that they belong to a larger Muslim community. Fasting is prescribed for all healthy males and females once they attain the age of puberty. However, it is a common practice for Muslim children to begin fasting before they attain puberty, to become progressively accustomed to the act. Although fasting for the entire month is not prescribed until the age of puberty, many children under the age of 11 may be seen observing the daily fast on certain days of the week or for the entire month.

Muslims also regularly offer extra prayers every night during the month of Ramadan, called ‘Taraweeh’ prayers. Many Muslims of all ages will stay up late saying prayers and reading the Holy Qur’an.

Schools can play a pivotal part in the development of the spiritual, moral and social aspects of their pupils by recognising and building upon the spirit of Ramadan. This will help in promoting diversity, and in enhancing mutual understanding on respective faiths. There are various areas of support that schools can provide for their pupils during the month of Ramadan. Features of good practice in schools include:

Make sure that all staff are aware that it is Ramadan and its implications on school life. Inform midday supervisors and other support staff so they can also support children who are fasting.
Contact parents/ carers to discuss a Ramadan plan. Talk to parents/ carers and work with children who are fasting to see how best they can be supported by holding a meeting, sending a letter or both.
It may be beneficial to talk to other students or peers in school about Ramadan and discuss how the fasting month impacts children who will be fasting.
Use Ramadan positively as an educational experience for all pupils, by holding assemblies about it so that the whole school community can learn about its place in Muslim life, by discussions in history or religious education lessons etc.
Plan for teaching and learning opportunities during lessons and assemblies, including speakers to come into school for all pupils to acknowledge, appreciate, and build understanding.
Waking up before sunset to have the first meal will mean disturbed sleep for many, so concentration levels may be low. Make special provision at lunchtimes for pupils who are fasting. This could involve setting up a space or room where they can rest, pray or read the Holy Qur'an with other Muslim pupils or staff.
Keep fasting children occupied during lunchtime with activities. Perhaps set-up a Ramadan club during the lunch hour.
Take care in the timetabling of activities that no pupil who is fasting is required to do anything that would make her/ him break the fast or become dehydrated or weak. This could include swimming, strenuous physical exercise or tasting food in food technology/ cooking sessions.
PE activities may need to be adjusted to suit the needs of pupils who are fasting.
Provide space for older children who may want some quiet time for reflection or maybe to observe prayers.
On sunnier days aim to provide shaded areas during outdoor play. Encourage adequate sun protection.
Be aware of the timing of evening events such as parents’ meetings, so that Muslim staff and pupils either have time to return home to break their fast or are given earlier times before the end of fast.
When planning any activities, after-school clubs, daytrips or any residential during Ramadhan give consideration to how this will affect children who fast.

Weblinks for Useful Resources

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/ramadan-teaching-resources/z7c7qfr

https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/2021/04/12/guidance-and-resources-for-schools-for-ramadan

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/study-break/magazine-zone/ramadan

https://education.theiet.org/primary/themed-primary-resources/ramadan-resources/

For further advice and guidance, please contact Multicultural Development Team on multicultural.development@telford.gov.uk

Meeting the OFSTED Requirements of Teaching of Protected Characteristics

This course will:

provide an understanding of the protected characteristics and their links to the key OFSTED and National legislation.
consider why issues around equality and diversity need to be central to the ethos of a school and explore the guidelines relating to equality and diversity in schools.
promote understanding of teachers' roles and responsibilities in relation to teaching of protected characteristics and the expectation to teach and promote British Values within the whole school curriculum.
support senior leaders to effectively assess and audit provision to meet OFSTED expectations.

Delegates will explore:

how inspectors will gather evidence on the promotion of equality and pupils’ understanding of the protected characteristics
the protected characteristics
practical ways to meet all schools' duties eliminate discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and foster good relation between pupils as outlined in key legislations.
how embedding equalities and diversity in the school can support all children's social, moral, spiritual and cultural development and prepare them for life in modern Britain.
how assessment tools and links to curriculum provision for year groups can form part of wider approach to equality and diversity
embedding British Values within individual schools

Tuesday 19 March 1.15pm - 4pm online via Microsoft Teams.

MDT support for individual schools/ settings to deliver quality bespoke CPD is available upon request

If you would like to attend or express an interest in the training, please contact the MDT team.

To book a place on the training course please click here

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Talk With Tales For Children (TWiTCH) – Fully Funded Training

Talk With Tales for Children

Talk with Tales for Children (TWiTCH) teaches practitioners how to use story time as a daily opportunity for complex language interactions between children and adults. It also supports the use of teacher/child talk through language games to develop children’s thinking and reasoning skills and gives them the language to express complicated thoughts and ideas. TWiTCH draws on the principles of dialogic pedagogy by using dilemmas and moral concepts in stories as the basis for discussion and activity.

What Does the Training Involve

During TWiTCH you will learn practical strategies for helping ALL children in the classroom to build language and reasoning skills. The strategies can be easily woven into your Storytime slot. Each strategy is designed to engage and maintain the interest of the child, making language and literacy-learning a fun and natural part of their day.

The programme is based on 9 story cycles, with each cycle lasting for 3 weeks.

Week 1 - focuses on developing knowledge and understanding of the story through dialogic reading prompts.

Week 2 - focus is on language reasoning games that are based on the story and is intended to develop children’s language to express complex ideas.

Week 3: focus on children who may need additional input - set up continuous provision, retelling of the story etc. to consolidate learning and develop language.

The programme will provide you with ample opportunities to practice each strategy with the children. Peer reflections will be facilitated by the setting’s TWiTCH champion and supported by your designated TWITCH coach.

The TWiTCH Programme

The training will start from September 2024 running until July 2024 and will be delivered by early years specialists from Sheffield Hallam University.

To express your interest in this free fully-funded programme, please visit:

https://forms.gle/DFanpQqUUh9WrGRB9

TWiTCH Childminder Delivery Programme

TWiTCH School Programme

Webinar Wednesday sessions

Thrive Together Stronger Practice Hub West Midlands are hosting a series of webinars, which include topics such as PSED, Literacy, Maths and Physical Development

If your setting is interested in joining one or all of these webinars, then please either scan the QR codes or follow the links below to register your attendance!

Our next webinar is the 13th March from 10-11am with Victoria Day, discussing effective approaches and practices to support Maths in the Early Years.

Please note if you are unable to attend on the day, but would still like the recording of the session, please register so we have your email address on file.

Effective Approaches and Practices to support Maths in the Early Years Part I

By Victoria Day

13 March 2024 10-11am

Effective Approaches and Practices to support Maths in the Early Years Part II

By Victoria Day

10 April 2024 10-11am

Effective Approaches and Practices to support Physical Development in the Early Years Part I

By Andrina Flinders

1 May 2024 9.30-10.30am

Effective Approaches and Practices to support Physical Development in the Early Years Part II

By Andrina Flinders

15 May 2024 9.30-10.30am

Thrive Together Stronger Practice Hub: Celebration Conference

Theme: Building Cultural Capital through a Creative Curriculum-
the development of children's artistic and cultural awareness to support their imagination and creativity

The conference will include key note speaker Alice Sharp, and workshops relating to music, drama (Hippodrome Education Network), Early Years Art specialist, and creative curriculum. There will also be a vibrant marketplace for you to explore, along with EEF EY Research Project Stands.

Breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be available. Parking included. Free resources

16 March 2024, 9.30am – 4.30pm

The link to register for a place is: Thrive Together Stronger Practice Hub: Celebration Conference (constantcontactpages.com)

Apley Wood Primary Visit to Arthog OEC

Students from Apley Wood recently enjoyed a St Davids Day breakfast at Arthog OEC Wales.

Arthog OEC Fees September 2025 – 26

Arthog sits within the Snowdonia National Park, along the coast from Barmouth. The Centre is a purpose built, 100 bed residential centre, in a stunning location where the mountains meet the sea. It is set within a quiet, safe, rural location in its own extensive grounds. Highly qualified Outdoor Educators maximise learning opportunities whilst our Support Staff make sure Arthog feels like home from home.

There have been a number of staff changes in recent months with the departure of Jo Barnett from her position as Head of the Outdoor Service taking more time to be with her family and working as CEO of the Institute of Outdoor Learning. We have welcomed Tom and Matty to the Outdoor Educators Team where their previous experience and ongoing commitment to outdoor learning is proving invaluable. Holly has also joined our ranks as an administrator and Martin as the caretaker and both are a real asset to the team in improving the quality of the service we provide.

With the continual real need to get outside and embrace both nature and adventure; our course programmes aim to develop resilience, communication, problem solving and self-belief.

We are also developing our activity offer by providing giant Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) sessions hopefully by the summer and have developed a bushcraft area up in the woods above the centre.

We look forward to seeing you all soon.

Best wishes,

Steve and the Arthog Team

Arthog Outdoor Education Centre

Bwlchgwyn

Arthog

Gwynedd

LL39 1BX

Booking Form 2024 - 2026

Fees 2024 - 2026

Leaflet

Shropshire Athletic Association Under 11’s Year 5 and Year 6 Cross Country Championships 2024

The 2024 Shropshire Athletic Association Under 11’s Year 5 and Year 6 Cross Country Championships are taking place Saturday 16 March 2024 at Concord College, Acton Burnell, with the first race commencing at 2.30pm.

The entry form and routes for both races can be found here:

Entry Form

Year 5 Route

Year 6 Route

CPD courses to the end of the Spring Term 2024

The CPD Booklet for the remainder of the 2023-24 academic year can be viewed via Telford Education Services.

As always, courses can be booked by completing and returning a CPD booking form to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk (unless denoted differently)

‘Lunch and Learn’ webinar focused on domestic abuse (see article in Safeguarding section)	Monday, March 11, 2024	12noon to 1.30pm
St Giles' Trust SOS+ Training (SG 207)	Monday, March 11, 2024	1.30pm to 3pm
CSE Termly Briefing for EY, KS1 & KS2	Monday, March 11, 2024	10am to 11.30am
Restorative Justice (PSS 003)	Tuesday, March 12, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Improving EAL pupils' writing through Oracy, grammar and tier 2/3 vocabulary acquisition (CPD 727)	Tuesday, March 12, 2024	1.15pm to 3.30pm
Primary Computing Update (CPD 512)	Tuesday, March 12, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Behaviour Support Intervention Training - Non-accredited (BSAT 301)	Wednesday, March 13, 2024	8.30am to 4pm
A new webinar: Prevent Duty Requirements for Education Settings - completing the Annual Risk Assessment using the DFE template to support your audit (see separate article in Safeguarding section)	Wednesday, March 13, 2024	1.30pm to 2.30pm
A new webinar: Prevent Duty Requirements for Education Settings - completing the Annual Risk Assessment using the DFE template to support your audit (see separate article in Safeguarding section)	Wednesday, March 13, 2024	4pm to 5pm
Raising Awareness of Prevent (SG 101)	Thursday, March 14, 2024	3.30pm to 5pm
Taking the Chair - part 4 (GO 504)	Thursday, March 14, 2024	4.30pm to 6.30pm
Let’s Get Communicating And Reading In The Outdoors (EY 343) (see separate article)	Thursday, March 14, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
A new webinar: Reducing Parental Conflict (repeated at 1,30pm) (see separate article in Safeguarding section)	Friday, March 15, 2024	9.30am to 10.30am
School Attendance Surgery (AST 005)	Friday, March 15, 2024	10am to 12noon
A new webinar: Reducing Parental Conflict (repeated at 9.30am) (see separate article in Safeguarding section)	Friday, March 15, 2024	1.30pm to 2.30pm
Equality & Diversity: Meeting the OFSTED requirements of teaching of protected characteristics (CPD 728)	Tuesday, March 19, 2024	1.15pm to 4pm
Assessment - termly update (CPD 502)	Tuesday, March 19, 2024	9.15am to 10.45am
Assessment - termly update (CPD 503)	Tuesday, March 19, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Designated Safeguarding Leads Refresher (SG 107)	Thursday, March 21, 2024	9.15am to 4pm
Exploring & Creating Resources to Enhance Vocabulary during Story and Song Time in the EYFS (EY 342)	Thursday, March 21, 2024	9.15am to 12noon
Early Years Coordinators Termly Update (EY 007)	Thursday, March 21, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Safety Intervention Refresher Training (formerly MAPA Refresher Training) - CPI accredited (BSAT 212)	Thursday, March 21, 2024	2pm to 4.30pm note time change
SENCo Workshop – Transition	Thursday, March 21, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm

STEM Learning Primary Science Conference - Friday 28 June 2024

This annual conference is for primary science practitioners and primary school teachers and is taking place at The Holiday Inn Hotel, Telford on Friday 28 June 2024.

The keynote speaker is Professor Lynne Bianchi, Director of SEERIH at the University of Manchester.

Lynne specialises in science and engineering education, with a particular specialism in the primary phase and student-led learning.

Lynne became Director of the SEERIH in 2014. She has a well-established profile in the areas of teaching, learning and assessment of school science and engineering, and cascades learning by working with in-service teachers.

Delegates will have the opportunity to:

discuss current good practice in primary science
recognise their own good practice, and identify areas for development
reflect on ways to translate ideas to their school context, and plan for action

For further details and information on how to book, please refer to the STEM Learning website

Telford & Wrekin Primary Science Conference | STEM

Healing classrooms

The International Rescue Committee is providing a FREE 3-part training programme: the Healing Classrooms Approach. This course is suitable for any school that works to support students who are refugees or seeking asylum. The course provides a trauma-informed lens to working with forcibly displaced students and can be adapted to fit the specific needs of your context. The Healing Classrooms model focuses on preparing safe spaces, building a community and fostering academic success to support young people as they rebuilt their lives in the UK.

This FREE online training consists of three 1hr 15min sessions that provide school staff with the basics of the Healing Classrooms Approach. Sessions feature case studies, discussions and good practice-sharing activities on how to best support refugee students in schools across the UK.

In this training, staff will:

Learn about the key psychological impacts of conflict, forced displacement and resettlement on children’s brain development, behaviour and learning
Develop your understanding about trauma within the context of refugee communities
Explore psychosocial support strategies that schools can adopt to create healing spaces for students seeking sanctuary
Receive a printed copy of the Healing Classrooms Basics Training Handbook

The three sessions start at 4 pm and run during term time on:

Thursday 7 March, Thursday 14 March or Thursday 21 March

Wednesday 17 April, Wednesday 24 April and Wednesday 1 May

Dates for May are also available

More information can be found online at the Healing classroom website, on their flyer or by contacting MDT.

Healing Classrooms Basics Training | International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Telford Skills Show 2024

Thursday 14 March 2024 (11.30am-7pm) – Telford International Centre.

Come along to the largest event of its kind this side of the NEC in Birmingham and find out all about apprenticeship, employment, and training opportunities.

Chat to employers, try hands-on activities, learn more about the sector you’re interested in and get your career on track.

Free event, open to all ages. Book your place now: https://orlo.uk/iuRcJ

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Shropshire and Telford Education Partnership (STEP)

STEP works in partnership with our local schools to ensure the right expertise exists to enhance a self-improving system and impact learners, leaders and schools to drive continuous improvement.

You will have confidence that experienced, local experts are delivering a ONE STOP service for your school within our Shropshire and Telford context.

In 2023-2024 we have worked with 186 local schools, across all phases and trained 83 new teachers, 156 leaders on our National Professional Qualifications, supported 210 ECTs and 149 mentors with the Early Career Framework and up skilled 110 Mental Health Leads through the DfE funded training and 124 delegates who attended Future in Mind and the NASENCO Award.

Testimonial

“STEP provide excellent support and training across the four main areas of driving school improvement”

NPQSENCOs

The DfE has announced that an NPQ for SENCOs will launch in autumn 2024 and will be the mandatory qualification for SENCOs. More details are available here .

We are delighted to announce that STEP and the Alliance of Leading Learning will be delivering the new NPQ for SENCOs and will begin delivery in October 2024. We are busy preparing everything needed for the recruitment and delivery of this programme and will provide regular updates. As a reminder, the framework for this programme can be found here

If you are interested in this qualification and would like to be kept informed, please complete our ‘express an interest form’ - here

This entry was posted by Oliver on Thursday, 07 March 2024.

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