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

The Summer has certainly made itself known this week.

It is really lovely to have positive news stories to share this week! Congratulations to Sir Alexander Fleming Primary School, who have had their work in the school garden recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society, and to Tortoise nursery for their Outstanding Ofsted result.

There are some events and key dates on the horizon, which you might like to do some work around in your school or setting. Armed Forces Celebration is one of these and promises to be a fun event filled with family activities and entertainment.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Windrush arriving on British shores. We have included some great resources around this for you to use.

Included are safeguarding and SEND updates, articles from the Early Years team and a list of all CPD opportunities. One more reminder also that the deadline for school travel assistance is getting forever closer. If you work with any children and families who are likely to need this, then please encourage them to get their applications submitted.

As always, we would love to hear about the activities across the borough, and especially like sharing photographs. Please send any news through to us at education.noticeboard@telford.gov.uk.

Hoping you all enjoy the rest of the week; the sun looks like it plans to stick around for the weekend so enjoy!

Simon

Simon Wellman
Director: Education & Skills

Telford school named primary winner in Royal Horticultural Society Campaign for School Gardening

Sir Alexander Fleming Primary School, Sutton Hill, has been declared the UK Primary school champion for the Royal Horticultural Society’s School Gardening Team of the Year competition. It is a great reflection of the commitment, hard work, enthusiasm and fun that the children have poured into all of the school gardening projects.

Judges said that: “The whole-school gardening approach at Sir Alexander Fleming Primary School wowed the judges. With hard work, commitment and endless enthusiasm teacher John Ratcliffe, colleagues and the children have transformed their outdoor space into a diverse, beautiful garden with a no-dig wildlife meadow, future forest, bog garden, raised beds and wild corners.”

The result can be viewed on the RHS Campaign for School Gardening website. The entry video for the school can also be viewed on there too.

More information about some of the activities undertaken can be found on the school website.

Sir Alexander Fleming Primary School also has an ongoing Just Giving page to raise funds to buy equipment.

Outstanding Ofsted result for Wellington nursery

Local nursery, Tortoise, has an received an outstanding rating from Ofsted and has been praised for helping children to thrive.

Tortoise is a small, privately owned nursery setting in Wellington with just two rooms, creating a homely, family feel.

On the day of the inspection, the inspector arrived about 8.30am and was very professional and polite, instantly putting staff at ease. The learning walk began in the staff room, prompting a conversation about how staff are supported and their safeguarding practice.

This was followed by a conversation about the parent partnerships. This was a chance to explain the nursery ethos, what each room is currently working on and what a typical day looks like. The inspector then stayed in each room for a couple of hours, during which time a 15-minute observation took place. This was then followed up with a debrief with the staff.

Staff were proud to demonstrate through their interactions, that they are not an ‘all singing and dancing’ nursery. There is not loads of outside space or expensive resources and the building is not purpose built. The driving force is passion, knowledge of the development of each child and how that is creatively put that into building experiences for the children.

The focus is on being in tune with children, and working in a way which is totally flexible with both the environment and the activities. This allows nursery staff to know the children well.

During the feedback element of the visit the inspector commented on how the staff’s ‘teaching’ (to me this means interactions!) was second to none. She also said she had had a lovely day and how much she felt welcomed. She joined in with activities and even went out in the rain with the children!

Any advice for those settings awaiting an inspection?

A few things that may help:

Managers, get in the rooms and be with your children and staff. Know what is going on, model and inspire your staff. Then do your curriculum based on what is already happening.
Get your statutory stuff in check- be obsessive about it, check it and check it again!
Do learning walks daily, get staff confident with being questioned and watched.
Plan your learning walk using your setting as a guide (visual prompts helped me not waffle!)

School library is appealing for help in restocking the shelves

This story originally appeared in the Shropshire Star.

Reading for pleasure is one of the top aims of the organisers of a secondary school library.

The Charlton School says it is proud to be one of few secondary schools in the area which has a self-funded, self-run library. There are, however, financial constraints that come with this, staff say.

Assistant Vice-Principal, Lindsay Galbraith said: "We are desperately trying to restock our library with engaging, up to date, relevant reading material to inspire our students. In recent years, we have designed in-school programmes to further highlight the importance of reading for academic success but also for reading for pleasure. We are a committed to improving the opportunities that children in Telford have and at the root of this is literacy."

In the last year Charlton has introduced a 20 reading session every day and wants to be able to offer exciting and diverse books that all students can engage with and enjoy.

"We firmly believe that books can unlock a world of imagination, knowledge, and endless possibilities for our students."

The Vice-Principal said that to further nurture students' love for reading, the school has created the Charlton Big Reads scheme.

"We have an Amazon Wish List filled with captivating books that we'd love to add to our school library."

Anyone wanting to help can visit the list online.

"Browse through the diverse selection of books that will engage readers of all ages and interests. Choose a book or two that resonate with you and add them to your cart then during the checkout process, select our school's shipping address as the delivery destination. Every contribution, big or small, will have a tremendous impact on our students.

She said Charlton was incredibly grateful for any support offered.

"By donating a book from our Wish List or getting in touch to sponsor class sets, you're helping us foster a lifelong love for reading and empowering our students to explore new worlds, learn valuable lessons, and broaden their horizons. Thank you from the bottom of our book-loving hearts! Within each book that we receive, there will be a sticker with the name of the person who has kindly gifted it.

Please spread the word with your friends, family, and colleagues. Together, let's ignite a passion for reading and create a brighter future for our young readers!"

Armed Forces Day Celebration just weeks away

The annual Armed Forces Day is taking place on Saturday 24 June 2023 from 11am – 4pm at Broadoaks, Donnington with family activities, entertainment and displays to celebrate the occasion.

Visitors will be able to watch Madness Events with their spectacular trampoline show and take part in the have-a-go sessions after the show as well as the Savage Skills Bikes display team with their stunts, tricks and jumps. There will be live music, a fun fair, free sports, activities and crafts and the opportunity to come and meet local Armed Forces Covenant organisations and military groups. There will be food and drink stalls and the Calm Café will be there too.

Armed Forces Day celebrations begin on Monday 19 June when the Armed Forces Day flag will be raised on buildings and famous landmarks around the country.

Water safety advice during hot weather

Given we’re experiencing a period of hot weather, the Canal and River Trust have provided some good resources to share.

With warm weather comes the subsequent risk of children and young people looking to play, cool-off and mess about in inland water. It is therefore timely to ask if you could share some information with pupils and their parents and carers, using your usual communication channels.

Summer water safety for secondary schools and primary juniors.

Water safety tips for EYS and primary infants.

Changes to school inspections

On 12 June 2023 Ofsted published a press release, which outlined changes made to school inspections:

inspectors will now return within three months to schools graded inadequate overall due to ineffective safeguarding, but where all other judgements were good or better;
Ofsted will offer schools greater clarity about the threshold for effective versus ineffective safeguarding through our inspection handbook, as well as regular blogs and webinars;
it is up to a headteacher to decide which colleagues, or others, they share their inspection outcome with –being aware that judgements are provisional until the report is finalised;
From September, when discussing areas of weakness , inspection reports will refer to ‘the school’ by default, rather than individuals.

The Department for Education (DfE) already funds the charity Education Support, to provide wellbeing help for school leaders, and that programme will now be doubled in size to support an additional 500 heads by March 2024.

Ofsted also published a consultation: changes to Ofsted’s post-inspection arrangements and complaints handling: proposals 2023. OFSTED are seeking the widest possible range of views to make sure their revised procedures are closely matched to the needs of those who they regulate and inspect. The consultation runs from Monday 12 June 2023 to Friday 15 September 2023. Link to the consultation is below:

Changes to Ofsted’s post-inspection arrangements and complaints handling: proposals 2023

Ofsted – what to expect when you’re inspected: Book your free places now

Please can you book your places for this free of charge ‘Ofsted – What to expect when you’re inspected’ event for Telford & Wrekin schools and academies. This event will take place on Microsoft Teams.

This online session will take place via Microsoft Teams from 4pm to 5.30pm on Monday 19 June 2023. Please note that places per school are unlimited.

The Education Inspection Framework and the School Inspection Handbook set out the statutory basis for school inspections carried out under the Education Act 2005.

The session will provide an important opportunity to hear from our Senior Regional HMI, Sue Morris-King, about the inspection process and its implications for school leaders and governors, as well as to dispel some of the common misconceptions about inspection which can lead to unnecessary workload in schools.

To book your place/s, please send an email to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk stating your name, designation, school name and email address (a CPD booking form is not required for this event).

Early Help Assessment Training

The Telford & Wrekin Early Help Assessment and Support Plans are being relaunched due to a change in Government guidance and the imbedding of Motivational Interviewing within the borough.

Join in with one of the following sessions:

5 June 2023 – The Wakes, 1.30 – 4.30pm
13 June 2023 – Randlay Community Centre, 1.30 – 4.30 pm
26 June 2023 – Park Lane Centre (Willow Room), 9.30am – 12.30pm
5 July 2023 – Ketley Community Centre, 9.30am – 12.30pm
7 July 2023 – Park Lane Centre (Willow Room), 2.30 – 5.30pm
11 July 2023 – Randlay Community Centre, 9.30am – 12.30pm

Please confirm attendance and the identify the venue/date/time you wish to attend by emailing strengtheningfamiliesBSO@telford.gov.uk.

If you are unable to attend a session within your own locality, please book on to any of the other available sessions.

A certificate of attendance will be provided along with refreshments.

Updates made to Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance

Keeping Children Safe in Education has been updated, while currently in its draft form the changes will come into effect from 1 September 2023. There are several important changes, with a particular focus around Online Safety and Attendance, the changes coming into effect are detailed below.

Change made:

Added statutory guidance on keeping children safe in education for 2023. This is for information only and does not come into force until 1 September 2023.

Attendance:

A renewed focus is being placed on the development of school’s approach to responding too and supporting pupils and their families in relation to attendance as a safeguarding concern. Some of the key developments include:

Children missing from education (CME) language to be changed to ‘children who are absent from education’.
Clear focus on absence being viewed as a safeguarding concern.
Appropriate safeguarding arrangements in place to respond to children who are absent from education, particularly on repeat occasions and/or for prolonged periods.
Strengthening approaches to responding to non-attendance: Guidance on school attendance ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ including information on how schools should work with local authority. children’s services where school absence indicates safeguarding concerns.

Elective Home Education:

An increased focus on children who have an EHCP where Parents have expressed a desire to home educate, KCSIE guidance is that consultation with the Local Authority is required and that the best interests of the child must be considered. In part KCSIE reads:

“Where a parent/carer has expressed their intention to remove a child from school with a view to educating at home, ……………..

……… Where a child has an Education, Health and Care plan local authorities will need to review the plan, working closely with parents and carers.”

* Emphasis on ensuring best interests of the child.

Online Safety:

Some of the most significant changes are in relation to expectations for online safety, with a focus on the role of governance, DSL’s and all school staff. In relation to DSL’s their job description must reflect that they have lead responsibility for online safety and have a sufficient understanding of filtering and monitoring systems in place within their setting, not relying simply on IT services or IT leads to provide assurance. As a result Governance and DSL’s will need to consider if this has any implications on your settings compliance from September.

The responsibilities with regards to online safety include:

Clarity of expectation around filtering and monitoring systems and DSL, all staff and governor knowledge of these.
Expectation that staff have clear understanding of the expectations, applicable roles and responsibilities in relation to filtering and monitoring.
Expectation that the designated safeguarding lead should take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection (including online safety and understanding the filtering and monitoring systems and processes in place). This should be explicit in their job description.
Child Protection Policy should include the approach to online safety and should also include appropriate filtering and monitoring on school devices and school networks.
Expectation that schools and colleges should use the DFE published filtering and monitoring standards and should:
identify and assign roles and responsibilities to manage filtering and monitoring systems.
review filtering and monitoring provision at least annually.
block harmful and inappropriate content without unreasonably impacting teaching and learning.
have effective monitoring strategies in place that meet their safeguarding needs.
Governing bodies and proprietors should review the standards and discuss with IT staff and service providers what more needs to be done to support schools and colleges in meeting this standard.
Consider meeting the Cyber security standards for schools and colleges.
Reference to CEOP replaced with NCA’s CEOP Safety Centre.

Safer Recruitment:

Clarification that Schools and colleges should inform shortlisted candidates that online searches may be done as part of due diligence checks.
Confirmation that copies of documents used to verify the successful candidate’s identity, right to work and required qualifications should be kept on their personnel file.
Confirmation DBS certificates do not need to be copied and kept on file.

External providers using or hiring school premises:

As an increasing number of schools are involved in hiring out their facilities it would be prudent for schools to reflect on their current systems in place, particularly around the management of concerns, allegations and any incidents including how you would be notified.

KCSIE makes note of the following:

Need to refer to “The guidance on Keeping Children Safe in Out-Of-School Settings” details the safeguarding arrangements that schools and colleges should expect providers [hirers] to have in place.
Managing allegations to an incident that happened when an individual or organisation was using their school premises for the purposes of running activities for children: Schools and colleges should follow their safeguarding policies and procedures, including informing the LADO.

Other Changes:

Some further amendments are in relation to key terminology used but there is also a reminder for schools and their staff to have embedded a practice of a trauma informed approach, recognising and responding to children’s mental health needs.

Recognising the impact of negative Mental Health: staff awareness of how children’s experiences can impact on their mental health, behaviour, attendance and progress at school.
Preventing Radicalisation: Change in language from ‘vulnerable’ to ‘susceptible.
Channel: Some terminology changes – including replacing ‘vulnerable’ with susceptible and clarifying that consent will be required before support can be delivered through the channel programme.
Forced Marriage: new links included for support and advice.
Equalities Act: The duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled children and young people.
Word ‘discipline’ replaced with ‘sanction’.
Removed reference to schools having an obligation to schools preserving records which contain information about allegations of sexual abuse for the IICSA.

Queries can be sent to Scott Thomas-White, Education Safeguarding Coordinator, via email to Educationsafeguarding@telford.gov.uk.

Shropshire Beam – Virtual workshops for parents and professionals

Shropshire Beam are pleased to provide virtual workshops for parents and professionals from July 2023. All virtual workshops will take around an hour.

All details are listed below in the chart, you will need to click on the Link at the appropriate time of chosen Workshop. All workshop will be done via MS Teams Video call, but we are unable to record sessions.

The Workshops are derived to be informative and engaging sessions, please be willing to participate during the sessions.

There are four Workshops which will be rolled out at 4pm to enable more people to attend, please see the following details of content:

Managing Anxiety – aims and objectives are to pass over psycho- education within the topic followed by practical suggestions of methods and techniques to help support the youth experience issues with anxiety.
Understanding & Responding to Self-Harm – aims and objectives are to pass over psycho-education within the topic followed by practical suggestions of methods and techniques to help support the youth experiencing issues with self-harm.
Wellbeing Planning – a workshop which explains and provides a tool for children and young people to support their general emotional health and wellbeing, it recognises triggers and promotes self-awareness, and can also be used as a relapse tool to support resilience.
Sleep Support – aims to pass over psycho-education within the topic followed by practical suggestions and advise of methods and techniques to help support the children and young people having difficulties with getting to sleep and staying asleep. This workshop will be rolled out twice over the four weeks, due to popular demand.

Date and time	Title	MS Teams link
Wednesday 5 July 2023 4pm for approximately 1 hour.	Sleep support	Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 385 863 571 287 Passcode: GzLoGa
Wednesday 12 July 2023 4pm for approx. 1.5 hour.	Supporting and understanding self-harm	Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 369 405 485 015 Passcode: 7NzrRb
Wednesday 19 July 2023 4pm for approx. 1 hour.	Wellbeing planning	Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 385 053 319 151 Passcode: RV2APL
Wednesday 26 July 2023 4pm for approx. 1 hour.	Managing anxiety	Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 398 258 721 67 Passcode: yfWBs8
Wednesday 2 August 2023 4pm for approx. 1 hour.	Sleep support	Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 333 511 426 358 Passcode: zN7dD4
Wednesday 9 August 2023 4pm for approx. 1.5 hour.	Supporting and understanding self-harm	Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 354 027 794 125 Passcode: ZQfeUY
Wednesday 16 August 2023 pm for approx. 1 hour.	Wellbeing planning	Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 324 105 836 478 Passcode: SXeZzT
Wednesday 23 August 2023 4pm for approx. 1 hour.	Managing anxiety	Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 361 622 085 94 Passcode: Vd9V5v
Wednesday 30 August 2023 4pm for approx. 1 hour.	Sleep support	Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 375 113 438 730 Passcode: dqHAee

School Travel Assistance – please encourage applications to be submitted before 30 June 2023!

Telford & Wrekin Council looks to parents and carers to make arrangements for their (child)ren and young people to travel safely to their allocated school and/or post 16 provider, where possible.

If you are unable to transport your child or young person and if you meet the eligibility criteria listed on the council’s website, the council can provide travel assistance.

If you are applying for your travel assistance from September 2023, all applications must be received by the council by 30 June 2023. Applications received after this date cannot guarantee that travel training or travel assistance will be in place for the start of the new term.

When will travel arrangements be in place?
The council will aim to put travel arrangements in place as soon as possible, however, they can only start this process after 30 June 2023, once all applications are received. Please submit your application as soon as possible.

Do I need to re-apply?
You will only need to re-apply in the following circumstances:

If you have moved house since you initially applied or your child is moving school, as your eligibility could have changed.
Parents/carers for children over the age of 16 must re-apply for assisted travel every academic year. View information on how to re-apply online for home to school travel assistance.

How to apply:
You can submit your application on the council's new website and transport platform which has been developed based on feedback received from parents and carers over the last year.

In order to submit an application, you will be required to create a new account online. If you already have an email address registered with the council, please use this email when creating an account, this will help the council to link your existing travel assistance arrangements with your new account.

Once you have created an account and submitted your application, you will receive regular notifications on your application progress, you can log on at any point to see the progress. If you need support in creating a new account, please call 01952 384545 (Monday to Friday, 7.15am-5pm).

New oral health guidance

Nearly a quarter of 5-year-olds in England have tooth decay – but this is largely preventable.

New oral health guidance from the Department for Education is now available on the Help for Early Years Providers website.

The guidance:

explains the importance of good oral health for early years children
helps practitioners to meet the oral health requirement in the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework
includes practical tips and activities to use in early years settings
links to further reading and resources

For more guidance on supporting children in the early years, visit the Help for Early Years Providers website.

Free training opportunity: Learning Language and Loving it

Thrive Together Stronger Practice Hub are currently recruiting for their Learning Language and Loving It programme which commences in October 2023.

In order to participate in the programme, the following stipulations apply:

1 - each setting must put forward two practitioners to attend all training sessions and workshops
2 - settings must work with 3-4 year olds.
3 - the setting must have onsite access to a computer, as well as a device such as a tablet which will be required to record videos of all staff-pupil interactions. This will then be uploaded onto a secure online point for the video review sessions.

There are 20 setting spaces remaining, and face to face sessions are likely to be held on a Friday afternoon, with the potential of a second alternative at a different time depending upon uptake.

More information about the programme is available by downloading the event poster. The deadline for any expressions of interest is the 23 June (ignore the date on the poster.)

Expressions of Interest

Any queries can be directed to Lisa Seymour via email to Lisa.seymour@telford.gov.uk or by calling 01952 385424.

Autumn 2023 support for early years settings, schools and childminders from the experts and mentors programme

Does your setting met the criteria below for early years setting and school nursery DfE funded support? If so, you can apply for support from the Department for Education’s Early Years Experts and Mentors Programme.

Currently, eligible settings include those who meet one of the criteria below:

high numbers of children in receipt of EY Pupil Premium
high numbers of children with SEND needs
high numbers of children taking up the disadvantaged 2-year-old offer
been judged as Requires Improvement (RI) or Inadequate in the last 3 years.

The Experts and Mentors Early Years Covid-19 Recovery Programme from the Department for Education is focused on supporting Early Years practitioners and leaders, to address the impact of the pandemic on the youngest children.

The programme is available nationally, across England, until July 2024.

Eligible early years practitioners, leaders and whole settings will be offered bespoke support to be delivered both face-to-face and virtually. The offer to settings will include leadership support, coaching for leaders, mentoring for practitioners and whole-setting support, depending on needs.

Settings that are selected will receive the support of an Expert and Mentor for a set number of days within one term, between September 2022 and July 2024.

The Experts and Mentors who will be providing support to settings are experienced early years professionals.

Which settings are eligible for this programme?

The Experts and Mentors programme will support Private Voluntary or Independent (PVI) nursery settings, maintained nursery schools and school-based nurseries.

To be eligible for the programme, settings must fit at least one of the following criteria:

been judged as Requires Improvement (RI) or inadequate by Ofsted in the last 3 years
high numbers of children in receipt of EY Pupil Premium
high numbers of children with SEND needs
high numbers of children taking up the disadvantaged 2-year-old offer

Please note, this programme will not support reception year. For example, a school with reception year only, is not eligible to receive support through this programme.

More information on how childminders can apply for support is available online.

What are the benefits of joining this programme?

By joining the programme, settings will receive the support of fellow early years professionals, who are passionate about supporting others to improve practice and outcomes for children.

This support is free and available across the country, for eligible settings.

Settings will also gain the opportunity to develop working relationships and network with others who have the common aim of improving standards for children following the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes DfE, local authorities, our delivery partner for the programme Pen Green Research Centre, and early years professionals from other settings.

How to apply for support from the programme

For more information on the programme, please read this information for settings.

We are currently looking for settings who are interested in receiving support from September 2023, for the Autumn term (academic year 2023/24).

If you are interested in receiving support from this programme, please complete the online form.

This page will remain live, to submit your interest in receiving support. If your setting is not selected for the Autumn term, there will be further opportunities to receive support later in the programme.

You will be notified if you have been selected to receive support for the Autumn term during September 2023.

For more information visit the following website:

Applying for support from the Early Years Experts and Mentors programme | Pen Green Children's Centre

Even if you do not meet the above areas for eligibility, you may be able to access the support.

Any queries can be directed to Lisa Seymour via email to Lisa.seymour@telford.gov.uk or by calling 01952 385424.

New addition to free Urban Games programme – Netball

Telford & Wrekin Council’s free school holiday sports programme welcomed Telford Netball club to the running order during the recent half term.

The club hosted a trial session at Donnington recreation ground as part of the Urban Games - a council-run free sports programme for young people aged 8+. Sessions are held in parks across Telford and Wrekin and supported by professional coaches.

More than 200 young people took part over four days where partners including Shropshire Cricket, AFC Telford United the Bike Hub and the netball club hosted free two-hour sessions - just one of the ways the council is supporting young people and families.

Dr Bike also attended the Bike Hub on Friday, June 2 and helped repair children’s bikes for free.

Councillor Kelly Middleton, cabinet member for healthy, safer & stronger communities and partnerships said: “The Urban Games is a growing programme of activities that’s completely free and offers a couple of hours free sports coaching from professionals to keep kids engaged with something positive during the school holidays.

“The school holidays are long and it’s expensive too so these sessions are a place where kids can hang out with their friends, learn a new skill or just brush up on existing ones with help from real coaches.”

The project forms part of the Safer & Stronger Communities programme, funded in part by the Police and Crime Commissioner. The project aims to create community support projects and introduce safety measures, based on ideas and suggestions by residents.

Along with the Urban Games, youth and sport clubs, women’s self-defence classes, reading groups, even art and gardening groups are just a handful of projects the Safer & Stronger Communities team have helped set up in the last year.

It’s easy to get involved and if people have ideas for a project in your area, the team can help with advice as well as funding. £2.5m has been made available over a two-year period to support the establishment of new projects.

For more information visit the website at or email the team at saferstonger@telford.gov.uk.

The next sessions will be in the summer school holidays where Wrekin Riders and hockey will also join the line up. Full details are made available on the Urban Games webpage with the new summer programme soon to be announced.

*Please note: All sessions are suitable for children and young people aged 8-16 years, there is no need to book but places limited to 25 people (first come first served). Please dress appropriately for the weather and bring plenty of drinks.

Refugee Week: 19 – 25 June 2023

Recent events have highlighted the ever-increasing need for pupils to understand about the plight of refugees and the reason why they flee their home country and come to the UK to seek sanctuary. Telford has kindly opened its doors to Afghan and Ukrainian refugees and, more recently, those coming to the UK from Hong Kong.

The theme of this year’s refugee week is compassion. It also marks the 25th anniversary of Refugee week. We know how interconnected our world is: how something seemingly “far away” impacts everyone. All of this makes us even more aware of the need to widen our circles of compassion. Within our own experiences are all the tools we need to be compassionate, not just to ourselves and those in our immediate circle but to all our human neighbours and our one shared home, planet earth.

We invite you to take part in Refugee Week 2023 and show us how arts and culture can help widen our circles of compassion. We cannot wait to see all of your creative responses! We are encouraging you to consider taking part in one simple act of compassion. Simple Acts are everyday actions we can all do to stand with refugees and make new connections in our communities. They could be:

Watching a film about refugees
Listen and share stories/ experiences
Read a book
Send a message
Have a chat
Share a dish
Walk together
Grow your compassion
Use your platform
Join the movement (Become a school of Sanctuary!)

We know that if you are also considering taking part there are the free Refugee Week resources to support those celebrating for the first time.

We would love to know how your school or setting is marking and celebrating Refugee week.

How you can share:

Send your pictures and brief description on what you have done to celebrate, to education.noticeboard@telford.gov.uk for inclusion in the Education Noticeboard.
Share on your social channels with hashtag #refugee week and tag our Council in your posts: @TelfordWrekin.

MDT support for individual schools to plan and develop staff knowledge around Refugees is free and available upon request. Please contact Kirsty Holden and Qamar Maqsood via email to Multicultural.Development@telford.gov.uk. Alternatively you can call 07855148693 or 07800 671756.

Celebrating the 75th anniversary of Windrush: 22 June 2023

June 22, 2023, marks the 75th anniversary of national Windrush day, commemorating the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in London. The Windrush generation, named after the ship, refers to the thousands of Caribbean people who travelled to the United Kingdom between 1948 and 1971, seeking better opportunities and answering the call to help rebuild post-war Britain. As we celebrate this significant milestone, it is important to reflect on the achievements, struggles, and the future for the Windrush generation and their descendants.

Celebrating Windrush 75th Anniversary: Reflecting on Achievements, hardship and the Future

The arrival of Windrush marked the beginning of a new era, shaping the multicultural landscape of modern Britain. The generation coming from the Caribbean islands made vital contributions to the country's economy, labour force, cultural fabric, music and entertainment. From healthcare to transportation, education to the arts, the Windrush generation enriched British society in countless ways and continues to do so.

The Windrush generation demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination, overcoming significant challenges. They excelled in various sectors, including health and social care, politics, business, and education. Many became trailblazers, breaking barriers and achieving remarkable milestones. Notable figures like Sir Trevor McDonald, Baroness Floella Benjamin, and Sir Lenny Henry, among many others, rose to prominence, becoming influential voices in their respective fields.

Sadly, the Windrush generation faced hardships and injustices along their journey. The Windrush scandal, which emerged in 2018, highlighted the mistreatment and wrongful deportation of many individuals who had arrived in the UK as British subjects. These injustices served as a stark reminder of the systemic challenges faced, including discrimination, the loss of lively hoods and jobs, homes were taken away and even imprisonment for some individuals.
The 75th anniversary of Windrush is an opportunity to reflect on the past while looking towards a brighter future. Efforts have been made to rectify the injustices of the Windrush scandal, including the establishment of the Windrush Compensation Scheme to provide financial redress to those affected. The government has also committed to reviewing immigration policies to prevent such injustices from recurring.

As part of the nationwide celebrations, events are planned to honour Windrush day. These events aim to celebrate the Windrush generation's contributions and provide a platform for dialogue, education, and cultural exchange. Here in Telford local organisation TARRC has announced a red carpet event at the Orbit cinema for family and friends of the Windrush generation, and they will also be hosting a Windrush family fun day event at HLC on July 15th, from 11 am to 5 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend this event, which serve as a reminder of the ongoing importance of recognizing, supporting, and appreciating the Windrush generation and their lasting legacy.

As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Windrush, let us honour the achievements, resilience, and contributions of the Windrush generation. May this commemoration inspire us to build a future that embraces diversity, equality, and social justice for all. Together, we can create a society that values and respects every individual, regardless of their cultural background or immigration status.

Free school resources are available online:

Twinkl

TES

Black History Month - Windrush

An opportunity to place for CPD bookings for courses to the end of the Summer Term 2023

The CPD Booklet continues to be available on the Telford Education Services site to the end of the academic year 2023.

The CPD Booklet for 2023-24 is currently in production and will be available by the end of June.

Course bookings with a course code are made by sending a completed CPD booking form via email to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk.

Other courses and briefings without a course code are usually booked by sending your email address name and school name to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk (unless stated otherwise).

Ofsted - what to expect when you’re inspected (see separate article)	Monday, June 19, 2023	4pm to 5.30pm
Primary Computing Update (CPD 512)	Tuesday, June 20, 2023	4pm to 5.30pm
Raising Awareness of Prevent (SG 101)	Wednesday, June 21, 2023	1pm to 2.30pm
Safety Intervention Training (formerly MAPA training) - part 1 CPI accredited (BSAT 201)	Thursday, June 22, 2023	8.30am to 4pm
Induction Training for New Governors (GO 502)	Thursday, June 22, 2023	9.30am to 3.30pm - time TBA
Establishing Yourself as a SEND leader, for new and returning SENCOs (LSAT 302)	Wednesday, June 28, 2023	4pm to 5pm
Early Years Coordinators’ Termly Update (EY 007)	Wednesday, June 28, 2023	4pm to 5.30pm
Safety Intervention Training (formerly MAPA training) - part 2 CPI accredited (BSAT 201)	Thursday, June 29, 2023	8.30am to 12.30pm
Meeting the OFSTED requirements for Equalities and Diversity in the Secondary School (CPD 719)	Thursday, June 29, 2023	1pm to 4pm
Talk Boost KS2 (LSAT 511)	Thursday, June 29, 2023	TBC
Designated Safeguarding Leads Refresher (SG 107)	Thursday, June 29, 2023	9.15am to 4pm
Behaviour Support Intervention Training - non-accredited (BSAT 301)	Wednesday, July 05, 2023	8.30am to 4pm
Safeguarding Training for Newly Appointed Governors (part 2) (SG 103)	Wednesday, July 05, 2023	5.30pm to 7.30pm
Safety Intervention Refresher Training (formerly MAPA Refresher Training) - CPI accredited (BSAT 212)	Thursday, July 06, 2023	8.45am to 12.30pm
Effective Circle Times in the EYFS (EY 302)	Thursday, July 06, 2023	1.15pm to 4pm
Pupil Premium Network Meeting (CPD 712)	Monday, July 10, 2023	4pm to 5.30pm

Knowledge Education: High-quality, subject specific, live online training delivered by Diane Pye

The May 2023 national report about teacher CPD highlighted the importance of evidence-based, subject-specific training.

DPSI Knowledge Education subject-specific curriculum training is informed by research and current curriculum thinking. The sessions explain and exemplify what meaningful progress in different subjects looks like. Perfect for subject leaders and all those involved in curriculum design and implementation.

Each session identifies how to build meaningful subject knowledge over time.

Informed by the HMI research reviews and current curriculum thinking, DPSI 'Progress in...' half-day online courses are high-quality, well-informed, up-to-date sessions that explain what you need to know about how pupils make progress in different subjects.

These courses help leaders and staff to keep things simple, reduce workload and ensure the curriculum covers the right things in the right way. Attendees will come away with improved subject knowledge and crucial information about effective curriculum design, classroom practice and progress in each subject.

The course leader is Diane Pye.

About Diane

Diane has up-to-date expert knowledge of current educational thinking about effective curriculum design. She is involved in national curriculum research and gathers and contributes material for government subject reports. Diane produces training material for schools, training providers, MATs and school improvement services. She regularly leads school inspections. Until 2020, Diane was a primary school headteacher, and led the school to outstanding judgements in both Ofsted and SIAMS inspections.

For more information and to book, click on the relevant subject below:

Progress in History - 15 June 2023 (am)

Progress in Religious Education - 16 June 2023 (am)

Progress in Art & Design - 27 June 2023 (am)

Progress in Mathematics - 27 June 2023 (pm)

Progress in Music - 28 June 2023 (am)

Progress in Geography - 28 June 2023 (pm)

Progress in English - 4 July 2023 (9am-3pm)

Progress in Science - 5 July 2023 (am)

Information about 'Progress in...' courses running in Autumn Term 2023 is also available online.

Pricing
£95 (plus VAT) per delegate for half-day 'Progress in...'courses for subject leaders and teachers (rising to £100 in autumn 2023).
£150 (plus VAT) per delegate for the 'Progress in English' full-day course.

Private fostering training sessions

As part of Private Fostering week, there will be several private fostering training sessions being provided by the Family and Friends Fostering Team.

The first session on 6 July 2023 can be booked via the Partnership website or via Ollie. We are currently waiting for the second date to be confirmed. This is a great way to refresh your knowledge on Private Fostering arrangements, and why it is important to raise awareness within our services, partner agencies and within the wider community. This training session will also be useful for new staff members.

Please visit the Telford Safeguarding Partnership website for information about upcoming training events.

The session will be virtual and take no longer than 60 minutes.

We are particularly interested in having our colleagues in education attend, as many work directly with families and children on a daily basis.

This entry was posted by Claire on Wednesday, 14 June 2023.

About

Every week during term time we publish a new update for the education community. It includes essential briefings and specialist information about education.

Site Feed

Education Noticeboard