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

We are well and truly back into the school term flow, with a bumper Education Noticeboard this week to go with it.

Amongst the updates this week, there are numerous opportunities for our children and young people, such as the Virtual School Bake Off, pedestrian training, and open days at Harper Adams. There are also plenty of opportunities for learning for our colleagues too. Please take a look at some of the training and courses on offer which could be beneficial to you and the young people you work with in your role.

Lastly, for our Primary Schools, don’t miss out on your opportunity to apply for a free, 3 year partnership with the Shropshire Wildlife Trust! This looks to be an exciting offer for whichever school is lucky enough to benefit.

Hope you have a great rest of the week.

Best wishes

Simon

Simon Wellman

Director: Education & Skills

Council to open its third Family Hub in Oakengates

Telford & Wrekin Council is soon to open its third Family Hub in the borough which will offer families more free help and support as they navigate their way through parenting.

The Oak Family Hub, which will be located at The Wakes in Oakengates, will open its doors on Saturday 27 January between 10am and 12pm for families to find out more about the Telford Family Hub and Start for Life offer.

Residents are invited to go along to the opening event to find out more about the new hub, as well as join in with the family friendly activities including circus skills, our Family Hubs Photo Booth, as well as a chance to win some prizes such as Theatre Tickets for Fireman Sam to mark the official opening.

Family Hubs offer a single location for families to visit to get information, guidance, and support on a range of services, including infant feeding, mental health, healthy lifestyles and parenting classes.

Councillor Shirley Reynolds (Lab) cabinet member for Early Years, Children and Young People said: “It is fantastic news that we are opening our third Family Hub which will see more support available for families when they need it most.

“Our Family Hubs in Sutton Hill and Woodside have been hugely popular since they opened and we are regularly hearing from families about how valuable it is to be able to get support from a range of services in one place, whether it's to ask a question about their children’s development milestone or take part in one of our group sessions like ‘Bump to Baby’ and socialise with other families. We are seeing people walk through the doors for a whole range of reasons and that’s exactly what the Family Hubs are for.

“Everyone is welcome at our launch event on Saturday 27 January, this will be a great opportunity to find out what support is on offer at The Oak Family Hub, as well as join in with some free family fun activities to celebrate the opening.”

Councillor Stephen Reynolds, Mayor of Oakengates said: “We are delighted that Telford & Wrekin Council are opening their new Family Hub in the heart of Oakengates - a central space that will support our local families and offer them the best start in life. The hub is located in the heart of our town, making it easy for residents to access any services they need to support them in raising their family.”

Family Hubs offer support to families from pre-birth through the infant and toddler age and all the way up to 19 years, or up to 25 for young adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

All three Family Hubs in Telford and Wrekin have been named after trees – as a symbol of stability, growth and strength, in light also of our borough’s “Tree City of the World” achievement. Residents were invited to vote on their favourite centre names last year.

Family Hubs are currently open Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm.

In addition to the physical Family hub, information and support is also available on the council’s website at www.telford.gov.uk/familyhubs

The council is planning to open more hubs in the coming months in other locations across the borough.

Shape the future of Telford and Wrekin: Your voice matters

Dear Head Teachers,

As valued leaders in our community, we are reaching out to request your support in sharing crucial information with parents that directly impacts on the future of Telford & Wrekin.

What is the Local Plan?

The Telford & Wrekin draft Local Plan is a blueprint for the future development of our borough. It outlines policies and proposals for housing, infrastructure, and community services. We are at a pivotal stage in this process, and we believe that the input of parents is invaluable.

Why is it important?

We understand the role that schools play in shaping the future for our children and future generations. Your support in encouraging parents to share their views on the Local Plan is vital. This plan will influence the environment in which our children grow, learn, and thrive. By contributing, parents have the opportunity to shape policies that directly impact the well-being and opportunities available to their children.

How can you help?

We kindly ask you to include a brief mention in your school newsletters, urging parents to participate in the Local Plan consultation. Encourage them to share their thoughts on housing, education, and community services. Their voices will contribute to building a borough that aligns with the aspirations we have for our children's future.

Key message:

Be a part of shaping the future of Telford and Wrekin! Your views matter. Share your thoughts on the draft Local Plan and help create a community that reflects our shared values. Together, let's build a brighter future for our children.

View the Telford and Wrekin draft Local Plan here > www.telfordandwrekinlocalplan.co.uk

The consultation closes at 5pm on 31 January 2024 > there are just two weeks left to contribute, share your views today

We appreciate your ongoing commitment to our community, and we look forward to working together to ensure a bright and promising future for Telford and Wrekin.

The Virtual School’s Bake Off

Date: Thursday 1 February 2024, 4 – 5pm

Venue: The Carpenter Centre, Overdale, Telford, TF3 5BT

Age ranges: Nursery – Year 2, Year 3 – Year 7 and Year 8 +

Young people to create delicious bakes (cake, biscuits, bread etc) at home and bring along.

All entries will receive a certificate & a small prize. For each age range, the bakes will be judged for best tasting, most impressive looking and most imaginative.

Please share the flyer and booking form with young people in your setting who are in care, have previously been in care or who have a social worker.

Bake Off Flyer

Booking Form

Book your Pedestrian Training for KS1 & KS2

Now taking bookings for Pedestrian Training workshops in 2024

A scheme which increases children’s knowledge of the Green Cross Code and teaches them age appropriate pavement behaviour skills. A classroom based workshop followed by accompanied walks in the local area. A pre and post evaluation takes place, outliers are highlighted and results are fed back to the class teacher. Feedback on this scheme has been excellent with post evaluation results consistently high.

For more information or to book a course please email gemma.marchant@telford.gov.uk

Fabricated and Induced Illness (FII) Pathway

The Telford and Wrekin Safeguarding guidance for FII is currently under review. The Telford and Wrekin Safeguarding Partnership are working with health service leads to fully update our local procedures.

While this review is being undertaken, all professionals should follow the regional FII guidance that can be found here:

2.6 Fabricated or Induced Illness | West Midlands Safeguarding Children Group (procedures.org.uk)

Delivering Early Help in Education – Telford & Wrekin Conference – Tuesday 6 February 2024

This day conference is taking place Tuesday 6 February 2024 at a local Telford hotel – exact times and venue will be advised with the joining instructions the week before the event.

Telford & Wrekin’s Achievement and Enrichment Service including the Education Safeguarding Team and key partners are pleased to announce an important conference for all schools and colleges focused on early help in education. Attendance will support schools and colleges in delivering early help.

Who should attend?

This conference is designed for strategic leaders with responsibility for the delivery of early help in schools and colleges.

Content:

The conference will provide strategic leads with an opportunity to consider your setting’s delivery of early help and to build even stronger partnerships with partners.

In addition to the keynote inputs, delegates will have the opportunity to attend three workshops, with a focus on attendance, neglect and models of delivering early help.

The keynote speaker is Edwina Langley MBE, Lead Attendance Officer for Birmingham City Council, Children and Families Directorate and Chair of the Network for Legal Intervention in Education.

Edwina is a qualified social worker and initially worked in children’s residential care, followed by the management of a family centre. A passion for the opportunities education could offer disadvantaged and vulnerable children led Edwina to Birmingham Education Welfare Service. During her time with the service Edwina trained as a National Strategies Attendance Advisor and helped improve Birmingham secondary school attendance to better than national average. When the service was disbanded in 2011, Edwina continued her strategic work with schools, but when the remaining Education Welfare team was further reduced in 2014, she created the Education Legal Intervention Team to enable the local authority to deliver its statutory enforcement responsibilities related to attendance.

In 2018, Edwina created the ‘FAST-track to Attendance’ process, an early help initiative to ensure families were offered early help support before penalty notices or legal action was considered. Edwina also instigated the development of the multi-agency, mental health resource, #you’vebeenmissed, launched in September 2020 to support the return to school at the end of the first Covid lockdown. She is the current Chair of the Network for Legal Intervention in Education (affectionately called ‘Nellie’) and a member of the NEC of the Association of Education Welfare management.

Edwina was appointed an MBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours list for Services for Education, but, in Edwina’s words, more importantly, became a Nanna to her first grandchild in July 2023!

Each school in Telford & Wrekin, including independent schools and post 16 institutions will receive one free place for their strategic lead. Please book your places as soon as possible in order that additional places over and above the one free place can be offered at a cost of £25 per person.

To secure your free place and request additional places, please send a completed CPD booking form to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk

Please note that our standard terms and conditions apply for any cancellations within 5 working days or any ‘no shows’ on the day – for both free places and any chargeable places. Please refer to the CPD Booklet on the Telford Education Services website for further details.

SOS+ Criminal Exploitation Training for Education Professionals – new dates for 2024

Following on from this event which ran successfully in 2023, please find below details of new dates for 2024 and an opportunity to book your unlimited free places.

This online event is provided to Telford & Wrekin schools and academies free of charge and is led by St Giles Education Trust in partnership with the T&W Education Safeguarding Team.

There is no limit to the number of delegates from each school.

Thursday 1 February 2024 from 4pm to 5.30pm

Monday 11 March 2024 from 1.30pm to 3pm

Monday 29 April 2024 from 10am to 11.30am

Wednesday 12 June 2024 from 4pm to 4.30pm

Each session will consist of a 60 minute presentation, followed by a 30-minute Q&A session.

Delegates only need to attend on one of the above dates and will leave the session able to:

understand how county lines are set up
understand how young people are groomed, recruited and exploited; specifically exploring examples that involve educational settings
recognise key signs and indicators that children and young people are being exploited or at risk of county lines involvement by unpacking what this looks like within an educational setting
understand how school exclusions can increase the risk of students on the periphery
recognise how to mitigate risks practically when considering exclusions learning from successful examples
understand the perspective of an expert witness who is a survivor and/or perpetrator of a county lines operation, including how county lines operations use girls and young women
develop initial interventions and long-term strategies to prevent and reduce the risk of students of criminal exploitation, and gang and county lines involvement within educational settings

Bookings can be made by sending a completed CPD booking form via email to: cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk

Opportunity to be part of a Focus Group for the National ELSEC project (part of the SEND and AP Change Programme)

ELSEC is a two-year pathfinder programme from DfE and NHS England which will fund innovative workforce models to improve early identification and support for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs within early years and primary school settings. ELSEC will take place in nine sites across England, one in each Change Programme Partnership. It is running across two academic years from September 2023 to August 2025.

We are seeking expressions of interest from SENCOs and Senior Leaders at Early Years and Primary settings to be part of the Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire ELSEC Focus Group. This is an excellent opportunity to be part of a national SEND pathfinder and shape the future of Early Intervention for SLCN.

For more information and to register your interest in taking part please complete the Microsoft Form at this link: https://forms.office.com/e/yi9nkn9tiE

The closing date for registering your interest is Friday 26 January.

If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Court, LSAT Team Lead for Telford and Wrekin Council: sarah.court@telford.gov.uk

School Attendance Surgery – Friday 26 January 2024

Schools will be aware that the DfE guidance ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance’ expects the LA to be sharing good practice and also have a responsibility for communication and advice.

Therefore, we introduced these surgeries for schools to refer cases or to join us to listen to how schools and AST have worked together to manage complicated cases. Or, where school attendance related individual cases can be discussed (anonymised) in the surgeries.

We had a very productive and varied discussion relating to some complex cases at the first surgery, we now invite you to book on to the next one on Friday 26 January.

We invite you to attend these TEAMS sessions for free by requesting a place via the CPD booklet.

Details of the surgeries are attached below.

Please complete the attached booking form and return to CPDSchool.Improvement@telford.gov.uk

Telford Education Services Website

CPD Booking Form

School Attendance Surgery Dates

Access your school attendance data with the newly improved attendance monitoring tool

We all know that improving school attendance is vitally important. Every moment in school counts, and days missed add up quickly. That is why we are making sure that everyone understands that ‘moments matter, attendance counts’ with our national communications campaign.

You may also be aware that we have committed to introducing legislation in the coming months which will mean all schools will be required to share their daily school registers. If your school is not already doing so, you should consider joining the 88% of state-funded schools already sharing their daily school attendance data with DfE.

For an update on the monitor your school attendance service, please register on the link below.

Please see the link below for the Attendance Toolkit:

Attendance Toolkit.

‘We Want You’ – to attend the Attendance Support Team - Red Book training for Accessing Legal Interventions - in line with ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance’

AST are pleased to confirm the next date for their full day ‘Red Book’ training is Wednesday 24 April 2024. Thank you to those of you on the waiting list for your patience.

This training will look different from sessions prior to September 23 as we now deliver this in line with the DfE Guidance ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance’.

All delegates will receive an updated red folder. Delegates should bring any old ‘Red Book’ folders to the training as they are recycled.

This training is a full day and is charged AT £150 pp with 10% discount for any other staff member from the same school – all resources, refreshments and lunch are provided. Places can be booked through the CPD Offer (see attached booking form)

Please can we confirm that school staff with attendance responsibilities will be given priority for a place on this course

If you have a new member of staff in school or have staff who have recently been delegated school attendance responsibility please contact the CPD team to request a place.

CPD Booking Form

Virtual School Designated Teacher and Nominated Governor Conference Friday 7 June 2024

Our Virtual School Conference will take place on Friday 7th June 2024. Please book tickets now for our annual conference at an early bird discount price. 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, restorative practice, and looking at what really makes the difference for our young people. Schools are also able to use their ppg+ funding to cover the cost of the event. Please see the flyer and booking form attached for further details.

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.”

Conference Flyer

Booking Form

H.E 4 ME Events – Opportunities for Care Experienced Learners

Year 7 & 8 - Tuesday 30 January

We invite care experienced learners in Year 7 and 8 to Birmingham City University (BCU) and Aston University for a combined campus experience day. Learners will gain insight into university and learn about the specific support available, explaining how higher education can be an option for their future. Learners will begin by visiting the Institute of Technology on Aston University's campus, then explore BCU Curzon Campus as part of a campus tour.

Learners will also learn about the different types of courses available at university, as well as how GCSEs can impact learners' decisions later in their educational journey.

Find out more and book places here.

Year 12 & 13 - Monday 18 March

We invite care experienced learners in Year 12 and 13 to the University of Worcester for a campus experience day. Learners will gain insight into university and learn about the specific support available, explaining how higher education can be an option for their future. We will share information on applying to university, student finance, accommodation and student life. Young people will have a tour of the campus and student accommodation, as well as take part in outdoor activities at the Lakeside campus!

Find out more and book places here.

There is no cost to either event and lunch will be provided for all attendees. Please let us know if you would require financial support for travel costs in order to attend these events.

To find out more, please visit:

Care Experienced Learners - Aimhigher West Midlands

New Year, New Career…. Train to Teach in Telford with Severn Training & Schools Alliance!

Severn Training & Schools Alliance (STSA) is based in Telford. We offer Primary (4-11) and Early Years (3-7) PGCE Lead School Partner Route initial teacher training, with our partner, the University of Chester.

Now recruiting for September 2024, if successful in gaining a place trainees can look forward to a training year which will include two contrasting placements in Telford schools in two different key stages, and curriculum and academic training sessions with their whole cohort delivered in Telford by trainers who are not only experts in their particular field but familiar with Telford & Wrekin schools. Many STSA Associate Teachers secured permanent employment within Telford schools following successful completion of the course last year.

Candidates need to have a degree, plus GCSE 4-9 or equivalent in English, Maths and Science to apply, and successful completion of the course provides candidates with Qualified Teacher Status and a PGCE.

Interested or know someone who may be? STSA hold weekly online information sessions, each Tuesday evening during term time from 5.30pm – 6.30pm. This informal session will give you the chance to have all your questions answered. For more details visit the website, www.stsa.uk, email the team on stsa@taw.org.uk, or telephone 01952 387237.

NPQ Flyer

Last Opportunity For Fully Funded NPQs Delivered Locally

Take advantage of the fully funded suite of NPQs -The DfE are not currently guaranteeing any funded NPQs beyond February 2024.

If you are from a small school you may also be eligible to the additional small school funding which is payable directly to your school for each participant (up to £800 per participant)

For more information on programmes being delivered in Shropshire and Telford, please go to https://www.stepwm2.co.uk/our-offer/npq or view the following SWAY

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

Would you know how to help?

One in ten young people experience a mental health issue at any one time. Suicide is the leading cause of death for those aged 5-19.

In an average group of 30 15-year-olds:

Seven are likely to have been bullied
Six may be self-harming
One could have experienced the death of a parent

There are a record number of young people that are struggling. Academic pressure, social media, bullying, poverty, lack of availability of professional mental health support – have all been named by various sources as contributing factors to this epidemic of poor mental health in our young people.

It’s clear that young people are not getting the support they need. Key figures in a young person’s life include – parents, family members, teachers, tutors, carers, youth workers and they can often spot when a young person is struggling but may not know how best to help.

Learn to support young people

Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA®) courses are for everyone who works with, lives with or supports young people aged 8-18. They will teach you the skills and confidence to spot the signs of mental health issues in a young person, offer first aid and guide them towards the support they need. In doing so, you can speed up a young person’s recovery and stop a mental health issue from getting worse.

Our courses won't teach you to be a therapist, but we will teach you to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis - and even potentially stop a crisis from happening.

But more than that, we aim to give you the information and skills to look after your own mental health so that you can set an example for young people. By giving you the tools to have these conversations, we hope to empower you to create a mentally healthy, supportive environment in your family, school, peer group or community.

Let's create a future where mental health is treated as a normal part of life, in the same way as physical health. A future where every young person has access to support if they need it.

Cost £300 for two full days of training and all associated materials including the Youth Mental Health First Aider Manual

To book, please click on the link below:

https://mhfaengland.org/book-a-course/course-details/?id=3ac1c507-9f99-ee11-be37-000d3ab68370

LAST CHANCE - DfE Fully Funded Mental Health Lead Training – extended to 31 March 2024

The DfE have announced that schools and colleges can claim a second grant if the senior mental health lead they previously trained left before embedding an effective holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing. This will help settings who’ve been impacted by staff turnover to train a new lead who can build on the progress already made. To claim this funding you must be prepared to commence the training by 31st March 2024. If you have already booked an additional delegate on to our next course and this applies to you, you can claim the grant in retrospect.

The training develops your mental health lead’s knowledge and practical skills to embed an effective whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing in your setting, which supports attendance, behaviour and learning.

The training includes:

developing your universal and targeted support offer
identifying mental health and wellbeing needs and monitoring the impact of support
approaches to plan and lead change aligned to the work of your designated safeguarding lead/special educational needs co-ordinator
engaging students and developing positive relationships with parents, families and carers

Severn are offering dates in the autumn and spring/summer terms for you to use your DfE funding of £1200 to train mental health leads. The funding will cease after March 2024.

The cost of the training is £800, the remaining £400 is to go towards the cost of cover for your delegate.

Day 1 – 14 March 2024
Day 2 – 8 May 2024
Day 3 – 17 June 2024

Have you used your grant for the Mental Health Lead and now need to train another? The cost of the training is £800. The provider we are working with has the following discount for subsequent places:

50% for training a second lead if the previous lead trained with The Root Of It (Severn) – This would be £400.
30% for training a second lead if the previous lead trained elsewhere –This would be £560.

If you feel that one of these discounts apply to you, please contact info@rootofit.com and tell them your previous lead’s name and email address so that they can confirm your discount at the time of booking. Retrospective discounts cannot be honoured therefore you must contact them prior to booking for these to apply.

Please click on the link below to make your course booking.

https://mentalhealthlead.com/course/advanced-mental-health-lead-telford-november-2023-smhl008/

https://mentalhealthlead.com/course/advanced-mental-health-lead-telford-march-2024-smhl008/

And click here to claim your grant to train your senior mental health lead

Let's get talking about menopause and perimenopause: supporting education staff - Tuesday 23 January, 4-5pm

Let’s ask you a question – how comfortable do you feel talking about the menopause in your workplace?

Whether you’re in a school, college or university, about 1 in 6 of your colleagues are likely to be experiencing perimenopause or menopause right now.

It’s time to start the conversation and get talking about menopause. Our amazing speakers are here to help!

Book now

Our panel of educators and menopause experts will address:
•   what the menopause and perimenopause are and how they can affect education staff in different ways
•   how to start healthy and open conversations at work about the menopause
•   how to create a menopause safe and stigma-free culture at school, with real-life practical examples
•   support and signposting for education staff who are struggling with the menopause/perimenopause
•   how supporting those experiencing perimenopause/menopause will help you retain staff and ensure they are well enough to do their jobs effectively

Here are our fantastic panellists:
•   Helen Clare, Menopause expert
•   Jules Daulby, Assistant headteacher
•   Sinéad Mc Brearty, CEO of Education Support (Chair)

Supporting everyone working in schools whilst they are going through the menopause, needs to be a priority for every school. We welcome everyone in education to attend.

Funding has been secured for one lucky school to receive a fully funded 3 year partnership with the Shropshire Wildlife Trust

Funding has been secured for one lucky school to receive a fully funded 3 year partnership with the Shropshire Wildlife Trust.

View the brochure to find out more.

“Step Into Education” – Host Settings Needed!

As part of the colleges “Step Into Education” programme, (a 3 week programme), we are reaching out to settings (early years and schools) to be a work experience placement for candidates, be it directly with the children, in the kitchen, or the office in an admin role. Candidates will be 19yrs and over and have enrolled with a view to working in education.

The placement needs to be 5 days (but could be longer) and will initially be from 9-2.30 to enable parents/carers of children to be able to do the school run.

If settings recognise that the candidate might fill a recruitment opportunity, then we can support with upskilling further if the setting and candidate wish for this .That said there is no expectation other than enable candidates to experience a taster of what working in education might include.

The college will cover DBS costs and settings will be able to interview the candidate to ascertain suitability.

Is Your Early Years Setting Missing Out On Funding?

Your early years setting could be missing out on funding!

To check if families are eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP), please provide the following parent details via Provider Portal when sending in your funding claim:

Parent full name
Parent date of birth
Parent National Insurance Number
Confirmation that they have given consent to run the EYPP check

If families are in receipt of one of the following benefits, their child/children will be eligible for EYPP:

universal credit
income support
income-based jobseekers allowance
income-related employment and support allowance
support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
the guaranteed element of state pension credit
free school meals and the EYPP - new 'Net earnings threshold of £7,400', to come into force from 1 April 2018.

If any children meet the criteria below, please ensure that you make us aware via the Notes, as they will also be eligible for EYPP:

have been looked after by the local authority for at least one day
have been adopted from care
have left care through special guardianship; and
are subject to a child arrangement order.

We are only able to identify eligible children if we are provided with this information, so please complete wherever possible to ensure you are receiving maximum funding. This currently applies to three and four year olds, but will also apply to two year olds from April, and nine month olds from September (from the term following the relevant age being reached).

New content published on the Foundation Years EYFS Profile page

The Department for Education’s EYFS Profile communications page on Foundation Years provides teachers with support to complete the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Profile. This will be updated regularly throughout the 2023/24 academic year. Each update will cover a new area of the EYFS Profile, focusing on topics the sector has asked for more information on.

The most recent update was published on the 10 January 2024. It provides information on exemptions from EYFS learning and development requirements, including key information from the EYFS Profile 2024 handbook and EYFS guidance on exemptions.

The first update (published in November) focused on completing the EYFS Profile for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

We are sharing this with you so you are aware of the key messages we are promoting to the sector regarding the EYFS Profile.

If you would like to be added to the EYFS assessment mailing list, please email the following inbox: Exemptions.EYFS@education.gov.uk

Free Early Years Send Reviewer Training (Nasen)

About the FREE training

The SEND review process is designed to be a supportive, collaborative process.

Early Years SEND Reviews provide an effective tool to aid continuing reflection, ensuring that provision meets the needs of all children. This helps to provide an inclusive and positive Early Years educational experience for children.

SEND Review Benefits

Provides your setting with a clear plan for the whole staff to work to – giving everyone a voice
Helps you identify staff training needs
Improves relationships with parents and carers, and enables co-production for children with SEND
Provides a cycle of reflective practice for continual development of provision for all children
Provides an opportunity for Level 3 SENCOs to continue their journey into leadership of SEND

Aims of the SEND Review

To support Early Years settings to ensure that they meet the legal requirements for SEND provision
To develop an effective SEND audit for Early Years settings
To support Early Years practitioners to develop an accurate view of the quality of their SEND provision
To ensure that practitioners and settings are celebrating their successes
To provide recommendations for further improvements to inclusive practice.

After attending the training, you will conduct an EY SEND Review in your setting to ensure a real and lasting impact on inclusive practice and outcomes for children and families.

Please use the contact details provided to find out more.

education@nasen.org.uk

01827 311500

www.nasen.org.uk

CPD courses to February half term 2024

As this is the first CPD Education Noticeboard article for 2024, please may we take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year!, and very best wishes for the Spring Term.

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)

Establishing Yourself as a SEND leader, for new and returning SENCOs (LSAT 302) - part 1	Monday, January 22, 2024	9.15am to 3.30pm
Primary Music Leadership Certificate. Session 1: Leading Music in your school (Free of charge) Please book via telford.music@telford.gov.uk	Monday, January 22, 2024	1pm to 4pm
EAL Network Meeting (CPD 526)	Wednesday, January 24, 2024	3.30pm to 5pm
Taking the Chair - part 1 (GO 504)	Wednesday, January 24, 2024	4.30pm to 6.30pm
Quality First Teaching for SEND (LSAT 516) - Pt 2	Wednesday, January 24, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Newly Appointed Designated Safeguarding Leads' Training (SG 102) - part 1	Wednesday, January 24, 2024	9.15am to 4pm
Online Safety – a Safeguarding Responsibility (CPD 609)	Thursday, January 25, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Newly Appointed Designated Safeguarding Leads' Training (SG 102) - part 2	Thursday, January 25, 2024	9.15am to 4pm
School Attendance Surgery (AST 005)	Friday, January 26, 2024	9.15am to 12noon
Establishing Yourself as a SEND leader, for new and returning SENCOs (LSAT 302) - part 2	Monday, January 29, 2024	9.15am to 3.30pm
Talk for Work (new LSAT course)	Monday, January 29, 2024	9am to 3.30pm
Meeting the OFSTED requirements and developing reading strategies for EAL learners at KS2 (CPD 714)	Tuesday, January 30, 2024	1.15pm to 3.30pm
Safety Intervention Refresher Training (BSAT 212) - CPI accredited	Tuesday, January 30, 2024	2pm to 4.30pm
School Attendance Briefing Updates (AST 004)	Wednesday, January 31, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Safety Intervention Training (BSAT 201) - Part 2 - CPI accredited	Thursday, February 01, 2024	2pm to 4.30pm
Listen with Lucy (EY 023)	Thursday, February 01, 2024	1.15pm to 4pm
Accredited Safer Recruitment Training HR course – please book on Ollie or send an email to co-operative.admin@telford.gov.uk	Thursday, February 01, 2024	9am to 4.30pm
In-person: Improvisation Project CPD Session (Free of charge) Please book via telford.music@telford.gov.uk	Thursday, February 01, 2024	1pm to 4pm
NEW: SOS+ Criminal Exploitation Training for Education Professionals (see separate article in Safeguarding section)	Thursday, February 01, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
NEW Conference: Developing Early Help in Education (refer to separate article in Safeguarding section)	Tuesday, February 06, 2024	9am to 2pm - TBC
Improving EAL pupils' writing through Oracy, grammar and tier 2/3 vocabulary acquisition (CPD 727)	Tuesday, February 06, 2024 Moved to 12 March 2024	1.15pm to 3.30pm
The Importance of the Early Years Foundation Stage in Schools (GO 603)	Tuesday, February 06, 2024	5.30pm to 7pm
Cover Supervisors - preparing for the role (PSS 010)	Tuesday, February 06, 2024	3.30pm to 5pm
Talk Boost KS2	Wednesday, February 07, 2024	TBC
Schemas in the EYFS (EY 340)	Wednesday, February 07, 2024	1.15pm to 4pm
Taking the Chair (GO 504) - part 2	Wednesday, February 07, 2024	4.30pm to 6.30pm
Preparing for Statutory Assessment at the End of KS2 (CPD 504)	Thursday, February 08, 2024	9am to 12.30pm
Meeting the Statutory Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the EYFS (EY 009)	Thursday, February 08, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Raising Awareness of Prevent (SG 101)	Thursday, February 08, 2024	1pm to 2.30pm
Safeguarding Induction Training for Governors (SG 103) - part 1	Thursday, February 08, 2024	5.30pm to 7.30pm
SEND Music Network Meeting (Free of charge via Teams) Please book via telford.music@telford.gov.uk	Thursday, February 08, 2024	4.30pm to 5.30pm
Webinar: Kapow Primary (Free of charge via Zoom) Please book via telford.music@telford.gov.uk	Friday, February 09, 2024	4pm to 5pm

Big Schools Birdwatch 2024

Monday 8 January – Monday 19 February 2024

What is The Big Schools Birdwatch?

The Big Schools’ Birdwatch is back for 2024, bigger and with even more resources than before. Join thousands of other schools to find out which birds visit your school grounds. Together, let’s make it count!

The Big Schools’ Birdwatch is a simple bird survey for pupils to take part in and enjoy together. This activity is about counting the number of birds in your school grounds. It only takes an hour, so one lesson or lunchtime is ideal. The results also contribute to the Big Garden Birdwatch – the world’s largest wildlife survey.

When is The Big Schools Birdwatch?

The Big Schools Birdwatch runs from the 8 January – 19 February 2024 and is an educational activity that gets your class closer to nature. It takes just an hour and works for all ages and abilities.

For free school resources

Big Schools’ Birdwatch 2024 (rspb.org.uk)

Big Schools Birdwatch - Teaching Resources - Twinkl

Big Schools' Birdwatch 2024 – Resources for schools - Teachwire

Harper Adams - Land and Property Management Experience Day – 14 Feb, 09:30 – 16:30

Explore careers in land surveying, land agency and management

Free Event open to 14 – 19 year olds

Surveyors, land and estate agents are, essentially, negotiators so our degree course helps you to develop this essential skill, as well as project management, communications, and understanding the issues affecting potential clients. As a student you learn about valuation, land and property law, auctioneering, construction and surveying, property marketing, renewable energy, compulsory purchase, and utilities.

The Experience Day includes:

Arrival and registration (tea, coffee and pastries served)
Welcome and introductions
Land and property management activities on campus
Lunch
A visit to a local estate
Question and answer session at Harper Adams
Campus tours if desired

Link: https://bit.ly/3Shk82a

Harper Adams - Campus Open Days – 9 March & 22 June – 09:00 – 15:00

Speak to course tutors and hubs, take a tour around our countryside campus and see exactly what Harper Adams has to offer to further your career. With courses ranging from engineering to robotics, zoology to business, veterinary medicine to agriculture, data science to the environment; there’s courses for all, and opportunities to find out about our new site in Telford too.

Link: https://bit.ly/3NZ4iGN

UK Youth Parliament Elections taking place in February 2024

The UKYP is a national organisation that provides opportunities for 11-18 year olds to use their elected voice to bring about social change through meaningful representation and campaigning.

Each area of the country is encouraged to elect representatives. Telford and Wrekin elect one Member of the Youth Parliament (MYP) and one Deputy Member. Rae Anyidoho, a student at Madeley Academy, was elected in 2022 and has spent his term progressing issues around mental health including helping to develop a national campaign to extend free school meals. In November 2023, Rae had the honour of closing the UKYP Annual Sitting at the House of Commons, giving his speech at the despatch box.

The Make Your Mark ballot is open to all young people in UKYP authority areas, to highlight and vote upon the biggest issues facing young people. This then feeds into local and national campaigns so that young people can bring about change on those issues. The current national campaign that came from Make Your Mark 2022 is the Food for Learning campaign which aims to extend free school meals to help deal with the impact of the cost of living crisis on young people’s welling. Locally the Young People’s Forum have delivered Young People’s Mental health Summit and Year of Wellbeing in response to mental health being the key issue in Telford and Wrekin in the 2022 ballot.

The two votes will take place at the same time and students will be asked to complete both ballots together

Telford and Wrekin had an amazing number of young people taking part in the ballots in 2022; over 5000 got involved which was the second highest in the West Midlands and within the top 20 nationally.

Ballots and boxes will be distributed to schools w/c 22 January 2024, and the voting will take place between 29 January and 9 February 2024.

Results will be announced at the count night which takes place on 27 February 2024.

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.

Entry forms will be circulated just after half term.

Ceremony to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and 30 years since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on 27 January each year and is a time to remember the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and in genocides around the world (Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur).
This year the theme is ‘Fragility of Freedom’. It marks 30 years since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Telford & Wrekin Council will be holding a special ceremony at Telford Theatre, on Friday 26 January 2024, at 10.30am.

The event will include reflection from guest speakers cross the borough, as well as a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and a candle lighting ceremony.
Other speakers include Borough Mayor Arnold England, Cllr Raj Mehta, cabinet member for inclusion, engagement, equalities and civic pride, Telford & Wrekin Council chief executive David Sidaway.

The ceremony is open to all, but places are limited and must be booked in advanced by emailing yourviewsmatter@telford.gov.uk or calling 01952 382104 (between 9am-5pm weekdays).

The ceremony will be live streamed on Telford & Wrekin Council’s Facebook page

Following the ceremony, a dedicated exhibition on the Holocaust and global genocides will be open at Telford Theatre until 2pm on the day.

Councillor Raj Mehta (Labour), Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for inclusion, engagement, equalities and civic pride said:

“Holocaust Memorial Day is a very important day for our entire community to come together and honour the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and of genocides around the world.

“This year, commemorating 30 years since the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda, is a time for us all to reflect on how fragile freedom is and vulnerable to abuse.

“Let’s all pledge not to take our freedom for granted and consider what we can all do to stand up against prejudice, intolerance and hatred.”

On Saturday, 27 January 2024, Telford’s iconic Southwater One building will be lit in purple as a mark of remembrance.

On the same day, people across the borough are encouraged to join the nation and place a candle safely in their window to remember those who were murdered and to stand against prejudice and hatred today.

For more information about Holocaust Memorial Day 2024, visit www.hmd.org.uk

This entry was posted by Oliver on Thursday, 18 January 2024.

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

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