Education Noticeboard

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

Directors Update

Dear colleagues

I hope that you are all well.

There are some interesting articles including, The John Randall School official opening of their brand-new library, there is an important update from DfE about the changes to pupil absence codes plus information about the next stage of the attendance drive.

Also included there is a new procedure to be implemented regarding the Management of Overdoses.

There are also several new training opportunities available through CPD.

Finally, please note that the Leadership Networking Event date has now changed from Wednesday 3 July to Wednesday 23 October 2024, Details on how to book are included in the noticeboard.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Best Wishes
Simon

Simon Wellman
Director Education & Skills

Cllr Shaun Davies visits John Randall Primary School

Cllr Shaun Davies visited John Randall Primary School earlier this week to officially open their brand-new school library.

Teachers and volunteers have worked extremely hard to transform what was a school corridor into a brilliant library and what an amazing job they have done.

This is new space is not just a collection of books, it’s a sanctuary for learning and creativity. What’s even better is that children from the school council played a huge role in planning their new library. From putting their very own stamp on the design to recommending book choices for children across all year groups.

Well done everyone.

HeadsUp4Hts Peer Support Offer for Headteachers in Telford and Wrekin

HeadsUp4Ht is an organisation that aims to provide headteachers with the support to be great leaders by celebrating skills and experiences by providing coaching and guidance. HeadsUp4HT currently work with a wide range of schools and local authorities and recently attended the Leadership Conference in Telford and Wrekin in October 2023 to provide information about what is available for headteachers. The values of HeadsUp4Ht include:
• School leadership is the most challenging and most rewarding job in education
• Headteachers do not get the recognition, positive feedback or support that they deserve
• It is time to celebrate and promote values-led leadership and the emotional intelligences of school leadership and to challenge and reframe the perception and treatment of headteachers
The offer includes the opportunity to share authentic stories in a safe space, anonymously or otherwise, so that ourselves and the system can learn from these as well as receiving leadership inspiration, advice and training that focus on the emotional intelligences of headteachers and the tools to put this into practice within organisations.

The Model:
• 5 x1hr sessions over a period of 5 consecutive weeks (Dates to be confirmed)
• Groups of 15 headteachers (for viability purposes the groups would need to be the full 15)
• x1 1hour facilitator training session per group. Headteachers will be given training on how to facilitate the group themselves and advice on how to structure the group moving forward i.e. frequency of meeting (decided by the group), timing, rota for facilitators

Benefits of the HeadsUp4HTs Peer Support Model:
• The benefits of being in a well-being space with peer headteachers to create connections, celebrate and share challenges
• Effective and impactful strategies that support personal well-being based on the ‘HeadsUp4HTs 9 steps to well-being’ (referenced at the Leadership Conference in October 2023)
• How these strategies can be shared with colleagues within their schools to begin the process of creating cultures and structures of well-being for all staff
• Whatsapp group to stay connected with each other and with HeadsUp4HT team
• On-going support and encouragement from the HeadsUp4HTs network (100’s of other headteachers)
• Peer support groups sustained beyond the initial input from HeadsUp4Hts

Practicalities:
• Cost is £300.00 (plus VAT) per headteacher for the peer support model
• Groups need to have 15 headteachers to be viable and it is suggested there is a rolling sign up form and launch a group as soon as 15 headteachers are reached
• A short webinar will be available to help remind headteachers and explain the model and could be made available by the end of the current term if necessary
• Invoicing will be made for each individual headteacher
• This offer is open to all headteachers regardless of school status (i.e. LA maintained or MAT schools)

Additional Offer for MATs:
HeadsUp4HTs work with a large number of trusts to support them with:
• Well-being strategy and culture across as trust for all staff
• Leader coaching packages (executive teams, headteachers, deputy headteachers and assistant headteachers)
• Leader CORE coaching training which is an effective 2-day coaching programme that enables leaders to coach each other, therefore creating sustainable coaching networks within trusts
• Any trust CEOs who may be interested in a conversation about this additional offer which is separate to the peer support model outlined above will be able to contact HeadsUp4Hts directly to discuss further

All forms needs to be completed and submitted by 3rd May 2024.

Online Form

Leadership Network Event

Autumn Term Leadership Networking Event – change of date from Wednesday 3 July to Wednesday 23 October 2024

An opportunity to book a place for this important event, which is now taking place 23 October 2024

Telford & Wrekin Education Strategic Partnership Board, a collaboration between education leaders in Telford and Wrekin and the Local Authority, is holding a Leadership Briefing and Networking Event, Wednesday 23 October 2024 from 9am to 1pm, including lunch.

This event was originally scheduled to take place 3 July 2024, but has been moved back to later in the calendar year. However, if you have already booked a place, your booking will be automatically moved across to the new date and the CPD Team will be in touch with you to confirm that this happened.

The event is for Headteachers and CEOs of all schools across Telford & Wrekin and follows on from the success of the Annual Leadership Conference held on 12 October 2023.

During the morning there will be a full data presentation on the performance of our schools across the Borough - to look at trends over time, including achievement, SEND, CiC, Fairshare and suspensions – and will help to focus a strategic discussion on a range of issues challenging our schools.

Additionally, there will be an inspiring session with a key note speakers, as well as the opportunity for you to meet with your clusters to discuss your priorities for the 2024-25 academic year and network with other delegates in attendance.

The delegate fee for this event is £60 per person, or a discounted offer of £100 for two delegates from the same school, with lunch included! Details of the central Telford venue will be sent with the joining instructions 10 days prior to the event. Please note that we have priced this event to simply cover costs.

The Board is delighted to welcome all Headteachers and CEOs to this event. There is also space for Deputy Heads to attend too, but we ask that they only attend alongside their Headteacher, and not as a replacement.

To secure your place/s please send a completed CPD booking form to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk as soon as possible

Changes to Pupil absence codes and the next stage of the DfE Attendance Drive

The DfE have laid regulations to revoke and replace the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006. These changes follow extensive consultation with Schools and LAs and are designed to improve consistency and accuracy of attendance recording, by:

Updating attendance and absence codes – see all changes detailed in the DfE guidance ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance (from page no. 76

Please take note of new codes introduced and those that have been removed:

Introducing code K - to register pupils who are attending education provision arranged by the LA under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 arrangements.
Removal of the H code (for authorised leave in term time).
Adding to the ‘exceptional circumstances’ authorised absence - C codes (introducing C1 and C2 codes)

C – Leave of absence for exceptional circumstances (where permission for leave is applied for by the parent and granted by the Headteacher) (page 84 – this will replace previous H code )

C1 - to record pupils participating in a regulated performance or undertaking regulated employment abroad (page 81)

C2 – Leave of absence for a compulsory age pupil subject to a part time timetable. (page 83)

Introducing code Q - unable to attend the school because of lack of access arrangements (page 87)

Pupils unable to attend school and unavoidable school closures will be included in Y code extended to be categorised in Y1- Y7 (pages 87-89)

Wide implications for more accurate recording of pupil absence – for example - the DfE and LAs will be able to see pupils who are absent due to part time timetables or those that are supported in Section 19 educational arrangements provided by the LA.

A copy for the link to the updated ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance’ – Feb 2024 is below

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

Working together to improve school attendance

New regulations for schools in next stage of attendance drive

Attendance-hubs

Major national drive to improve school attendance

Crucial Crew 2024

Crucial Crew 2024 – REMINDER BOOK YOUR PLACE

Crucial Crew 2024 is being held between 24 June 2024 and 12 July 2024, excluding transition days

Crucial Crew is back for the 29th year and booking is now OPEN.

Crucial Crew is a multi-agency partnership event aimed at Year 6 students designed to provide them with life skills and knowledge that will help to keep themselves and others safe, both now and in the future.

Crucial Crew aim to raise students awareness of important safety issues, encouraging them to think about their own and others safety and guiding them on what to do in a number of potentially unsafe situations.

Booking is now open until 10 May 2024, so complete the booking form by clicking on this link https://forms.office.com/e/XEDWmmraUp

Procedure for the Management of Overdoses

Please see attached on the link below the procedure to be adopted in the event of a child disclosing that they have taken an overdose

Procedure for the Management of Overdoses

Special approach to making it REAL -Open access

NCB are offering a free open access webinar on Friday 24th May, 10am- 12pm. The webinar provides practitioners with an overview of how to support the home learning environment for families with children with SEND.

NCB are delighted to be a partner of the DfE funded EYSEND project, this includes colleagues from a range of specialist organisations including Nasen, Speech and Language UK, Contact, Dingley's Promise, and Council for Disabled Children. As part of the offer, the partners will be delivering a range of support in the Family Hub areas.

NCB are offering a free open access webinar on Friday 24th May, 10am- 12pm.

The aim of the workshop is to provide an overview of how to support the home learning environment for families with a child with SEND, with a particular focus on early language and literacy.

In particular,

To talk about A Special Approach to Making it REAL and the early Home Learning Environment
To give an overview of the two strands of the approach which provides support to both practitioners and parents
To show how A Special Approach to Making it REAL supports practitioners in their everyday practice in settings, and in working with parents
To share examples of how simple, low cost and fun resources and activities, backed up with information and ideas, have built parents' confidence in their ability to develop their child’s early literacy

To find out more and book a place please follow the Eventbrite link below

A Special Approach to Making it REAL to support families and practitioners Tickets, Fri 24 May 2024 at 10:00 | Eventbrite

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!

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 Physical Development

in the Early Years Part I

By Andrina Flinders

1st May 2024 9.30-10.30am

Effective Approaches and Practices to support Physical Development

in the Early Years Part II

By Andrina Flinders

15th May 2024 9.30-10.30am

Exploring the Network far Right

In the second event of the 2024 CIRAF research seminar series, we are pleased to host two scholars conducting groundbreaking research into the complex and ever-evolving far-right online “ecosystem”. Their work seeks to provide insights and vital understanding into the use of online channels, platforms and networks by far-right communities; how these communities are connected; and what drives participants to these online spaces

This free event will be held online on Wednesday 17th April 13.00-14.30pm. To book a place click on the link:

Exploring the Networked Far-Right Tickets, Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite

Presentation summaries

Professor Stephane Baele

UC Louvain

In recent years, calls have been made to adopt an "ecosystem" approach to online extremism research. But what does studying extremist digital "ecosystems" mean? What does this approach offer that alternative perspectives don't? What kind of insights and methods does it entail? These questions will be answered, drawing on the framework spelled out in the 2020 paper "Uncovering the Far-Right Online Ecosystem" and similar works, and using examples from the far-right internet and social media.

Jonathan Collins

Charles & Leiden University

What happens when the far-right creates a breakaway virtual community and content mileu away from mainstream social media platforms? The alternative tech (alt-tech) movement acts as a rival to "Big Tech" while promoting unmoderated far-right hate speech and ideologies. But is there more to these platforms than just unadulterated hatred? My PhD research takes a technocultural dive into alt-tech space, examining what is happening on these interactive websites, why participants are attracted to these environments, and the bigger picture on why we should care.

Use the following link to book your place:

Exploring the Networked Far-Right Tickets, Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite

Primary Science Conference for Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire schools - Friday 28 June 2024

An opportunity to book your place on the Annual Primary Science Conference being run by STEM Learning in partnership with the Severn Training & Schools Alliance and Telford & Wrekin Council.

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 and the attached flyer.

Flyer for Primary Science

Telford & Wrekin Primary Science Conference | STEM

CPD course till the end of May 2024

Further details of these and all other courses are available in the 2023-24 CPD booklet on the Telford Education Services website and on the Ollie website

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

Employee Investigations Training (HR course)	Monday, April 22, 2024	2.30pm to 5pm
EAL Network Meeting (CPD 526)	Tuesday, April 23, 2024	3.30pm to 5pm
Quality First Teaching for SEND Pt 3 (LSAT 516)	Wednesday, April 24, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Red Book Training for Accessing Legal Interventions – in line with ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance’	Wednesday, April 24, 2024	8.45am to 3.45pm
Understanding School Finance (GO 508)	Thursday, April 25, 2024	9.15am to 12noon
Safety Intervention Refresher Training (BSAT 212)	Thursday, April 25, 2024	2pm to 4.30pm
Taking the Chair (GO 504)	Thursday, April 25, 2024	4.30pm to 6.30pm
St Giles' Trust SOS+ Training	Monday, April 29, 2024	10am to 11.30am
Promoting Cultural Diversity and Equality of Opportunity in EYFS (CPD 606)	Tuesday, April 30, 2024	1pm to 3pm
Newly Appointed Designated Safeguarding Leads' Training (2 days) - part 1 (SG 102)	Wednesday, May 01, 2024	9.15am to 4pm
Supporting Behaviour and Learning - Children with ADHD / Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) & Conduct Disorder (CD) (PSS 104)	Wednesday, May 01, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
School Attendance Briefing Updates (AST 004)	Wednesday, May 01, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Newly Appointed Designated Safeguarding Leads' Training (2 days) - part 2 (SG 102)	Thursday, May 02, 2024	9.15am to 4pm
Meeting the Statutory Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the EYFS (EY 009)	Thursday, May 02, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Best practice in your breakfast, after-school and holiday provision (EY 104)	Thursday, May 02, 2024	9.15am to 12noon
Equality & Diversity: Meeting the OFSTED requirements of teaching of protected characteristics (CPD 728)	Tuesday, May 07, 2024	1.15pm to 4pm
Raising Awareness of Child Protection (SG 108)	Wednesday, May 08, 2024	3.30pm to 5pm
Safety Intervention Training (formerly MAPA training) - Part 2 - CPI accredited (BSAT 201)	Thursday, May 09, 2024	8.30am to 4pm
Raising Awareness of Prevent (SG 101)	Thursday, May 09, 2024	9.30am to 11am
Listen with Lucy (EY 023)	Thursday, May 09, 2024	1.15pm to 4pm
Let’s Get Expressive, Creative and Messy In The Outdoors (EY 344)	Tuesday, May 14, 2024	4pm to 5.30pm
Governors' Responsibilities for SEND (LSAT 212)	Thursday, May 16, 2024	5pm to 7pm
Accredited Safer Recruitment Training	Thursday, May 16, 2024	9am to 4.30pm
EYFS Moderation Trialling (CPD 612)	Thursday, May 16, 2024	1pm to 4pm
Safety Intervention Training (formerly MAPA training) - Part 2 - CPI accredited (BSAT 201)	Thursday, May 16, 2024	2pm to 4.30pm
The Importance of the Early Years Foundation Stage in Schools (GO 603)	Tuesday, May 21, 2024	5.30pm to 7pm
Meeting the Needs of Pupils at Early Stages of English as an Additional Language (CPD 729)	Tuesday, May 21, 2024	1.15pm to 3.30pm
EAL and SEND? (CPD 601)	Wednesday, May 22, 2024	1.15pm to 4pm
Safeguarding Induction Training for Governors - part 1 (SG 103)	Wednesday, May 22, 2024	5.30pm to 7.30pm
Behaviour Support Intervention Refresher Training - Non-accredited (BSAT 302)	Thursday, May 23, 2024	8.45am to 12.30pm
School Attendance Surgery (AST 005)	Friday, May 24, 2024	10am to 12noon

This entry was posted by Zoe on Tuesday, 16 April 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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