Included in this Edition of the Noticeboard

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• Director Update

• Relaunch of 10 x 10 programme

• Secondary School Open Evenings

• Leadership Conference

• School Attendance Briefings & School Attendance Surgeries

• Ofsted Webinar

• Pupil Premium Network Meeting

• NPQ in Early Years Leadership

• Making it Real - Early Years Literacy

• Family Hub funded training opportunity to support early Literacy in the Home Learning Environment

• A Special Approach to Making it REAL for parents and carers of children with SEND

• Schools Food Web – CPD Events

• Funded NPQ 2024-2025

• CPD courses to the end of the first half term 2024

• Call out for volunteers to join the Independent Appeals Panel

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Directors Update

Directors Update

Dear Colleagues

A quick reminder of the upcoming Telford & Wrekin Education Strategic Partnership Board Leadership Conference, which is taking place on 23 October 2024, where we have secured some great keynote speakers. The event promises to be both informative and engaging. We have already received a fantastic response but we would like all our school settings represented, so if you haven’t already please book a place.

With the start of the new academic year underway, we have relaunched 10 by 10!  This is a fantastic opportunity to encourage children to take part in 10 life enriching activities that can help them grow and develop their skills. Please encourage your parents and carers to look at the 10 by 10 website and create an account for their children.

There is some important information contained within noticeboard this week including information about secondary school open evenings, school attendance briefings, school attendance surgeries, pupil premium network meetings and information about the OFSTED webinar, outlining changes to school inspections and how ungraded inspections will be undertaken going forward.

As ever, there are also some great training opportunities which you and your teams may like to take advantage of.

We really do love to celebrate the positive work that goes on in our education settings across the borough. If you have any good news stories and photos that you would like to share with us, they can be submitted via email to education.noticeboard@telford.gov.uk

Best wishes,

Simon

Simon Wellman

Director Education and Skills

Telford and Wrekin Council

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News

Telford & Wrekin Council relaunches ‘10 by 10’ programme for new academic year

With the start of the new academic year underway, we have relaunched 10 by 10 for another year! It's a fantastic opportunity to involve children in 10 life enriching activities that can help them grow and develop their skills. We believe every child should have the opportunity to access these activities so please encourage parents and carers to create a 10 by 10 account for their children and get them to join hundreds of other children across the borough taking part.

By the age of 10, all children across the borough will have been given an opportunity to:

1. Join in competitive sports
2. Play an instrument
3. Learn to swim
4. Take part in drama and performing arts
5. Visit the seaside and the countryside
6. Experience museums, galleries and heritage sites
7. Take part in camping trips and overnight residential
8. Learn to ride a bike
9. Take part in debating
10. Use a library

Every primary school in the borough is involved with ‘10 by 10’ - with swimming lessons, library usage, bike riding and many other activities as part of their curriculum or extracurricular offer, including accessible activities for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

At the start of this academic year, children in all primary year groups are receiving ‘10 by 10’ adventure cards, so they can track their progress as they try each of the 10 activities.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Lee Carter (Lab), said: "We are thrilled to bring back the '10 by 10' initiative for the new academic year.

“These experiences are crucial in helping children develop essential life skills and broaden their horizons. We are committed to ensuring that every child in Telford and Wrekin has the opportunity to participate in these enriching activities."

Cllr Shirley Reynolds (Lab), Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Education, Employment and Skills, added: "The '10 by 10' initiative is about more than just ticking off a list of activities; it's about fostering a sense of curiosity, confidence, and community in our children.

“We want to inspire them to dream big and reach their full potential. Whether through school or by finding local offers on the website, we hope borough children and families will enjoy as many 10 by 10 activities as possible.”

Parents and carers are encouraged to create an account to follow their child's adventures and find out about new 10 by 10 offers and news - visit 10by10.telford.gov.uk

 

Secondary School Open Evenings

Secondary applications are now open for September 2025 starters.  Please see below the dates and time of opening evenings throughout September and October 2024.

School	Open Evening	Time	Open Days (during the school day)
Abraham Darby Academy	3rd October	6pm – 8:30pm
Burton Borough	2nd October	5pm – 8pm	3rd, 4th October 9:15am -11am
Charlton	10th October	5pm - 8pm	10th October 9:20am-11:40am Bookable via reception
Ercall Wood Academy	3rd October	6pm - 8pm	2nd, 3rd and 4th October AM Bookable via reception (school will confirm times)
HLC	26th September	5pm - 8pm	27th September and 1st October   9am - 10:30am
Holy Trinity Academy	8th October	5pm - 7pm
Madeley Academy	7th October	4:30pm - 7:30pm
New Road Academy	8th October	4pm - 7pm
Telford Langley	3rd October	5:30pm - 8pm	30th September to 4th October tour between 8:30 and 9:30 each day
Telford Park School	10th October	4pm - 6pm	28th September 10am-12pm

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Leadership Conference

Telford & Wrekin Education Strategic Partnership Board Autumn Term 2024 Leadership Conference

The conference will take place on Wednesday 23 October 2024 8.45am to 1pm with lunch Mercure Telford Centre Hotel.  We are pleased to introduce our two key note speakers

Darren Edwards is a record-breaking Disabled Adventurer and Malcolm Reeve is a National Leader of Education and Chair of the Programme Board for Whole School SEND.

Download the conference flyer

Course booking form

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DfE Updates

School Attendance Briefings & School Attendance Surgeries

The LA are continuing with the two opportunities for schools to join us in a TEAMs meeting to discuss all matters relating to School Attendance.

A School Attendance Briefing – twilight session via TEAMS termly and a School Attendance Surgery – via TEAMS half termly on a Friday morning.

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, following the success of the Attendance Briefings and Attendance Surgeries last year we are continuing with these ‘Teams’ sessions for schools where school attendance can be discussed, questions can be raised by schools in the briefings and individual cases can be discussed (anonymised) in the surgeries

I have attached a timetable of the scheduled sessions and we invite you to attend these TEAMS sessions for free by requesting a place via the CPD booklet. Please see the briefing and surgeries details attached. Here is a link to the CPD booklet:

Telford Education Services Website

Download schedule for attendance surgeries

In the ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance’. Aug 2024, the DfE have introduced ‘Sickness returns’

From September 2024 schools have a duty to inform the LA of any child who is recorded with code I and who the school has reasonable grounds to believe will miss 15 days consecutively or cumulatively because of sickness.

40. Sickness returns: providing the local authority with the full name and address of all pupils of compulsory school age who have been recorded with code I (illness) and who the school has reasonable grounds to believe will miss 15 days consecutively or cumulatively because of sickness. Only one sickness return is required for a continuous period of sickness in a school year. This is to help the school and local authority to agree any provision needed to ensure continuity of education for pupils  who cannot attend because of health needs, in line with the statutory guidance on arranging education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs.

Schools will need to use the SAM Portal on Synergy to report sickness returns.

Synergy has functionality to receive forms from schools electronically so we will be asking all schools to use the School Access Module (SAM) Portal (link below) to complete and send in AST Referral. Referrals will no longer be accepted via email.

SAM Portal:

This is the link to the SAM Portal: https://education.telford.gov.uk/live/SynergyWeb/schools

Existing SAM Portal Users:

If you already have an account on the SAM Portal to complete FAP and Student Engagement Referrals you will be able to complete an AST Referral in the same way and will not need your account to be updated.

If you already have an account on the SAM Portal in respect of Admissions only, and will also need to use the Portal to AST Referrals, you will need to have you permissions updated. Please either email educationsystemssupport@telford.gov.uk or log a call with IDT Self Service, with the SAM Portal New User Form attached for this to be set up. Once set up, the SAM Portal should look like this (new “Online Forms” button):

New SAM Portal Users:

If you are going to need access to the SAM Portal, please either email educationsystemssupport@telford.gov.uk or log a call with IDT Self Service, with the SAM Portal New User Form attached for this to be set up.

Please do not click the “Create Account” button

There is also a user guide for the SAM Portal should you need any further support.

SAM Portal User Guide

Please see below the links to other useful documents

Education for children with health needs who cannot attend school - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Working together to improve school attendance

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

Major national drive to improve school attendance

Download the registration codes

Ofsted Webinar

Ofsted webinar sign up for autumn term 2024.  

Webinars outlining changes to school inspections, including changes to how ungraded inspections are undertaken.

This term, Ofsted will be hosting the two webinars: School inspection update: autumn 2024 and changes to ungraded inspections.

School inspection update: autumn 2024

Date: Thursday 19 September 2024
Time: 4.30pm - 5.30pm

In this webinar, Ofsted intend to provide an outline of the updates to the school inspection handbook for maintained schools and academies including: the removal of the overall effectiveness judgement, changes to ungraded inspections and other changes as a result of the big listen.

Changes to ungraded inspections 
Date: Monday 23 September 2024
Time: 4pm - 5pm

In this webinar, Ofsted will discuss their new approach to ungraded inspections from September 2024.

You are able to register for both webinars if you wish via Ofsted webinars for schools (smartsurvey.co.uk)

All webinars will be recorded and available on the @Ofsted YouTube channel. 

Information taken directly from the weblink above.

Pupil Premium network meeting

Information regarding the forthcoming pupil premium network

Pupil premium network meeting will be held on Tuesday 24th September 2024 4pm to 5:30pm 

With the increased focus on ensuring that disadvantaged pupils acquire the knowledge that they will need to take advantage of the opportunities they will experience in their future, leaders are encouraged to review the effectiveness of their school provision.

Pupil Premium Network meetings provide an opportunity to bring together leaders who have responsibility for ensuring impact of schools’ Pupil Premium Funding.

The sessions will provide opportunities to share best practice and receive updates and information on Pupil Premium related topics.

For more information, please see CPD 721 -

cpd-booklet-for-schools-2024-25.pdf (telfordeducationservices.co.uk).

To book a place, please contact cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk or via 01952 382465.

For further information, please see CPD 721 -

cpd-booklet-for-schools-2024-25.pdf (telfordeducationservices.co.uk).

 

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Early Years

NPQ in Early Years Leadership

STEP (Shropshire and Telford Education Partnership) in partnership with the Alliance of Leading Learning brings to Early Years Providers and Childminders the new NPQEYL

The NPQEYL is a DfE accredited programme that we deliver with Teach First.

Funding worth £1090 is available to cover the cost of this 18 month programme.

For the October 2024 cohort, scholarship funding for some NPQs is limited to those working in eligible high-disadvantage settings. All Ofsted-Registered Childminders and those registered with an Ofsted-Registered Childminder Agency, will be eligible for scholarship funding if they are accepted onto a place for NPQEYL.  Secure a funded place by applying early.

Who is it for?

NPQEYL is for leaders qualified to at least level 3 with a full and relevant qualification* who are, or are aspiring to be**:

• managers of private, voluntary and independent nurseries
• headteachers of school-based or maintained nurseries
• childminders with leadership responsibilities (you work with, employ or are close to employing an assistant)

What will I learn?

You’ll develop expertise in the knowledge, skills and concepts for leading an Early Years setting. These include best practice around child development and additional and special educational needs, as well as culture, organisational management and partnerships you may make as the leader of an Early Years setting.

Content will include core elements of the framework:

• Culture
• Child development, curriculum and assessment
• Additional and special educational needs
• Professional development
• Organisational management
• Working in partnership
• Implementation

 How will I benefit?

* Develop as a leader with responsibility across an Early Years organisation and learn how to create an effective culture in your setting.
* Access content across a breadth of areas such as culture, child development, curriculum and assessment, and organisational management.
* Be supported to effectively implement change and improvement in an area you identify as a setting priority.

How to Apply?

https://leadinglearning.co.uk/npqeyl-and-npqll-applicants/

Download NPQEL Delivery in Shropshire and Telford 

Making it REAL – Early Literacy Training

Making it REAL (Raising Early Achievement in Literacy) is an evidence based and award winning training that develops children’s early literacy by supporting parents to create a positive early home learning environment. The training:

• Has a strong evidence base* and supports early literacy and communication skills through play and every day activities, in the home, and out and about.
• Provides practical strategies and resources to share with parents for low cost and no cost activities to enjoy with their children.
• Prepares practitioners to deliver early literacy sessions including home visits to the allocated families they support.

Making it REAL training (ncb.org.uk)

Parents [and carers] play a key role in children's learning. They are experts on their own children, and they are a child's first and enduring educators

(National Children’s Bureau -NCB, 2010).

Making it REAL Training will be taking place in: Telford on the 4th October and 11th October 9:15 until 4:00pm (Both sessions must be attended) settings/school nurseries can request up to 2 places.

At: The Mercure Hotel, Forge Gate Overdale Telford TF3 4NA

Ofsted have recently recommended in several inspection reports that supporting children’s learning and development in partnership with parents/carers as an area for development.

There will be funding back fill provided for the 2 days training and to purchase resources necessary to the programme.  To book places e mail talkingchildcare@telford.gov.uk

NCB has worked in partnership with Oldham Local Authority since January 2018 to support delivery of the Raising Early Achievement in Literacy (REAL) project in targeted wards. The EYFS Profile results 2019 confirmed a 4% increase in the number of children with a good level of development in Oldham. 

Both parents and practitioners were very positive about the project, and the project children developed a real love for reading, rhyme and writing.  Feedback from early years practitioners who recently attended this training:

“An incredibly valuable training course.  The training has both enabled me to reflect on my practice and provided a foundation of ideas to support children and families going forward.”

“I really enjoyed both sessions and I learned a lot about REAL that I will use at my setting and to encourage parents as well.”

Further information will be discussed in session and agreed with each setting. To fulfil the funding requirements for the course settings will need

•  1 trained Making it Real member of staff to deliver the project to 3 families attending the setting over the period of 3 terms. Dates to be agreed during training.
• The project will consist of 3 home visits to be completed by the trained staff member
• The project will run 3 events in the setting, this will be supported by a trained Making it Real Project, Early Years consultant from Telford and Wrekin.
• Attendance of 2 training sessions as advised upon booking will be attended, only after this will a backfill of £150 per day per member of staff will be paid to the setting.  Payments received can be requested back by Telford and Wrekin if the contract of delivering the programme is not fulfilled.
• The setting will be required to provide some resources that can be readily found at no cost or would be a resource available from the setting.

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