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,

Welcome back to the start of the new term. I hope you had a fantastic Christmas and New Year and got to enjoy some rest and recuperation! This week schools and educational settings across Telford & Wrekin have welcomed back their children and young people and it has been a great start. Many thanks to those who are currently helping to test, support implementation of the approach to face coverings and continue to promote the benefits of vaccination. There are plenty of updates below, mostly related to COVID-19 and once again we will need to prioritise and focus our efforts on managing our settings during another tricky time. You will see from the data that locally, as they are nationally, COVID-19 rates are significantly increasing, fuelled by the Omicron Variant, and whilst there is every indication that this is a milder variant, it will inevitably begin to cause issues in terms of keeping services going. We have worked with the health protection hub to update our local COVID-19 guidance and this includes any updated guidance or information that has been released from the Department for Education since the start of the year. I anticipate you will have all seen the open Letter from the SoS Nadhim Zahawi and the What to expect when schools and education providers come back from the Christmas Break document which were released earlier this week (or was it at the weekend!)

A clear action having read these documents is the need to review contingency planning. We are all aware and sign up to the principle that we will do everything possible to keep our settings open for onsite provision but it is clear that we need to revisit and refresh our plans for the what if scenarios. This will ensure we are as prepared as we can be for the weeks to come.

One ‘big’ ask is a request that schools complete the daily education attendance form (detail below). I do appreciate that this is an additional administrative burden but is our only way of collecting intelligence across the whole of Telford & Wrekin. It will help us coordinate planning and is really useful when we are describing what is happening on the ground during our weekly phone calls to the DfE. Many thanks in anticipation of your support with this.

As always, where you need to make contact with us please do so. We will endeavour to provide regular updates through our normal communication channels and network meetings.

I really do appreciate your tremendous effort at this time. Remember though to keep looking after you. You can’t put children first if you put yourself last.

Focus on what you can control and not what you can’t.
As they tell you on a plane, put your own oxygen mask on first.
Work on things that matter the most today.
Make common sense common practice.
You are not expected to set yourself on fire to keep other people warm!

(Restorative Practice Mark Finnis)

Take care
Simon

Simon Wellman
Director: Education and Skills

New Year sees local COVID-19 cases spike

Local COVID-19 cases have seen a significant spike, with the Omicron variant now dominant in Telford & Wrekin.

For the week ending 2 January 2022, the COVID-19 situation in the borough is:

3,015 new Covid-19 cases reported, 1,403 more compared to the previous week.
The seven-day infection rate for Telford and Wrekin is 1,663 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000.
For the West Midlands, the seven-day infection rate is 1,692 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000.
For England, the seven-day infection rate is 1,761 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000.

Key COVID-19 Management Measures for Educational settings January 2022

Following updated national guidance, linked to the latest Omicron variant and wave, Education and the Health Protection Hub have updated the previous advice related to COVID-19 management for the forthcoming half term. This advice will be reviewed alongside national guidance review points, the first being 26 January 2022.

The Omicron variant is highly transmissible and case numbers are doubling every one and a half to two days. Although the rate of transmission is having a significant impact on the NHS in terms of admissions, emerging evidence suggests that overall people are experiencing milder illnesses; however, the rate of transmission is still of concern for those that experience more serious complications. We have taken this into account in our updated advice, which you are asked to download:

Management measures for Educational settings - January 2022

Vaccination 2nd dose for 12-17 year olds

The NHS is offering COVID-19 vaccines to children and young people, following advice from the UK Chief Medical Officers and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

All young people aged 12 to 17 will be offered a second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

The vaccine is safe, quick, and effective. It does not give people the COVID-19 virus and does not contain any animal products. Children do not need to be registered with a GP or have an NHS number to be vaccinated.

All children aged 12 and 17 years old are eligible for a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, if it’s been twelve weeks since their first dose, or twelve weeks since they have had COVID-19. (This is different to those aged over 18 who only need wait 8 weeks).

To access their 1st or 2nd dose 12- and 17-year-olds can:

Attend a school vaccination clinic - young people aged 12 to 17 will be offered a first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine offered in school during the Spring Term. This vaccination service will be delivered by the School-Aged Immunisation Service (SAIS). (Please note that the SAIS team will be unable to vaccinate those aged 18 and over).
Book an appointment online via the National Booking System or by calling NHS 119.
Walk-in to a vaccination clinics (no appointment required, limited vaccine availability): Please check for days and times clinics are being held: COVID-19 Vaccination Walk-in and Pop-up Clinics

Local clinics coming up: Children aged 12 and over can attend one of the clinics below within Telford and Wrekin.

Southwater Library, St Quentin Gate, Telford TF3 4JG on Thursday 6 January 2022, 5.30pm-9.30pm.
Telford and Wrekin Interfaith Council Building, Wellington TF1 1LU on Friday 7 January 2022, Time to be confirmed.
New clinics are continually being added, so please check if you are looking for another day or time.

Parental Consent:

12–15-year-olds - all parents, or those with parental responsibility, are asked for consent for children aged 12–15-year-olds and will usually make this decision jointly with their children.
16–17-year-olds - parental consent will not be required to be vaccinated for those children aged 16-17 years old.

Children who have recently tested positive for COVID-19:

Please note that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommend:

Children aged 12 to 17 years will need to wait for 12 weeks following a positive test for COVID-19 before having their first or second COVID-19 vaccination.
Children aged 12 to 17 years who are at increased risk, should wait 4 weeks (28 days) from a positive test result, before having their vaccine.
Adults aged 18 and over will need to wait 4 weeks (28 days) following a positive test for COVID-19 before having their vaccination.

For further information:

There is more information about the vaccination offer to 12 to 17-year-olds on the GOV.UK website

The (revised) schools letter to parents/carers, including a FAQ section, is available to download.

Updated COVID-19 educational setting status form guidance

This is an update from the Department for Education

The educational setting status form will reopen on Tuesday 4 January 2022. Please begin completing the form from the start of your term and provide your data by 2pm each working day.

This information remains vital in monitoring and understanding the impacts of COVID-19 in schools and colleges. It continues to be shared and used across government and with SAGE and other health experts, as part of tracking infection and transmission of the virus, and to inform decision-making.

From Tuesday 4 January 2022 we will be asking schools and colleges to provide information on:

the phased return process, for secondary schools with an asymptomatic test site (ATS)
the number of pupils or students absent due to attendance restrictions put in place to manage an outbreak within the setting or exceptional circumstances related to COVID-19

There has been an update to the guidance on how to complete the educational settings status form to include the updated list of questions for schools and colleges.

Ofsted inspections due to take place in January 2022

This is an update from the Department for Education

The Ofsted inspection continues to play an important role in providing independent assurance as settings respond to the pandemic. It is right that these arrangements are kept under review, and adjustments made where appropriate.

Ofsted has already confirmed that it will not be inspecting secondary schools during the first week of term in January 2022, unless there are urgent concerns, as schools undertake on-site pupil testing.

In addition, for a temporary period from the start of January 2022, Ofsted will not ask school, college and early years leaders, who are also Ofsted inspectors, to undertake inspections.

Ofsted will also encourage early years' settings, schools and colleges that are significantly impacted by COVID-19 related staff absence, to ask for their inspection to be deferred.

Ofsted inspections of children’s social care, local authority SEND services and joint targeted area inspections will continue, with deferrals taking place where appropriate. Ofsted’s regulatory work will also continue.

All of these measures will be kept under review.

Exams and assessments in January 2022

This is an update from the Department for Education

Examinations and assessments in January 2022 should go ahead as originally planned. Settings should liaise with their awarding organisation to make sure they have the latest information on adaptations to the delivery of the exams and assessments, and procedures for special considerations.

Funded air cleaning units for education and childcare settings

This is an update from the Department for Education

The Department for Education (DfE) will make up to 7,000 more air cleaning units available for poorly ventilated teaching spaces in state funded education settings, where quick fixes to improve ventilation are not possible. This is in addition to the 1,000 DfE funded air cleaning units previously announced for SEND and alternative provision settings, and the 350,000 CO2 monitors already delivered to settings.

All state funded primary and secondary schools, further education colleges and early years settings can apply for a funded air cleaning unit if they meet strict eligibility criteria. Special and alternative provision settings, including SEND units attached to mainstream units, that were not successful or did not apply during the first round are also eligible to apply during this round.

Further details, including the eligibility criteria, can be found in the guidance on applying for an air cleaning unit.

Applications for all settings will close at 9am on Monday 17 January 2022.

If your setting is not eligible for a funded unit, the air cleaning marketplace remains open, enabling you to purchase units at a suitable specification and competitive price.

New Primary COVID-19 Recovery Adviser

Telford & Wrekin would like to introduce new COVID-19 Recovery Adviser, Claire Killick, who is available to schools this term, to provide professional advice and guidance in terms of post COVID education recovery for pupils. Claire has substantial teaching and school leadership experience of supporting pupils during the pandemic and has been seconded from her school to offer support more widely across the borough. Claire can offer support and advice to primary schools to:

make effective use of catch up funding streams, including Recovery funding, National Tutoring Programme and the School led tutoring grant
ensure effective classroom practice for disadvantaged pupils with reference to Education Endowment Funding research and the RADY programme (Raising Attainment for Disadvantaged Youngsters)
use data intelligently to identify gaps and evaluate impact of interventions.

Claire will begin contacting schools next week to offer to support. However if you wish to contact her directly to disucss the support she can offer, please do this via an email to Claire.killick@telford.gov.uk.

Private fostering briefing sessions

Places are still available on the next Raising Awareness of Private Fostering briefing session.

When: Wednesday 12 January 2022, 10am – 11am

Where: Via Microsoft Teams (invite to be circulated closer to the time)

Please book your place via Ollie:

Raising Awareness of Private Fostering Briefing Session

If you have any questions, please email partnerships@telford.gov.uk.

If you have any problems with your Ollie account, please email ollie@telford.gov.uk.

Free Professional Learning Programme: ‘Thinking differently for disadvantaged learners’

The Virtual School Team are pleased to provide details of an exciting, free professional learning programme, led by West Midlands Virtual Schools (WMVS) in partnership with Challenging Education.

Six, hour-long network sessions throughout the Spring and Summer Terms focusing on supporting schools to reflect on and enhance their practice to improve outcomes for disadvantaged learners. The programme is accompanied by protected access to useful, additional resources.

Further information and guidance on booking your places are available to download.

Any questions can be sent, via email, to Michelle Salter - Virtual School Head Teacher (Michelle.salter@telford.gov.uk) or John Newton - Virtual School Education Advisor & CPD Lead (John.newton@telford.gov.uk)

Life Ready Work Ready Programme update

The latest update on the European Social Fund Life Ready Work Ready Programme delivered by Telford & Wrekin Council is available online.

Life Ready Work Ready

Inaugural Telford & Wrekin Raising Attainment of Disadvantages Young People Conference – 18 January 2022

The inaugural Telford & Wrekin RADY Conference (Raising Attainment of Disadvantaged Young People) will be held Tuesday 18 January 2022 from 9.30am to 12.30pm as a virtual event via Microsoft Teams.

Telford & Wrekin would like to welcome you and other school colleagues to this event, where you would be joined by Trevor Sutcliffe, Louise and Simon Blackburn, from Challenging Education. This is a Local Authority funded conference and therefore there will be no charge to schools.

Trevor, Louise and Simon will lead on exploring equitable approaches to teaching and learning, the area which has the biggest impact on disadvantaged learners’ outcomes. “We are often asked….’we are fully on board with the idea of equity, but what does that look like in the classroom?’ …. We think this session provides some answers to that question, but more importantly, gets colleagues thinking creatively about solutions in the curriculum.”

Colleagues from schools and academies across the authority will also share aspects of their RADY journey.

In line with current guidelines, we will be hosting this event via Microsoft Teams; however, this also gives us the opportunity to extend the invitation to many more of our school colleagues. We would very much like not only your senior leader with responsibility for disadvantaged pupils to attend the event, but would also welcome members of your teaching and support staff (even if it is only for part of the session), as well as members of your governing board.

Further information will be sent out in the coming days. In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact Rebecca Carey directly.

To secure your place/s please simply send an email to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk detailing your name, school, position and email address (as this event is free of charge there is no requirement for a booking form).

Registration of Early Career Teachers with an Appropriate Body

As a registered Appropriate Body for Early Career Teachers, Telford & Wrekin Local Authority (LA) has received the following important information from the Department for Education. Any concerns or queries should be addressed to the LA’s Appropriate Body Manager Anthony Snowden in the first instance.

Appropriate Body Registrations
The Department for Education (DfE) have identified a number of Early Career Teachers (ECTs) who are registered on a funded ECF programme who are not also registered with an appropriate body for statutory induction. The schools concerned have been contacted directly and advised of their next steps, which includes making contact with an Appropriate Body (AB).

Please note the following:

An ECT cannot start their statutory induction until their AB has been agreed.
ABs can, however, use their discretion to bring forward the end of induction to recognise previous experience. In the example above, this would mean that the AB might consider moving the final assessment to July 2023, instead of December 2024, after five terms instead of the standard six, so that the ECT completes their induction as if they started as expected in September 2021. In all cases, a reduction should only be made on the basis that the ECT has met the Teachers’ Standards.
The DfE know that a minority of school leaders mistakenly thought that registering for a funded ECF programme meant they did not need an AB and the DfE do not want ECTs to be disadvantaged because of this misunderstanding.
Therefore, where ECTs started induction activities in the Autumn Term 2021 before an AB was in place, the DfE encourages ABs in these exceptional circumstances to consider whether a reduction would be appropriate.

Induction start dates
The start date for statutory induction will be determined by the AB and should be agreed in advance with the headteacher and ECT. (As set out above, this cannot be backdated.) It should be the date when the ECT starts their teaching role. This is when their induction programme formally commences, which may, in some circumstances, be an earlier date to when their ECF training starts.

To explain this further, for ECTs who start their teaching role at the start of a new term, this will usually also be the date that their provider-led ECF training starts, if their school has chosen that induction route.

However, if an ECT starts their teaching role at any other point in the academic year these dates may be different. The six Lead Providers each have their own policy for the management of non-standard inductions and you should contact them directly for details. ECTs starting statutory induction at a non-standard point should be able to join an ECF programme cohort at the next available start date if they want to.

The school should work with their Lead Provider to agree what induction activities the ECT will undertake as part of their induction programme prior to joining the next available cohort. ECTs do not need to wait until an ECF programme cohort to start their statutory induction i.e. an induction programme can formally commence prior to the ECF programme cohort start. For example, a school may deliver some induction activities to help the ECT settle into their new role e.g. meeting their mentor and other key staff, safeguarding training etc. The ECT may also be supported by the Lead Provider, in accordance with the Provider’s policy, until the cohort start date.

Please note that in all circumstances, statutory induction cannot start until an AB is in place. In exceptional circumstances where this has not happened, please refer to paragraph 1 above.

The DfE will keep the policy for non-standard start dates under review for future years.

ABs may also wish to be aware that the start date of statutory induction will usually align with the date that the ECT’s contract starts, but in some circumstances these dates will be different e.g. where an ECT’s contract starts at the end of July, but they start their teaching role and induction programme in the following September. In this example, the start of statutory induction would be September when the teaching role commenced.

Timings of progress reviews
The statutory guidance relating to progress reviews can be found in paras 2.46 – 2.51 of the Statutory Induction Guidance but the DfE would like to share the following lines in case it is helpful for ABs in interpreting this guidance:

The purpose of a progress review is to provide regular opportunities for an ECT to discuss their progress throughout induction to ensure that there are no surprises for the ECT when it comes to formal assessment.
Progress reviews are expected to place in each term where a formal assessment is not scheduled. This includes for part-time ECTs, meaning they may have more progress reviews over the course of induction than their full-time peers.
Sometimes, an ECT might start their induction midway through a school term. In these cases, the AB and the school have some flexibility to decide when the first ‘term’ has passed for the purposes of scheduling the first progress review. The majority of times, a review each term from the first term will be appropriate but there may be some circumstances where it is more appropriate, and proportionate, to allow the ECT more time to demonstrate progress before holding the first progress review.
In all progress reviews, development targets and the amount of detail on a progress review should be proportionate to the amount of induction served.
In summary, the default expectation is that all ECTs will have a termly progress review (except in terms where a formal assessment is scheduled) to ensure that they receive regular feedback and support for their professional development. However, ABs have the discretion to advise schools on the timing of the first review to ensure that the approach is proportionate and supportive.

Please email any queries to anthony.snowden@telford.gov.uk

CPD courses for school staff, senior leaders and governors

The 2021-2022 CPD Booklet continues to be available on the Telford Education Services site and we very much look forward to receiving your bookings for the Spring and Summer Terms 2022.

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.

Raising Awareness of Child Protection (SG 108)	Wednesday, January 05, 2022	3.30pm to 5pm
Induction Training for New Governors (GO 502)	Wednesday, January 12, 2022	9.30am to 3.30pm
Promoting Cultural Diversity and Equality of Opportunity in EYFS (CPD 606)	Thursday, January 13, 2022	1pm to 3pm
Safety Intervention Refresher Training (formerly MAPA Refresher) (BSAT 212)	Thursday, January 13, 2022	9am to 11.30am
The Essential Induction Event for Newly Qualified Teachers (CPD 521)	Thursday, January 13, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Teaching and delivering Outstanding EAL provision for New to English pupils and Advanced Bilingual learners in Primary Schools (CPD 712)	Monday, January 17, 2022	3.45pm to 6pm
RADY (Raising Attainment of Disadvantaged Young People)	Tuesday, January 18, 2022	9.30am to 12.30pm
Child Protection Supervision (SG 203)	Tuesday, January 18, 2022	9.30am to 12.30pm
EYFS: Areas of Learning and Development Session 1: Personal, Social and Emotional Development (EY 308)	Tuesday, January 18, 2022	1pm to 2.30pm
EYFS: Areas of Learning and Development Session 1: Personal, Social and Emotional Development (EY 309)	Tuesday, January 18, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Recently Qualified Teacher Development Programme (CPD 507)	Tuesday, January 18, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Teaching Children with SEND: Meeting the Needs. Session 3: Provision Map Writing (LSAT 508)	Wednesday, January 19, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Designated Safeguarding Leads Refresher (SG 107)	Wednesday, January 19, 2022	9.15am to 3.15pm
The Strategic Role of Governors (GO 601)	Wednesday, January 19, 2022	4pm to 6pm
Verbal Intervention Training (formerly MAPA de-escalation training) (BSAT 213) NEW	Thursday, January 20, 2022	9am to 11.30am
Absence Management of Employees (book via HR)	Thursday, January 20, 2022	3pm to 5.30pm
Verbal Intervention Training (formerly MAPA de-escalation training) (BSAT 214) NEW	Thursday, January 20, 2022	3pm to 5.30pm
Promoting Oral Health in the EYFS (EY 310)	Thursday, January 20, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Early Career Teacher Network (CPD 720)	Thursday, January 20, 2022	4pm to 5pm
Online Safety – a Safeguarding Responsibility (CPD 609)	Tuesday, January 25, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
ECT Induction Tutor - initial training (CPD 520)	Tuesday, January 25, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Designated Teacher for Children in Care Network Meeting (Post 16 ) book through the Virtual School Team	Tuesday, January 25, 2022 NOW POSTPONED TO 16 MARCH, 2021	4pm to 5pm
Weaving Literacy and Mathematical Development into a Broad EYFS Curriculum - Part 1 (EY 304)	Tuesday, January 25, 2022	1.15pm to 4pm
Newly Appointed Designated Safeguarding Leads' Training (2 days) - part 1 (SG 102) Face to Face	Wednesday, January 26, 2022	9.15am to 4pm
Teaching and delivering Outstanding EAL provision for New to English pupils and Advanced Bilingual learners in Secondary Schools (CPD 711)	Wednesday, January 26, 2022	3.45pm to 6pm
Child Development: Supporting self-regulation development and positive behaviour outcomes with children in the EYFS (EY 313)	Wednesday, January 26, 2022	9.15am to 12noon
Developing the Behaviour Policy (PSS 103)	Wednesday, January 26, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
Newly Appointed Designated Safeguarding Leads' Training (2 days) - part 2 (SG 102) Face to Face	Thursday, January 27, 2022	9.15am to 4pm
Safety Intervention Training (formerly MAPA training) - Part 1 (BSAT 201) Face to Face - FULL	Thursday, January 27, 2022	8.30am to 4pm
Taking the Chair - part 1 (GO 504)	Thursday, January 27, 2022	4.30pm to 6.30pm
Belonging Conference – TBC	Friday, January 28, 2022	TBC

Free online Cool Kids information sessions

Cool Kids movement programme session aims:

To provide basic understanding of sensory motor development and why it is important to children in school.
Understanding developmental stages of lying on the back, tummy, rolling, creeping and crawling.
Understanding the underlying principles of the Cool Kids Programme.
Identify pupils who would benefit.
Deliver the programme effectively.
Incorporate strategies successfully in the classroom

The session will be completed online via Microsoft TEAMs and a link will be sent via email once a place has been confirmed.
Places are limited and must be booked in advance.

The next available session to book onto will be:
Date: Tuesday 8 February 2022
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: Online via Teams

To book a place:

We are able to offer up to two places for this session to your school. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
We recommend that a Class Teacher/SENCo attends this session, if they have not already done so.
Additionally the session will be valuable to any member of staff who will be potentially delivering the group in your school.
Please contact Occupational Therapy by telephone (01743 450800 - Option 2) to book your place on this training, and provide an email address that joining links can be sent to.

This entry was posted by Claire on Wednesday, 05 January 2022.

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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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