Included in this edition of Education Noticeboard

Included in this update

• Director Update

• HRH The Princess Royal Offically opens the Quad

• DfE Supports further Education Teachers

• New childminder flexibilities coming in from 1 November

• School Admissions – Applying for Secondary School 2025

• SAM Portal Demonstration Sessions

• Leadership Autumn Conference

• Eating Disorders Awareness session

• Cranstoun - Telford & Wrekin Domestic Abuse Service Open Day

• Axis Counselling – Pathfinder Project

• Hate Crime Awareness week

• Wraparound Childcare Conference 09/11/24

• Join Story Choices project

• Get Into Teaching Recruitment Events with STEP

• STEP Early Career Framework and Appropriate Body news

• STEP upcoming webinars

• Funded NPQ SEND 2024-2025

• Harper Adams University, Telford: Discovery Day

• Harper Adams University: Open Day

• CPD courses to the end of the Autumn Term 2024

• Duke of Edinburgh Conference

• October Half Term Holiday Activity Programme

• Urban Games for October 2024

 

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Directors Update

Dear Colleagues,

I hope you are having a good week!

This week in the noticeboard there is some important information from our admissions team about applying for Secondary school places for September 2025 as the deadline 31st October 2024 is fast approaching.  Can I ask that our primary colleagues send out communication using your normal channels to prompt applications.

Last week it was great to be part of the official opening of the Quad!  Harper Adams University have organised open days at the new facility, offering potential students the opportunity to tour and experience first-hand some of high spec technology and the courses that are on offer.  Please see below for further detail.

This week is Hate Crime Awareness week and our Multicultural team have developed some useful resources and training sessions for schools to use, focusing on the social unrest witnessed over the summer.

This is the last chance for you to also book onto the Telford & Wrekin Education Strategic Partnership Board Autumn Term Leadership Conference, which is taking place on 23 October 2024. We have a great turn out already and I am looking forward to seeing you there next week.

Best Wishes

Simon

Simon Wellman

Director of Education & Skills

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News

HRH The Princess Royal officially opens The Quad

The Royal visitor toured the Quad, a new digital skills and enterprise hub, which forms part of the ambitious Station Quarter project, and spoke to an invited audience of students, business people, politicians and other stakeholders during the day.

It has been funded by the UK Government and Telford & Wrekin Council, and is a partnership between the Council, Telford College, Harper Adams University, European Innovation and Invest Telford.

Expected to host more than 300 students a year, the hub is designed to spark careers in the applied sciences – and to retain, upskill and develop local talent.  This is at a time when 500 young people are travelling out of Borough for further education. It will also provide a base for up to 120 start up businesses.

During the opening, Her Royal Highness, visiting in her role as Chancellor of Harper Adams University, and guests heard from Telford College alumnus, entrepreneur Mo Chaudry, who spoke about his success in business – and how the new hub would help others follow in his footsteps.

Councillor Lee Carter (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council Leader, said:

“We are delighted that Her Royal Highness has officially opened The Quad in Station Quarter and seen this outstanding education facility for herself.

“It’s wonderful to see learners from across Telford and Wrekin already benefiting from courses at The Quad – giving them the skills and knowledge to secure future careers in different sectors.

“As well as giving learners of all ages the opportunity to study courses delivered by Telford College and Harper Adams University, the facility is also the perfect space to help businesses develop and flourish in Telford and Wrekin.

“This is just one element of the wider Station Quarter project but is all part of our commitment to build a better borough, breathe new life into some of our most historic buildings and creating new spaces for the future.

“Investing in Telford and Wrekin is quite literally laying foundations for the future, creating opportunities to learn new skills, secure great jobs, enjoy top cultural activities and live in an attractive place.”

Lawrence Wood, Telford College Principal and Chief Executive, said:

“This is a really exciting development for us. Maths and digital qualifications are a vital pathway to higher quality and better paid jobs and having a campus in the heart of the town centre makes the college more accessible than ever.

“Our curriculum at Station Quarter is targeted towards careers in sectors such as cybersecurity, AI, virtual and augmented reality, cloud computing, wireless technologies and 5G innovation.

These are skills which local employers tell us they desperately need.”

Jesse Abdul Karim, a digital T-Level student, said:

“It’s even nicer than I was expecting. I love how easy it is to travel to, and how it’s situated in the middle of town.”

Alongside the education provision from the College and University, a new business incubator on the third floor of The Quad will support new and growing companies.

Start Up Telford and Innovate Telford programmes will be delivered from this space.

Station Quarter is part of a wider programme of investment in Telford and Wrekin which is transforming other areas including Oakengates and Wellington - creating a better borough for everyone.

Ken Sloan, Harper Adams Vice-Chancellor, said:

“We are delighted Her Royal Highness was able to join us today to see the digital skills hub for herself.

“Now the hub is officially open, we’re looking forward to a series of events to show case it to both students and industry in the coming months.

“Our work at this hub – the first base for educational provision by Harper Adams which is not on our main campus – will take the University into the heart of Telford.

“Through our work here, we will be driving forward the skills of young people and adults in our community– and drawing on their potential to make a difference to our region together.”

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Department of Education Updates 

DfE Supports further Education Teachers

We are keen to build our evidence in our programmes to improve how the Department supports Further Education (FE) teachers. 

We would be grateful if you could cascade the link below to 16 to 19 FE teachers in your organisation. This survey will take no more than 5 minutes to complete. Gathering this information will help us to learn more about how best we can support FE teachers in their careers by improving our programmes and support future work for the FE sector.  We are particularly keen to hear from teachers in the non-statutory sector.

Link to access survey: https://dferesearch.fra1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cCNyhqiFnvWP0gu

The deadline for responses is 17 January 2025.

New childminder flexibilities coming in from 1 November

The Department for Education is introducing new flexibilities for childminders from 1 November to help more childminders join and stay in the profession. The new flexibilities will:

• Create a new category of childminder (childminder without domestic premises) who work entirely from non-domestic premises
• Increase, from 3 to 4, the total number of people that can work together under a childminder’s registration (including the childminder)
• Give childminders and providers of childcare on domestic premises (CODPs) more flexibility, allowing them to spend more time operating outside of domestic premises, such as a community hall or school
• Increase the number of people needed for CODPs to operate from 4 or more, to 5 or more people providing care. Note: CODPs that were registered, or applied to register, before 1 November can continue operating with 4 or more people.

The department has published an article on the Foundation Years website to give an overview of the changes and answer main FAQs – see Newsflash – New Flexibilities for Childminders - Foundation Years

 

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School Admissions

School Admissions – Applying for Secondary School 2025

Information for Primary & Junior Schools to support on-time applications

The deadline for Secondary School 2025 is fast approaching - 31st October 2024.  To ensure we have as many on time applications as possible the Admissions Team would like your help by checking that your year 6 students have now applied to us.

You can see who has applied by viewing the round summary page “Secondary Place 2025” on your SAM portal and viewing the leavers list. Each applicant who has confirmed their current school on their application will appear here, if they didn’t supply this information then we might still have their application, so please check with the admissions team so that we can check for an application and update if necessary. 

If the child resides outside of the T&W area then they will have applied to their home LA and we won’t know about their applications until after the closing date when we receive files from the other LA’s. If out of area children are yet to apply then they should contact their home LA as soon as possible.

For those that haven’t applied to us, if you are able to chase parents/carers and remind them about the closing date – 31st October 2024 that would be appreciated. We would also ask that you confirm that all your T&W resident children have applied to us by the end of this ½ term. 

Parents can submit up to four preference schools on their application and we encourage parents to apply for more than one school as, if we are unable to offer their preferred school they may be allocated a school that is some distance away if their catchment school is already full.  Each year we do see a lot of applications that have only one preference which can lead to a lot of disappointment when allocated a school some distance from their home address.

Late applicants are unlikely to be offered one of their preferred schools as places in popular schools will be full on National Offer Day.

Thank you for your cooperation, and if you or parents have any queries then please email us admissions@telford.gov.uk

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SAM Portal

SAM Portal Demonstration Sessions

Are you a new user of the SAM Portal? If so, then these sessions are for you.

We are running three demonstration sessions for colleagues within T&W schools. You will only need to attend ONE session.

These sessions will cover:

Logging in & out

Searching for a pupil

Starting & completing a form

Checking the status of submitted forms

These sessions will be relevant to colleagues who submit referrals into AST, CME, LSAT, MTT, Suspensions/Exclusions and Student Engagement.

The sessions are taking place on:

Tuesday 5 November – 4pm – Click here to join

Wednesday 6 November – 4pm - Click here to join

Thursday 7 November – 4pm - Click here to join

For further information contact  educationsystemsupport@telford.gov.uk

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Leadership Autumn 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 keynote 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 Conference Flyer

Course Booking Form

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Safeguarding

Eating Disorders Awareness session

This learning has been identified from two recent Safeguarding Adult Reviews and so it is key that we as a partnership raise awareness around this subject matter.

The Telford and Wrekin Safeguarding Partnership (TWSP) are hosting an online seminar to raise awareness around eating disorders on 30th October between 2.30pm – 4pm. This is an area of learning which has been identified through recent Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SAR’s), however, eating disorders affect not only adults but often begins in childhood. The session will be delivered by Dr Sophie Green, Speciality Doctor in Eating Disorders and Dr Joshua Whitehurst Specialty Doctor – Eating Disorders Psychiatry from Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The sessions aims to cover the following areas:

• What is an eating disorder
• Impact on the individual and their family/friends
• When to seek help and how to approach difficult conversations
• Where to go for support

By the end of the session it is hoped that you will be more confident about discussing this difficult topic and have an understanding of the support in place for those who need it.

If you would like a place at this session please email partnerships@telford.gov.uk and the Teams link will be shared with you

 

Cranstoun - Telford & Wrekin Domestic Abuse Service Open Day

Cranstoun, Telford and Wrekin’s commissioned domestic abuse advice and support service are inviting professionals to a service open day

We are inviting you to come along to our offices to meet the team, learn about the work we do, and meet some of the victim-survivors that we have supported. Our services include SPOC, victim-survivor outreach, dedicated male victim support, safe accommodation, perpetrator interventions, a children and young people service, peer support group, and a variety of programmes. Light refreshments will be provided.

We are opening our doors Wednesday 27th of November at 9am until 1pm.

Suite A, Jordan House East, Hall Court, Hall Park Way, Telford, TF3 4NF

Contact tw@cranstoun.org.uk or 01952 454759

Download flyer for open day

Axis Counselling – Pathfinder Project

Support for survivors of sexual abuse

A newly funded service by NHS England supporting individuals (18+) affected by sexual violence/abuse, who are presenting with complex mental health or other comorbid factors, preventing them from processing their trauma.

We are offering a range of services specialised to target the impact of sexual violence trauma on survivors. Including:

• 1:1 stabilisation (including advocacy, emotional support and practical advice)
• 3 levels of groups promoting resilience and focused support on the trauma of sexual violence, through peer-support groups and psycho-educational workshops
• Stabilisation counselling 6-8 sessions.
• Psychologist formulation and support.
• Empowering professionals
• Essential sexual violence specialist training programmes for professionals who work with individuals affected by sexual violence. Awareness raising, managing disclosures, sexual violence trauma informed practice etc.

For further information contact pathfinder@axiscounselling.org.uk

Download Axis flyer

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Multicultural Development Team

Hate Crime Awareness week

National Hate Crime Awareness Week (NHCAW) is from 12th – 19th October 2024.

This is a national week of action to encourage local authorities, key partners and communities affected by hate crime to work together to tackle local Hate Crime issues.  Its aim is to encourage Hate Crime reporting to the police, councils and independent third party organisations (charities or schools).

Hate Crime Awareness (HCA) week is an opportunity for schools to focus on hate crime, particularly racism and the recording and reporting of racist incidents, has been advocated by MDT in schools. Its importance particularly putting the recent events of the summer, in relation to the social unrest due to the race riots, into a context for discussion and understanding. 

Lawley primary and other schools have engaged in Hate Crime Awareness workshops to support children’s understanding of what a Hate Crime is. In particular, its impact on the individual, the links to the curriculum focus on teaching about the Protected Characteristic and British Values and what they (Pupils) could do to combat it.

If you would like further information or support in relation to Hate crime, please contact MDT.

multicultural.development@telford.gov.uk

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Early Years

Wraparound Childcare Conference 09/11/24

Telford and Wrekin wraparound settings providers can book multiple places free of charge. Wraparound settings outside of the borough - £50 per person.

Wraparound childcare conference 9 November 2024 The Telford Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort 10am – 4pm

Itinerary: AM REGISTRATION 9.30AM – 10AM OPENING TALK KEYNOTE SPEAKER BEN KINGSTON HUGHES

PM WORKSHOPS HOSTED BEN KINGSTON HUGHES (INSPIRE CHILDREN) AND REBEKAH JACKSON REECE (OUT OF SCHOOL ALLIANCE

Stalls are available all day with representation from Telford College, Morton Michel, out of school club alliance and many more

Please Download flyer

 

Join Story Choices project and Make a Difference to storybook reading practices in the early years!

We are excited to introduce Story Choices, a groundbreaking project funded by Education Endowment Foundation and led by Prof Julia Carroll. We are currently seeking preschool and nursery settings in the East Midlands, West Midlands, and Greater Manchester to participate in the project

Join Story Choices project and Make a Difference to storybook reading practices in the early years!

We are excited to introduce Story Choices, a groundbreaking project funded by Education Endowment Foundation and led by Prof Julia Carroll. We are currently seeking preschool and nursery settings in the East Midlands, West Midlands, and Greater Manchester to participate in the project.

 About the Project: Story Choices focuses on the impact of planning storybook reading sessions in nurseries and preschools. While we know that interactive storybook reading improves children’s language skills, in this project we aim to discover the best ways to plan and organise these sessions for optimal outcomes.

 Benefits of Participation:

• Reflect on and enhance storybook reading practices.
• Contribute to valuable research that could shape future practices of storybook reading in early years.
• Receive a £200 Amazon voucher as a token of our appreciation.
• Gain access to LanguageScreen, an app for assessing children’s language skills (valued at £245).

Please visit our website for more details: https://storychoices.coventry.ac.uk/

 How to participate in the project: If you are interested in participating in the project and want to sign-up your setting, please use the EOI link below to express your interest.

 EOI: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/coventry/story-choices-expression-of-interest-1 

Recruitment ends: 31 October 2024  

We look forward to the possibility of working with your settings to make a meaningful impact on early years education.

Get Into Teaching Recruitment Events with STEP

Grow your career with us by visiting www.stepwm2.co.uk

Shropshire and Telford Education Partnership are holding a ‘Get into Teaching’ Recruitment event covering Early Years, Primary and Secondary phases.

These recruitment events will provide you with all the information you need to help you decide if teaching is the career for you. The Initial Teacher Training experts for the four STEP providers will be available to answer any questions you may have.

Event 1:

4th November @ 5pm – 7pm

The West Stand at AFC Telford, Watling Street, Wellington, Telford, TF1 2NW

Event 2:

5th November @ 5pm-7pm

Shrewsbury Town FC, Montgomery Waters Meadow, Oteley Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ST

Testimonial

“STEP provide excellent support and training across the four main areas of driving school improvement

Download ITT Recruitment

STEP Early Career Framework and Appropriate Body news

Autumn term 2024-25 starters registration information

The DfE portal will remain open for Autumn term registrations up until Friday 25th October.

Please follow the below process to successfully register your ECTs and Mentors for the Autumn Term start.  Please note, if your ECT(s) are already registered with STEP and are staying at the same school in Autumn 2024, their induction will continue and you will not need to re-register any details.

Registration for ECTs starting induction in Autumn 2024-25:

Step 1 – register ECTs and their Mentors via DfE portal at: DfE Online Service - (Best Practice Network then collect additional details directly from the ECTs and ECMs to enable allocation to their local training group).  Please select ‘Shropshire and Telford Education Partnership (The Priory School)’ as the Appropriate Body and Delivery Partner.  Best Practice Network would be the Lead Provider if you are going with them.

Step 2 – register your ECT’s induction with STEP on ECT Manager portal:

• If you are already registered on ECT Manager, please sign in and go to:

However, if you have never registered with STEP on ECT Manager, please follow the below instructions:

• To register with Shropshire and Telford Education Partnership, STEP, please click on the following link: The Shropshire and Telford Education Partnership (STEP) – ECT Paperless Induction and Assessment Management System (ectmanager.com)
• Before registering, please view the following short video for a details step by step guide for how to register your school: Register your school at this Appropriate Body | ECT Manager Help Center
• Please note, once you have registered your school, this will first of all need to be approved by the STEP team before you can start adding your ECTs.  We will aim to do this within 48 hours.  Once approved, you can then start adding your ECTs.  Please refer to the following video to do this:

Register an ECT | ECT Manager Help Center

Step 3 – if this is your first ECT and you are using Best practice Network as your Lead Provider, please register with them via: Best Practice Network - School Registration Form (bpnsystems.net)

Full details of the registration process can also be found on our website at Shropshire and Telford Education Partnership - ECF/AB (stepwm2.co.uk).

STEP upcoming webinars

Our next Induction Tutor event will take place on Thursday 17th October from 4-5pm.  This session run by Lesley Holmes (STEP AB / ECF Strategic Lead) will focus on report writing (Assessments and Progress Reviews for ECTs) and will give useful feedback following the submission of Summer Term reports.  It will also be beneficial for those Induction Tutors who are brand new to the role as Lesley will cover what is expected from an end of term Progress Review or Assessment and the difference between each.  She will also provide some useful examples for both.

Please follow the below link to join:

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 390 435 332 797

Passcode: Pnf5jV

For organisers: Meeting options

For any further support or queries, please contact us at: ECF@stepwm2.co.uk

Funded NPQ SEND 2024-2025

Complete your NPQs locally with Shropshire and Telford Education Partnership (STEP)

Limited funded places remain for the new NPQSENCO programme.  This new programme replaces the NASENCO and is also for senior leaders who oversee SEND as well as those needing the qualification for their SENCO role.   We currently have two clusters planned, one being delivered Oswestry and the other in Telford.

The opportunity to apply for these extra spots will close on Sunday 20th October. Please apply here: NPQ for SENCOs | Best Practice Network

To find out more please go to either the Alliance of Leading Learning website or the STEP website.

 

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Future Focus/ Skills Service

Harper Adams University, Telford: Discovery Day

Discover your future...

Open day Saturday, 2 November 2024, 10:00 - 16:00

Join us at Harper Adams Telford for our Discovery Day, where you’ll explore our newest facility dedicated to AI, technology, and digital innovation! Whether you're considering one of our digital-first courses or simply curious about how technology is reshaping the planet, you’ll find plenty here to explore.

On the day, you’ll experience a live Hackathon, interactive activities, and maybe even see robots in action! Next, take a guided tour of our modern learning spaces and imagine yourself studying in an environment built for innovation.

You’ll also have the opportunity to meet current Harper Adams students and lecturers who will help you explore how our courses can help you make a real difference.

For further information contact:- Admissions 0300 131 3950

 

Harper Adams University: Open Day

Our Undergraduate Open Day.

Saturday, 9 November 2024, 09:00 - 15:00

If you are looking to study at undergraduate level, why not come along to our Open Day?

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.

Check out our Open Day overview for further information and programmes for upcoming events:

Open day Overview

For further information contact Admissions 0300131 3950