Education Noticeboard 28 November 2024
Welcome to the Education Noticeboard A round up of news, guidance and key updates for Educational settings
Welcome to the Education Noticeboard.
A round-up of news, guidance and key updates for education settings.
Included in this update:
- Breakfast Clubs Early Adopters Scheme
-
Loudmouth subsidised and free training available to schools and colleges in Telford & Wrekin
-
Telford & Wrekin Domestic Abuse Support Programmes pathway and contact details
-
Voices Social Enterprise LEAF feedback survey (Lived Experience Advisory Forum) Domestic Abuse
- School Attendance Briefing on 4th December 4 p.m – 5.30 pm & Attendance Surgery on 6th December 10.00 -12 noon
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Event to profile services for children with additional needs
-
Banned Imported American Sweets and Drinks – Information for Parents and Carers
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IDT -Tell us how we are doing - Your chance to win an Amazon Gift Voucher
Directors Update
Dear colleagues
It’s great to share some of our upcoming events with you such as the Virtual School Christmas Fayre which is taking place on Thursday 5th December. There are some fantastic tombola prizes lined up and it is all for a good cause. Please read the full article for further details.
I would also like to take the opportunity to signpost our primary school colleagues to the information about the DfE Breakfast Club Early Adopters Scheme. Breakfast clubs support children’s attendance and attainment, enabling them to thrive academically and socially, so please ensure you submit an expression of interest via the link provided if you are interested in piloting the scheme.
There are some brilliant festive opportunities for our young people included in this week’s noticeboard, such as the HHAH Winter Activities. There is also a fantastic active travel initiative, WOW, which encourages walking to school.
Lastly, also included are some valuable training opportunities and CPD courses which may be of interest to you.
Have a good rest of the week everyone.
Best wishes
Simon
Simon Wellman
Director: Education & Skills
Have a good rest of the week everyone.
Best wishes
Simon
Simon Wellman
Director: Education & Skills
News
Virtual School Christmas fayre
With the festive season upon, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Virtual School will be hosting its first ever Christmas fayre outside the Library entrance at Southwater One on Thursday 5th December from 12 to 7pm
Everyone is welcome to attend and support the Virtual school and children in care pupils. There will be Christmas gifts for sale and a tombola with lots of prizes to be won. All money raised with go towards organising future Virtual School events.
DfE
Breakfast Clubs Early Adopters Scheme
Good Afternoon Everyone
I would like to encourage our primary settings to submit an expression of interest to participate in the pilot breakfast club scheme.
As a council we are keen to support this scheme as we recognise the importance of children having the best start to their day by providing a breakfast and a warm safe environment prior to starting their day at school.
Going forward the government is committed to offering a free breakfast club in every primary school in England. Breakfast clubs support children’s attendance and attainment, enabling them to thrive academically and socially.
Schools with primary-school-aged children can apply to become an early adopter of the universal free breakfast club’s scheme.
The Government will fund up to 750 participating state-funded schools to provide children with access to a breakfast club that involves free food and childcare, starting from April 2025.
All state-funded schools with primary-school-aged children in England are eligible to apply for the scheme. This can include:
- state-funded primary schools for pupils in reception through to Year 6
- special schools and registered alternative provision with primary-school-aged children
- all other state-funded schools with primary-school-aged children, including infant, junior, first, middle and all-through schools
For further information about the scheme please see the link below.
Breakfast clubs early adopters scheme - GOV.UK
Schools can register (by 2 December 2024) to attend a webinar on 5 December 2024 to learn more about the scheme and the application process using this form: The Department for Education's Breakfast Clubs Early Adopter Webinar
We would also appreciate if you could complete the short survey below, so that we know how many schools in the borough are interested in the scheme.
https://forms.office.com/e/MGfMy4hFHP
Thank you for your cooperation
Best wishes
Jo Britton
Executive Director -Childrens Services
Children’s Safeguarding & Family Support
Safeguarding
Schools Emergency Plan
Following a recent near miss incident in one of our schools we have updated the Schools Emergency template to include Fire safety incidents.
We would recommend that all settings update their emergency plans using this template.
Schools will be able to find the template here (click here)
Having emergency and business continuity plans is important because;
Why is Business Continuity Plan Important?
- Minimise Disruption: Ensure that your school can continue to operate smoothly, even in the face of unexpected challenges.
- Protect Students and Staff: Prioritise the safety and well-being of everyone in your school community.
- Maintain Reputation: Demonstrate your commitment to resilience and preparedness, reinforcing trust among parents and governors.
Information about business continuity can be found here https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20254/emergencies/437/business_continuity
Resources to assist with planning training and exercising your plans can be found here School emergencies | Nottinghamshire County Council
Loudmouth subsidised and free training available to schools and colleges in Telford & Wrekin
Loudmouth RSHE programmes are being funded again this year by T&W Council to tour their “theatre in education” programmes in schools and colleges in the area.
Loudmouth programmes available to schools and colleges are listed below.
Calling It Out is being fully funded and the rest of the training sessions are part funded (schools to contribute £4 per pupil). Each school can have the funding/subsidy for up to 2 programmes.
As part of this subsidised work, we’re also delivering Helping Hands in the primaries (schools to contribute £4 per pupil). https://www.loudmouth.co.uk/programmes/programme/helping-hands
|
Programme |
Description |
Short Description |
|
Calling It Out |
our theatre in education programme for KS3,4 & 5 on harmful sexual behaviours (sexual harassment and assault), misogyny and consent |
secondary/college - sexual harassment & assault, misogyny |
|
Safe and Sound |
our theatre in education programme for KS3 & 4 on teenage partner/domestic abuse and consent |
secondary/college - abuse in teenage relationships |
|
Trust Me |
our theatre in education programme for KS3 & 4 on sexual health including contraception, STIs, unplanned pregnancy and consent |
secondary/college - sexual health / consent |
|
Working for Marcus |
our theatre in education programme for KS3, 4 & 5 on child exploitation including child sexual exploitation and county lines |
secondary/college - child exploitation, CSE, knife crime, county lines
|
Understanding Extreme Right Wing extremist Narratives
A FREE training session will be held on Microsoft teams on Monday 27th January 2025; 3.30pm to 5pm delivered by the DFE regional Prevent lead Sheri Alamgir.
In partnership with the DFE, Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire are hosting this FREE online training session “Extreme Right Wing Counter Terrorism Local Profile”, delivered by the DFE regional Prevent lead Sheri Alamgir on Monday 27th January 2025 3.30pm to 5pm, delivered on Microsoft teams.
“As the West Midlands Prevent lead for Education I would like to re-iterate the importance of your attendance at the scheduled session. As a DSL or member of the SLT if you are not able to attend then please do send your deputy or a representative who is able to provide you with an update.
We know that both the arrest data and Prevent referral date highlights that the age of individuals being radicalised is getting younger and given some of the recent events locally, nationally and internationally it is more important than ever that we are all vigilant and aware of the narrative used by extremists to groom young people and be confident in reporting these.”
This online training session will be delivered by Sheri Alamgir, DFE Regional Prevent Education Co-ordinator for the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Mercia. The training session provides delegates with knowledge that will support them in fulfilling their role within the Prevent Duty and links with our counter terrorism local profile.”- Sheri Alamgir DFE regional Prevent lead for education.
Please email cpdschool.improvement@telford.gov.uk to book a place on this training session, please provide your name, role and email address in order for the link for this session to be shared with you.
Please email cpdschool.improvement@telford.gov.uk to book a place on this training session, please provide your name, role and email address in order for the link for this session to be shared with you.
Telford & Wrekin Domestic Abuse Support Programmes pathway and contact details
Local domestic abuse support offer including Organisations, support programmes available including referral routes and helplines and wider support services.
White Ribbon UK – Event Thursday 28 November 2024
A call out to people from under-represented communities to find out more about services available in their area for victims and survivors of crime.
White Ribbon UK event on Thursday 28th November 2024 9.30am to 1.30pm at Leegomery Community Centre, Leegate Avenue, Telford TF1 6NA.
Come along to see what services are available in your area for victims and survivors of crime..
Further details in attachment.
Voices Social Enterprise LEAF feedback survey (Lived Experience Advisory Forum) Domestic Abuse
'We are continuing to gather information, feedback and conversations through the LEAF project - through lived experiences. Along with one to one's, group work and conversations in the community we have also put together a questionnaire/survey which people can complete anonymously or with details they want to share.
Below is the link to the questionnaire/voices survey and also a QR code to the same - please share these, print them out for people, put them up with the leaflet/posters around your sites, or promote in any way you think will reach people.
We want to know what is working, what may need changing, and capture best practice - we want to share wonderful feedback as well, so please tell people about the Lived Experience Advisory Forum work.
Thank you everyone
Protect Campaign – Professionals Launch event – 09 December 2024
PROTECT stands for Providing Regular Opportunities to Talk about Exploitation with Children in Telford
Please see attached PDF for full details
Attendance
School Attendance Briefing on 4th December 4 p.m – 5.30 pm & Attendance Surgery on 6th December 10.00 -12 noon
The Attendance Support Team are continuing with the two opportunities for schools to join us via TEAMs meetings to discuss all matters relating to School Attendance.
The next scheduled School Attendance Briefing – is on Wednesday 4th December a twilight session 4p.m. to 5.30 p.m. and the next School Attendance Surgery has been re-scheduled to Friday 6th December 10.a.m. – 12 Noon
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 academic 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
Early Years
EYFS and Wraparound Conferences
The Early Years & Childcare Team held two conferences during November, starting with the EYFS Conference on 8th November. The keynote speakers were Aaron Bradbury, Principal Lecturer for Early Childhood, Childhood and Early Years at Nottingham Trent University, and bestselling author Greg Bottrell.
On 9th November, the first Telford Wraparound Childcare Conference took place. This featured Ben Kingston-Hughes from Inspired Children and Rebekah Jackson Reece from the Out of School Alliance.
Both conferences also hosted stalls from organisations including NSPCC, Thrive Stronger Practice Hub, Telford College, Shrewsbury College Group and University of Wolverhampton.
These events were enjoyed by attendees from both within and outside of the borough, with feedback including comments such as:
“I really valued the way children were put at the heart of the conference. I think these messages should be heard by all in education as they are so important.”
“…an enlightening day. The speakers were exceptional.”
“Thank you for an enjoyable and thought provoking day.”
“The free resources were very useful and relevant.”
If you attended the conference, we would love to hear your feedback from this short survey: https://forms.office.com/e/xkt16EP2xg
GIVEAWAY ALERT for Early Years Settings in our hub area!
Win a Bundle of EYFS Books for your setting! There are three bundles to giveaway!
To enter:
Complete our Thrive Together Stronger Practice Hub Feedback Form – share your valuable feedback to help us enhance our support for Early Years
Eligibility: This giveaway is open to Early Years settings based in our hub area: Walsall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Dudley, Sandwell, and Wolverhampton.
Deadline: 29th November 2024. Winners will be contacted by Thrive Together SPH via email.
Don’t miss your chance to win a fantastic bundle of EYFS books and help us grow stronger together!
CPD
CPD courses to the end of the Autumn Term 2024.
Further details of these and all other courses are available in the 2024-25 CPD booklet on the Telford Education Services website and on the Ollie website.
The CPD Booklet for the remainder of the 2024-15 academic year can be viewed via Telford Education Services.
As always, courses can be booked by completing and returning a CPD booking form to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk (unless denoted differently)
|
Literacy Pathway - part 3 |
Monday, December 02, 2024 |
9.15am to 12.30pm |
|
Webinar session: Ensuring the quality of safeguarding records (SG 110) |
Monday, December 02, 2024 |
3.30pm to 5pm |
|
School Attendance Briefing Updates - additional date re DfE Guidance (AST 004) |
Wednesday, December 04, 2024 |
4pm to 5.30pm |
|
EAL & Maths (CPD 603) |
Wednesday, December 04, 2024 |
1.15pm to 3.30pm |
|
Accredited Safer Recruitment Training (HR course) |
Thursday, December 05, 2024 |
9am to 4.30pm |
|
Thursday, December 05, 2024 |
5pm to 7pm |
|
|
Behaviour as Communication (PSS 013) |
Friday, December 06, 2024 |
1pm to 4pm |
|
PROTECT Professional Campaign Launch |
Monday, December 09, 2024 |
9.30am to 1pm |
|
SEND and AP Change Programme Learning Lunch |
Tuesday, December 17, 2024 |
12.30pm to 1pm |
SEND
Please can settings share our SEND Family Newsletter with your families.
We are delighted to bring you the newest edition of our SEND Family Newsletter, packed with essential news and updates for families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Telford and Wrekin.
We have gathered information from our Education, Health and Social Care partners that we hope will be useful and informative. Our parent groups were very keen to develop a regular standalone SEND Family Newsletter that settings can send out to families.
We also have our separate SEND SENCo Newsletter, designed to enhance the SENCo Space in our Local Offer. Each newsletter will be sent out to settings, separately, each half term.
SEND Family Newsletter Nov 2024 - SEND - Local offer
Event to profile services for children with additional needs
The marketplace style event, organised by Telford & Wrekin Council’s children with disabilities team, will take place on Tuesday 3 December from 2 to 7pm at Telford and Wrekin CVS, Suite 12 & 15, Hazledine House.
During the event, which is being held on International Day of Persons with a Disability, parents and guardians are welcome to pop in and chat to staff from a range of organisations, including local care providers and Parents Opening Doors (PODS) Charity.
They will also be able to meet with people from Telford & Wrekin Council for Voluntary Services, iCan2 activity providers, community-based activity providers as well as information, advice, and support services.
Staff from Telford & Wrekin Council’s leisure services will also be on hand to discuss accessible activities along with staff from Telford Bike Hub with details of accessible bikes for hire.
Councillor Shirley Reynolds (Lab), Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Education, Employment and Skills, said:
“We are a council that cares about our children and young people, and we understand how important it is for families to have access to the right information, support, and activities.
“By bringing lots of organisations together for this one event, we hope families will be able to drop in, meet with the organisations available and explore new opportunities that can support their daily lives.”
For directions to Hazledine House, please visit www.telfordandwrekincvs.org.uk
People can park in the multi-storey car park opposite the building and should pay for parking when returning to their car.
The event is being held in a room on the second floor. A lift and accessible toilet are available.
https://newsroom.telford.gov.uk/news/event-to-profile-services-for-children-with-additional-needs
Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS) 2024/25
Maintained schools are required to complete an annual Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS) checklist. The 2024/25 checklist can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-financial-value-standard-sfvs together with guidance documents and additional resources. The checklist is the same as in previous years, i.e. there are no changes to the 30 questions.
Please note that the dashboard that was formerly part of the SFVS can now be found – pre-completed – on the schools financial benchmarking website, as follows:
· Search for your school on the schools financial benchmarking website.
· Select ‘start a comparison’.
· Select ‘self-assessment dashboard’.
Question 19 on the SFVS checklist refers to this.
As in previous years the SFVS needs to be completed returned to the Local Authority by 31 March, i.e. 31 March 2025 although some schools have already completed this. Please return to andy.wood@telford.gov.uk
If you have any queries on the SFVS please don’t hesitate to contact me or your school’s finance officer.
Environmental Health Regulatory Support
Banned Imported American Sweets and Drinks – Information for Parents and Carers
Following a rise in imported food and drinks from the USA that contain banned additives, Telford and Wrekin Council’s Food Team have put together an information leaflet for parents and carers to explain which additives are banned and the products to look out for.
Link to portal for any enquiries: https://pp.telford.gov.uk/
Family Hubs
Family Hubs Best Start in Life updates
New information pages relating to domestic abuse, FASD, Healthy Weight and Speech and Language.
Please see attached PDF for full details
Festive Holiday Provision
Happy Healthy Active Holidays Winter Activities are live!!
Book your HHAH Registration support day in - 21st December 2024 – 4th January 2024
Winter HHAH activities are live now!!!
Check out our booking system hhah.telford.gov.uk to see the fantastic activities we have running over the Christmas period.
There’s Christmas Parties galore until the 24th December, Coding clubs, trips and chances to meet an England Lioness for football fun in January.
Spaces are filling fast so get booking.
If you require any support with your booking please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Eligibility Criteria:
Reception – Year 11 benefit related FSM Children
SEND Children
Referral in by schools/services for vulnerable/at risk students or families identified that may benefit from the scheme.
Email holidayactivityhub@telford.gov.uk to book in.
Other Information and Resources
Funding opportunity for schools
The Laurel Trust has issued its annual invitation for collaborations of schools to apply for grant funding.
The Laurel Trust sends a heartfelt thank you to every school for all they have achieved for children and communities. It wishes to offer collaborations of schools in all phases including early years and special schools/settings an opportunity to apply for funding. The proposed research must focus on improving the life chances for children and young people from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. The theme of this year’s research is Effective Transitions: educational readiness for every child at every phase. The grants are designed to support groups of schools to work together to re-imagine education in our current world, and to place emphasis on a culture rooted in emotional and academic resilience.
The application round will close at 5pm on 28 February 2025
WOW – The Walk to School Challenge for 2024/2025
Walk with Imagination – WOW and Living Streets’ are providing a unique opportunity for schools across Telford and Wrekin to inspire pupils to dream big, while learning about the many wonders of walking to school.
WOW is Living Streets' year-round walk to school challenge to encourage more families to be active on their journey to school, resulting in a 23% average increase in walking rates and up to 30% fewer cars at the school gates.
The WOW package usually costs around £500 for an average sized primary school but can be offered FREE of charge to your school for the 2024-25 academic year, thanks to funding from the Department for Transport. WOW is a badge incentivised scheme where pupils are rewarded with collectable badges each month for travelling actively to school. The WOW package includes:
- A different badge each month for all children who actively travel at least once a week, until July 2025. A welcome pack, including welcome resources, classroom guides and a WOW poster.
- Access to our fun and interactive online Travel Tracker where pupils will record how they travelled to school each day. The Travel Tracker also encourages friendly competition between classes – who will top the active travel leaderboard each month? The online system will allow your school to monitor modes of travel and shifts towards active journeys.
- Further support to promote walking including an introductory launch assembly and set-up support to kick off the challenge.
Please note, there are a limited number of funded places for schools to get involved and these funded places are being offered on a first-come-first-served basis.
For more information please email helen.smith2@telford.go.uk
Telford & Wrekin Council with Shone Productions are proud to present the annual family pantomime Goldilocks and the Three Bears taking place at the Telford International Centre this Christmas.
Come and join us for this fabulous production with dazzling costumes, bags of comedy, amazing circus acts, professional dance routines and lots of audience participation.
This year we are offering two BSL signed performances and a special FREE Sign Song Workshop where participants will learn one of the main pantomime songs in sign language.
Performances with BSL;
Wednesday 18 December BSL signed performance 1.30pm with free Sign Song Workshop 12noon
Thursday 26 December BSL signed performance
To book tickets visit www.telfordtheatre.com or telephone 01952 382370
We look forward to seeing you this Christmas and making your Christmas magical.
As part of our commitment, across the STEP Teaching School Hub area, to Diversity, Equality and Equity we have joined the Maternity Teacher/Paternity Teacher Project. The project is an opportunity for those on maternity/paternity leave to connect with one another. We know that for people on maternity/paternity leave, life can be daunting when we are thinking about our return to work.
The Maternity/Paternity Leave Project can offer you fully funded access to parental leave group coaching programme and/or a 90 minute session for those returning to work from maternity, adoption or shared parental leave in December, January or February. The offer is for all state school teachers in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, thanks to Severn Training and Schools Alliance, Shropshire Primary Partnership, Salop Teaching partnership and Alliance of Leading Learning.
Please contact : sian.deane1@taw.org.uk
www.shropshireprimarypartnership.co.uk
www.salopteachingpartnership.co.uk
Primary, Secondary and Post-16 Maths – Funded Opportunities
To raise awareness of DfE funded opportunities
Places available for these local and online opportunities:
Early Years
Specialist Knowledge – Spatial Reasoning (Telford)
Specialist Knowledge - Number (Wolverhampton)
Primary
Specialist Knowledge – Teachers (Telford)
Secondary
Specialist Knowledge – TAs (starts 2nd Dec)(Telford)
Post-16
Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Core Maths (online)
Developing A Level Pedagogy (online)
The SHaW Maths Hub Catalogue 2024-25 outlines our range of funded, professional and school development opportunities for Early Years, Primary, Secondary & Post-16.
Christmas Smile
Christmas Smile collects and distributes donated gifts to some of the most vulnerable children and adults across the Telford & Wrekin community each year.
If you would like to make a donation there are collection points at Darby House (ground floor near to the lifts) SW1 (2nd floor) and Granville House where you can drop off any gifts you would like to donate.
Tell us how we're doing - Your chance to win an Amazon Gift Voucher worth £50 – “only 3 days left to enter”
IDT are issuing this questionnaire which will allow you to provide your comments and feedback. This is around the services that we offer and any improvements you believe could be made. To be in with a chance of winning an Amazon gift voucher worth £50 please complete the questionnaire by 30th November 2024. The winner will be selected at random on Monday 2nd December 2024. We look forward to your responses and wish you luck in the draw.