Education Noticeboard

Education Noticeboard 06 October 2022 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

Another full and varied Education Noticeboard this week, kicking off with the fantastic news that one of our schools has won a BBC ‘Make a Difference’ award. A huge congratulations to the staff and students at Hollinswood Primary, for their environmental achievements.

It is also fantastic to be able to share news of the Virtual School celebration event. Held at RAF Cosford, the event was the culmination of design work undertaken by our young people in care, and the launch of the resulting product. A really great example of the positive work undertaken by the team.

There are a number of important updates shared this week, as well as information and resources – too many to mention, so please do take the time to look through for anything relevant to your role, or of interest.

Before I sign off, I would like to mention that yesterday was World Teachers Day. With this in mind I would like to thank all teaching staff for continuing to go above and beyond. It is because of you, as well as all the support staff, that our young people get the chance to raise their own expectations and thrive!

Wishing you all a great week!

Simon

Simon Wellman
Director for Education & Skills

Telford School wins the environmental award at the BBC Make a Difference Awards

Hollinswood Primary School were named winners of the environmental category at the BBC Make a Difference Awards.

This category is to find an individual, or group of individuals, who help to make where we live more environmentally friendly. Hollinswood shared their various green initiatives, which included collecting leftover snacks in a bucket to minimise waste.

A panel of judges selected the winner of each area, with the stories of finalists for Shropshire being shared on local BBC radio.

Celebrating our young people in care who launched their very own produced placemat at RAF Cosford museum

This week, at RAF Cosford, the Telford & Wrekin Council Virtual School team held a fantastic celebration event for young people in care, and to mark the launch of their placemat for the museum’s restaurant!

Over the summer, the young people have designed an activity-sheet placemat that families visiting the museum can use to keep their children entertained during meals. In creating the placemat, the young people have taken inspiration from all over the museum, finding interesting facts about it, making notes and taking pictures of the displays in the hangers.

We are really proud of their achievement - the finished placemat looks amazing and it is very eye-catching. What an incredible feeling for the young people to know that so many families visiting RAF Cosford will enjoy their creation, with their children diving into word searches and colouring in Percy the Penguin!

Thank you to the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands for giving our young people the opportunity to showcase their talents and for hosting the launch of their distinctive placemat.

Events like this organised by our Virtual School Team, enable young people in care to actively explore activities and interests beyond their daily school work, and gain confidence to develop life-enhancing skills.

World Teachers Day

This week was World Teachers Day, celebrating the amazing work teachers do and the massive influence they have on children and young people’s lives.

We would like to thank all of our educational settings staff across the borough who help our youngest residents achieve their very best!

World Teachers Day has been celebrated around the world since 1994. This year marked the 28th anniversary of the event, and the theme was “The Transformation of Education Begins with Teachers”. Celebrations addressed the commitments and calls for action made at the Transforming Education Summit, in September 2022, and analysed the implications they have for teachers and teaching.

Has your school or setting being celebrating World Teachers Day?
We would love to know how your school or setting has celebrated World Teachers. Please send your pictures and brief description on what you have done to celebrate, to education.noticeboard@telford.gov.uk or tag us on your twitter posts @TelfordWrekin.

Applying for secondary school 2023

Applications are now open for Secondary School for 2023. We would be grateful if you could start to check that applications have been submitted for your Year 6 pupils.

You can see who has made their application by viewing the round summary page “Secondary Place 2023” 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 Telford & Wrekin area then they will have applied to their home Local Authority (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 be directed to their home LA.

For those that haven’t applied to us, if you are able to chase parents/carers and remind them about the closing date: 31 October 2022 that would be appreciated. Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) also need to submit their preferences by 31 October 2022. We would also ask that you confirm that all your Telford & Wrekin resident children have applied to us by the end of this half 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.

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

Secondary Fair Access Panel protocol

The the updated Secondary Fair Access Protocol, for operation from September 2022 onwards, is now available to download:

Secondary Fair Access Protocol

This has been discussed at the Secondary Fair Access Panel meetings held in July and September 2022. The changes reflect the agreed modifications to the operation of the protocol. At the Fair Access Panel of September 2022, votes were taken where there wasn’t unanimous agreement for some of the changes and therefore this protocol reflects the agreement of the majority of schools.

Any queries can be sent to Andy Cooke, SDM for Alternative Provision and CIC, via email to andy.cooke@telford.gov.uk.

SEND Newsletter

The SEND Newsletter - September 2022 has been published on the SEND Local Offer. Discover all the current news and information about Special Educational Needs and Disability in Telford & Wrekin.

Please take a look at the SEND News section on the Local Offer to see the full list of articles.

SEND Local Offer – SEND News

To make sure that you don't miss future updates, subscribe to the SEND Newsletter.

ADHD Awareness Month

ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (may act without thinking about what the result will be), or be overly active.

The exact cause of ADHD is unknown, but the condition has been known to run in families and has a heritability rate of 74%. Evidence suggests that there is about 3-5% of children with ADHD and 2% of adults, and it is more common in males than females.

Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may, become more noticeable when a child's circumstances change, such as when they start school. In some cases ADHD may not be diagnosed till later on in childhood, or maybe even in early adulthood.

Attached below are some links to useful websites which will provide further information about ADHD and the support available for parents, carers, and teachers.

ADHD Awareness Month website

Bee U wesbite

National Today

Strategic Partnership Board Update

The most recent Strategic Partnership Board meeting took place in June 2022. Thank you to those that could attend and it was great to see you face to face! For those that were unable to make it I look forward to seeing you at the next meeting in October.

With the start of the new term we would like to ensure that there is representation of all key partners at the board. This week we will contact you individually seeking your continued membership. The forum acts to ensure there is a retained sense of place across our educational community within Telford and Wrekin and focuses on key strategic developments, of which there are plenty for 22/23! It is important that the voice of the maintained sector, CEO’s of our academy friends, the diocese, early years and post 16 are represented.

Advanced warning of dates for the Telford Education Strategic Partnership Board

Monday 17 October 2022, 2pm to 4pm
Wednesday 7 December 2022, 1pm to 3pm
Wednesday 1 February 2023, 1pm to 3pm
Wednesday 17 May 2023, 2pm to 4pm

These will all be face to face in the Telford Room (Addenbrooke House, Telford, TF3 4NT).

Strategic Partnership Board Newsletter
The latest newsletter - September 2022: Issue 3 can be found on the TESPB website to keep everyone up to date with board discussions.

June 2022 Minutes
The minutes from the last meeting are available on the Telford & Wrekin Sharepoint site, for access by current representatives of the board.

A copy of the Ofsted slides provided by Dr Sue Morris King, Senior HMI, during the meeting are also available, please take the time to read these this information and I hope that you find it useful:

Ofsted presentation

More information about the Strategic Partnership Board, including terms of reference, are available online.

Education Inspection Framework Curriculum roadshows for maintained nursery schools, and any schools with pre-reception children

Ofsted is running a series of Education Inspection Framework (EIF) curriculum roadshows for maintained nursery schools and any school with pre-reception children attending. These events will be held next month, in three locations across the country.

These half-day events will offer the opportunity to learn more about the curriculum for communication and language in the early years, how we look at this area of learning at inspection and what we have learnt about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two representatives from your school are welcome to attend. Each person attending will need to register separately.

Current Ofsted Inspectors (OIs) are asked not to attend this event, as specific training is provided for inspectors separately.

Please note that there is no charge for attending one of these events and spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If you are interested in attending an event, please find below details of the dates, session times and links for registration below:

Date	Location	Session time	Booking link
12 October 2022	London	9.30am – 12.30pm	London – 12 October 2023 (am): Booking link
12 October 2022	London	2pm – 5pm	London – 12 October 2023 (pm): Booking link
14 October 2022	Bristol	9.30am – 12.30pm	Bristol – 12 October 2023 (am): Booking link
14 October 2022	Bristol	2pm – 5pm	Bristol – 12 October 2023 (pm): Booking link
19 October 2022	Manchester	9.30am – 12.30pm	Manchester – 12 October 2023 (am): Booking link
19 October 2022	Manchester	2pm – 5pm	Manchester – 12 October 2023 (pm): Booking link

For more information please download the frequently asked questions; if you have any other queries, you can contact Ofsted directly via email to events@ofsted.gov.uk or Lisa Seymour, in the Telford & Wrekin Early Years team, via email to Lisa.seymour@telford.gov.uk.

Christmas Holiday activity fun

It’s that time of the year and the Happy, Healthy and Active Holidays (HHAH) Christmas programme will soon be upon us! Many HHAH club providers are delivering activity sessions throughout the duration of the Christmas holidays from Saturday 17 December 2022 to Sunday 2 January 2023 for income-related free school meal children.

Could your school provide holiday clubs for children in reception to year 11 to stay healthy and active? Join us for a virtual information sharing event on 13 October 2022, 4 – 5pm to explore how your school can be part of the programme.

This event will showcase the brilliant work that was put on over the Summer holidays, discuss the flexibility of the programme and explain how we can support providers to make the process as easy as possible to engage with.

I appreciate that this time of year you are all exhausted and busy, however please do come attend – ask any questions and hear the amazing offers that current participating schools have put in place. The flexibility of options can also be discussed (i.e. if you can only put on 1-2 days of provision, that’s no problem!) as well as ideas around how to put on great activities for your families.

If you have not received an invite and would like to attend, please contact the Holiday Activity Hub team via email to holidayactivityhub@telford.gov.uk.

Contact the Holiday Activity Hub team for help and advice
If you already have a few plans in mind to put something in place, get in touch if you’d like further conversations or to discuss potential ideas of what is possible through the grant funding or if you need help completing the application. Just contact the Holiday Activity Hub team at holidayactivityhub@telford.gov.uk to talk further.

World Mental Health Day

The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year.

The theme of 2022's World Mental Health Day, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is 'Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority'.

For over 70 years, the World Health Organisaiton has been working to make sure that mental health is treated on a par with physical health. Mental health problems exist in our lives, families, workplaces and communities, impacting everyone. We need to do as much as possible to prevent mental ill-health – as individuals and as a society. We will continue to call on national and local government to prioritise reducing the factors known to pose a risk to people’s mental health, enhancing those known to protect it and creating the conditions needed for people to thrive.

World Mental Health Day is also a chance to talk about mental health in general, how we need to look after it, and how important it is to talk about things and get help if you are struggling.

More information, as well as resources, are available online.

Modified timetable protocol

The updated Modified Timetable Protocol is now finalised and available for school usage:

The final amendments made include clarity related to pupils on roll at a school but accessing provision at a local authority alternative provision, i.e. Student Engagement Programme or Linden Centre and in relation to consulting a Strengthening Families worker, where they may be involved with the family.

Any queries can be sent to Cathy Hobbs, Access & inclusion Group Manager, via email to Cathy.hobbs@telford.gov.uk.

Secondment opportunity: Safeguarding Officer

Education Safeguarding are recruiting to expand the team for two terms. This is a possible secondment opportunity for staff in schools who are currently Designated Safeguarding Lead’s and would like to broaden their experience. Applications should be made via WM jobs. In making an application for a secondment it is crucial that you have the agreement of your school.

The closing date is 18 October 2022, and the Job description is available to download:

Education Safeguarding Officer – Job Description

For an informal conversation about the post please contact Cathy Hobbs, Access & inclusion Group Manager, via email to Cathy.hobbs@telford.gov.uk or by calling 01952 382084.

Defibrillators – Do I need a maintenance contract in place?

We are aware that some schools have been approached by companies to offer a service or maintenance contract for defibrillators on site

This seems to be a monthly cost which they would provide a certificate to say that the equipment is maintained

Experts in the Public Access Defibrillation industry and registered healthcare professionals, Automated External Defibrillators do not require contracts for servicing or maintenance. This expenditure on an external organisation visiting to provide servicing agreements or contracts, is not required and not necessary.

Organisations may have had information explaining that regulations require them to maintain the equipment they have, to ensure it is safe and working effectively to minimise the risk of harm. This is done, in compliance with the manufacturers regulations, which explain that the defibrillator should be visually inspected on a regular basis, to ensure that:

- The Defibrillators 'Self Test' Status Indicator does not display a fault on the unit (this could be a flashing green light, or a screen on that indicates that the device has passed its self test function.

- The electrode pads are connected to the device and have not expired or been used

- The battery is connected to the device, and has not exceeded the recommended shelf life of the manufacturers (usually 4 or 5 Years).

As a local distributor of Defibrillation equipment, and as the supplier to T&W Council, we will offer any local school or organisation, a free telephone health check on their defibrillator, that they can access by calling us on 01952 373 999.

This health check explains how to check their defibrillator, check the expiry date on the pads, ensure the battery is functional and to answer any other questions they may have regarding their defibrillator, including registration on The Circuit - The National Defibrillator Database.

Managing water systems safety

Legionnaires disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. It is a serious illness which is fatal in about 10% of cases.

Whilst Legionella bacteria occur naturally in the environment, its presence in man-made water systems is a serious cause for concern

The bacteria can grow rapidly in warm water temperatures between 20ºC – 45ºC and can cause infection if small droplets or aerosols of contaminated water are subsequently inhaled.

The effective management of water systems is therefore critically important to prevent the risk of Legionnaires disease and all council buildings, including schools, are required to regularly review and update their water systems risk assessment.

Most schools opt in to the service provided by the Council’s BiT team whereby a ‘competent person’ visits annually and conducts a risk assessment as well as carrying out a clean and chlorination of the water system. Those schools that do not opt in to this service must still arrange for this to be carried out.

The risk assessment will identify any actions that are required to ensure the continued safety of the water system and will set out an action plan with high, medium and low priority actions.

High priority actions require urgent and essential action to be taken within one month; medium priority actions require essential action to be taken within 6 months and low priority actions are recommended desirable actions to be taken in due course.

Responsibility for implementing these actions rests with the individual school and a record should be kept of the progress made towards completion of the action plan.

Clearly, the actions aim to manage the risk of Legionnaires disease occurring, and therefore a failure to implement those actions would be called in to question should there be any cases of the disease.

It is essential that, on receipt of their Legionella Risk Assessment, schools make the necessary arrangements for the timely and effective implementation of the accompanying Action Plan.

To support schools, Telford and Wrekin Health and Safety Team is putting on a Legionella training course on the 16th November, this can be booked through OLLIE. It is encouraged that all school should have knowledge and training.

If you need any help or support please do not hesitate to contact the BiT team, via email to BiT@telford.gov.uk or Mary Mcfadden, also via email, to Mary.Mcfadden@telford.gov.uk.

Management of asbestos and asbestos containing materials

It is recognised that the exposure to respirable asbestos fibres has the potential to cause serious and irreversible disease.

Asbestos is a fibre-like material that was once used in buildings for insulation, flooring and roofing. The use of asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1999

Each premises that has asbestos must have a hard copy of the asbestos survey available for easy access of information

It is recommended that all staff understand the location of any asbestos and recognise the risks if there are any changes to the material and the process of reporting on.

All contractors including the Councils Property Maintenance team are expected to report to site reception and must be asked to inspect the asbestos site register, with them focusing on the area of proposed works. The permission to work document must then be signed by the contractor and the buildings responsible person

Most schools opt in to the service provided by the Council’s BiT team whereby a ‘competent person’ visits and conducts a survey. Those schools that do not opt in to this service must still arrange for this to be carried out.

The Asbestos survey will identify any areas where asbestos is located or presumed within the premises. The school must then complete an asbestos management plan and be able to show how they are managing the risk.

The Asbestos management plan and checks are the responsibility of the individual school to implement and records should be kept.

Clearly the Asbestos survey and management plan are to manage the risk of any disturbances occurring and failure to implement these would be called in to question should there be any exposures

It is essential that the management plan and survey are working documents within the school.

To support the schools the biT team arrange training on asbestos awareness, which is recommended to be refreshed every two year. If you are interested in these courses please contact the BiT team, via email to BiT@telford.gov.uk.

Black History Month

Black History Month (BHM) is in October and many pupils and staff have expressed a desire to learn about key figures and events in history that have an impact on our world today. This cross-curricular topic not only covers many history elements but addresses many fundamental Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) and Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PHSE) aspects of the curriculum as a whole.

As part of the PCC funding, the overarching aim of BHM in schools is to promote awareness of a shared British history, provide staff with the opening for difficult discussions in class around racism and hate crime, as well as to develop pupil’s understanding of wider issues in the media and local context around equality and diversity issues. This supports schools’ development of pupils’ understanding of Fundamental British values and the protected characteristics, as defined in the Equality Act 2010.

The overall theme for Black History Month this year is Time For Change: Actions Not Words. Following on from this, the theme for 2022 workshops is the Commonwealth and Monarchy and will focus on life in the UK today.

The MDT team are also working with TAARC to deliver free workshops to all schools, to celebrate Black History Month, again thanks to funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). The past two years, workshops were extremely successful and many schools have expressed a desire to participate this year. All workshops are COVID-19 secure with risk assessments checked prior to staff and pupil delivery. Appropriate protocols are in place but schools will need to provide a visitor risk assessment prior to MDT and TAARC staff delivery when booking a workshop.

Information about Telford African and Afro-Caribbean Resource Centre (TAARC) services and resources are also available to download:

TAARC services and resources

The free workshops are available on a first come, first served basis as the number of schools that can be accommodated is limited. Workshops will take place in schools the first two weeks of Black History Month from Monday 3 October to Friday 14 October 2022.

All pupil work, photos and contributions from the workshops, other school activities and follow up activities will be displayed in Telford & Wrekin Council’s online media.

Please share how your school or setting is marking and commemorating Black History Month by sending your pictures, and brief description on what you have done to celebrate, via email to education.noticeboard@telford.gov.uk for inclusion in the Education Noticeboard and share on your social channels with #blackhistorymonth tagging in @telfordwrekin. All photos received will be considered as having permission for us to share on our social channels.

MDT support for individual schools to plan and develop staff knowledge is available upon request. The following resource packs are available to download:

Black History Month resource pack

Windrush resource pack

Workshops can booked by contacting the MDT team directly.

If you would like to attend the free webinar, book for a workshop or enquire about additional workshops or resources please contact the MDT team.

Schools Financial Value Standard 2022/23

Maintained schools are required to complete an annual Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS) checklist. The 2022/23 checklist can be found online, on the GOV.UK website.

As well as the checklist, guidance documents and additional resources are also available. The checklist is the same as 2021/22, 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 completed SFVS needs to be returned to Tim Davis, via email to Tim.davis@telford.gov.uk. The deadline is 31 March 2023. Any queries on SFVS can also be sent to Tim, or alternatively you can contact me your school’s finance officer.

Free peer support for school leaders

Education Supports school leader peer groups can help to improve your wellbeing, and enable you to be the best leader possible. By working with other leaders who understand your daily experience, you’ll learn new strategies and perspectives. You will also benefit from a strong sense of community with likeminded leaders.

If this sounds great, but you’re left wondering how it works, or what the sessions are like, then look no further.

Join their webinar on Thursday 13 October 2023 at 4pm to get a taste of the service and how you can benefit. During the session you will:

Hear from Matt Quigley, a primary head teacher who took part in peer support with other leaders. You’ll hear about his experiences and how he has found it beneficial both for his own wellbeing and his role as a leader.
Find out from their expert facilitator and former head teacher John Pritchard about how he runs the sessions. He will give you a taster of what is included, including example exercises and an in-depth overview.

This webinar is for head teachers, deputies and assistant heads. There will also be time for questions at the end.

For more information visit the Education Support website.

Any queries can be sent to Rebecca Hulsmeier, HR Business Partner, via email to Rebecca.hulsmeier1@telford.gov.uk.

The Music Partnership 2023 Recorder Festival

The Music Partnership will be hosting their annual Recorder Festival on 28 February and 1 March 2023, at The Place in Telford. The start time for both dates will be 12.30pm.

The aims of the event are to:

inspire and raise standards of young recorder players;
develop pupil performance skills;
give young players the opportunity to perform to an audience, in a prestigious venue; and
encourage membership of recorder ensembles.

For full details, including the proposed timetable for event, organisation information, participation fees and booking form please download the invitation below:

The Music Partnership: 2023 Recorder Festival – Invite

CPD courses for head teachers, CPD coordinators, business managers and administrators

The 2022-23 CPD Booklet is available on the Telford Education Services site.

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 (unless stated otherwise).

Establishing Yourself as a SEND leader, for new and returning SENCOs (LSAT 302)	Tuesday, October 11, 2022	4pm to 5pm
Managing Employee Capability (Performance Management) (Book via HRhelpdesk@telford.gov.uk)	Wednesday, October 12, 2022	2.30pm to 5pm
Meeting the Statutory Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the EYFS (EY 009)	Wednesday, October 12, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
ELSA Training - Part 5 (EPS 004)	Wednesday, October 12, 2022	9am to 3pm
Behaviour Support Intervention Refresher Training - Non accredited (BSAT 302)	Thursday, October 13, 2022	8.45am to 12.30pm
Meeting the OFSTED requirements for Equality and Diversity for Governors (CPD 717)	Thursday, October 13, 2022	6pm to 8.30pm
Best practice in your breakfast, after-school and holiday provision (EY 104)	Thursday, October 13, 2022	9.15am to 12noon
Absence Management of Employees (Book via HRhelpdesk@telford.gov.uk)	Monday, October 17, 2022	2.30pm to 5pm
The Visually Impaired Child in Your Class (SIS 001)	Tuesday, October 18, 2022	9am to 4pm
Restorative Justice (PSS 003)	Tuesday, October 18, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
The Strategic Role of Governors (GO 601)	Tuesday, October 18, 2022	4pm to 6pm
Managing Absence (AST 002)	Tuesday, October 18, 2022	9.30am to 11.30am
Raising Awareness of Prevent (SG 101)	Wednesday, October 19, 2022	3.30pm to 5pm
Designated Teacher for Children in Care Network Meeting (Post 16 ) book via the Virtual School Team	Wednesday, October 19, 2022	4pm to 5.30pm
ELSA Training - Part 6 (EPS 004)	Wednesday, October 19, 2022	9am to 3pm
Raising Awareness of Child Protection (SG 108)	Thursday, October 20, 2022	3.30pm to 5pm
Assessing and Monitoring of progress in EAL (CPD 701)	Thursday, October 20, 2022	3.45pm to 6pm

Autumn Term Education Conference 2022 – Diversity, accessibility and equity: Within and beyond the curriculum

The Telford & Wrekin Autumn Term 2022 Conference - Diversity, Accessibility and Equity for all: within and beyond the curriculum will take place Tuesday 15 November 2022.

This conference will explore diversity, accessibility and equity within the curriculum and across all ages, with the aim of raising aspirations and achievement for all children and young people.

The aim is to consider how to maintain the momentum and to build upon current practice by bringing colleagues together to further consider reading in terms of diversity and accessibility.

We want all of our children and young people to ‘see’ themselves within their curriculum, and to be enabled to have full access, regardless of their background or previous experiences. It is our collective job to raise aspirations and to support all children and young people to achieve the best possible outcomes.

The day will consistent of key note speaker presentations, as well as the opportunity to attend workshops. We will also be accompanied by Peters - specialist suppliers of books to primary and secondary schools.

Key note speakers and contributors will include:

Liz Pemberton, The Black Nursery Manager is an award winning outstanding practitioner, who has significant experience in gaining excellent results in pupil engagement and raising aspirations. Liz states that ‘as children are growing and developing, it is our job, as educators, to help them form a positive sense of themselves and the people in the world around them’.

Lekha Sharma: An experienced and current school leader, who is the author of ‘Curriculum to Classroom’ and contributor to chapters within ‘Primary Huh’ (a Mary Myatt publication). Lekha explores the importance of curriculum coherence and sequencing of curriculum materials, with a focus on how to maximise the chances that pupils will secure understanding over time. Lekha will share practical examples of how this can be achieved in a primary context at both curriculum and lesson design level.

Andy Smith: A local practitioner and mentor for a number of young people in Telford & Wrekin. With direct experience of the social care system, Smash Life is an award winning company who promote diversity and celebrate children’s individuality – working with schools across the borough to engage pupils within the education system.

Olivia Taylor: Speaks candidly from the pupil perspective about the effects of the language of ‘disadvantage’ on those who have experienced it. Her experiences and achievements have enabled her to advocate for those who struggle to be heard against society’s noise. The alternative word presented is ‘underserved’. This word makes us stop and think about our perception of those who find themselves in this category.

Costs for T&W schools and academies:
One delegate - £158pp
Two delegates - £250
Each additional delegate (over and above two places being booked) - £100pp

To book your place/s please send a completed booking form via email to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk. Any queries can be sent to the same email address.

Deadline for Early Career Teacher Appropriate Body registrations

Please note that Telford & Wrekin Appropriate Body must have registered any Early Career Teachers (ECT) with the Teaching Regulation Agency by Wednesday 19 October 2022. This only applies to ECTs for whom schools have chosen Telford & Wrekin Council as the Appropriate Body.

If you have an ECT who commenced in post in September 2022, and you would like Telford & Wrekin Council to act as the Appropriate Body, please ensure you have completed the appropriate registration form and sent it to schoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk by Friday 14 October 2022.

As the Appropriate Body, we will unfortunately be unable to register any ECTs after 19 October 2022.

Please send any queries to schoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk or contact the ECT Appropriate Body Manager, Claire Killick, via email.

Schools can now compare attendance figures against local, national and regional data

This is an update from the Department for Education.

From Thursday 29 September 2022, schools and local authorities can use a public data dashboard to compare themselves with up-to-date national, regional and local authority figures for pupil attendance and absence in England. This will be updated every 2 weeks.

In addition to daily attendance reports for the new academic year, schools, local authorities and trusts can use their school daily attendance reports to view a summary of their overall attendance for the 2021/22 academic year and attendance for each pupil.

You can sign up to take part in research and give feedback to help us develop the reports.

Funding to support professional development in small schools

This is an update from the Department for Education.

£200 in targeted support funding is available for each teacher or leader in a small school taking a National Professional Qualification (NPQ).

The funding is available to all state-funded schools and state-funded 16 to 19 educational settings with under 600 pupils. NPQs are fully funded courses for teachers and leaders in schools and early years settings, which help teachers and leaders to develop their classroom skills or become a confident and expert school leader. You can find out more about the courses on our professional development for teachers and leaders’ website.

An update on the free flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster for school settings and local authorities

This is an update from the Department for Education.

The UK Health Security Agency is urging everyone eligible for a free flu vaccine and a COVID-19 booster to take up the offer as soon as possible ahead of what could be a winter with respiratory viruses circulating widely.

All primary school children and secondary school children in years 7, 8 and 9, will be offered the flu vaccine in order of school year (starting with the youngest first). The flu nasal spray will be used this year, which is usually given at school. GP surgeries are also inviting children aged two and three years old (age on 31 August) for this nasal spray vaccination at their practices. Most young children will not have encountered flu yet. This means they will not have built up any natural immunity to this virus, so it is particularly important for them to take up the flu vaccine this year.

All adults aged 50 to 64 years who are not in a clinical risk are now also eligible for the flu vaccine. The NHS will announce in due course when and how people in this age group will be able to get their free flu jab.

For COVID-19, the vaccine remains the best form of defence against the virus, and we encourage those eligible to come forward. Taking up both the COVID-19 booster and the flu jab is an essential form of protection against the most severe respiratory viruses in circulation this winter.

Recruiting postgraduate trainee teachers: Recruitment cycle dates

This is an update from the Department for Education.

Postgraduate teacher training follows a ‘recruitment cycle’ from October to September. All training providers must follow the dates of the recruitment cycle.

The latest lists of dates cover the 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024 recruitment cycles and are available online.

Professional qualifications delivered locally

The Alliance of Leading Learning have a suite of National Professional Qualifications available. They are the learning arm of the Marches Academy Trust, a growing multi-academy trust.

Funding update:
All of the NPQs are now *fully funded for teachers and leaders employed in state funded schools, and state funded organisations that offer 16-19 places, in England, to support teachers and pupils following the disruption to learning faced as a result of COVID-19. Plus additionally small schools (less than 600 pupils) are eligible to £200 per participant.

Why choose us?

Established and reputable GOLD STANDARD (DfE) provider of leadership training both nationally and internationally – training over 6,000 school leaders and governors in the last 4 years.
Excellent value for money through high quality, facilitated blended learning.
STEP (Shropshire and Telford Education Partnership) have established a gold star reputation over the last 8 years in the delivery of NPQs with a tangible record of success and measurable impact on local schools’ performance.

Don’t let your school miss out and grasp this unique fully funded opportunity.

To find out more, visit the Leading Learning website. Any queries can be sent via email to Gemma.Hargreaves@leadinglearning.co.uk.

This entry was posted by Claire on Wednesday, 05 October 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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