Notice: 25 February 2021
A round-up of news, guidance and key updates for education settings.
Included in this update:
- Director Update
- Muxton Primary School – Wellbeing Wednesday
- Bouncing Back at Newport Girls’ High School
- Please join Charlton School #TEAMBLUE in raising our Communities awareness of Autism
- Preparations underway to welcome children back to school
- New education recovery package for children and young people
- GCSE, AS, A Level and Vocational and Technical Qualifications
- Changes in relation to Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) groups
- Big Winter Coat Project - Council acts to help keep children warm across Telford and Wrekin
- Celebrate National Careers Week 2021 with Job Box #NCW2021
- Join Job Box all next as they celebrate National Careers Week 2021 #NCW2021
- Kooth - online mental health and wellbeing support for young people
- Draft Early Years Foundation Stage Framework
- SEND News – February 2021
- West Midlands Virtual School TV launch!
- Reminder: Educational Visit Leader Training
- Arthog Wales Outdoor Education Centre open for bookings up to August 2023
- Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire Local Authority Outdoor Learning Scheme
- EAL Network Meeting
- CPD Courses - March 2021
- #Census2021 inspiring our next generation
Director Update
Dear Colleagues,
A key focus on today’s Education Noticeboard is National Careers Week 2021, with special events being scheduled throughout next week starting on Monday 1 March 2021. Every morning the Job Box team will be hosting a live Facebook event to discuss career opportunities in the borough. On Thursday, the Life Ready Work Ready Team are hosting an event for young people to hear from education providers and local businesses, please take a look at the articles to find out how to register and share with young people at your school or setting.
HR have provided an update on changes relating to the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable groups, following the Government announcement, as usual we will ensure that we share with you any updated guidance as it is released. Please feel free to contact the HR helpdesk if you have any questions, the contact details are provided in the article.
Supporting Mental Health is a key issue and information about Kooth which provides online mental health and wellbeing support has been provided. This resource can be accessed by young people aged 11-19 and is a safe and secure means of accessing support designed specifically for young people, there is no referral required, no waiting list and no threshold criteria to meet.
Finally, thank you to Muxton Primary School Inclusion Team, for sharing their resource “Wellbeing Wednesday”, which collects together links, information and free resources to support wellbeing, please do take a look.
Simon Wellman
Director: Education and Skills
Muxton Primary School – Wellbeing Wednesday
The in-school Inclusion Team have been producing a weekly wellbeing newsletter since last October.
“We have been very aware of the mental health and wellbeing of our staff, pupils and parents prior to and during the course of the pandemic and how sometimes people can find it difficult to ask for help or where to begin to look for help. We decided to bring together links, information and free resources in one wellbeing newsletter which we publish each week on our school website, it’s called Wellbeing Wednesday.”
Assistant Headteacher & SENCo
Muxton Primary School
Muxton Primary School – Wellbeing Wednesday
Bouncing Back at Newport Girls’ High School
In a recent SENCo network meeting, we were told about a fantastic programme designed and delivered by Newport Girl’s High School, which supports young people with their mental health and wellbeing.
(With special thanks to Adele Benoit for providing the information)
The ‘Bounce Back’ programme involves 7 bespoke hourly lessons that start with an individual survey about pupils’ views on returning to school. The results were then followed up by the pastoral team as required. The school found that issues came to light that they were not previously aware of, such as the loss of immediate family members or mental health concerns.
The sessions developed to consider aspects of Covid19 in a more positive light, for example, media coverage, wellbeing and resilience. The feedback from students, parents and governors has been very positive and the school hope it will support pupils going forward.
“With many students returning to school having suffered loss or experiencing anxiety about what the future holds, our Bounce Back curriculum hopefully goes some way to help the majority to discuss their fears, whilst also finding new ways to mature their character and resolve for the next stage in their education.”
To read the full blog in The Schools, Students and Teachers Network.
Please join Charlton School #TEAMBLUE in raising our Communities awareness of Autism
One in 100 children have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the UK. It is a condition that can make certain life situations a challenge for these individuals. One of these examples is school life, where individuals with autism must overcome many daily challenges.
For the next 7 weeks we are challenging all students, staff, parents, and carers to actively participate in our SUPER 7 Challenge. We’d also like the Telford community to share with us some involvement with this challenge. But why I hear you ask? What is the Super 7 challenge all about? What does it involve?
Well, on 29 March 2021 until 4 April 2021 it is National Autism Awareness Week. This year the focus is the Super 7 Challenge and Christine McGuinness is supporting this event, as an ambassador for the National Autistic Society, who herself has three children who are Autistic.
So, Charlton has rose to this Super 7 Challenge! They have been asked to participate in several activities, which people in the community could also be involved in! Interested?
So, what are these challenges? How can you get involved and support a worthy cause? Help to raise the awareness of Autism within Telford. The Challenges include:
- The Super 7 Bake off- Create cakes using the number 7 or use jigsaw puzzle pieces, like the Autism Ribbon.
- 70,000 steps over the month of March. These could be walked, jogged, ran, even skipped.
- Geography- 7 places you would like to visit in the future and why? OR 7 places you have visited.
- A 7-word short story.
- 7 People who have been inspirational in the field of Science.
- 7 dates or key people in history- create a time-line or fact file.
- Art- Create a collage using the number 7 as a template. OR choose your favourite 7 artists - show examples of their work and explain why you like them.
- Create a model of one of the 7 Wonders of the world using the following website:
Britannica: Seven Wonders of the World
Also there are many videos that we will be using to inform our students about Autism. Some of them include the following:
Autistic individuals explaining about autism and trying to raise society's awareness
We would like as many of you to take part - make it a real Community effort. We would like to share everyone’s efforts with each other and celebrate the achievements of those who have joined us, in trying to raise both our school community and our local community’s awareness about autism.
Charlton School
Behaviour Support Co-ordinator/ House Activities Lead
Preparations underway to welcome children back to school
Schools across Telford and Wrekin are working hard to welcome their children back from the 8 March 2021.
Council teams are working closely with them to support as required.
The return to school will improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people in the borough.
All students will begin to return with the following testing measures in place:
Primary school staff will continue to take two rapid COVID-19 tests each week at home.
All secondary school and college students will take three COVID-19 tests at existing school testing facilities. During the week beginning 8 March 2021 students will have a phased return to support completion of the tests. Schools and colleges will have discretion on how to test students over that week to enable their return to the classroom. After the initial programme of three tests in school or college, students will be provided with two rapid tests to use each week at home.
Secondary school and college staff will also be provided with two tests to use each week at home.
Staff and students in secondary schools and colleges are to wear face coverings in all areas, including classrooms, where social distancing cannot be maintained as a temporary extra measure.
The Government has said that pupils' attendance will again be compulsory and children must attend school regularly.
Parents should wear a face covering and socially distancing when dropping off and picking up their children from school
Councillor Shirley Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Education and Lifelong Learning, said: "I want to thank education and childcare staff and parents who have worked hard to keep young people's learning going throughout this lockdown.
"I know though that the return to school is something students and parents have been waiting for, as the educational and mental health benefits of face-to-face education are clear.
"As we have done throughout the pandemic, the council will continue to be in close contact with schools, providing advice and guidance on enhancing safety measures supporting them with any issues or outbreaks, should they occur.
"Arrangements at each school to protect against the transmission of Coronavirus may be different.
"Schools will contact parents directly with details, and queries about the arrangements should be raised with the school.
"I hope parents can be reassured knowing that the council is doing everything it can to support schools to be safe for the return."
New education recovery package for children and young people
First Published: 24 February 2021
New £700 million plan laid out to help young people in England catch up on lost learning due to the pandemic.
Following the announcement of the roadmap yesterday which laid out a cautious easing of restrictions, the government has today, Wednesday 24 February 2021, announced further elements of the recovery support package so children and young people can catch up on missed learning and development due to the pandemic.
As the Prime Minister has said, getting children back into school has been the government’s top priority. From 8 March 2021 all children and students will return to face-to-face education in schools and colleges.
This will be supported with a new £700 million package, focusing on an expansion of one-to-one and small group tutoring programmes, as well as supporting the development of disadvantaged children in early years settings, and summer provision for those pupils who need it the most.
A new one-off Recovery Premium for state primary and secondary schools, building on the Pupil Premium, will be provided to schools to use as they see best to support disadvantaged students.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
Teachers and parents have done a heroic job with home schooling, but we know the classroom is the best place for our children to be.
When schools re-open and face to face education resumes on 8 March 2021, our next priority will be ensuring no child is left behind as a result of the learning they have lost over the past year.
This extensive programme of catch-up funding will equip teachers with the tools and resources they need to support their pupils, and give children the opportunities they deserve to learn and fulfil their potential.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
Our package of measures will deliver vital support to the children and young people who need it most, making sure everyone has the same opportunity to fulfil their potential no matter their background.
I know that longer-term support over the length of this parliament will be vital to ensure children make up for lost learning. Our Education Recovery Commissioner, Sir Kevan Collins, will be engaging with teachers, school and college leaders and families over the coming weeks and months to develop our longer term plans.
The new recovery package for England includes:
- A new one-off £302 million Recovery Premium for state primary and secondary schools, building on the Pupil Premium, to further support pupils who need it most. The average primary school will receive around £6,000 extra, and the average secondary school around £22,000 extra. This will help schools to bolster summer provision for their students, for example laying on additional clubs and activities, or for evidence-based approaches for supporting the most disadvantaged pupils from September.
- £200 million (from the £300 million announced by the Prime Minister in January to expand our successful tutoring programmes). This will fund an £83 million expansion of the National Tutoring Programme for primary and secondary schools, which has been shown to boost catch up learning by much as 3-5 months at a time; a £102 million extension of the 16-19 Tuition Fund for a further year to support more students in English, maths and other vocational and academic subjects; and £18 million funding to support language development in the early years, supporting a critical stage of child development.
- £200 million (including the final £100 million from the Prime Minister’s announcement) will be available to secondary schools to deliver face-to-face summer schools. Schools will be able to target provision based on pupils’ needs but the government is suggesting they may want to initially target incoming year 7 pupils. This is alongside wider support funded through our Holiday Activities and Food Programme across the country.
- A range of high-quality online resources will be available for all teachers and pupils, starting from the summer term and throughout summer holidays. These will be provided by Oak National Academy, to help give pupils the confidence they are ready for the next academic year.
As part of the government’s commitment to develop a longer-term education recovery plan, Education Recovery Commissioner, Sir Kevan Collins, will lead the way on longer-term engagement work with teachers, school and college leaders, educational charities and families to review how evidence-based interventions can be used to address the impact the pandemic has had on learning.
Education Recovery Commissioner, Sir Kevan Collins said:
The National Tutoring Programme has already put us on the right path by enabling tens of thousands of young people to benefit from the high-quality support that tutoring offers.
We know that ensuring all children and young people can make up for lost learning will be a longer-term challenge, and the range of measures announced today are an important next step.
But this is just the beginning and I’ll be engaging with the sector, educational charities as well as families, to ensure this support is delivered in a way that works for both young people and the sector and to understand what more is needed to help recover students’ lost learning over the course of this parliament.
Professor Becky Francis, Chief Executive of the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) said:
School closures, as a result of the pandemic, have had a devastating impact on the poorest children and the youngest in society.
The evidence shows how tutoring can play a significant part in the education recovery, so it is great the government has committed to funding tutoring - including through the NTP - beyond this academic year. We hope it will have a long-term role in closing the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their classmates.
The NTP has been working with thousands of schools and children across the country during the latest school closures to deliver expert tutoring, and will continue to do so throughout the spring and into the summer.
Today’s package of support also follows the delivery of more than one million laptops and tablets to the most disadvantaged children and young people across the country, as part of a £400 million government investment that will support schools, colleges and young people for years to come.
GCSE, AS, A Level and Vocational and Technical Qualifications
Direction from the Secretary of State for Education to Ofqual's Chief Regulator about how GCSE, AS, A level and vocational and technical qualifications should be awarded in 2021.
On 23 February 2021, Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP, Secretary of State for Education sent a letter to Simon Lebus, Ofqual’s Chief Regulator. It sets out how:
- GCSEs, AS and A levels should be awarded this year using teacher assessed grades based on a range of evidence
- vocational and technical qualifications will be split into 3 each with a different approach to awarding
- other general qualifications will be awarded through alternative arrangements.
Letter from Gavin Williamson to Simon Lebus
Awarding qualifications in summer 2021
Decisions on how GCSE, AS and A level grades will be determined in summer 2021
Alternative arrangements for the award of VTQs and other general qualifications in 2021
Changes in relation to Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) groups
Last week changes were made to the classification of Clinically Extremely Vulnerable to now include a further group of people who have been identified by the COVID-19 Population Risk Assessment.
This may mean that you have members of staff who now fall into this category that didn’t previously. People in this category will be sent a shielding letter and they are strongly advised to shield. Therefore, they should not attend work but be supported to work from home wherever possible. If this is not possible they should be placed on special leave – this can be recorded on the MyView system as Paid Leave – Covid 19 – Self Extremely Vulnerable up to and including the 31 March 2021.
In addition, shielding has been extended to the 31 March 2021 and therefore, whether CEV staff have received the vaccination or not they should continue to work from home/be recorded as absent, with them being able to return from the 1 April 2021 if they are well enough to do so. This is the current advice and we will update you if this changes.
As always please contact your named HR Advisor or the HR Helpdesk if you have any queries.
Email: hrhelpdesk@telford.gov.uk
Big Winter Coat Project - Council acts to help keep children warm across Telford and Wrekin
Near-arctic weather has underlined the vital work of staff at Telford & Wrekin Council, The Anstice Community Trust and local partners to keep children warm this winter with coats and shoes.
The innovative “Big Winter Coats” project has ensured that over 500 children had the warm clothing and shoes they needed, as thermometers plummeted over recent weeks.
The project is just the latest in a wide range of schemes the Council has developed to support families in need or those struggling financially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The nationwide lockdown, during a cold winter, has added to the problems of many families.
In autumn last year, schools across the borough told the Council that increasing numbers of children were arriving at school without a winter coat or appropriate shoes. This was not from personal choice but because their families just didn’t have these items.
In response, the Council and its Community Services team has worked with The Anstice Community Trust to develop a scheme to help keep children warm during the winter freeze.
Schools, Children’s Services and community groups across the borough were asked to make referrals (of children and families who needed the coats and shoes) directly to the Council. So far, hundreds of children in need across the borough have benefitted.
To ensure the coats and shoes were delivered to the children who needed them, Council teams worked in partnership with Councillor Kelly Middleton (who initiated the school uniform appeal last year) and The Anstice Community Trust.
The Anstice has been ordering the coats and shoes and arranged for its volunteers to deliver the clothing to the family address or to the children’s school.
Cllr Paul Watling, Cabinet member for co-operative communities, engagement and partnerships said: “We have identified a huge need for children in Telford and Wrekin to get shoes and warm clothes during this difficult time, caused by the pandemic and the winter lockdown.
“Working alongside our trusted partners from The Anstice, we have already delivered over 470 coats and 330 pairs of shoes across all areas of Telford and Wrekin.
“It has been incredible doing this. I’ve been personally making deliveries with the Anstice Trust and it has been brilliant to see the reactions of those families who have been getting our help at this time of need.”
Lyndy Boden and Karen Price from the The Anstice Community Trust added: “It’s been really great and rewarding to be part of the “Big Winter Coats” project, getting quality coats and shoes to children across the borough who don’t have them.
“We have been doing the admin, taking the orders from the Council - based on referrals received from schools and Children’s Services- as well as buying, sorting and delivering the items to families through our volunteers. We’ve been very busy in the last couple of months.
“We are very proud to partner with the Council and be involved in this project, making such a difference to those families in need at these challenging times.”
Chun, one of the volunteers involved in the project, said: “I have the pleasure to go and deliver the coats and shoes, knock at the door, seeing the faces light up – it’s quite a rewarding experience
“It’s an honour being part of a project that helps borough families in such as way.”
The “Big Winter Coats” project is just one of a series of schemes that have been helping people across Telford and Wrekin over the past year.
Another recent project over the February half-term holiday has seen the Council helping over 8,200 children, from families registered on free school meals or early years pupil premium benefits, as well as care leavers, with food vouchers.
These help families to cover food costs for the one-week holiday and to free up budget for other costs, such as heating and winter bills.
The vouchers were allocated per household based on the number of children (with £15 per child and additional one-off support of £35) and can be used at a range of local supermarkets across the borough.
Other support schemes have included Council Tax reduction, Test & Trace support payments, Emergency Welfare Assistance for those unable to afford essentials such as food and heating, the Job Box service to help residents find employment as well as many others.
To make it as easy as possible for residents and families, the Council has grouped all the support available in one place, on the coronavirus website.
The site enables residents to check their eligibility for support schemes and apply online.
Celebrate National Careers Week 2021 with Job Box #NCW2021
Job Box are celebrating National Careers Week 2021. Join us, along with some special guests, as we talk all things careers. You can also hear from education providers and local businesses about the variety of careers and pathways available.
- Thursday 4 March 2021
- 3pm - 5pm
Book your place on the event:
Life Ready Work Ready – Let’s Talk Careers Tickets
Join Job Box all next as they celebrate National Careers Week 2021 #NCW2021
Every morning between 1 -5 March 2021 the Job Box team will be hosting a Facebook live event along with a guest speaker to chat about the variety of different career opportunities which are available in around the borough.
You can access all the events by following the Job Box Facebook page.
Kooth - online mental health and wellbeing support for young people
Kooth is a free, anonymous mental health and wellbeing online community available to children and young people across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin from the age of 11 up to 19. Kooth provides a safe and secure means of accessing mental health and wellbeing support designed specifically for young people.
Kooth offers young people the opportunity to have a text-based conversation with a Kooth team member, about anything that is causing them worry, stress or anxiety. The Kooth team consists of qualified counsellors and emotional wellbeing practitioners. The team is available from 12 noon to 10pm on weekdays and from 6pm to 10 pm at weekends, every day of the year on a drop-in basis. Young people can access regular booked online counselling sessions as needed. Outside counselling hours’ young people can message our team and get support by the next day. The website itself is accessible 24 hours a day.
When a young person registers with Kooth they will have support available to them now and in the future. Support can be gained not only through talking to a member of the Kooth team but through articles, forums and discussion boards which form our self-help and peer to peer support on the website. All content is age appropriate, clinically approved and fully moderated to ensure that children and young people are 100% safe when they access Kooth.com.
There is no referral required to access Kooth and no waiting list or threshold criteria to meet. To find out more visit the Kooth website where young people can register and others can find out more about the service.
School staff can request student assemblies, staff training sessions and free Kooth resources (cards, pens and posters) by contacting Kooth Engagement Lead Jen Shergill at jshergill@kooth.com or by completing the Booking/Order Form.
Draft Early Years Foundation Stage Framework
The new draft EYFS framework has now been published on the Foundation Years website and will be available for one month from the date of publication for comment (as required by the Childcare Act 2006). The DfE are seeking your views prior to the document going to parliament for approval.
Changes to the current EYFS statutory framework are in red to highlight where we are seeking views. The new educational programmes and early learning goals (ELGs) are not in red as these are final government policy as confirmed following the full 12 week public consultation conducted in 2019.
Please note that DfE are not seeking further views on the changes to the EYFS framework that were confirmed in government's official response to the 2019 EYFS consultation as outlined previously.
Draft legislation to enact the changes
We also recently sought views from local authority representatives on amendments to The Early Years Foundation Stage (Learning and Development Requirements) Order 2007 (EYFS L&D Order 2007) in respect of local authorities obligations, to reflect the removal of statutory local authority moderation. Feedback has been carefully considered and the revised proposals have been reflected in the draft SI.
The draft statutory instrument (SI) has now been published on the Foundation Years website and will be available for one month from the date of publication for comment (as required by the Childcare Act 2006).
Please note that the draft SI also covers the Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA). However, DfE are only seeking views on the EYFS aspects of the SI as the RBA aspects have been subject to a separate consultation process.
The draft EYFS framework and draft SI will be available for comment until 18 March 2021.
Please send your comments to EYFSP.REFORMS@education.gov.uk
For more information, please refer to the article on the Foundation Years website.
SEND News – February 2021
View the SEND News for February 2021 – included this time:
- DfE Press Release - Over £42 million to extend projects for children with SEND
- Differentiation
- What are the Zones of Regulation?
- Top Tips – Plan on a Page
- Top Tips - Strategies and Best Practice During Lockdown
- Supporting SEND Remotely – How to Overcome Barriers
- Top Tips for Teachers using Microsoft Teams with Sensory Impaired Children
- Supporting your children’s remote education during coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Guidance for Parents and Carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic
- Carers Winter Wellbeing Guide 2020/2021
- New SENCo - Policy & Practice
- Developing the role of Teaching Assistants in supporting SEND
- Understanding your child with additional needs
- Annual Health Checks adults and young people aged 14 or over with a Learning Disability.
- Learning Disability (LD) Programme – Consultation Launch 25 February 2021
- The R Team! An inspiring education resource to look after our environment
We would love to hear any feedback about the SEND News pages and we would like to work with you to develop the pages further.
- What would you like to see featured on these pages?
- What type of articles do you enjoy reading?
To share your feedback please contact us by email: localoffer@telford.gov.uk.
Please share the link below with your Parent/Carers to the SEND Parent/Carer News this has been updated on 25 February 2021.
SEND Parent/Carer News – Updated 25 February 2021
Included in the update this time for Parent/Carers:
- Links to updated Government Guidance
- All students to return to school and college from 8 March and what you need to know
- What you need to know about testing in secondary schools and colleges
- An open letter from Education Secretary Gavin Williamson to parents, carers and guardians
West Midlands Virtual School TV launch!
WMVStv - BREAKING NEWS
West Midlands Virtual School is launching WMVStv!
Check out the brand new WMVS Children in Care Foundation YouTube Channel and watch @jazampawfarr tell you her story! We all have a story and Jaz will help unlock our young people's potential so their story is a successful one.
WMVS Children in Care Foundation & @jazampawfarr every Wednesday will release a series of videos for our young people - 5 videos up all together in the first instance, then one per week so please keep checking back weekly for updates!
Listen to her story, unlock our young people's potential and let's talk about the truth!
Reminder: Educational Visit Leader Training
Education Visit Leader Theory Training
- 26 February 2021
- 10am -12pm
- Microsoft Teams
- 18 March 2021
3pm - 5pm
Microsoft Teams
Free of charge for Telford &Wrekin Council SLA Establishments. Otherwise £40 per head.
Course content:
This course is designed to support and inform staff who lead or are learning to lead educational visits. No previous experience is necessary.
The course covers the planning, approval and emergency procedures that Visit Leaders must follow in their setting including
- Benefits and perceived barriers to Visits
- Legal expectations
- Visit planning, leadership and evaluation (including risk assessment)
- Action points to follow up on after the course
- Who to contact for further advice
Certificated through the Outdoor Education Advisors Panel.
To book please email EdVisits@telford.gov.uk
Arthog Wales Outdoor Education Centre open for bookings up to August 2023
Book now for your first choice of dates
Arthog is Telford & Wrekin Council’s Outdoor Education Centre situated in Snowdonia National Park, along the coast from Barmouth.
Bookings are now open for academic years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.
Booking forms received by the end of Friday 26 February 2021 will have first choice of dates.
Arthog Booking Round for 2021 to 2022 and 2022-2023
Arthog is Telford & Wrekin Council’s Outdoor Education Centre situated in Snowdonia National Park, along the coast from Barmouth. The Centre is a purpose built, 100 bed residential centre, situated in a stunning location where the mountains meet the sea. It is a quiet, safe, rural location set within its own extensive grounds. Highly qualified Outdoor Educators maximise learning opportunities through adventurous and environmental activities and our Support Staff make sure Arthog feels like a home from home.
Bookings are now being taken up to August 2023. The Centre is open at weekends and school holidays as well as during the school term week. Although this information is going out whilst the strictest coronavirus restrictions still apply, there is the expectation of a progressive improvement which will allow residential outdoor education to resume next academic year.
During the coronavirus restrictions Telford and Wrekin Council has adopted a supportive and flexible approach to scheduled bookings at Arthog, including allowing schools to postpone, cancel or make bookings without financial risk or penalty.
The Arthog Opportunities Fund is provided by Telford and Wrekin Council to give financial support to children and young people across the Borough and all T&W schools are eligible for an additional discount based on Free School Meal allocations.
Arthog has a key contribution to make at this time especially with rebuilding relationships, engaging and inspiring learners, giving children and young people the space to readjust to each other. It is a place to go for reviving spirits, enjoying the natural world and for the fun of shared adventures.
Please contact Mark Youd or Liz Cheese for more information or to discuss a booking.
Available to download:
- Arthog Activities
- Arthog – Your Quick Guide
- Arthog Booking Terms and Conditions 2021-2023
- Arthog Fees 2021-2023
- Arthog Newsletter – January 2021
- Arthog Booking Form 2021-2023
- Remissions Open Letter January 2021
Visit our website: Arthog Outdoor Education Centre
Email: info@arthog.co.uk
Tel: 01341 250455
Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire Local Authority Outdoor Learning Scheme
The scheme replaces the previous Shropshire Forest School Network and now has 3 levels designed to meet different outdoor learning requirements. It is designed to be enabling, confidence and competence building.
- Level 1: Learning Outside the Classroom Practitioner Certificate
- Level 2: Forest Skills certificate
- Level 3: Forest Schools (national award)
This scheme is for anyone interested in curriculum delivery through the outdoors and making the most of a free resource – the outside bits of your school, and that means ANY outside bits. Stepping into fresh air for even mini-moments will have positive benefits for teaching and learning.
The scheme replaces the previous Shropshire Forest School Network and now has 3 levels designed to meet different outdoor learning requirements. It is designed to be enabling, confidence building and to develop competence.
Technical Advisers/Lead Deliverers:
- Level 1: Alan Braybrooke, Arthog Outreach, Short Wood Centre, Wellington.
- Level 2: Judie Ellis, Wrekin Forest Schools, Crudgington.
- Level 3: Ceris Williams -Turner, Rooted Woodland Wellbeing CIC, Pontesbury
Fees:
- Level 1: £280 per day for up to 20 participants
- Level 2: £280 per day for up to 6 participants
(Half days/twilights by arrangement) - Level 3: £650 pp for full course
£120pp for revalidation day
| Level | Learning Activity | Venue | Ed Visits Category |
|
Level 1 Learning Outside the Classroom Practitioner (6 hours) |
Learning Outside the Classroom Curriculum delivery through the outdoors – examples through the day. |
On school site and in grounds |
Category 1 – routine and consent as part of curriculum. Generic risk-benefit assessment Certificate of attendance valid in Shropshire and Telford &Wrekin |
|
Level 2 Forest Skills Leader (12 hours or Modular options) Refresher options |
Forest Skills Basic equipment |
On school site or specific site that is regularly used |
Category 2a - event specific planning including consent and risk-benefit assessment Certificate of attendance valid in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin |
|
Level 3 Forest School Leader (5 days training and 5 days assessment) 3 yearly 1 day revalidation |
Forest Schools Forest School is a holistic learning approach that sits within and complements the wider context of outdoor and woodland education. Nursery to Teens. L3 qualified can act as Technical Adviser with establishment i.e. train and validate other supporting staff. [This is a national award, and other providers are available] |
Any site as per Forest School NGB |
Category 2b – Adventurous Activity - event specific planning including consent, risk-benefit assessment. Notification to LA Outdoor Education Adviser. National qualification |
Please note:
- Each level is a stand-alone course. The choice of course will depend on school/staff need. It is not a requirement to do Level 1 before level 2, before Level 3
- First aid training is not included but can be provided on request
All enquiries and to book:
Email: EdVisits@telford.gov.uk
Or, Jo.barnett@telford.gov.uk
Tel: 01952 382057
Mobile: 07973 716547
Download the PDF: Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire Forest Scheme Outline
For further information please email: jo.barnett@telford.gov.uk.
EAL Network Meeting – Thursday 4 March 2021
An ideal opportunity to review how to assess (English as an Additional Language (EAL) pupils returning after lockdown, receive the updates on EAL provision and good practice and plan for South Asian Heritage month in July 2021.
- Thursday 4 March 2021
- 4.00pm - 5.30pm
- Microsoft Teams.
EAL coordinators are aware of the ever increasing gap in learning that EAL pupils are developing due to lockdown. The session will provide an opportunity for participants to:
- Review the impact Flash academy and remote learning for EAL pupils
- Using Flash academy to assess EAL pupils upon return to school on the 8 March 2021
- Updates (EAL & Maths, NELI, Catch-up Funding, New EAL resources)
- To plan and prepare for South Asian Heritage month
- To review the new MDT webpage resource library
Delegates will improve their understanding of:
- Effective ways to support EAL learners and promote their access to the curriculum
- Planning South Asian Heritage month
- Activities and resources for remote learning, in class and interventions
- Access to online resources
If you would like to attend or express an interest in the training, please contact the MDT team.
To book a place on the training course please complete a CPD Booking Form.
CPD courses - March 2021
Details of all of our courses can be found in the CPD Booklet, which is available on the Telford Education Services website. Unless stated otherwise, the majority of course bookings are made by sending a completed CPD booking form via email to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk.
Visit the Telford Education Services website to view the CPD booklet
For any enquiries about any of our CPD courses please send an email to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk.
#Census2021 inspiring our next generation
The census is unique and only happens once every 10 years. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) want to inspire the next generation to take part. To support this important event, they are running free primary and secondary education programmes.
These programmes help educate children and young people on the importance of the census and about how the information it collects helps shape the society we live in.
Find out more including winning prizes of up to £1,000 of equipment for your school.