Consultation on School Admission Arrangements
2017-18 and the Education Transport Policy for 2016/17
Dear colleagues
The admission authorities for all schools are required by the
School Admissions Code to consult on their admission arrangements.
Equally, local authorities such as Devon are required to consult on the
co-ordination schemes and other policies that enable parents to apply for
places. The intention is that admission arrangements meet the needs of parents
and children. Consultation is an important part of the process in setting
school admission arrangements.
For supporting information and more details about the
consultation | READ MORE
Consultation closing date | 31 January 2016
How do I comment? schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
or contact School Admissions Consultation, Room L102, County Hall, Exeter EX2
4QG
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Staffing and employment advice for schools
The DfE are seeking views on plans to revise our guidance on managing staff employment in schools | READ MORE
This consultation closes at 10 February 2016 at 5:00pm
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Open consultation: Keeping children safe in education: proposed changes
We're seeking views on proposed revisions to guidance for schools on keeping children safe | READ MORE
This consultation closes at 16 February 2016 at 5:00pm
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 Pupil premium: conditions of grant 2016 to 2017
A summary of the conditions that academies and local authorities must meet to be able to receive the pupil premium | READ MORE
Consultation for academies: Risk protection arrangement for academy trusts
The DfE are seeking views on proposed changes to the risk protection arrangement (RPA) from September 2016 | READ MORE
This consultation closes at 5:00pm on 31 January 2016
  Planning For School Emergencies
With the winter fast approaching, the potential threat of severe weather, fuel strikes and the continued risk of seasonal and swine flu there has never been a better time to think about reviewing the schools Business Continuity Plans | READ MORE and download:-
plus more information on salt supplies and guidance for clearing snow.
Free School Meals Eligibility Checking Service
An important letter relating to the provision of Devon County
Council’s Free School Meal Eligibility Service has been advertised
recently via School Comms | READ MORE
If you wish to contract with Devon County Council from the1st
April 2016, please could you notify Neil Keen (Senior Admissions
Officer) by return email to neil.keen@devon.gov.uk
by Friday 29th January
2016 with the subject header of free school meals contract.
Admissions Policy (refusal to provide contact details)
In the rare instance whereby a parent refuses to provide contact details when applying for a school place, schools are advised as matter of best practice to write to the parent,
confirming that they acknowledge their refusal to provide contact details and that a
record of their decision will be placed on file. Schools should also confirm that in the event of an
emergency the school will not be able to contact them.
Children cannot be
refused admission or excluded from school on the grounds that parents don't
provide full contact details. Also, it is not legal to insist on a home school agreement as a condition of entry. This advice has recently been confirmed by a County Legal Advisor.
Free School Meal Lists – Spring Term 2016 (update from Schools Admissions Team)
It is appreciated that schools will want to ensure all eligible FSM applicants are recognised in readiness for the upcoming School Census 21.01.2016 and therefore it is the intention to provide schools with a list of eligible children by close of play on Tuesday 19th January 2016.
READ MORE | contact: neil.keen@devon.gov.uk (Senior Admissions Officer)
 Education Funding Agency (EFA) e-bulletins
The Education Funding Agency (EFA) e-bulletins are issued weekly in term time.
e-bulletin Issue 112 dated 17 December 2015 | e-bulletin for academies click here
To subscribe to these bulletins email EFA.bulletin@education.gsi.gov.uk
ASCL Annual Conference in Birmingham on
Friday 4th and Saturday 5th March 2016
1 FREE
Place for all Devon Secondary Schools to attend
DASH are offering a
free place to Devon secondary schools (who are members of DASH)
to attend the ASCL Annual Conference in Birmingham on Friday 4th and Saturday
5th March 2016. Your ticket will be paid for by DASH (1 place per school) and
includes accommodation and the Saturday night meal (travel arrangements not included) . The
event offers two days of intensive training and debate, inspirational keynote
speakers, interactive seminars led by experts, information and ideas.
Further details and an outline of the programme is advertised on
the ASCL website
HOW TO BOOK: READ MORE | Once booked online, please
forward your invoice to:-
Devon County Council - DASH c/o Clyst Vale Community College,
Station Road, Broadclyst, Exeter, EX5 3AJ and ensure that you include full
details of your conference place and reference to the ASCL event. Please also
ensure your invoice states 'Devon County Council - DASH c/o Clyst Vale
Communicy College. Invoices can be emailed directly to financepsf@clystvale.org
Save the date…
WRAP Train the Trainer
3 March 2016 at Newton Abbot College
‘WRAP Train the Trainer’ will be held on the morning of Thursday
3rd March at Newton Abbot College for Devon Heads and Designated Safeguarding
Leads.
Full details will follow in the New Year but, in brief, the
course will enable attendees to deliver training to staff in their own
schools and understand the Prevent Duty and how schools should demonstrate
compliance within the Ofsted framework. Approx charge of £45 pp. (We are
hoping to be able to reduce this cost dependent on number – but it represents
good value as attendees will in turn be able to train all other staff in their
own school)
How do I book? | Bookings can be
taken now – email Ruth Bellas on rbellas@nacollege.devon.sch.uk
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School Crossing Patrol Consultation Launched
A consultation reviewing how school crossing patrols should be
funded and provided in the county is being launched by Devon County Council.
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The authority is exploring ways to maintain the service while looking to save £250,000 from the service’s budget in the coming financial year. It is part of £110 million of savings required over the next four years | READ MORE
Read the proposal and complete the FEEDBACK FORM
The latest consultation closes on 8 January 2016 and the results will be used to inform a report to Cabinet early in 2016.
2018 performance tables: technical and vocational qualifications
The final list of qualifications have been approved by the Department for Education (DfE) for teaching to 14-16 year olds from September 2016. These qualifications will be reported in the technical award category of the 2018 key stage 4 performance tables (published in early 2019). They will be reported alongside other qualifications such as full course GCSEs1, some accredited IGCSE-style qualifications, AS levels and other Level 3 qualifications2 | READ MORE
GCSE Religious Studies
Subject content, aims and learning objectives for GCSE in religious studies for teaching from 2016. READ MORE
Behaviour and discipline in schools
Departmental advice for school leaders and school staff on developing a school behaviour policy. READ MORE
School census 2015 to 2016: guide for schools and LAs
A guide to help schools and local authorities (LAs) complete and submit their autumn 2015 to summer 2016 school census data | READ MORE
Preventing extremism in schools and children's services
What the government is doing to prevent extremism in the education and children's services sectors. READ MORE
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New National Schools Commissioner appointed
A new National Schools Commissioner has been appointed by the Department for Education.
Sir David Carter, currently the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) for the South West, will succeed Frank Green who completes his term as Schools Commissioner at the end of January 2016 | READ MORE
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When attending meetings of Devon Education Forum (DEF), its
sub-groups and other statutory or working groups, DASH Representatives provide
a summary of key messages and issues affecting the primary phase.
For full minutes of recent meetings of the DEF and LA working
groups which report to DEF please visit the DEF website
and follow the appropriate links.
Details of Membership on DEF with effect from 1 September
2015 are available here >>
Date of next DEF :- 18 January 2016.
Agenda and minutes of previous meetings available here >>
To contact the Forum: schools.forum@devon.gov.uk
Tel: 01392 382305
To view the objectives, Terms of Reference and minutes of
meetings for Schools' Finance Group, which is a sub-group of Devon Education
Forum, visit the SFG Website.
FPS Web Training Dates in January / February 2016
The Education & Learning Team are pleased to announce that following a successful Financial Planning Suite (FPS) Web pilot and approval from Schools Finance Group, DCC will be adopting the FPS Web as the budget planning tool for 2016/17. The training is mandatory for all maintained schools and will cost £130 per school (up to 2 people may attend), with the training course taking place over a full day. Dates have been confirmed as:-
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11th, 12th, 18th, 20th January – Exeter Racecourse
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19th January or 22nd February – The Imperial Hotel, Barnstaple
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1st or 8th February – The Watermark Centre, Ivybridge
- For Secondary Schools: 27th January – Exeter Racecourse
- For Federations: 9th February – Coaver Club, Exeter
To book a place, please read the Education Finance Blog. Note that bookings must be made by contacting ScoMIS on 01392 385300 or email ScoMIS@devon.gov.uk
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Schools revenue funding settlement for 2016 to 2017
Written ministerial statement by Childcare and Education Minister Sam Gyimah about funding arrangements for schools in 2016 to 2017 | READ MORE
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To view the objectives, Terms of Reference and minutes of meetings
for School Organisation, Capital and Admissions (SOCA), which is a sub-group of
Devon Education Forum, visit the SOCA website
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Dialogue - Child Protection and Disability
Following the popularity of the Child Protection & Disability training in 2015, Dialogue Ltd have broadened their offer with two different levels of training.
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Group 3 child protection & disability
18th January 2016, Old Heathcoat Community Centre, Tiverton
This interagency child protection refresher course ensures practitioners
understand what to look for and what to do when they are worried about a
disabled child. The course highlights some of the blocks and barriers to
identification of abuse and neglect with disabled children, considers effective
approaches and listening skills, and highlights the components of an effective
referral to MASH.
Group 4 child protection & disability
19th January 2016, The Ship Studio, Dartington;
25th January, Old Heathcoat Community Centre, Tiverton
This interagency course builds on from the Group 3 course,
examining the approach, research and planning required from the point of a MASH
referral through assessment to child protection conferences.
For more information and to book your place visit www.dialogueltd.co.uk/disability.
Funded places are available for DSCB partner agencies.
e-Bulletin: Keeping Devon’s children safe
Each month Devon County Council distributes an e-Bulletin to people who work in children’s social care, called Keeping Devon’s children safe.
26 November 2015 | 22 December 2015
Following on from our Ofsted inspection of our arrangements for child protection, the e-Bulletin covers improvements to the way we work in children’s social care, improvements to outcomes for children and young people, and relevent staff information.
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Devon Safeguarding Children Board
Read the latest issue of the DSCB Newsletter dated January 2016 which includes information on MACA Best Practice Seminars - the DSCB is running free workshops across Devon on best practice when working with unborn babies subject to a Child Protection Plan.
READ MORE AND BOOK ONLINE
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New Extremism, Radicalisation. Prevent PowerPoint training
for school staff
This new PowerPoint (with Trainer’s notes) has been created for Head Teachers/Designated Safeguarding Leads to use to train all school staff. By the end of the session staff should:
- Understand the difference between radicalisation, extremism and terrorism,
- Understand who may be vulnerable to radicalisation and why
- How to make a referral if they have a concern that a young person is being radicalised (‘Prevent’)
- Know how they can contribute to protecting young people from the risk of being radicalised
Babcock LDP is not charging schools to use this training package, which should take about 1 – 1.15mins to deliver. However, if you would like one of our WRAP trained staff to deliver it for you, there will be a charge of £130.
To book, please contact Louisa Rockey: Louisa.Rockey@babcockinternational.com
Reminder: Deadline for submitting Safeguarding Audit 2015 is now overdue
Schools will have received instructions by email with details on how to complete this year's return via Survey Monkey together with some important FAQs and a Quick Guide to Completion.
Schools can still submit their audit online - view this link to access the online audit
The closing date for returns was 31 December 2015.
Contact the Safeguarding Team:
01392 287223 | safeguardingaudits@babcockinternational.com
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The Devon Bird Atlas (DBA)
The DBA is being published in January 2016 by Devon Birds the counties leading bird conservation organisation.
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It is based on a project run with the help of the
British Trust for Ornithology, the UK’s leading bird research organisation. The
DBA will show locations and densities of wintering and breeding bird species in
Devon and will enable comparisons with the last published Devon atlas in 1988.
It will identify which species are doing well and which not so well.
It is a reference work valid for at least twenty
years enabling environmentalists, students and others to use the information
for environmental reports, research and bird conservation. It will also help land
use decision making at the local level.
The Atlas project
has been supported by Devon County Council and is being made available free of
charge to all secondary schools in Devon - look out for your free copy due to be delivered during February 2016.
READ MORE information about the DBA
Welcome
DASH would like to welcome the following Headteachers who have taken up post in January 2016
Lyndsey Kane | Bideford College
Tina Graham | Dartmouth Academy
Aimee Mitchell | Isca Academy
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