DAPH Update Spring Term | 5 January 2016 | Issue 1
Devon County Council sent this bulletin at 05-01-2016 03:15 PM GMT
SEND will be the main agenda item for our Spring events and we have received confirmation that a representative from the Standard’s and Testing Agency will attend on the morning of the Tiverton event to update on changes to testing and assessment in KS1 & KS2 from 2016 followed by Q&As. Dates and venues have been confirmed as:- Tuesday 2 February 2016 | Buckfast Abbey Conference CentreThursday 11 February 2016 | The Tiverton Hotel, TivertonDelegate List (as at 05.01.16) : Buckfast | Delegate list (as at 05.01.16) : Tiverton
The main areas of focus will include:
BOOK ONLINE | see more at mikehughes-ets.co.uk Pupil premium: conditions of grant 2016 to 2017A 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
Consultation on School Admission Arrangements 2017-18 and the Education Transport Policy for 2016/17Dear 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 How do I comment? schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk or contact School Admissions Consultation, Room L102, County Hall, Exeter EX2 4QG
Free School Meals Eligibility Checking ServiceAn 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.
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)
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.
Planning For School EmergenciesWith 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.
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
Save the date…
WRAP Train the Trainer
|
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
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
Behaviour and discipline in schools
Departmental advice for school leaders and school staff on developing a school behaviour policy. READ MORE
New National Schools Commissioner appointedA 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 |
When attending meetings of Devon Education Forum (DEF), its sub-groups and other statutory or working groups, DAPH 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:-
- 11th, 12th, 18th, 20th January – Exeter Racecourse
- 19th January or 22nd February – The Imperial Hotel, Barnstaple
- 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
Schools revenue funding settlement for 2016 to 2017Written ministerial statement by Childcare and Education Minister Sam Gyimah about funding arrangements for schools in 2016 to 2017 | READ MORE |
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.
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.
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.
To more info 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.
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
Devon Safeguarding Children BoardRead 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. |
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
Advice and Support on SEND Processes
This helpline is to support SENCOs, Heads and anyone in Devon schools who have questions about SEND processes / practice. It runs on a Tuesday afternoons between 1-3pm.
Download the flyer
Contact: Helpline: 01392 287248 | Email: LDP-SencoHelpline@babcockinternational.com
Welcome
DAPH would like to welcome the following Headteachers who have taken up post in January 2016
Annabelle Grose | Willowbank Primary School
Naomi Tottle | Hartland Primary School
Timothy Salvadori Paleotti | Holsworthy CofE Primary School
John Jolliffe | Exe Valley Federation
Kevin O'Donnell | South Molton United C of E Junior
Devon Association of Primary Headteachers
DAPH Office – Venture House,
One Capital Court,
Bittern Road,
Sowton Industrial Estate,
Exeter EX2 7FW
Tel: 01392 380518
Email: daph@devon.gov.uk