DASH Update Spring Term - Issue 4

DASH

   Spring Term Issue 4 - 26 March 2015

Events

Inspiring RE Conference

Plymouth Teaching Schools Alliance will be holding its first RE Conference at Holiday Inn, Plymouth on 16 April 2015.  The focus will be on cross phase ‘Inspiring RE’ with practical ideas and updates for Secondary and Primary colleagues.  Speaker:  Lat Blaylock from RE Today.  Read More>>

Whats New

Headlines from Sue Clarke

Read the latest edition of Headlines from Sue Clarke dated 24 March 2015 which includes important information on Hoax Ofsted telephone calls received by some schools.  Read More>>

Consultations

School Support Staff - Consultation on Enhanced Redundancy Pay

Guidance

Devon County Council (DCC) is commencing consultation on changes to the enhanced redundancy compensation pay which currently applies to all DCC staff including school support staff but excluding teachers. (Teachers have a different redundancy compensation pay scheme and are not part of this consultation.) 
DCC is consulting with the recognised trade unions that represent the staff affected - UNISON, GMB, Unite and ATL – and met with them on 18 March to begin formal consultation.    In order to ensure that all schools and stakeholder bodies are included in this consultation, the attached document is also being sent to out via the School Communications and to a number of other stakeholder bodies.
The document details the change which is being consulted on and provides schools and stakeholder bodies with a mailbox for comments/feedback.  It is requested that schools combine feedback where possible.  Academies are not part of this consultation.

Reminders

Devon Education Fund

The Devon Education Fund is financed through benefits received from the Joint Venture between Devon County Council and Babcock LDP. It aims to provide £50k on an annual basis to fund ambitious and innovative ideas that will benefit learners in Devon from 0-25 years of age.  The next deadline for bids to the fund is 24 April 2015.  Read More>>

Recommended Reading

Education Funding Agency (EFA) E-Bulletins

The Education Funding Agency (EFA) e-bulletins are issued weekly in term time. To subscribe to these bulletins email EFA.bulletin@education.gsi.gov.uk

E-bulletin for colleges, schools, local authorities and other providers:

12 March 2015

19 March 2015

E-bulletin for academies:

12 March 2015

19 March 2015

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F40 News Alerts

f40 represents a group of the lowest funded education authorities in England where government-set cash allocations for primary and secondary pupils are the lowest in the country.

Minutes of a recent F40 meeting with Nick Gibb.  Read More>>

Summer born pupils 90 per cent more likely to be on SEN register.  Read More>>

HEAD teachers have warned that children’s ambitions are being put in jeopardy by a “scandalous” schools funding system which sees children in London receive more than twice as much funding as those in Somerset.  Read More>>

Headteacher calls for equity in funding.  Read More>>

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National College for Teaching and Leadership

Recent Blogs:

10 tips for successful school-led research projects.  Read More>>

Teaching Schools and Local Authorities working together.  Read More>>

What are Teaching Schools and System Leaders.  Read More>>

Safeguarding

Free Digital Parenting Magazine for Schools

Vodafone and The Parent Zone offer schools free printed magazines to distribute to parents which give valuable information about technology and the family, setting up parental controls on mobile phones, app purchasing and online grooming.  Read More>>

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Disqualification by Association - Devon Norse Update

Devon Norse has studied the recent guidance on Disqualification by Association in relation to their employees working in schools and taken guidance from the DFE.  They have been advised that where their staff do not directly supervise or have responsibility for children, they do not need to complete the declaration.  The majority of Devon Norse staff do not meet the criteria for completion of the declaration, however local managers are working to identify staff who do meet the criteria - these employees will be required by Norse to complete the necessary declaration.  Please contact your Devon Norse representative if you require further clarification.

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Safeguarding Audit

Following a recent DSCB Education Meeting, it was reported than all Secondary Schools have returned their Safeguarding Audit.  Schools were thanked and work will be undertaken to ensure the next return is easier to complete.

Education Forum

When attending meetings of DEF, sub-groups and other statutory or working groups, DASH Representatives also provide a summary of key messages and issues affecting the secondary phase. 

For details of Secondary DEF representatives (Academy and Maintained) please visit the link on the DEF website.

For full minutes of recent meetings of the Devon Education Forum (DEF) and LA working groups which report to DEF please visit the DEF website and follow the appropriate links.

Date of Next DEF Meeting:- 24 June 2015.  Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 18 March 2015 will be available shortly.

To contact the forum: schools.forum@devon.gov.uk         Tel: 01392 382305

Schools Finance

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

Organisation

To view the objectives, Terms of Reference and minutes of meetings for School Organisation, Capital and Admissions sub-group of Devon Education Forum, visit the SOCA website.