|
In the first newsletter a year ago our SSIF (School to School Improvement Fund) project was mentioned and had just started. The project has now been running for nearly 5 terms and has focused on developing clusters of primary and secondary schools, working collaboratively to develop common curricula across KS2 and KS3. This was with an aim of improving progress and attainment for all students, especially the disadvantaged in Modern Foreign Languages and Science.
We submitted the bid based on MFL and Science as a number of schools in the region identified these as areas where a greater focus on what was taught and how it was taught would be of benefit. We hoped to provide a more coherent transition for students between primary and secondary school through the delivery of the project.
There have been 5 clusters with 21 schools in total working on the project. The clusters were made up of groups of local schools working together in Huntingdonshire, East Cambs, Peterborough and South Cambs.
Whilst we have not had yet completed the final evaluation for the project, we already have some strong outcomes from student assessments as well as from teacher and senior leader feedback. These include:
Evidence of more rapid progress in Science and MFL for PP students from pre-test to interim and final assessment
- Evidence from Surveys of improved teacher confidence in delivery of Science and MFL
- Greater curriculum focus on MFL and Science in schools involved in the project
- Improved collaboration and networking between colleagues in primary and secondary schools.
There are also some long lasting sustainable outcomes from the project alongside the subject networks that have been established. One key outcome has been the excellent resources that have been produced by our Lead Practitioners. These includes schemes of work, lesson plans and teaching materials which are freely available and which we are very happy to share with colleagues from schools across the county.
The languages materials which include lesson material supported by audio files modelling pronunciation are here.
The science materials can be obtained by sending an email to our project administrator: Karin Hegg
This project would not have been a success without the incredible hard work of all of the teachers involved, cluster leads, project team, Lead Evaluator Angela Rodda and especially the work of our lead practitioners Ali Hodgson, Janet Jenkins, Katherine Monument and Rachel Hawkes. If you would like to find out more we will be presenting our final findings and evaluation at the CTSN R&D conference on the 3rd July at Saffron Walden County High School: http://www.camteach.org.uk/160/ctsn-research-conference-2019
Andy Daly
Swavesey Village College Headteacher
In the first edition of the schools newsletter, we drew your attention to funding allocated by the Cambridgeshire School Improvement Board to 22 projects designed by schools and groups of schools, to address the CSIB priorities:
- Define and promote a Cambridgeshire entitlement for leadership development.
- Commission programmes to accelerate the achievement of our disadvantaged groups.
- Champion raised aspirations for Cambridgeshire, to include a cultural entitlement for all children.
Many of the projects have now completed, and include the following:
‘work week’ to promote work as a positive and exciting opportunity (Alderman Jacobs Primary)
Building resilience and aspiration to ensure the most vulnerable pupils are ‘secondary ready’ (The Grove Primary/North Cambridge Academy)
Getting Gritty is aimed at disadvantaged students. It provides this group with aspiration, confidence, increased self-esteem and practical strategies to develop grit and resilience. (Linton Village College)
Identifying and reducing the impact of Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) on pupils’ outcomes and welfare (Park Lane Nursery, New Road Primary, Park Lane Primary, Sir Harry Smith Community College).
Mathematics Roadshow to accelerate the achievement of disadvantaged students and young carers. (Newton Primary, Offord Primary, Great Paxton Primary).
Promoting emotional wellbeing in the school community (Stretham, Little Thetford, Rackham, Wilburton, Waterbeach, Mepal & Witcham, Robert Arkenstall, Sutton Primaries; The Harbour, Witchford VC).
Creating Optimum Conditions for Learning in EYFS and KS1 provision: enquiry based learning (A1 Cluster schools).
Read about these projects’ outcomes, and about the other projects which are ongoing here.
The Fenland and East Cambridgeshire Opportunity Area has now been in delivery for a year. We’ve had a number of successes, including:
- 50 schools receiving funding to implement locally-designed evidence-based improvement projects
- 72 NQTs and RQTs participating in bespoke early career development programmes
- 70 early years practitioners accessing fully funded Phonics training.
We know there is still a long way to go to achieve our ambitious targets for the area, and currently have a number of offers available to schools in Fenland and East Cambridgeshire:
- Funded mental health training provided by the YMCA
- Funded training in Maximising the Impact of Teaching Assistants (MITA), provided by the EEF Research School
- Funded access to the Quality in Careers Award for all secondary schools and special schools with secondary provision
- A recruitment incentives grant of up to £10,000 per school to spend on incentives to attract new teachers
- A funded teacher training programme, offered through Cambridgeshire County Council, to enable teaching assistants to gain QTS
- Access to the Teach First programme
We also have a SEND Lead, Tiffany Middleton, and an Early Years lead, Paula Durrant. Tiffany and Paula are happy to visit schools and settings to understand more about your specific needs and concerns.
If you would like any more information about our offer, please contact briony.davies@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or visit our website here.
- A Win for families making the changes they want
- A Win for children more focused on their learning.
- A Win for teachers accessing resources and expertise
- A Win for schools with pupils better able to learn
- A Win for agencies meeting their objectives
Staff from Early Help services will be talking to schools about the families you are working with to support your work, advise on available resources and help demonstrate your success. Do this right and we will have more resources for children in the future.
Further information at “Think Family”
Click here for more information about school admissions for children of those serving in the Armed Forces.
Thank you to all who responded to our Dyslexia survey. As a result of this the Cambridgeshire Dyslexia Guidance has now been updated. The main changes include: separating the guidance from the research document, writing a ‘quick guide’ for parents and improving links to the most up-to-date websites. We are delighted that the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) continues to commend the Cambridgeshire literacy difficulties/dyslexia guidance.
The updated guidance can be found here.
Please contact enhancedtraded.services@cambridgeshire.gov.uk for information on Dyslexia training.
Cambridgeshire has been praised for the quality of leadership in Children's Services in a recent Ofsted report. Read more here.
We’re making it simpler for you to keep us up to date with any changes to your school's contact details. We’ve set up a single email inbox - schoolContactUpdates@cambridgeshire.gov.uk - which you can use to forward any changes to school or senior leader contact details and ensure our contact records are up to date. By keeping us updated, we can ensure our email distribution lists are accurate, so that you can access important updates and information when you need them.
The inbox will be monitored regularly, so please send any changes to contact details to SchoolContactUpdates@Cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
In accordance with the School Admissions Code (2014) 1.46 and 1.47 all own admission authority schools need to have determined their admission arrangements, even if there have been no changes, no later than 28th February and then send a copy of the determined admission arrangements to admission.policies@cambridgeshire.gov.uk by 15th March 2019.
National Offer Day – 1st March 2019
Letters to parents are being posted second class on this date.
Please could you check before this date that you and your staff can still access the portal, and that your passwords have not expired, enabling you to view your Year 6 leavers/Year 7 allocations later this week. If you have a query please email admission@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Before making any confirmation to a parent about an offer please ensure they are in receipt of the offer notification and advise them to confirm the place through the citizen portal.
The Hidden Tales will provide schools with adaptable learning resources and themed museum visits. Find out more here.
The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) launched a free leaflet on abortion care to support teachers who are delivering relationships and sex education (RSE) lessons in secondary schools in the UK.
The joint FSRH-RCOG factsheet aims to ensure that professionals involved in educating young people about pregnancy choices have a factually accurate, unbiased and evidence-based source of information about abortion care in the UK, one of the key points included in the DfE draft RSE guidance. It counters myths such as that abortion causes infertility, breast cancer and mental illness.
The FSRH-RCOG abortion leaflet is officially endorsed by Public Health England, Sex Education Forum and PSHE Association.
Here too is a blog from Lucy Emmerson at SEF which spells out the relevant part of the RSE guidance and how the factsheet will help.
Teaching around abortion should be delivered as part of a planned, sequential programme which is age appropriate and meets the needs of young people. If your school would like assistance with developing such a programme, please contact the PSHE Service
Cathy Murphy
RSE Adviser
Last year 198 schools in Cambridgeshire participated in our events/work groups. Teachers are collaborating, developing their expertise and increasing their impact in the maths classroom. Our team of about 50 teachers lead various work groups across the county. We are keen to continue to build maths leadership capacity and would like to encourage interested teachers to get in touch with us.
Schools wanting to take part in the funded Teaching for Mastery programmes 2019-2020 can now book here.
There are still a few places left on some other work groups (all free). Please see our website.
See the new structure charts and Early Help Hub information by clicking `About us' in the Quick Links above.
The Children and Young People's Mental Health and Wellbeing Board is seeking additional membership from schools across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. At least 2 representatives are sought from schools, who can represent primary, secondary and special schools. The board currently has FE representation. The board meets bi-monthly, for 2 hours, and oversees commissioning and redesign of system-wide emotional health and wellbeing services (for example CHUMS and the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service), as well as monitoring progress against the local transformation plan for children’s mental health services.
For further details, please email Kathryn Goose.
Making Participation Work Regional Event
Effectively engaging children and young people, Thursday 28 February 2019, Hertfordshire Development Centre, 6 Six Hills Way, Stevenage, SG1 2FQ.
NQTs Conference - Agents of change
Friday 22 March 2019, 09.00 to 16.00, Faculty of Education, Cambridge. A conference for Newly and Recently Qualified Primary and Secondary Teachers.
Teaching Assistant Conference
Thursday 25 April 2019, Huntingdon Marriott Hotel. Half day ( 08.00 to 12.00). £70 per head. For teaching assistants - various workshops on autism, maths, English, teaching and learning.
Making Best Use of Teaching Assistants
Wednesday 6 February, Weds 24 April and Weds 3 July 2019, £295 (free places provided for Opportunity Area Schools by the East Cambs and Fenland Opportunity Area). Sessions to support school leaders. For more information click the heading above.
Leading Learning programme
Weds 13 February, Weds 1 May and Weds 12 June 2019, £295 per delegate. For primary and secondary school leaders. For more information click the heading above.
IOSH Managing Safely Course
Sawston Village College, New Road, Sawston, CB22 3BP. For Headteachers/School Business Managers. £300 per delegate. Run over 3 days (Wednesday 13, Thursday 21 & Wednesday 27 March 2019) 09:00 to 17:00 each day. For course application contact Stuart Wood
Dyslexia Tier 2 Training
Wednesday 13 March, 09.15 to 12.30, Stanton House, Huntingdon. For class teachers, SENCos and TAs. £40 per person. Contact enhancedtraded.services@cambridgeshire.gov.uk to book.
AET tier 2 training
Thursday 14 March, 09.15 to 16.30, Over Community Centre. For all school staff who directly support a child or young person with autism. £110 per person. Contact enhancedtraded.services@cambridgeshire.gov.uk to book.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approaches
Structured intervention for child/young person focusing on the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Typically 6 sessions. For children aged over 8 years. Date/time by arrangement. £90 per hour. Contact enhancedtraded.services@cambridgeshire.gov.uk to book.
|
