Spring term | 24 January 2020 | Issue 2
 DAPH & DASH Spring Briefing
11 February 2020 at the Best Western Tiverton Hotel, Tiverton | BOOK NOW
8.45am Registration / 9.10am Briefing opens / 4.30pm Briefing closes
Join colleagues for this all-day event to hear topical updates from Lucy Gordon, Deputy Director, Regional Schools Commissioner SW and Karl Sampson HMI, Assistant Regional Director, Ofsted plus DAPH & DASH key messages, PSHE Association, Teaching Schools Hub 'Test and Learn' pilot, Adolescent Safety Framework and the Education Endowment Foundation.
One free place per Devon primary/secondary school as part of their membership of DAPH/DASH. Terms and conditions apply - please see booking form for further details.
DAPH & DASH Summer Briefing
6 May 2020 at Exeter Racecourse | BOOK NOW
All day event - timings and speakers to be confirmed.
One free place per Devon primary/secondary school as part of their membership of DAPH/DASH. Terms and conditions apply - please see booking form for further details.
DAPH Annual School Leadership Conference
Prices confirmed for 2020:
- 2 day residential - £375.00pp (with accommodation)
- 2 day residential sharing - £355.00pp (sharing accommodation with named colleague)
- 2 day non-residential - £300.00pp (no accommodation)
Terms and conditions apply. Please see booking form for further details.
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DCC iTrent HR and payroll self-service
Is your school experiencing ongoing issues with the new iTrent system?
DAPH and DASH are aware of and are monitoring issues with the iTrent system via Heads Liaison Group meetings and other Local Authority working groups. Additionally, HROne are sending out regular communications to update maintained and academy schools, however if a school has any major issues that are ongoing or remain unresolved please bring them to the attention of the DAPH / DASH office for us to collate and take forward with Devon County Council.
HROne Update to schools | 17 January 2020
- Letter to maintained schools - READ
- Letter to academy schools - READ
Note that above communications were distributed by DCC HROne. If your school has not received this communication please contact the HRMS Project Mailbox:
humnres.humanresourcesmanagementsystemproject-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
Guidance: need help with iTrent? Check out the frequently asked questions section but if you need more help please contact the DCC iTrent systems team:
t 01392 383000 (ask for payroll) e itrentsystemsteam-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
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RPowered system to close 31/01/20
As previously communicated the RPowered system will close down on 31 January 2020. Please remind your staff that after this date they will not be able to access this system for pay advices/P60’s so it is important that they download and save/print any documents that are needed before then.
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Wave MAT | Torlands Primary Provision
On 15 January 2020, Clare Barden (Executive Principal at Stansfield Academy, Exeter) outlined Wave's mission and values of the provision to the DAPH Executive Committee - view the presentation H E R E.
Torlands provides education for young people who are unable to attend school owing to medical reasons.
Read the Wave MAT Torlands Primary Provision (AP) which includes details on the referral process, curriculum offer and key contacts | READ MORE
Contact Clare Barden: e cbarden@waveedu.org t 01392 445446 w www.wavemat.org
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Headteachers Survey on Staggered Entry to Reception Classes 2020
(Note: this survey was advertised in the Autumn Term / Issue 6 but due to link settings it was not accessible to all).
Please visit this L I N K to the brief survey which is aimed at Headteachers of infant and primary schools.
Devon County Council wants to know more about schools’ understanding and practice around options for children starting in the Reception intake: full-time, part-time and deferred admission.
Last year the Early Years and Admissions teams took several calls from parents who had not been given an option of starting full time on the first day of term. A similar survey to this one will be sent to parents in June to gauge their understanding of what they can request and asking them about the options they were given by schools. Thank you for your input, it is very much appreciated. Survey closes noon on Friday 14 February 2020.
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 Learner Services to Schools Contract | Invitation to attend the
Engagement Workshop
Thursday 6 February 2020 (1.30pm - 4.30pm) at Cullompton Community Centre, Pye Corner, Cullompton, EX15 1JX
Message from Dawn Stabb, Head of Education & Learning, DCC
Thank you to those of you who took the time to submit a response to the recent Learner Services Engagement Survey.
Our next step will be to analyse the responses. We are also seeking your input to:
- inform the outcomes we are seeking as part of the contract
- how the services should be delivered from April 2022 onwards
Many people indicated on the survey form that they would like to be involved in these discussions. These schools have been contacted directly to attend the above workshop - if you did not indicate this on the form but would like to be involved, please see details below:
How to book your place: if would like to attend the workshop, please email heidi.watson-jones@devon.gov.uk or call 01392 382644 by Monday 3 February confirming your name, role, and school. Further information will be circulated nearer the time to those attending.
  On Monday 13 January 2020, Devon County Council received notification from Ofsted that they will be starting an inspection to assess how well our Children’s Services meet the needs of our children, young people and families in Devon.
The inspection will be a standard inspection under the format introduced in 2017 – Inspection of Local Authority Children’s services (ILACS), in the first week beginning with a review of data and other insights. The core team of five, led by HMI lead inspector Steve Lowe, arrived on Monday (20 January) and will stay until Friday 31 January visiting some of our social care offices.
The new format means that inspectors will spend most of their time with case-holding practitioners, and much less time with managers, but they might also want to talk to schools and other partners.
This inspection will give us an independent view of our collective strengths, as well as the areas in which we can continue to improve.
In our self-evaluation we said that we aim to be judged at least good, with an aspiration to reach outstanding by 2024, and we see the inspection as a key milestone in our improvement journey. We have made significant progress and developments since our last inspection in March 2015, and we want inspectors to leave having seen the very best of what Devon has to offer.
We will make the findings known as soon as we’re able to, but we expect the report to be published at the beginning of March.
Jo Olsson | Chief Officer for Children's Services
Ofsted Annual Report 2018/19
HM Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman presents her state of the nation report into the quality of early years, schools, children’s social care and further education and skills | READ MORE
Chief Inspector warns against pursuing success without substance
This year's annual report finds the overall quality of education and care in England is good and improving, but the Chief Inspector warns against complacency | READ MORE
 Regional Schools Commissioner for South West England
Spring Term Newsletter 2020
Read the latest news and updates from Hannah Woodhouse | READ MORE
 DAPH and DASH Group Representation on Local Authority Working Groups
The scope and role of DAPH (Primary Representation) and DASH (Secondary Representation) within the local context is illustrated in the Working Groups Representation Chart effective for the current academic year.
Medical Panel Meetings - Request for School Reps
DCC operates a weekly Medical Panel to consider children who are referred to the Local Authority to provide education where they are medically absent from School.
The panel meets on Wednesday mornings from 9.30am for approximately 90mins considering all the referrals submitted. The panel consists of an educational psychologist, school nurse, social worker, occupational therapist, LA officer and CAMHS senior manager. DCC would welcome the input, advice and scrutiny from a representative from DASH or DAPH at each panel. See statutory guidance H E R E.
For more information please contact: Marc Kastner, Strategic lead for Education Inclusion Services & Other Services to Vulnerable Children and CYP Mental Health Local Authority Specialist Advisor – SW Clinical Network (NHS England)
t 01392 380910 e Marc.Kastner@devon.gov.uk
 When attending meetings of Devon Education Forum (DEF), its sub-groups and other statutory or working groups, DAPH & DASH Representatives provide a summary of key messages and issues affecting schools.
- Details of Membership on DEF, agendas and full minutes of previous meetings and other information about DEF are advertised on the DEF website
- Read the minutes from the last DEF meeting held on 22 January 2020 will be advertised HERE in due course
- Date of the next DEF meeting is 18 March 2020
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
- Read the minutes of the last SFG meeting held on 8 January 2020 HERE
- Date of next SFG meeting is 4 March 2020
 To view the objectives, Terms of Reference and minutes of meetings for School Organisation, Capital and Admissions Group (SOCA), which is a sub-group of Devon Education Forum, visit the SOCA website
- Read the minutes of the last SOCA meeting held on 3 December 2019 HERE
- Date of next SOCA meeting is 2 March 2020
Devon Children and Families Partnership
Read the latest DCFP news HERE | dcfp.org.uk
The advice to anyone in Devon who may have suspicions of child abuse or neglect is to contact Devon’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).
Children & Young People's Plan 2019-2023 can be viewed HERE
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Operation Encompass - N E W Online 'Key Adult' Training
Operation Encompass directly connects the police with schools to ensure better outcomes for children who are subject or witness to police-attended incidents of domestic abuse. It provides an efficient, confidential channel of communication between police forces and Key Adults within schools. This enables the immediate and discrete recognition of the child's situation by the Key Adult, ensuring a secure and sympathetic environment is provided and the broader effects of abuse are addressed.
Important: schools are to note that Key Adult training belongs to the individual and not the school; should staff move on, it is expected that schools will notify the Police and arrange for another staff member to complete the training as necessary.
N E W Online 'Key Adult' Training: face to face Briefings will continue to run, and there is now an online training package which has been developed in partnership with Virtual College. This training will assist in developing the skills and knowledge to fully embed Operation Encompass in your school or education setting. See more details H E R E.
Not involved yet? To be a part of Operation Encompass, please sign up via the School Application Form.
Contact: e info@operationencompass.org w www.operationencompass.org
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Guidance | Babcock One Minute Guides
The Babcock One Minute Guidance documents are just a few of the essential resources available to Designated Safeguarding Leads, Headteachers and Governors. As well as quick reference guides they can be used to cascade information to staff, Governors and volunteers as part of their regular safeguarding training. READ MORE on the Babcock LDP website.
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Preventing Radicalisation
The Safer Devon Partnership has created a new hard-hitting film warning people across Devon of the threat of radicalisation. Watch the film H E R E.
Extremists are increasingly using the internet and online gaming to radicalise others, they befriend, groom and manipulate vulnerable children and adults to support their cause. If you notice a worrying change in someone's views and behaviour you need to tell Safe Devon so that they can offer support and keep them, their families and communities safe.
If you are concerned that someone you know is being radicalised, please email prevent@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk or call the local Police Prevent Team on 01392 225130.
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 Devon SEND Local Offer and Strategy
Statutory Guidance SEND Code of Practice: 0-25 years defines that the Local Offer has two key purposes:
- To provide clear, comprehensive, accessible and up-to-date information about the available provision and how to access it.
- To make provision more responsive to local needs and aspirations by directly involving disabled children and those with SEND and their parents, and disabled young people and those with SEND, and service providers in its development and review.
For more information visit the Devon SEND Local Offer website.
Keep up to date with the latest news - subscribe to the newsletter HERE or view recent SEND news and updates on the SEND website.
Improvements to the SEND website | request for volunteers
Have you got 5 minutes to help improve the SEND website?
Volunteers are required to help make the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) website easier to use, so that information can be accessed without having to search around.
The improvements are based on feedback from parents and carers of children and young people with SEND and the professionals who support them. Volunteers are needed to take part in some user research so the planned changes are the right ones - sign up H E R E to become a user research volunteer.
Devon SEND e-learning module (Please also share this with your SENCO)
Message from Dawn Stabb, Head of Education & Learning, DCC
This short e-learning module is intended for all new and existing staff working with children, young people and families in Devon. We hope that this training will help all staff to better understand the SEN Code of Practice, the Devon Local Offer and provide links to relevant policy documentation for reference.
Please encourage all staff members to complete the module (which takes around 15 minutes). This is really important to develop and support consistency in how we all understand SEND across Devon.
Visit this L I N K to complete the training module.
A certificate can be downloaded once the training has been completed - (remember to add your name and date prior to downloading) and also keep your knowledge up to date by signing up to the SEND newsletter.
 Period products in schools and colleges
Free period products are now available to order for all learners in schools and post-16 education organisations in England. For an overview of the scheme, eligibility and how schools / settings can order products | READ MORE
 Is your school information accurate?
A reminder to all schools to check / update information held within the DCC Admissions Directory or use the Update Form via this LINK
Admission Arrangements and School / Academy Trust Websites
A reminder that all schools must publish determined admissions policies and proposed policies on their school / Academy Trust website during the consultation period.
 Do you receive the latest news and updates from the Early Years and Childcare Service?
Visit this page to SUBSCRIBE to the Early Years and Childcare Service newsletter, a weekly email digest of new updates (sent every Friday morning).
School Leadership Support Service (SLSS)
The School Leadership Support Service offers a personal and confidential service to all school leaders via telephone and email during term time | READ MORE
Contact SLSS: T 01392 380518 or 07970 905511 E slss-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
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 Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Update
Subscribe to receive a weekly round-up of information and actions for Education and Skills Funding Agency funded organisations.
To find out more about the Education and Skills Funding Agency | READ MORE
Read the latest DAG newsletter Issue 167 (16/01/20) HERE
Most of the web pages and documents on the DAG website are restricted to DAG members - if you are a DAG member please log in
Subscribe to DAG | if you would like to join the Devon Association of Governance (DAG), gain access to the members only content and receive the DAG e-newsletter by email, please complete the F O R M on the DAG website.
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Devon Association of Primary Headteachers (DAPH) &
Devon Association of Secondary Headteachers (DASH)
View the current Executive Committee members here - see DAPH & DASH
Contact us: 01392 380518 | daph@devon.gov.uk | daph.org.uk
DAPH Office
Venture House, One Capital Court
Bittern Road, Sowton Industrial Estate
Exeter EX2 7FW
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