Autumn term | 23 October 2020 | Issue 2
Note our new email address - devonsls@devon.gov.uk - the former DAPH email address will be switched off soon so please update your contacts / address book. Our other contact details remain the same - for more details see the closing section at the foot of this newsletter.
 Headteacher Email Updates
To ensure that school leaders are well informed and kept up to date with important information from the Local Authority and the DfE, regular headteacher updates are being emailed directly to you via Dawn Stabb, Head of Education & Learning.
If you are not receiving these on a regular basis please let us know via email and we'll make sure you are added to the distribution list.
DCC Devon Schools Key Information Website
Visit the private Education (staff only) website which hosts all the key information and guidance in one place so it can easily be referred to by Headteachers and other senior staff. Here is the link to the website - schools are to log in via their usual DCC account.
Stay up to date with GOV.UK
Sign up to receive emails when there are changes to any coronavirus information on the GOV.UK website.
Covid-19 - FAO schools using Devon Norse services
Devon Norse have politely requested that they are notified of any positive cases within schools as contract staff are often in school first thing in the morning. it is important they are made aware that some classrooms or other areas of the school are awaiting a deep clean and to avoid any Norse employees being put at personal risk.
Schools should make contact with their area manager in the event of positive cases being confirmed within the school using the usual contact numbers or via the helpline number on 0845 8500 319 if out of hours.
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N E W Devon SLS School Leadership Briefing
12 November 2020 via MS Teams
Registration from 9.00am / closing 11.30am
Join colleagues online to hear key messages and topical updates from:
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Dawn Stabb - Head of Education and Learning, DCC
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Sam Macdonald - RSC SW
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Jon Galling - Senior Education Safeguarding Officer , Babcock LDP
- Public Health Devon
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Devon SLS including the recent launch of the new aHead service
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aHead Service
Headship can be isolating and overwhelming, particularly during these challenging times. We wanted to remind you that the team of aHead Professional Partners are here to provide confidential support and guidance to school leaders and can be contacted via email or phone:
E aHead-DevonSLS@devon.gov.uk T 01392 380518 / 07970 905511
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Additional to the aHead Service, Devon SLS is delighted to offer an Employee Assistance Programme to its membership of school leaders. This is a new introduction to the Devon SLS offer and is provided by Education Support.
The EAP provides members with free individual access to a confidential information, support and counselling service which is available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day via a dedicated 0800 telephone number.
Read more: EAP Leaflet - Information, guidance and support for wellbeing
Schools leaders are also able to purchase an EAP scheme for their own schools at specially discounted rates. For more information on the EAP scheme please contact devonsls@devon.gov.uk.
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 School Workforce Census – Bulletin 1
School Workforce Census is on Thursday 5 November 2020 (return by 13 November 2020)
Message from the Education Information Team | Contact: census@devon.gov.uk
We appreciate that the School Census is your current priority. However we wanted to highlight the workforce census to you so you could add it to your calendar.
Could all school please ensure that their pay ranges in sims have been updated (if agreed within your school). The DfE have reduced the data collected so please read the full bulletin for more information.
Introduction to the Babcock LDP School Effectiveness Team
Download the introductory letter (updated link to information dated 02/09/20) from Alice McShane, School Effectiveness Team Lead which includes names and contact details for the Area Education Advisors.
Babcock LDP Keeping Children Safe Newsletter
Read the latest from the Babcock Safeguarding Team which includes:
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S175 Safeguarding Audit now open for completion by all schools (note deadline for the completion of the S175 audit is Friday 18 December 2020).
- Ofsted visits to schools
- Social Workers in Schools
- Elective Home Education - update
- Use of School Attendance Codes
- Babcock Safeguarding Conference and L3 courses
- MASH Front Door - update
- Multi Agency Impact (MAI) Chronology TRIAL North Devon
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Our Vision and Priorities for Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Devon County Council, Devon Clinical Commissioning Group and colleagues from partner organisations are working to transform the experience of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families.
A new vision for the SEND service and four priorities is being developed and schools / families are asked to provide their views on what this should look like by answering the questions in this short survey.
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 Read the latest news and updates in the October 2020 edition of the Devon SEND Improvement Board newsletter.
 Useful reminders
I CAN’s EYSEND training offer
ICAN, in partnership with NASEN, have recently published FREE online training aimed at practitioners working in Early Years Settings. The on-line modules are part of the 2020 – 21 EYSEND partnership programme. These two webcast modules will introduce practitioners to Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) in the early years. They aim to help practitioners take the initial steps in exploring the impact of SLCN on young children and identify and support SLCN in early years settings.
The two webcasts last 90 minutes each. They include opportunities to reflect and consider application to individual early years settings. There is a participant pack to download for each module. To access the training please visit ican.org.uk.
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Visit this page to SUBSCRIBE to the Early Years and Childcare Service newsletter, a weekly email digest of new updates (sent every Friday morning).
Free cyber security advice from the Police
Message from Sam Parsons - Cyber Protect, Prepare & Prevent Officer
August and September 2020 saw a number of educational establishments in the UK affected by cyber incidents, more specifically ransomware attacks. In September, the National Cyber Security Centre released an alert directed at universities, colleges and schools, providing mitigation advice to help protect the sector from attack. The alert points to trends which are becoming commonplace, such as:
- Unsecured remote working
- Vulnerable software or hardware
- Phishing emails
The alert also points to the importance of planning and rehearsing ransomware scenarios - this is a hugely important point. Exercising resilience plans is still a major weakness for many organisations, and there are plenty of resources, including the Police (see below), that can help you here.
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Free workshops
The South West Regional Cyber Crime Unit lead investigations into cyber dependent crimes affecting organisations, including schools, across the South West. We also have a dedicated team of Protect officers who offer a range of free workshops to help you combat the type of incidents highlighted in the above alert. Our sessions can range from basic awareness talks, up to live exercises to test business continuity plans. We also work to divert young people away from engaging in cyber crime.
For more information about how we can help you, please visit the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit website.
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Read the latest DAG newsletter Issue 196 (19/10/20) HERE
Visit the DAG website to subscribe to newsletters and register for DAG membership.
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 Wishing you all a relaxing half term break. Please note that the Devon SLS Business Support Centre will re-open on Monday 2 November 2020.
Devon Schools Leadership Services CIO
Devon SLS (formally DAPH and DASH - read more details about our new CIO Devon SLS in the July newsletter)
Manage your subscription
Subscribe: Devon SLS Primary Newsletter | Devon SLS Secondary Newsletter
Contact: E devonsls@devon.gov.uk T 01392 380518 W devonsls.co.uk (temporary website under construction)
Registered office:
Venture House, One Capital Court, Bittern Road, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7FW
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