Summer term | 5 May 2021 | Issue 3
 Primary & Secondary Leadership Hub Meetings - June 2021
(MS Teams)
Join colleagues at the next round of Leadership Hub meetings - a chance to catch up online, share your experiences and keep up to date with the latest information, both locally and nationally. Sessions are hosted by members of the Devon SLS Schools Executive Committee.
For Primary school leaders:
-
Monday 14 June 2021 (2.00pm - 3.00pm) BOOK HERE
(note that a delegate list will be available on the Devon SLS website shortly)
For Secondary school leaders:
-
Thursday 17 June 2021 (2.00pm - 3.00pm)
Note that a calendar invite has been sent directly to secondary school leaders (no need to book). Question? Contact us at devonsls@devon.gov.uk
|
School Leadership Briefing on 8 July 2021
All-day event at Exeter Racecourse
The next Devon SLS School Leadership Briefing is on Thursday 8 July and we hope you will be able to join us. Subject to the relaxing of Covid-19 restrictions, we hope to hold this at Exeter Racecourse. This all-day event will have a curriculum focus - agenda to follow, in the meantime online booking is now available.
Please note that a delegate list will be available on the Devon SLS website shortly. The Briefing is open and fully subsidised to all members of Devon SLS i.e. school leaders within Devon primary and secondary schools – other staff are also welcome to attend (note charges apply). For full details please see the terms and conditions on the booking form.
|
 Support for Year 6 Transition
A Student Transition Information Template has been developed by Devon SLS in partnership with schools to provide both phases with consistent and relevant information to support the successful transition of Y6 pupils in the absence of usual KS2 data and an exceptional year disrupted by Covid-19. View / download the template here.
 Funding Allocations for Covid-19 Mass Testing
Guidance updated 21/04/21 - see Coronavirus (COVID-19) mass testing funding for schools and colleges: exceptional costs guidance on GOV.UK in relation to:
- Testing carried out from 4 January to 5 March 2021
- Testing carried out after 5 March 2021
Access the Coronavirus (COVID-19) mass testing exceptional costs claim form to begin your claim (note deadline 12 May 2021)
Suppliers Relief – Catering
A reminder to schools to please notify DCC via email finance.financeschools-mailbox@devon.gov.uk regarding any requests received from catering companies in relation to payments linked to furlough and guidance over UIFSM.
Reminder | Notification of confirmed positive Covid cases to the LA
A reminder that schools should to continue to notify the Local Authority of positive Covid cases in school (staff and pupils) via the online form.
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
|
 Pupil Premium conditions of grant for 2021 to 2022
Further to the update in February, the DfE have now published the pupil premium conditions of grant for the 2021 to 2022 financial year | READ MORE
Statutory guidance | School suspensions and expulsions
Guidance on the suspension and expulsion of pupils from local-authority-maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units | READ MORE
DfE Guidance | Teacher training: being safe
Practical training materials for primary and secondary schools to use to train staff to teach about being safe | READ MORE
 Full Ofsted inspections expected from September
On 29 March 2021 the Education Secretary confirmed his request that Ofsted step up its inspection programme over the summer term, with a view to returning to a full programme of inspections from September 2021. The majority of summer term activity will remain lighter-touch, monitoring inspections | READ MORE
Guidance | School inspection handbook
Read the Ofsted guidance on inspecting maintained schools and academies in England under the education inspection framework (last updated 19/04/21, see summary of changes).
Ofsted blog | “Our education inspection handbooks have changed. What’s new? What do you need to know?”
Sean Harford HMI, National Director for Education, explains the changes to Ofsted's school inspection handbooks. Read the blog post here.
Ofsted’s review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges
Ofsted has published plans for a review into safeguarding policies and practices relating to sexual abuse in state and independent schools and colleges | READ MORE
 Resource and Nurture Base provision across the County for learners with EHCPs
DCC is consulting, in collaboration with the Academies shown below, on increasing provision for learners with Education, Health and Care Plans across the County. For more information, visit this link to the Consultation website.
Note the closing date Friday 14 May 2021.
The Big Ask Consultation for children and young people
The Big Ask consultation has been launched by The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel De Souza and asks young people across England to set out their priorities for improving childhood post-COVID.
Additionally, there are lots of resources available to support teachers in implementing the survey with pupils.
Consultation closing date is 19 May 2021 - please share the survey link thebigask.uk
|
Flagship summer schools programme to help students recover lost learning
Summer schools will be targeted at children who suffered the most disruption during the last year | READ MORE
Also see Guidance: Summer Schools Programme.
|
Education Finance Blog
Employment Status – IMPORTANT! The Employment Status for Tax rules are changing again!
From 6th April 2021 Employment Status checks MUST be completed, and the contractor advised of their tax status, BEFORE the work begins | READ MORE
Posted on 31 March 2021 by financeschools-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
Families in Grief | support for families in North Devon
Families in Grief supports children, young people and their families in North Devon who have experienced the death of someone close to them. There is also a practical guide for teaching staff which offers guidance on what to do when there’s been a bereavement in the school community.
Visit the website for more information - familiesingrief.org
|
 Working Group updates - Spring 2021
Here's a round up of this term's key messages and updates from the various working groups and statutory boards. These meetings are attended by members of the Devon SLS Schools Executive Committee and other school reps from both the primary and secondary phases.
Details of Devon SLS Working Group representatives are on the Devon SLS website.
 Devon Education Forum (DEF) met on 17 March 2021- read the minutes on the DCC website. The next DEF meeting date is 16 June 2021.
 Schools Finance Group met on 3 March 2021 - read the minutes on the DCC website. The next SFG meeting date is 26 May 2021.
 Schools Organisation, Captial and Admissions (SOCA) met on 2 March 2021 - read the minutes on the DCC website. The next SOCA meeting date is 25 May 2021.
Here's a summary of feedback from Devon SLS school representatives that attended:
- updated Flexi-Schooling Policy (to follow)
- the determination of admission arrangements being the final step in reviewing arrangements, and should not be further amended following determination.
- a reminder of the importance of statutory compliance/servicing and where possible that schools should facilitate contractor access.
- to reiterate the need for Voluntary Controlled and Community schools to follow agreed nursery admissions arrangements.
 SEND Improvement Board April Newsletter
Read the latest news and updates from the SEND team including the 0-5 years 'Let's Get Chatting' campaign and the Ambassador Volunteer Project | READ MORE
SEND vision and strategy 2021/24
Devon’s SEND vision and strategy 2021/24 has been produced in collaboration with families and set out how we will help improve outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families.
View / download the strategy on the DCC website.
SEND 100 Project Steering Group
The purpose of the Steering Group is to manage and coordinate a programme of work that improves the confidence of mainstream schools and parents in the provision of support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, and their families. It is the intention that greater confidence in the school to meet the identified SEN needs of the child will improve support in mainstream and result in fewer requests for statutory assessment, fewer escalations to specialist provision, and a reduction in placement costs to the high needs block.
Meetings have been held during February and March 2021 and group members have looked at Terms of Reference, group purpose, role, responsibilities of members and governance, and also the job description for the Project Lead role to be appointed.
Babcock LDP Safeguarding Newsletter | April 2021
Read the latest news from the Babcock LDP team including updates on:
- Exploitation & Prevent
- Challenging decisions
- MASH update
- Young Carers
- Overseas recruitment
- Happy Families Happy Futures
- Accessing Barred List information
- Volunteer DBS renewals
- Babcock training and dates
- Further resources
|
|
 |
Early Help information for Professionals
Visit the DCFP website for Early Help information including:
- Resources and downloads
- One Minute Guide
- Guide for the Right for Children system
- MASH contact details
How to contact Early Help:
|
DCFP Education Advisory Group | Feedback from 01/03/21 meeting
S175 Safeguarding Audit
A big thank you from the Babcock Safeguarding team for completing the S175 safeguarding audit, and we're pleased to report that for the first time ever there has been a 100% completion rate and a full analysis being completed. Did the slightly extended deadline date make a difference? Let us know via email.
Other safeguarding news includes:
- Social Worker in schools project is set to continue until the end of the academic year.
- Next Safeguarding conference being planned to support in relevant areas with pragmatic actions and steps for schools.
- Training materials for PREVENT and exploitation to made available for schools between now and September.
 Changes to the early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework
Prepare now for the Revised EYFS Framework statutory from September 2021
The aim of the 2021 EYFS reform is to strengthen early years curriculum, assessment and practice to improve outcomes for all children and close the gap for disadvantaged children. The DfE Summary of Changes include:
- Holistic curriculum
- Streamlined assessment
- Promotion of good oral health
The changes to the EYFS statutory framework are being made to:
- Improve outcomes at age 5, particularly in early language and literacy
- Reduce workload such as unnecessary paperwork, so you can spend more time with the children in your care
Pre-reception early years providers can get the facts about the changes and what they mean here | READ MORE
Early adopter schools: EYFS framework
The early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework sets the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to 5 | READ MORE
Early adopter schools: EYFS profile handbook
The early years foundation stage (EYFS) profile handbook provides guidance to schools on how to administer the EYFS profile assessment at the end of the reception year | READ MORE
Keep up to date:
 Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE)
Understanding Christianity: Offer to Community Schools
The latest SACRE meeting in February noted that a subsidy of £150 per school had been made available for the cost of the recent Understanding Christianity course (i.e. a teaching resource giving detailed support for the Christianity units in the Devon RE syllabus).
This subsidy was specifically for community schools and the course will be offered again in the Autumn 2021.
Contacts for RE support:
Ed Pawson: ed.pawson@exeter.anglican.org
Church schools: Tatiana Wilson at tatiana.wilson@exeter.anglican.org
SWIFT Update newsletter
Read the latest news and updates in issue 6 dated 29 April 2021 | READ MORE
|
Read the latest DAG newsletter Issue 218 (04/05/21) HERE
Reminder | Book the next DAG Chairs Forum (Monday 10 May 2021 at 6pm)
This next interactive session will ask the question: ‘How can governors and governing boards best work together to benefit all Devon schools?’. Members are asked to register in advance via email - dagclerk@gmail.com.
Visit the DAG website to subscribe to newsletters and register for DAG membership.
|
 Devon SLS would like to welcome the following school leaders taking up new posts in Devon schools this term and we look forward to seeing you at one of our forthcoming events:
-
Hannah Down - Acting Headteacher, Whitchurch Community Primary School
-
Louise Moretta - Headteacher, Cranbrook Education Campus, Ted Wragg MAT
School Leadership changes and Headteacher email updates
We should be grateful if you would kindly bring to our attention any known forthcoming or impending changes to school leadership roles eg. Headteacher, Head of school etc. as it is not always possible to pick these up, particularly within MATs and Federations.
Please email devonsls@devon.gov.uk
Additionally, 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.
|
