Autumn Term | 17 November 2022
DSLS Autumn School Leadership Briefing
10 November 2022 - Sandy Park Conference Centre, Exeter
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to last week's Briefing event at the Sandy Park Conference Centre. We hope that you found the speakers informative and helpful. Links to further resources as referenced at the event are now available to view/download here.
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DSLS Annual School Leadership Conference 2023
12 & 13 October 2023
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We are delighted to announce that bookings have now opened for the 2023 Conference.
Target audience: primary and secondary school leaders and other members of the school leadership team.
Guarantee your place at the 2023 conference. Over 40 bookings received so far!
One booking form per delegate required. Terms and conditions apply, please see the online booking form for further details.
DSLS Spring School Leadership Briefing
1 March 2023 (provisional date) - venue TBC
Online Bookings are also now being taken for the DSLS Spring School Leadership Briefing on Wednesday 1 March 2023. Agenda and guest speaker details to follow. Please see the Booking Form for Terms and Conditions.
N.B. We may need to change the date slightly due to speaker availability. Confirmed date will be communicated as soon as possible and bookings will be automatically transferred subject to agreement.
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Key Updates from Devon County Council
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Please see below a message from Jan Spicer, Interim Chief Executive of Devon County Council.
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing to inform you that Melissa Caslake has left her post as Director of Children’s Services.
We have put in place some immediate temporary measures to ensure the stability of the service while we make plans for the longer term. Lisa Bursill (Deputy Chief Officer for Children’s Services and Head of Social Care) will be acting up as DCS, and Janet Fraser (Deputy Chief Officer for Children’s Health and Wellbeing) will take on Lisa’s previous role as Head of Children’s Social Care. Aisling Khan, who has been recruited to replace Janet when she retires, will bring forward her starting date and will join Devon on 15 November.
Rachel Shaw and Matthew Shanks will continue in their roles as Head of Education. Jackie Ross will continue in her role as SEND Strategic Director.
These are temporary measures but I am confident they are robust, and will provide continuity of leadership, guidance and support to staff while we recruit a permanent and experienced DCS. The senior leadership team, with support from me, and our lead member for children, Councillor Leadbetter, will continue to focus on our key priorities for improvement across children’s services.
I have written to all Children’s Services staff with the news and the planned interim leadership arrangements within the service, and will be speaking to delivery partners and to wider stakeholder groups over the coming days. The DfE, OFSTED and our Commissioner, Mat Dunkley, have been informed and we will be working closely with them over the coming weeks to ensure the best possible approach is taken going forwards.
With best wishes,
Jan Spicer
Interim Chief Executive
Free holiday activities with hot meals now available for children during the Christmas 2022 holidays
School holidays can be particularly difficult for some families because of increased costs, such as food, especially now, when costs of living are so high, and rising.
DCC have arranged a programme of funded holiday-time activities, with hot meals, to run for up to four days over the Christmas 2022 school holiday READ MORE
Please share this with your parents and families.
Carers Rights Day Webinar
The Devon Multi-Agency Young Carers Steering Group would like to invite you to join them to attend a webinar for Carers Rights Day, to be held on Wednesday 23rd November 2022, from 10am - 12pm.
The webinar will give you a chance to learn about: the rights of young carers, support available to young carers, as well as time to think about how young carers are supported in your organisation currently and share ideas with others.
Please click here to sign up to attend.
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Millions invested in language lessons
Thousands of students to benefit from high quality language teaching and new Centre of Excellence. READ MORE
Improving attendance: good practice for schools and multi-academy trusts
Schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs) share their different techniques for improving attendance rates in their settings. READ MORE
Prevent duty self-assessment tool for schools
Self-assessment tool to help schools in England review their responsibilities under the Prevent duty. READ MORE
Making a referral to Prevent
Find out how to report any concerns you have about a child, young person or adult learner who you think may be vulnerable to being drawn into extremism. READ MORE
The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation
Support for those working in education settings with safeguarding responsibilities. READ MORE
Early education is vital for children born in lockdown
Ofsted has published the first in a series of reviews on early years education. READ MORE
Best start in life: a research review for early years
A series of subject-based curriculum research reviews focused on early years education. READ MORE
Ofsted’s thematic review of careers guidance: terms of reference
Ofsted will carry out a thematic review of careers guidance for young people in schools and further education and skills providers, following these terms of reference. READ MORE
Schools need more specialist help for primary age children with additional needs
New Ofsted research, finds a lack of access to specialist help means more primary school children with additional needs are being referred to alternative provision (AP). READ MORE
Alternative provision for primary-age pupils in England: a long-term ‘destination’ or a ‘temporary solution'?
A report on alternative provision (AP) for pupils of primary school age, based on discussions with parents and staff from primary schools, alternative providers and local authorities. READ MORE
‘Now the whole school is reading’: supporting struggling readers in secondary school
Ofsted carried out a research project on struggling readers in secondary schools. This report sets out the findings and recommendations. READ MORE
Better assessment needed to get the most out of tutoring
Ofsted has published the first of 2 independent reviews of the government’s flagship tutoring programme in schools and further education providers. READ MORE
Bullying, prejudice and racism incidents (BPRI) resource
(updated September 2022)
This resource replaces ‘Bullying and Prejudice Related Incidents: preventing and responding September 2012’ guidance.
Bullying, prejudice and racism incidents (BPRI) resource (updated September 2022) - Support for schools and settings (devon.gov.uk)
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Devon Education Services Safeguarding Newsletter
Click here to read November's Safeguarding Newsletter.
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 Welcome to Trevor Doughty as new chair of the SEND Improvement Partnership board
DCC welcomes Trevor Doughty as the chair of the new improvement partnership board for SEND READ MORE
Autism in Schools Programme 2022/23
Please click here for a letter about the new Autism in Schools Programme.
Closing date for expressions of interest is 21 November 2022 by email to Paul Lamanna, Professional Lead for Communication & Interaction, AET South West strategic partner - paul.lamanna@devon.gov.uk
New speech and language courses to help young children catch up after COVID-19
The Way We Talk training programme is breaking the link between speech, language and communication needs and disadvantage, exacerbated by COVID-19, to improve relationships, resilience, social, emotional, mental health and life chances.
The training courses are aimed at professionals and parents and carers. Training is being delivered by various partner organisations in Devon and is an important part of Devon County Council’s ambitions to become a Child Friendly Devon so that children and young people can look forward to their future with excitement, optimism and ambition.
READ MORE
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Temporary change to the educational psychology (EP) service delivery model
DCC's work to deliver traded work (through service level agreements) in schools is paused until the end of December. A limited amount of EP support commissioned for the most vulnerable children, such as those in care, will be delivered. Critical Incident Support for any setting will be provided as usual Critical incident pack for schools – Support for schools and settings (devon.gov.uk) - READ MORE
  SWIFT News
Click here to view the latest news from SWIFT.
 Click here to read the latest news from DiAS
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.
Additionally, Devon SLS member schools have access to the Devon SLS Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - free individual access to confidential information, support and counselling service plus the option of purchasing for the whole school at a discounted price.
Question or need support? Contact us:
E ahead@devonsls.co.uk T 01392 325890
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Keep up to date:
Contact: Fran Butler Early Years and Childcare Sufficiency Lead, DCC
E-mail: fran.butler@devon.gov.uk
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DAG Newsletter
Click here to view the latest newsletter from DAG.
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 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 office@devonsls.co.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 DCC.
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.
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