Autumn Term | 2 December 2022
 The DSLS Schools Executive Committee (SEC) is the operational sub-group of Devon SLS. Membership of the SEC is made up of six primary and six secondary school leaders plus some co-opted Associate members. The SEC is the core consultative and advisory group for schools working on behalf of Devon SLS. Together with the other SEC committee members, our commitment to you is that we will work hard collectively to ensure that there is a strong, operational link between schools, DCC and other stakeholders, and act as the unified voice for schools.
Details of the SEC membership can be found here.
This newsletter is dedicated to a summary of Working Group news and feedback; many meetings take place across the academic year and our representatives attend these meetings on your behalf to ensure that our schools' voice is heard and that all schools and leaders are represented fairly.
And finally, please make Devon SLS Updates newsletter your regular read and check that colleagues within your leadership team are also signed up - subscribe via the links in the closing section below.
Paul Walker | Chair, Schools Executive Committee
 DSLS Working Group Representatives
To ensure that the voice of schools is heard, Devon school leaders attend numerous statutory boards and working groups across the county.
Each year, representation on these groups is reviewed and the following representatives were agreed for 2022-23: DSLS Working Group Representatives
Additionally, the SEC acts as a conduit for two-way communication to regularly update schools with key messages and on work being undertaken at local authority groups. See the updates from the various autumn term meetings below.
 Devon Education Forum (DEF)
Read more about the Devon Education Forum (DEF) objectives, terms of reference, minutes and agendas H E R E.
Following the conclusion of the election process earlier this term, please note the details of DEF Membership and Named Substitutes effective from 1 September 2022.
Representatives will attend the following DEF meeting dates for the 2022/23 academic year:
- Wednesday 23 November 2022.
- Wednesday 18 January 2023.
- Wednesday 22 March 2023.
- Wednesday 21 June 2023.
Further information on Devon Education Forum to include the Constitution, details of full membership and minutes of meetings etc. is available on the Devon County Council website.
Devon Education Forum (DEF) met on 23 November 2023 and key items on the agenda included:
Education and Learning Annual Performance report Autumn 2022 - Rachel Shaw, DCC Interim Head of Education - See below
Finance Update – Month 6 Monitoring of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) including a proposal to change top-up funding arrangements for Resource Bases with effect from 1/1/23.
The 2023/2024 Schools Funding Consultation Responses were also considered, and votes taken on recommendations from the 9/11/22 meeting of Schools Finance Group (SFG) including the L/A Proposal to transfer 0.5% from the Schools Block to the High Needs locks Block for 2023-24 through a one-off transfer of the growth fund surplus.
DEF Members voted to support the SFG recommendations except for L/A Proposal for the 0.5% Transfer and the local authority are now to make a Disapplication Request to the Secretary of State.
Headteacher and Governor representatives of L/A Maintained schools were also asked to consider the de-delegation request to fund a continuation of the DCC School Improvement Service (estimated cost £18.81 per pupil). Given concerns around cost, capacity and effectiveness, this decision was deferred to the January meeting of DEF to enable to L/A to provide more clarity around the SI offer and further consultation with its schools.
 Read more about the Schools Finance Group (SFG) objectives, terms of reference, minutes and agendas H E R E.
- Next SFG meeting date - 6 January 2023
Homes for Ukraine – Education and Childcare Funding
- £1000 lump sum funding when child first starts on roll (not for in-year transfers)
- Further £500 per student on roll at the start of each half-term thereafter
- New starters not eligible for further £500 until the half term after they start
- Funding will not follow students for in-year transfers
- DCC are requesting that schools complete the following smart survey for the Autumn half term and again in the Spring term.
- Funding has been retained by the L/A for central costs. Details of the EMTAS H4U offer can be found here.
- A contingency will be held for the 2023-24 financial year as it remains unclear if DfE funding will continue into the new year. The funding position will be continually reviewed by SFG.
 Read more about the Schools Organisation, Capital and Admissions (SOCA) objectives, terms of reference, minutes and agendas H E R E
- Next SOCA meeting date - 6 December 2022
Schools are to note the following:
Annual consultation on School Admission Arrangements 2024/2025
Devon’s annual consultation on School Admission Arrangements 2024/2025 is now running and will close on Friday 6 January 2023.
Details of the consultation are at Admissions, transport and relevant areas consultation – Education and Families (devon.gov.uk)
Responses must be submitted either by email to schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk or in writing to School Admissions and Transport Consultation, Devon County Council, Room L60, County Hall, Exeter EX2 4QG by Friday 6 January 2023. All responses will be shared with schools and considered. A report will be presented to Devon County Council’s Cabinet meeting on Friday 10 February 2023 for determination including the individual admission policies for community and voluntary controlled schools.
For more information, please contact Andrew Brent, Senior Policy Officer, 01392 383000
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Key Updates from Devon County Council
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New appointments at DCC
Following an intense and robust interview process, Donna Manson has been offered and has accepted the post of Chief Executive for Devon County Council.
Subject to ratification at Full Council on 8 December 2022, Donna will join the Council in February. READ MORE
Julian Wooster has been appointed as Interim Director of Children’s Services (DCS) at the Council, pending a more permanent appointment to this vital role. Julian will join the Council in January.
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Message from Rachel Shaw and Matthew Shanks
Dear Colleagues,
We wanted to thank everyone for the positive feedback we have had from our recent attendance at leadership meetings where we have presented the challenges faced by our children and young people in Devon and the strategic direction we want to take to support schools. We know that these are challenging times and we are sharing difficult messages but it has been really encouraging to see the commitment and drive to work together to find solutions.
Below, is a brief overview of the strategy which is focussed on doing all we can to help get children back into the education system and then support schools in keeping them there. Currently, we have higher rates of absence than national, high numbers of elective home education and increasing rates of suspension and exclusion. We know that settings are struggling with the challenges of meeting the diverse needs of children and, in turn, many of our children and young people are struggling to feel a sense of belonging and distancing themselves from their settings. Currently, a lot of the services we provide are being used to support children who are not regularly attending a setting so if we can address this, then services will be able to focus more on support in schools.
We have therefore asked the teams within Devon Education Services to develop plans to help address these areas and would also ask that you consider what changes you might need to make in your setting to help foster a sense of belonging for all children and young people. If you have any good examples of systemic change that you have put in place to address this need then please do let us know so we can share ideas with you all.
Best wishes,
Rachel & Matthew
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DCC Education and Learning Annual Performance report Autumn 2022
 
Changes to key stage 2 assessment dates in 2023
A change to the KS2 test schedule next year will be necessary due to the additional bank holiday in honour of the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III taking place on Monday 8 May 2023. READ MORE
Ofqual - Supporting resilience in the exam system in 2023
Guidance for schools, colleges and other exam centres on gathering evidence of student performance for students entering GCSEs, AS and A levels, the Advanced Extension Award and Project qualifications to support resilience in the exam system in 2023. READ MORE
Hundreds of formerly outstanding schools reinspected
Ofsted has published a commentary on inspection outcomes for previously exempt outstanding schools reinspected in 2021/22. READ MORE
Local authorities having to find homes for children at the ‘last minute’
A recently published, Ofsted report finds that local authorities are struggling to find homes for children coming into care. READ MORE
HMCI commentary: publishing our new area SEND framework
Amanda Spielman announces the joint Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) report on the area SEND consultation and a new area SEND inspection framework. READ MORE
Improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) publish a report on the area SEND consultation and a new area SEND inspection framework. READ MORE
 Children and young people’s consultation: Changing the way we look into services for children and young people with SEND
Ofsted & CQC consultation outcome READ MORE
Area SEND: framework and handbook
This framework and handbook document sets out Ofsted’s inspection principles, guidance and the main judgements that inspectors make when inspecting area SEND. READ MORE
Letter from the Education Secretary to the sector on the Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) improvement plan
The Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan MP, has written to the sector outlining her vision for the publication of the Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) Improvement Plan and her commitment to meet with families and organisations ahead of its publication early next year.
To read the letter in full visit the Department for Education (DfE) Education Hub.
Prevent duty self-assessment tool for schools
Self-assessment tool to help schools in England review their responsibilities under the Prevent duty. READ MORE
The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation
Support for those working in education settings with safeguarding responsibilities. READ MORE
Important - Child in Care Survey
The Bright Spots survey which aims to gather the views of Devon's young people about being in care has an extended deadline until the 23rd December 2022. Sadly, to date there has only been an 18% response out of a total of 483 young people in care. The survey is a fantastic opportunity for us in Devon to gather the views from our young people about the care and service provided to Devon's most vulnerable children. READ MORE
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DAG Newsletter
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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
  Click here to read the latest news from DiAS
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