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 Schools Executive Committee (SEC) (DSLS SEC Membership 2022-23) 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.
Local authorities have a duty to determine the school term dates for community and voluntary controlled schools in their area and recommend these dates for adoption by governors of foundation, voluntary aided, trust maintained, academies and free schools. It is hoped that, for consistency across Devon, that all schools will adopt the recommended term dates. as different dates can impact heavily on families’ holiday and childcare arrangements and school transport costs.
Term dates for 2024/25 & 2025/26 will shortly be going out to consultation and schools will need to consider these years in particular as the late timing of Easter impacts on the number of weeks each side of the Whitsun break in the summer term.
Careers guidance and access for education and training providers
The DfE has updated its statutory guidance for schools and colleges on providing careers guidance. This reflects changes to the provider access legislation which came into effect on 1 January this year, and the government’s response to a consultation on proposed changes to the ‘Access for education and training providers’ section. READ MORE
Additionally, primary school pupils are to benefit from careers support and a change to the law will give more young people access to advice about technical education READ MORE
Calculating holiday entitlement for part-year and irregular hours workers
The DfE are seeking views on proposals to pro-rata holiday entitlement for part-year and irregular hours workers based on the annual hours they work. This is following the recent Supreme Court judgment in Harpur Trust v Brazel. READ MORE
This consultation closes at
New on-line ‘Request for support’ form for children in Devon launches on 16 January 2023
To make requesting early help support or reporting a safeguarding concern quick and simple for everyone, Devon Children’s Services has been working with partners to develop a new, intuitive online ‘Request for support’ form.
The new form will be available to use from 16 January 2023 and can be accessed by anyone from the Devon Children and Families Partnership (DCFP) website.
The form has been designed to have three routes - for professionals, members of the public and children and young people - to request both early help support or to report a safeguarding concern.READ MORE
Please look out for further communications along with a link to the live form in the week beginning Monday 16 January.
If a child is at immediate risk contact the police on 999.
Let’s Talk Pre Teens
As a result of the resounding success of the Let’s Talk Teenagers programme South Devon and Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership are pleased to offer FREE online sessions for parents and carers of pre-teens this month. READ MORE
Back to school - 5 things to do to help manage winter illness
UKHSA has published a blog which sets out some of the simple actions that parents of school-age children can take to help protect their families and those around them against winter illnesses currently circulating. READ MORE
Innovation Grants Scheme 2023-24 opens for applications
Devon County Council Innovation Grants Scheme for disabled children is now open for applications for 2023-24. READ MORE
DCC SEND Improvement Update
TheSEND Improvement Partnership Board has been meeting every two weeksthis autumn. The board includes senior representatives from Devon County Council (DCC), NHS Devon, and other delivery organisations. Parent carers are represented on the board through the Parent Carer Forum Devon. READ MORE
ESFA Update contains the latest information and actions from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for academies, colleges, local authorities and further education providers. READ MORE
DAG Newsletter
Click here to view the latest newsletter from DAG.
