Please note that with changes to the Disclosure and Barring Service over the years, the 2010 blanket letter now no longer applies because not all Gloucestershire County Council posts in schools fall under the definition of a Regulated Activity. More information is available on the Bulletin Board at the above link.
The DfE has implemented a new Helpline available to early years settings, schools and colleges who have been informed of a confirmed case of COVID-19 within their setting. Further details are available on the Bulletin Board at the above link.
Some children will spend a significant amount of time travelling to and from school on dedicated or public bus services, and there is concern that the guidance set out at the start of the academic year, is not always followed. Please see the Bulletin Board at the above link for guidance for children and young people.
Schools will be aware that the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) announced that it would be making telephone calls to schools to check that arrangements to manage Covid-19 risks are in place.
We now have established that a contractor called Civica is undertaking this work for the HSE. Schools should check who is making contact before responding.
In response to the on-going coronavirus pandemic and to support disadvantaged and vulnerable Children and Young People, the Department for Education (DfE) will be issuing more laptops to support home learning. Further information is available on the Bulletin Board at the above link.
Please see the Bulletin Board at the above link for a flowchart outlining what parents should do if their child is ill.
With Covid-19 there has been a marked increase in children and families accessing food support. The predicted rise in the number of new vulnerable families due to the economic impact of Covid, means that it is increasingly important to be aware of the support available to ensure families don’t go hungry. A range of resources is available on the Bulletin Board at the above link.
Please see the Bulletin Board at the above link for information on working together to support children's return to school and monitor attendance.
There is no longer a requirement to process ParentPay refunds using the temporary process; you should therefore be able to process refunds as per the usual processes. Additional information is available on the Bulletin Board at the above link.
The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) has confirmed that KS1 and KS2 writing moderators who were approved to moderate in 2020 and/or 2019 are permitted to undertake external moderation in 2021. Further information is available on the Bulletin Board at the above link.
Gloucestershire local authority (LA) wishes to appoint new external moderators to complete statutory end of KS1 moderation in June 2021. Please see the Bulletin Board at the above link for further details.
The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) has published guidance for schools administering the PSC to Y2 pupils (2020 Term 2). Schools can select past materials (2017-2019), including modified versions. Deadlines for returns can be found on page 3 of the guidance document above.
If colleagues you know have ceased to receive Heads Up in recent months, could you please ask them to check their junk folders? We have had several instances recently where we have been asked to add email addresses that already exist in the system and on further investigation Heads have found it in their junk folders.
