Heads Up - 8 October 2020

Gloucestershire County Council sent this bulletin at 08-10-2020 02:38 PM BST

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Colleagues are encouraged to see the Bulletin Board which is updated as new information arrives.

Date: 8 October 2020

Heads Up replaces the Covid-19 Briefings and will be published weekly until further notice.

Safeguarding

Ofsted Inspections

Ofsted plan to carry out more than 1,000 visits to schools during this term, to check on how pupils are being supported in their return to full-time education following the disruption caused by Covid-19. The visits are not inspections and will not result in a graded judgement. However, Ofsted has said previously that these new visits can be converted into an inspection if it has major concerns about safeguarding or leadership. Please see the Bulletin Board at the above link for further information.

Section 175/157 Annual Audit

This year’s Section 175/157 annual survey will be launched early December 2020 with a completion date of February 2021. The format will be similar to last year and will once again be an on-line audit hosted by Foster Brown Research Ltd.

Safeguarding Administrators Course - 23 February and 9 March 2021

Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Executive is pleased to announce an additional date in February 2021 for the safeguarding course for administrators. Please see the Bulletin Board at the above link for further details and booking form.

Covid-19 Information for Schools

Key Communications from DfE for Schools (updated from 29/09/20)

Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education (updated from 29.9.20) are available on the Bulletin Board at the above link.

Close contact and requirement to self isolate

Secondary schools are aiming to maintain social distancing between teachers and pupils so they can be considered separate to the year group bubble, but if this was breached any teachers that had close contact would also need to self isolate. Further information is available on the Bulletin Board at the above link.

All Schools

School Email Addresses

To ensure schools do not miss out on vital communications from the council, they need to inform us when changes to email addresses occur – for example when there is a change of Headteacher or a school converts to an academy. Please email headsup@gloucestershire.gov.uk to inform of any change of email address for either the Headteacher or the school admin office. Additional information is available on the Bulletin Board at the above link.

Wellbeing for Education Return Training

The Educational Psychology Service is preparing the rollout of training for all Gloucestershire schools as part of the DfE’s Wellbeing for Education Return training package. Please see the Bulletin Board at the above link for further details.

Looking beyond the non-attendance – a missing and child exploitation perspective

From a missing and child exploitation perspective, truanting, absence, or non attendance are all a cause for concern. Please see the Bulletin Board at the above link for a joint message from the Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, Gloucestershire Constabulary, Children’s Services, Youth Support team and the Education Hub.

Consultation for the Gloucestershire Relevant Area for School Admission Arrangements

The admissions team are seeking views on changing the relevant area for Gloucestershire (i.e. the minimum area to be consulted when all schools and academies undertake consultations on proposed admission arrangements). Please see the Bulletin Board at the above link for further details.

Beware: Increased train traffic at level crossings

Engineering work in the Bristol area means trains are being diverted via Gloucester between 24 October and 7 November and there will be a significant increase in high-speed trains on the line. A letter for parents/guardians is available on the Bulletin Board at the above link.

Primary and Special

Get your pupils moving more with the free Daily Mile ‘Destinations’ resource

'Daily Mile Destinations’ can help you along your journey this year, keeping your pupils fit, focused and flourishing – the journey is in your hands. Please see the Bulletin Board at the above link for additional information.

NSPCC – Speak Out, Stay Safe Programme

The NSPCC has newly-launched online assemblies and resources, so that Gloucestershire’s primary schools can still access the NSPCC’s Speak out. Stay safe programme during the Covid-19 pandemic. Further information is available on the Bulletin Board at the above link.

Secondary

UK Youth Parliament Elections - update

Many thanks to everyone who has supported pupils to stand as candidates in the upcoming Youth Parliament by elections. We have had an overwhelming response and have 20 young people standing. Please see the Bulletin Board at the above link for further details.

Previous issues of Heads Up, for the current academic year, are available on Schoolsnet at this link

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