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The
third North Lincolnshire Governors’ Conference was held at Melior Community
Academy on 30 September 2017 which focussed on ‘Working Together to Strengthen Governance across North Lincolnshire’ and what a great day it was. Over half of our school governing bodies were
represented which allowed the opportunity for networking to be carried out and
best practice to be shared.
Peter Thorpe, (Director of Learning, Skills and Culture), opened the
Conference and spoke about the challenges we faced within North Lincolnshire
and the ways in which we all can work together to tackle them in order to
support all our children and the communities in which they live.
Following
Peter Thorpe, was our first keynote speaker, Emma Knights, (Chief Executive,
National Governors Association) who spoke to governors about the national
landscape of school governance and highlighted the areas that really mattered
to those of us involved, including providing informed thinking of how we can
move forward positively; of particular interest were ethical governance and how
groups of schools can work together in more creative ways.
Governors
then had the opportunity to attend different workshops which focussed on strengthening
governance through various ways, including developing robust strategies,
partnership working and using lessons from Ofsted and external reviews.
The
day ended with a powerful and inspiring reminder from Richard McCann on how
whatever start our children have in life, it is those of us involved in their
education that have the opportunity to ensure we inspire and enable them to
remember that they ‘can’ achieve whatever they aim for. As part of the strategic leadership within
schools, it is our challenge to tackle the persistent issues within our
schools, to promote inclusive practice for our vulnerable and disadvantaged
pupils and to ensure we develop our school to school support.
On
behalf of Governor Services, thank you to all those governors who took time out
on a Saturday to attend the Conference; you made the day the success it was and
we hope that it will enable you to move into the year ahead with renewed vigour
on ensuring our schools provide our children with the best start in life that
they all deserve.
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Through the North
Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board’s Service User Engagement Statement,
local partners including North Lincolnshire Council and Schools, are committed
to engaging with, listening to, and empowering children and young people at an
individual, service and strategic level.
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The North
Lincolnshire Youth Council (NLYC) and wider Young Voice activities are a great
opportunity for young people to have a voice and make a difference in the local
area.
The NLYC is a
constituted group for young people to have a voice, discuss relevant issues,
engage with, challenge and support decision makers and contribute to improving
the lives of young people in the area.
All young people aged 11 to 20 (or 25 for young people with additional
needs or specific interests) who live, work or go to school or college in the
area can attend the NLYC.
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The NLYC aims to:
- communicate and promote the views of young people
-
raise the profile of young people in a positive way
-
encourage young people to be good citizens, so they act with understanding and communicate between themselves and their communities
-
highlight issues affecting young people
-
shape and influence priority setting, service planning and delivery and ensure the views of young people are taken into account.
The membership of the NLYC has grown significantly and it is becoming increasingly representative of young people in the local area, the NLYC has influenced strategic priorities, commissioning processes, service planning and delivery, which places Young Voice firmly at the centre of improving outcomes in the area.
There are lots of other opportunities for young people to get involved and have their say leading to increased knowledge, improved self-confidence and enhanced skills which include:
Make
Your Mark - Annual youth ballot where young people vote about issues that
matter to them, the outcomes of which inform local, regional and national
action.
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Great Debate -
Established annual children and young people’s debating event where they have
an opportunity to have their say about things that matter to them.
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Youth
Elections - Young Mayor and Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) are elected in
area wide elections to represent their peers at a local, regional and national
level.
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Young Reporters -
Initiative developed to provide young people with another means for having an
independent voice and to enhance positive perceptions of young people.
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Young Inspectors -
Programme developed (involving youth councillors and children in care/care
leavers) to enhance opportunities to scrutinise, challenge, inform, influence
and develop service provision.
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In
addition, there are established workstreams arising from young people’s issues
and collaborative work to develop positive messages.
-
‘Be Unique’ top tips postcards, posters, stickers and peer to peer training workshop to promote positive body image.
- Positive Steps to emotional wellbeing leaflet and peer to peer training workshop. Led through one local school, the NLYC have also supported the development of the ‘Create the Change’ song which is an innovative way of sharing positive messages regarding emotional wellbeing.
- Development and launch of the ‘BE SMART’ Social Media Charter and associated resources to use with children, young people, parents, carers and schools to encourage and support them to be safe online.
- Development of Local Safeguarding Children’s Board annual report films, one of which was targeted at primary aged children and the other for secondary and college aged young people to raise awareness of the LSCB, its priorities and impacts.
Over the past year, the NLYC has been informed about, debated on and influenced developments on a range of issues, for example:
-
Child Sexual Exploitation
- Sexual Health services
- Autism awarenessAwareness-raising of different faiths
- Domestic abuse
- Dementia Friends
- Therapeutic services provision
- Young people’s positive emotional health and wellbeing
- LifeCentral wellbeing ‘app’ and website
- Education and Skills Plan 2020
- CAMHS Transformation Plan 2016 – 2020
- Children’s Strategy 2016 – 2020
- Commissioning of 0 to 19 service
The
Young Voice Annual
Report 2015/16
showcases some of the work undertaken by the NLYC and across wider Young Voice
activities. The Young Voice Annual Report 2017/18 will be available in the
Autumn Term.
For any further
information on the impact and outcomes for children and young people , please
contact the Participation Team on 0124 298440 or via young.voice@northlincs.gov.uk or visit the Youth Council page of our website.
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Stage
3 of the Tour of Britain took place on Tuesday 5 September 2017; the
whole stage was to take in villages and towns in North Lincolnshire.
There was great excitement at Burton upon Stather Primary School and activities
based around the tour commenced in the run up to the summer holidays. The
school decorated green wooden bikes which were put up around the village as
well as old bikes painted green. This really inspired the rest of the
parishioners who followed suit and before long the village was ready to welcome
the riders through.
The school was very excited to welcome a local professional rider to the school
before the summer holidays and Connor Swift from Team Madison Genesis came and
gave a fantastic insight into the life of a professional rider. Connor would be taking part in the Tour of
Britain and the pupils had some fantastic questions.
Year 6 pupils from the school were invited to ride out prior to the main riders
at the stage start in Normanby Hall. Training sessions took place in the summer
holidays and 16 pupils took to the start line; the crowds cheered as a police
escort led out the riders who travelled a short distance on the actual tour
route.
The pupils were then able to join the rest of the class in watching the race
pass through Normanby with the rest of the school, banners and flags in hand
welcomed Connor and the riders through the village.
All together it was a wonderful and inspiring event which the school were
excited to be an active part of.
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If yes, the local
authority's, Tuition and Medical Needs Team is here to support you.
Pupils who miss
school due to a medical or mental health need are entitled to receive 'good
quality' education in-line with the provision they would otherwise
receive at school. We can support
you in meeting the education needs of these vulnerable learners if:
- There is a diagnosis or pending diagnosis of a medical / mental health need (medical authorisation will be sought when the referral is received); and
- the pupil's home address is in North Lincolnshire; and
- the absence will last more than 15 school days. This can be in one episode, or over the academic year or if the pupil is attending school but for fewer than 10 hours per week.
The Tuition and
Medical Needs Team is a team of qualified and highly experienced primary and
secondary teachers, and a teaching assistant, based at the Learning Development
Centre in Scunthorpe. We work with schools, usually the SENCO, to provide
learning opportunities for young people while they are unable to attend school
due to their medical need. Depending on the specific individual need,
we can offer:
- Home tuition
- Small group sessions at our classroom at the LDC
- Hospital Tuition
- Specialist engagement work at St Nicholas House (CAMHS base)
- Support with phased transition back into school / alternative setting
If the school
would like to refer a young person for support, a referral form needs to
completed and returned. Subject to medical authorisation, a programme of
learning support will be agreed with the young person, their family and school.
The plan will work towards a timely return to school whenever possible.
To contribute
towards the cost of the service, the school will be invoiced on a termly basis,
for a proportion of the AWPU related to the amount and nature of tuition
provided.
You may wish to
refer to the relevant statutory guidance:
Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions, December 2015
and Ensuring a good education for
children who cannot attend school because of health needs
Statutory guidance for local authorities, January
2013
If you would like
to know more, or if your Medical Needs Governor would like to visit our
classroom, please contact Samantha Woad, Team Leader on samantha.woad@northlincs.gov.uk or call 07717586334 or
01724 298326.
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This term Governing Bodies Support Officers will be bringing to
governors’ attention the importance of developing strategies for succession
planning in school leadership and governance. Strategies could include
expanding opportunities to practise leadership skills, identifying individual
aspirations and talent for development and reflecting on current practice with
regard to both governors and staff.
Governors of schools that have attended the Education Standards Board
will be aware of the Signature of Risks document in which schools are asked to
evaluate the risks that may face the school.
The Governor Services Team has put together the signatures of risk
document for governing bodies which you may want to reflect upon with regard to
your own governing body.
Membership
- Resignation
of chair
- And/or
followed by resignation of vice chair
- Lack
of succession planning
- Carrying
vacancies
- Stagnant/coasting
governing bodies where membership has been static for a considerable period of
time
- Imbalance
in composition eg too many staff governors who then fail to hold the head
teacher to account
- Lack
of expertise in key areas of core function – failure to utilise a skills’ audit
when appointing
- Large
percentage of terms of office coming to
an end at the same time due to reconstitution (unavoidable but noteworthy)
- Allowing
people into the governing body meeting without DBS clearance (safeguarding)
Functions
- Too much information being sent out, making it
impossible for governors to digest
- Information only provided at the meeting (
- Governing body not inducting new governors fully
eg not ensuring that the induction training is attended and not providing
mentoring support
- Lack of contact with the school by the majority
of governors – this makes it impossible to monitor and triangulate what
governors are told at meetings.
- Not understanding the distinction between the
strategic role of governors and the management of the school by the SLT.
- A chair who does not engage with the governors
and/or the Local Authority – this indicates that advice is not being heeded.
- Failure to heed the clerk’s advice/guidance.
- Failure to understand the difference between
Parts A and B information (Part A open scrutiny by the public)
- Where the governing body is effectively run by
the head teacher, then that governing body is vulnerable when the head teacher
resigns/retires
- Lack of understanding of the financial function
– failure to have knowledge and understanding of SFVS could lead to head
misappropriating funds without governor knowledge
- Failure to declare pecuniary interests or
personal interests
- Failure to adhere to code of conduct
- Reluctance to engage with other governing boards
to share/observe good practice
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1948 – 2017
David Thomson passed away after a short illness on the 2nd of August. This October marks the 25th anniversary of David’s service as a governor within North Lincolnshire.
David began as a parent governor at Bottesford Junior School when his children, Ross and Susan were pupils. Whilst carrying on as a governor at Bottesford, he then became a governor at Frederick Gough secondary school once his children moved into that phase of their education. David remained active at Fred Gough until very recently and at the time of his passing was the Chair of Governors at Bottesford Juniors.
David was a very active governor – he enjoyed coming into school and working with the children. He attended countless trips and was attended virtually every performance and event.
David brought a wealth of experience to the role of governor – from his employment experience as well as his role as parent and family man. He was a calm, collected individual who could always be relied upon to offer sound advice and a rational, balanced view. He was perceptive and knowledgeable, but most of all, he was caring. He cared deeply about the schools he was involved in. He cared about the pupils and their parents and, just as much, he cared about the staff who worked in the schools. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
David’s service to governance has been recognized through a posthumous long service award. On the 20th October, Bottesford Juniors held a fund raising event – ‘David Thomson Day’. The aim of the day was to raise funds to be used to create a memorial area in school and to remember the contribution that David made to the school.
During a special assembly, David’s posthumous long service award was presented to David’s children, Ross and Susan and his granddaughter, Lilly.
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Many schools routinely
purchase tablet devices as and when they need them. The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) aggregation team and the Department for Education (DfE) wanted to
help schools bring together their requirements and achieve savings through using ‘sector collective
buying power’.
Sector collective buying power allows a group to negotiate better discounts thanks to the larger size of the requirement.
CCS managed a procurement on behalf of a group of 95 schools,
who had submitted their interest in the project.
Using the CCS Technology Products agreement (contract
number RM1054), the schools selected the items and volumes
which they wished to purchase from a choice of tablet devices.
A total of over 2,200
devices were specified with savings of
up to 36 per cent against pre auction
value. These results clearly
demonstrate that by combining
volumes and using a standard specification for a commodity product or service, significant cost savings can quickly be achieved.
The CCS would like to hear from customers
across the education sector who are interested in securing savings by combining
their requirements with other organisations on a range of common goods and services including IT hardware, mobile services and other telephony services.
Find out more about future opportunities on our technology
aggregation pipeline.
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Staff in the Trust’s community services had something to celebrate recently when the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated them as ‘good’.
The CQC inspected services in November 2016 and published their report on April 6 2017.
Trusts are rated on five key domains; safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. While the Trust was rated ‘inadequate’ overall staff in community services were celebrating as they had moved from a ‘requires improvement’ rating in 2016 to a ‘good’ rating.
The services inspected were community services for adults, which was rated on the ‘safe’ and ‘well-led’ domains, community services for children, young people and families, which was rated on the ‘safe’ domain and community end of life care services which was rated under the ‘effective’ and ‘well led’ domains. The CQC rated all aspects of all services as ‘good’. Among the teams visited during the inspection were district nursing teams, podiatry, physiotherapy, health visiting, looked after children team and stroke rehabilitation services. Inspectors noted families were positive about the care they had received, staff were well trained, there was a learning culture and services were planned and delivered to meet people’s needs.
Karen Fanthorpe, associate chief operating officer for community and therapy services, said: “I would like to offer a heartfelt thank-you to all of our staff. I am so proud of what they have achieved.
“We must now ensure that we maintain and embed the standards that have been achieved and look towards providing evidence of outstanding care in the future.”
The senior team within the directorate received a thank-you card from Richard Sunley, interim chief executive.
Richard said: “ I would like to congratulate our staff in community services for this achievement. As a Trust we need to look at what good practice we can learn from staff in these teams to help us improve quality across our services as a whole.
“They have demonstrated that it is possible to move up the CQC ratings and to deliver consistent, high quality care for our patients.”
You can view the full reports on the CQC website. Pictured above are staff from a range of community services at Global House.
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Schools: statutory guidance
www.gov.uk/government/collections/statutory-guidance-schools
PE and sport premium: funding allocations for 2017 to 2018
www.gov.uk/government/publications/pe-and-sport-premium-funding-allocations-for-2017-to-2018
COLLECT guides for schools and local authorities
www.gov.uk/government/publications/collect-guides-for-schools-and-local-authorities
Literacy and numeracy catch-up strategies
www.gov.uk/government/publications/literacy-and-numeracy-catch-up-strategies
Exclusion from maintained schools, academies and pupil
referral units in England (September 2017)
www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-exclusion
Governance handbook and competency framework (updated)
www.gov.uk/government/publications/governance-handbook
Financial benchmarking
www.gov.uk/guidance/schools-financial-efficiency-financial-benchmarking
Academies Financial Handbook
www.gov.uk/government/publications/academies-financial-handbook
To view all live consultations please see the Department for Education’s website.
Training Links:
For access to the booking online for North Lincolnshire
Governor Training sessions
http://servicesforeducation.org.uk/Training
Access to the Learning Links Online training available
through the Governor Training SLA
https://nga.vc-enable.co.uk
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November
Tuesday 7 November, 5.30pm to 7.30pm - Learning Walks - effective monitoring through focused visits to school. St Peter and St Paul's CE Primary School
Wednesday 8 November, 6pm to 8pm - Head Teacher Appraisal. Learning Development Centre (LDC)
Saturday 11 November, 9.15am to 3.30pm - How to be an Effective Governor Modules 1, 2 and 3. LDC
Tuesday 21 November, 6pm to 8pm - Child Protection and Safeguarding for Governors. LDC
Tuesday 28 November, 6pm to 8pm - Strategic Finance for Governors. LDC
January
Wednesday 3 January 2018, 6pm to 8pm - Governors' Leadership Briefing. LDC
Thursday 04 January 2018, 10am to 12pm - Governors' Leadership Briefing. LDC
Thursday 18 January 2018, 6pm to 8pm - Pupil Exclusions. LDC
Wednesday 31 January 2018, 6pm to 8pm - Understanding Data and Asking the Right Questions - Session One. LDC
February
Wednesday 7 February 2018, 6pm to 8pm - Closing the Gap Part 1 - An Introductory Course. LDC
Wednesday 21 February 2018, 6pm to 8pm - Special Educational Needs and Disability Update - the role of the SEND governor. LDC
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