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portsmouth city council
Portsmouth Education Partnership

PEP Bulletin

December 2018

PEP Blog

As part of the PEP Bulletin a regular blog from senior leaders across the city will be included.  This month's Blog comes from Cate Worrall, Principal of Portsmouth Primary SCITT

Portsmouth Primary SCITT - It’s LEARNING not TEACHING - together we can make a difference

When a group of headteachers established Portsmouth Primary SCITT in 2000, little did they know that 18 years later, it would still be providing excellent teachers for the city and beyond. We have been OUTSTANDING since 2004 and have just recently been awarded the accolade once again. We are still driven by a committed group of headteachers who are passionate about children’s learning.

Some of the highlights of our recent (Nov 18) report are:

  • At the heart of the partnership’s success is the relentless determination to achieve the highest quality and standards, with the intended impact on pupils’ learning at the focal point;
  • Trainees are exceedingly well prepared for the realities and rigours of teaching, they are resilient; the SCITT’s systematic approach leads to good habits and self-sufficient strategies;
  • Employment rates are exceptionally high; critically, retention of former trainees in the profession is impressively high, bucking the national trend;
  • Trainees are confident, articulate, receptive and extremely reflective;
  • Exceptional leadership of the SCITT Principal, who is reliably supported by the much praised Business Manager.

‘For a prolonged period, the Portsmouth SCITT has been conspicuously successful in fulfilling its original purpose of being, ‘Set up by Portsmouth, for Portsmouth’. While the partnership’s reach extends beyond the confines of the city, the SCITT has undoubtedly been a vital supply line of high-quality professionals for the city’s schools over many years. Many Portsmouth schools employ former trainees, many of whom are now mentors, middle leaders, and even deputy or headteachers.’

Having taught in the city for 22 years, Portsmouth is a city that grabs and instils some kind of ‘Passion for Portsmouth’ in you. This passion is at the heart of the work that the Portsmouth Education Partnership (PEP) is driving with the Teacher Recruitment & Retention Group. We are concentrating on strategies to further support teacher retention and recruitment. Already we have seen several initiatives originating from our sub groups, such as the very successful Teach Portsmouth Awards. We are fortunate to work in a city, where the PEP understands the importance of championing teaching. There is a strong sense of local identity and a shared commitment to train and retain high quality teachers.

Please get in touch if you know anyone interested in bespoke primary training.

Cate Worrall


Early Years                                  

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Year R Spring Term Seminar

Date : 28th January 2019 1:30-3:30 pm & 6:30-8:30 pm
Venue : The Portsmouth Academy Training and Learning Centre

Boosting Communication Language and Literacy through Movement
Are children moving enough?  Have environmental, social and cultural changes impacted on language development?  Physical competency impacts on brain development and function as movement underpins all learning in early childhood.  Discover how on this practical 2hr seminar. 

For further information email eyworkforce@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Bookings will open on Monday 7th January 2019 on the Portsmouth Services Network website.


Leadership, recruitment and retention                                     

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Portsmouth Primary SCITT rated as Outstanding

Congratulations to Portsmouth Primary SCITT (school-centred initial teacher training) which has been rated as Outstanding by Ofsted following the inspection which concluded in November 2018. Inspectors commented:

'There is a crystal clear and consistent sense of purpose throughout the partnership. At the heart of the partnership’s success is a relentless determination to achieve the highest quality and standards, with the intended impact of teaching on pupils’ learning and progress as the focal point of all training'.

A full copy of the report can be found here.


Portsmouth Primary ITE Programme rated as Outstanding following inspection of the University of Portsmouth ITE Partnership

Congratulations to the University of Portsmouth following the Ofsted inspection of the ITE Partnership. The overall effectiveness of the Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Partnership was good in early years, outstanding in primary; good in secondary; and outstanding in further education. The full report can be found here here.

And congratulations to the Portsmouth Teaching School Alliance for the provision they offer as part of the partnership arrangement with the University of Portsmouth in terms of the Portsmouth Primary programme which offers the School Direct route to QTS. This provision was rated as Outstanding. A copy of the report can be found here.


Teach Portsmouth Awards 2019

Following initial positive feedback from Head Teachers, we have just started planning for Teach Portsmouth Week 2019. I thought you would appreciate early notice of the dates.

Teach Portsmouth Week 2019 will take place from 30th September to 4th October 2019 with the Teach Portsmouth Awards Ceremony 2019 on the 4th October 2019. Please note these dates for your diary.

We have a small working group who are planning next year's events, and a few amendments or changes have been suggested. You are also very welcome to contact Sarah Christopher (sarah.christopher@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or 023 9268 8940)  if you would like to discuss any aspect of Teach Portsmouth Week.


Governor vacancy advertising and governor recruitment campaign in 2019

Following a governor vacancy survey of all schools, the city council, through Portsmouth Together, will be providing a governor vacancy advertising service whereby any current or future governor vacancies can be posted on the Portsmouth Together website.  Alison Critchley can provide a template advert and help with posting current vacancies. (The website can also be used to seek other volunteers to work in your school).

Early in the new year the council is planning a governor recruitment campaign which will include encouraging staff cross Portsmouth City Council and other partner organisations to consider volunteering as school governors, pointing them towards the vacancies advertised on the Portsmouth Together site.  Further updates to follow.


Teacher Recruitment and Retention (TRR) - Gathering Teachers Views

On behalf of the TRR Sub-group of the PEP, we will be seeking to gather the views of teachers at different stages in their careers. This may be through face to face discussions with groups (piggy-backing on existing meetings) or may be through online survey questions. We would also be happy to come and discuss TRR issues with cluster groups of schools if this would be helpful. These activities are likely to take place during the spring term 2019. We are mindful of minimising pressures on teachers' time, and will balance this carefully against gathering information which will influence the direction of travel for specific initiatives.

For more information, contact Caroline Corcoran.


Ambition School Leadership : Scholarships for Headship (including NPQH) and Executive Educators : Leading several schools (including NPQEL)

The DfE has informed Ambition School Leadership (ASL) that they are re-opening the scholarships funding until March 2019. This means that any participants working in an Opportunity Area or a Category Area 5 or 6 may be eligible for fully funded places on both programmes.

However, ASL has been informed that if demand is higher than expected, then further prioritisation eligibility criteria will be implemented by the DfE between January and March.

Because of the uncertainty around if and when the DFE will implement its further prioritisation criteria, schools will need to consider the possible financial risk as ASL  will continue to invoice for programmes upfront and cannot guarantee the scholarship funding in advance.

It has not been confirmed that there will be any further NPQ scholarship funding after March.

Headship and Executive Programmes

ASL is now welcoming expressions of interest for February cohorts of both their Headship (including NPQH) and Executive Educators: Leading several schools (including NPQEL) programmes.

To ensure participants have the best chance of accessing the funding and in order for ASL's delivery teams to assess applications and register them with the DfE, ASL is asking for participants to both programmes, who wish to access the scholarship funding, to apply as soon as possible.

Further details on both respective programmes and scholarship eligibility criteria can be found in the above links.


DfE School Vacancies

The free DfE school vacancies site is now available in our region and available to Portsmouth schools - access it here.


National Governance Association : Outstanding Governance Awards 2019

The NGA is currently seeking nominations for its biennial awards programme which celebrates the important role of governance volunteers and professionals in making a vast and valuable education of children and young people. These are the only national honours to recognise some of the quarter of a million people governing in schools in England.


School Improvement                 

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Working with parents to support children's learning - Guidance report from EEF

The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has published the guidance report: 'Working with parents to support Children's Learning'.

The report offers primary and secondary schools four clear and actionable recommendations on working with parents so that they can support their child's learning at home.


Approaches to supporting disadvantaged pupils

The DfE has published the findings of a piece of research into how secondary schools across England have supported the most academically able disadvantaged pupils.  The research took place in the spring and summer terms of 2017 to 2018. It aimed to identify what secondary schools were doing to support disadvantaged high attaining pupils from key stage 2 to key stage 4.

Read more


Ofsted Inspections                                                                                                                              

Ofsted

Court Lane Infant Academy

Congratulations to Court Lane Infant Academy for maintaining their 'Good' Ofsted status, following their one day S.8 inspection on 1st November 2018. Inspectors confirmed:

'The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection....an ambitious, happy and hardworking school where pupils and staff strive continuously to live out the school's values of 'believe, inspire, achieve'.'

A copy of the letter from Ofsted can be found here.

Stamshaw Infant School

Congratulations to Stamshaw Infant School for maintaining their 'Good' Ofsted judgement following their one day S.8 inspection on 13th November 2018.  Inspectors commented:

'The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection. Your strong and dedicated leadership has ensured that the school’s vision of ‘helping stars to shine brightly’ permeates through every aspect of school life.'

A copy of the letter from Ofsted can be found here.

Ark Ayrton Primary Academy

A massive well done to Ark Ayrton Primary Academy for improving their Ofsted status from 'Requires Improvement' to 'Good' following their two day S.5 inspection on 6th & 7th November 2018!  The inspectors commented:

'The headteacher’s strong vision is embraced by staff, governors and trustees. It flows from a deep understanding of the community that the school serves. This drives school improvement effectively'.

A full copy of the report can be found at here.

Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School

Congratulations also to Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School for maintaining their 'Good' Ofsted status following their one day S.8 inspection on 13th October 2018.  Inspectors remarked:

'Leaders and governors understand what needs to be done to bring about the necessary improvements because they know their school well. Middle leaders are fully involved in checking performance and moving their areas of responsibility forward.

A copy of the letter from Ofsted can be found at here.


Music Hub Sufragette

Suffragette Choir

Children from Portsmouth Schools were at Parliament on 27 November to play their part in history and celebrate the centenary of women's right to vote. Beneath the statue of Millicent Fawcett, the Suffragette campaigner, children from Charter Academy, Cottage Grove Primary School, Craneswater Junior School, St. Edmunds Catholic School and St. Swithin's Catholic Primary School sang 3 new songs commissioned by Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan.

The special performance was a collaboration between Schools, Portsmouth Music Hub and Stephen Morgan, and it was an opportunity for the children to learn more about the sacrifices made by the men and women of the Suffragette moment. On the 21 November 1918, immediately after the First World War, Parliament finally passed The Representation of The People Act of 1918 which gave women over 30 the right to vote; this was the children's chance to celebrate this landmark in history.

The songs, created by Portsmouth Music Hub composers, included Deeds Not Words, The Suffragettes, and Hear our Voice. The children, dressed in suffragette rosettes gave a performance of the songs to invited guests, delighted tourists and members of the public outside Parliament before Stephen Morgan took the children inside Parliament for a very special tour of the historic building.

To see the children's performance at Parliament visit www.portsmouthmusichub.org.uk.


Music Hub Anniversary Month

The team at Portsmouth Music Hub have been busy during November creating a range of cultural opportunities for children and young people. The One World environmental campaign has continued to inspire the imagination with an art competition open to schools across the city. Stephen Morgan MP, Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, commissioned 3 new songs to mark the centenary of women's right to vote, and he invited 30 local children to Parliament to perform them. The Music Hub celebrated its seventh anniversary with a University Wind Band Concert and the news that it has become a finalist for the Best Print Resource at the Music Education Council's annual Award Ceremony in London. To read more about these stories and to find out more about Portsmouth Music Hub and its commitment to children and young people visit www.portsmouthmusichub.org.uk.


Curriculum and CPD                                  

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Reading Recovery

The KPMG Foundation has launched two independent research reports:

Hurry, J. and Fridkin, L. (2018),  The impact of Reading Recovery ten years after intervention’, UCL Institute of Education  

Pro Bono Economics (2018),   ‘Assessing the impact of the Reading Recovery programme. An economic evaluation’.

These reports reveal that Reading Recovery helps close the GCSE attainment gap between participating children and their peers, and indicate that real, long-lasting change can come from this early intervention – change that benefits not only individuals, but society as a whole.

You can download the reports, press releases and media coverage from the UCL website:  https://www.ucl.ac.uk/reading-recovery-europe/news_and_media_coverage

UCL has also published the results of Phonics and Reading Recovery research by Sinéad Harmey and Jake Anders.

Phonics and Reading Recovery briefing.


Accord Inclusivity Award

Each year the Accord Inclusivity Award (now in its 10th year) rewards schools that work hardest to promote an inclusive ethos and advance the growth of mutual understanding, especially on the grounds of religion and ethnicity.  The Award is free to apply for and open to all state funded schools in England and Wales.

Due to the relatively detailed nature of the information required, a nomination form needs to be completed by the school. 

For more information on the Award please visit http://accordcoalition.org.uk/inclusivity-award-2019/. The deadline for entries is Sunday 24th February 2019 and prizes will be awarded in the Spring. Please contact Accord’s National Coordinator, Paul Pettinger, at paul@accordcoalition.org.uk or on 020 7324 3071 with any queries.


NQTs - reminder from the PTSA

Just a reminder that the first assessment form for your full time NQTs, who started in September, is due by 14th December.

Coming up on 24th January we have the Early Spring Term Workshop at no additional charge for those schools who buy into our service.  This is a CPD session for NQTs on Questioning, running as an afternoon OR a twilight session.

Please register your delegates in the usual way via the website; specifying the afternoon or twilight session, thank you!

 www.portsmouthtsa.org


Farmington Scholarships 2019/20

Applications for the 2019/20 Farmington Scholarships are now open. These are Scholarships available to teachers of religious education and associated subjects in UK secondary, primary, and special needs schools. Headteachers who wish to undertake research into either religious education or values education are also eligible to apply.

A number of schools in the city have benefitted recently from this programme including Highbury Primary and St Jude's CofE Primary.

Scholarships cover the cost of tuition, essential local travel and, by negotiation with the school, the salary of a replacement teacher up to point 6 of the main pay scale. Scholarships last for a maximum of 30 days and can either be taken at a local university (Farmington Institute has links with 15 throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) or can be home-based with a local tutor.  Further information and an application form can be found on the institute's website http://www.farmington.ac.uk/index.php/farmington-scholarships/

For more information please contact Kay Webb Tel 01865 271985.


'Switch Up' - Anti knife crime play and workshop

Saltmine Theatre Company uses innovative storytelling and interactive workshops to communicate topical messages, to explore issues and to encourage young people to make wise and positive life choices. 

Switch Up is a new thought-provoking show and workshop programme which focuses on the complex, interrelated issues of knife crime, gang violence and self-identity. 

KEY INFORMATION:

  • 45-minute show, 45-minute workshop.  Timetable permitting, the team can repeat the show and workshop twice in a day
  • Aimed at school years 8-10  (no maximum number in an audience
  • Next proposed tour dates: 26th June – 12th July 2019
  • £785 + travel costs + VAT per day*

The company can offer a reduced weekly rate to organisations wishing to book a week of performance dates in their area.  If you would be interested in exploring partnership options, please contact us: 01384 454807 or creative@saltmine.orgFor more information go to Saltmine's website.


School Attendance                    

 

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Portsmouth Protocol for Elective Home Education

In consultation with Headteachers a protocol for Elective Home Education (EHE) has been developed. The protocol reinforces the commitment from schools to ensure all children and young people of statutory school age, whatever their background or circumstances, are given appropriate support so that they can remain in full time education. The protocol will be published in the New Year.


School Attendance Campaign

Miss School Miss Out

Our 2-year school attendance publicity campaign continues to build momentum.

Please continue to promote school attendance by:

  • Adding #MissSchoolMissOut to your emails and letters alongside the logo
  • Sharing the social media posts with #MissSchoolMissOut and adding this hashtag to your own relevant posts
  • Letting us know where schools are using the posters and publicity materials effectively to raise awareness with parents and pupils

Next term we are focusing on health related absence.

The next School Attendance Network meeting on 29th Jan will be seeking feedback from schools on the campaign so far and how the support materials that have been produced have been used.


Schools 'pressuring parents into home schooling' to exclude pupils

The number of children being home educated has risen by 27% in the last year, according to a survey of local authorities by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services. Around 57,800 children were home schooled in 2018, up from 45,500 in 2017 and 37,500 in 2016. Debbie Barnes, chair of the ADCS educational achievement policy committee, said that in some cases, schools are using home schooling “as a means to illegally exclude children with special educational or behavioural needs”. The survey found how some parents and authorities reported that schools often “suggest” home education to parents when their children are “under threat of warnings”.

www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2018/11/15/schools-putting-parents-pressure-home-school-pupils-want-expel/


Emotional health & wellbeing                                    

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Wellbeing  Conference

On 25th March 2019 Portsmouth will be holding our first Wellbeing in Education Conference at the Portsmouth Marriott Hotel. Our keynote speaker is Natasha Devon, Body Image and Mental Health Campaigner.   The conference is aimed at headteachers, governors, wellbeing leads in schools and colleges, pastoral staff, SENCos, ELSAs and a range of professionals who work alongside schools and colleges to support emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Book your tickets now via www.eventbrite.co.uk and search wellbeing in education.


SENCo Newsletter

The Autumn Term SENCo Newsletter is now available. This and all previous newsletters can be accessed here.


Parenting Service: Triple P Discussion Groups

Dates for Spring term Primary and Teen Triple P discussion groups can be found here.  Please display these for your parents and carers.


Mental health of children and young people in England 2017

The NHS has published up to date statistics on the Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2017.  Read the full report.


Ten steps towards school staff wellbeing

Schools in Mind, through the Anna Freud Centre, has published Ten Steps Towards School Staff Wellbeing. The report can be found here.


Time to Talk

Time to Talk Day

Time to Talk Day is run by Time to Change & is a day encouraging people to talk about mental health to try & reduce the stigma/discrimination/awkwardness around it.

It's taking place on Thursday 7 February 2019.

There's more about it here.

Teachers/schools are encouraged to order and download resources to help deliver an assembly, a form time session to your pupils or run a coffee morning with your staff. 


Free Health Resources

Are you signed up to the Public Health England School Zone? You'll find a Healthy Year wall chart for reception & Year 6 that you can order or download. There are also teacher toolkits available for these year groups with flexible fun ideas to build healthy activity into your everyday class routines. If you're part of the fruit and veg scheme you'll be receiving a delivery of sugar swap take home activity packs for children in mid-January.

If you're a secondary school teacher School Zone has PSHE lesson plans, presentations and video content to use with your classes on topics including puberty, bullying, body image, relationships, online stress, smoking, alcohol and exam stress. Find out more


Art Competition

Post 16                                       

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Consultation on T Level Funding

The DfE has launched a consultation on the distribution of T-Level funding from 2020/21 onward. This consultation sets out proposals for distributing this funding effectively between providers, building on the existing 16 to 19 funding arrangements.  The closing date for responses is 19 February 2019.

Consultation


NHS at 70

Success at the NHS at 70 Event

On 28th November, the Careers and Progression team and Southern Universities Network (SUN) held their NHS at 70 CPD event for teachers and careers advisers working with young people. There was a focus on widening participation and supporting disadvantaged young people to understand more about the opportunities open to them.  The event was a huge success with professionals from all across the Solent region participating in a number of workshops e.g. Midwifery, Molecular Microbiology and Cardiac Physiology, to find out more about how they can support their young people with career routes and opportunities into the NHS. A Market Place was available for attendees to find out more about local opportunities, and meet Higher Education and Apprenticeship providers. This was concluded with a Student Ambassador Panel of inspiring students who gave us an insight into their journey and their advice for young people.


School Buildings and School Places                                         

 

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School organisation policy and Primary, Secondary & Special school place strategies 2018 - 2024

The council has recently published a suite of documents that set out strategies to meet the demand for primary, secondary and special school places, together with an update of the council's school organisation policy. View all four documents.


LA Updates

Term Times Readers Survey

We'd be grateful if primary schools could encourage parents to participate in the incentivised Term Times reader survey to give us feedback on the magazine & how it's distributed.

Link to survey:  

https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/your-council/your-say/term-times-reader-survey

Link to online version of magazine:

https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/schools/term-times-magazine


Building Services SLA - clarification

A number of schools have sought clarification about what is and is not covered through the building maintenance SLAs, including that for statutory testing, which are differently structured to previous years. Additional information about what is covered by these services to cover the most frequent queries is in the latest news section of the Portsmouth Services Network.


75th Anniversary of the D Day Landings

A chance for Portsmouth children to showcase their talents and join us in commemorating the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.

Portsmouth will be at the heart of the national commemorations in June as the city played a major role in supporting efforts before, during and after D-Day.

We'll be honouring the veterans with a series of events from 5-9 June 2019  and we're keen to work with local schools, youth and performance groups too.

There are three ways to take part:

  • Thursday 6 June - we're looking for schools to 'awake' the city with music - either sing or play a piece of music to mark the morning of the landings.
  • Friday 7 June - we are offering the opportunity for local groups to perform (dance, music drama) on our main stage on Southsea Common.
  • Saturday 8 June - we're planning a welcome home event for D-Day and WW2 veterans returning from their visit to Normandy.  We'd like veterans to be greeted by local school children and host a home-coming reception.

Events and performances have a '1940s revival theme and performances should respect commemorative occasion and be part of a 1940s revival fair, displays and other attractions on Southsea Common over the weekend 7-9 June 2019. 

Come and join us make the commemorations a huge success and show off the diversity of Portsmouth's children and their talents. 

For more information, get in touch with us to let us know you're interested.  Email the events team at events@portsmouthcc.gov.uk


Preparing for EU Departure - travel and school visits after 29 March 2019

Some helpful guidance for schools has been prepared by HCC concerning preparations for EU departure and the implications for travel and school visits after 29th March 2019. You can access the guidance here.


Fruiting Trees and Hedges - Opportunities for Schools

The national Tree Council, local Portsmouth & Southsea Tree Wardens, community gardens, council nutritionists and landscape architects are coming together to develop a fruiting hedge and tree 'pack' for schools, adventure playgrounds and community centres

Volunteers have been planting small groups of 5 fruit trees and some fruiting hedges over the last year in Landport, Buckland and Somerstown as part of the Charles Dickens Community Orchards. Lead resident and Tree warden Dennis David wants to expand this vision and develop a network of free fruit resources throughout the city over the course of the next five years.   

The packs will include 'recipes' for suitable trees and hedging to suit different sites, cultural, historical and food related information and a simple guide to care for your orchards.   Fruit can range from apples, pears and cherries to raspberries, kiwi, figs and currants to name but a few.

If you don’t have space, there will hopefully be a community resource near you soon! There will also be community harvest, pruning and care days on offer for all and interested teachers can come and learn from other sites.

We believe that this idea will provide a low cost (funds are being raised from charities) and low maintenance opportunity for schools throughout Portsmouth to grow food and utilise outside space which can in turn support the curriculum.

Fernhurst Junior School has led the way and together with Jon Stokes of the Tree Council, they came up with a masterchef competition which the whole school is involved in.  Smoothies for the little ones, snacks, mains and puddings are all created around the garden and comparisons are made in terms of what we can grow in this country to what we can buy in the shops.  Other schools are involved and include Milton Park Primary, Ark Dickens Primary and The Portsmouth Academy.

If your school would like to get involved, please contact Helen Bergin, Landscape Architect, (Tel : 023 9283 4707) so that we can plan to raise funds for you.  If any of your teachers have knowledge to share about using outside space for similar purposes and which can benefit your curriculum, please also let Helen know so we can potentially build this into the packs.  With a little time and effort it is hoped that this will become a community project to inspire the rest of the country.


Easier Access to Payslips for School Staff

As part of the EBS self-service project we have been trialling a new facility that will allow school staff to access their payslip, P60 and basic HR details using any internet enabled device (including your own personal devices).

This change will mean that from September 2018 you will be able to access your payslip/P60/HR record from any internet enabled device (e.g. your smartphone, home PC, laptop or tablet). You will also be able to view your previous payslips and P60s online.

In future, your payslip will be available for you to view online on the day before pay day. We will still produce paper payslips in parallel with the new access facility but intend to stop producing printed payslips in the near future, but will give you plenty of warning when this will happen.

Further details on how to access this new facility is shown on the links below.

EBS self-service can be accessed via the login page: https://hrss.portsmouth.gov.uk.

Full details of how to login to EBS can be found here.


Inspirational Women Awards 2019

Pamodzi Inspirational Women Award

Pamodzi Creatives is excited to be launching Portsmouth’s first Inspirational Women Awards ceremony to mark International Women’s Day 2019. Inspirational women and young girls who have made a positive impact in whatever context of their community can be nominated at www.pamodzicreatives.org.uk, and Trailblazers from the city will select the winners at an award ceremony on Thursday 7 March 2019, 7-11pm at the Royal Maritime Club, Portsmouth. Education is one of the award categories, so schools are encouraged to share information with their staff, students and parents to get nominating! The nomination deadline is 11 January 2019.


Portsmouth Education Partnership - A Case Study

ISOS have carried out a case study on the Portsmouth Education Partnership which can be viewed here.


Training

Portsmouth Learning Gateway

If your school staff are still having problems registering on the site you can email or send a staff list via SSE/Learning and Achievement and we'll set up log in details.  From September charges will be applied for non-attendance or late cancellation of courses.


Health & Safety

H&S Training - to be completed by all School Staff and Managers

A recent internal audit specific to H&S management in the council identified the need for managers to improve compliance with 'mandatory and statutory' H&S training requirements as detailed in the corporate H&S training policy (section 5 - 6)……click on this link to view policy: PCC H&S Training Policy.

Fortunately, as a result of the latest H&S audits conducted by PCC H&S team, the majority of staff in Schools who are signed up to the PCC H&S Unit Traded Service have received mandatory and statutory H&S training (H&S induction and fire safety) specific to their school, delivered as briefing sessions using the H&S Unit's portable training kit.

This is a reminder to all school staff and managers to ensure you remain in date for the H&S training courses that are relevant to you - and if you think you are due 'refresher training' let your school management team know!

In particular, all school staff should complete the H&S induction e-learning course (only once) and fire safety e-learning course every 2 years (mandatory requirement).  

Statutory training courses include: 'Accident reporting for managers', 'Working with Computers and DSE', and 'Manual Handling' (to be retaken every 3 years).

All e-learning courses can be facilitated by the school management team and staff via the Portsmouth Learning Gateway (PLG) or by loaning the H&S Unit stand-alone portable H&S training kit (further details in H&S Training policy).

The benefits of ensuring all school employees undertake the training detailed in the policy, include:

  • Compliance with school-specific H&S policies and the law (reducing the potential for enforcement action against your school - which can result in a loss of much needed financial resources)
  • A reduction in accidents and ill-health incidents (improving staff wellbeing for yourself and your colleagues, pupils, visitors)
  • Improved communication channels between school staff/managers (and the PCC H&S Unit where relevant) - nurturing a pro-active safety culture and ensuring a safe place of work

Any queries can be directed to Frank or Andy in the H&S Unit (Tel: 023 9283 4208 or 023 9283 4734)


Virtual School

Designated Teacher Training

The remaining Designated Teacher (DT) Training Sessions will be facilitated by the Virtual School this academic year, following the recent consultation. Please email attendance to the Virtual Headteacher using the contact below, so afternoon refreshment numbers can be appropriately catered for.

Each session starts at 1.30pm and will finish at 3.30pm with a 15 minute break at 2.30pm for networking, tea and coffee. The venue will be Portsmouth Academy in the Training hub.

Session A - Tuesday 5th March 2019

Session B - Monday 10th June 2019


Governor Training

Both of these sessions have now taken place. If you would like any advice, support or guidance, please do not hesitate in contacting Tina Henley (as below).


Tri-Authority Virtual Schools Conference - Best Practice Use of Pupil Premium

This will take place from 9am to 4pm in the Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton on Wednesday 6th March. Further details will be sent directly to our DTs but this is open to all. Delegates will be from Portsmouth, Hampshire/Isle of Wight, Southampton and Surrey.

Contact:          Tina Henley (Virtual School Headteacher)
Tel:                  023 9268 8076
Email:              tina.henley@portsmouthcc.gov.uk


Attachment Aware Project

The Attachment Aware Schools Project (AASP) has been running in Portsmouth through the Virtual School since March 2016 and we are now looking for expressions of interest from schools or colleges who would like to join the project in September 2019.

A growing number of children and young people have social, emotional and behavioural needs that go beyond the strategies we have learned through our training and experience. Whilst these children and young people can be hard to reach, they need our greatest nurturing and care. This is particularly prevalent for our looked after children, but is also the case for many other children. Research indicates that an awareness of how to support children and young people’s social and emotional needs and development can promote better learning and health outcomes.

To be part of the project please contact Vicki Reynish or Larissa Cunningham using the contact details below, by 4th June 2019. Please note schools will have to dedicate time on their INSET days for all staff training, this is usually two half days training throughout the year, with the first one being between November and March. This project is fully funded by Pupil Premium and there will not be a cost to schools or colleges to be part of the project.

Vicki Reynish (Deputy Headteacher, Virtual School)Victoria.Reynish@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Larissa Cunningham (Educational Psychologist) Larissa.Cunningham@portsmouthcc.gov.uk


HR

New Process for Staff Leavers and Transfers - School Specific Information

With regards to the comms that came out last week re the HR leavers form, schools are not part of this and should carry on reporting leavers using their previous method. Apologies for the confusion.


News for Schools

The HR news information is located on the human resources google home page and maintained schools and any Academy with an HR Traded Services agreement can access it here.   

Further information can be obtained by contacting HR. 


PEP Resources

We've created a section on the PEP website where resources can be hosted and shared. It's password protected and ready to host your resources - the password is PEPMEMBER.

Please forward any resources e.g. policies, templates, curriculum resources, planning documents to pep@portsmouthcc.gov.uk indicating which area (s) you would like them uploaded to.


Dates for your diary

Teach Portsmouth Recruitment Event (flyer here)
29 January 2019 : 10.00 am - 12.30 pm : Portsmouth College
Book via eventbrite

Circle of Friends Training (Booking details to be circulated shortly)
6 February 2019 : Conference Room A : 1 - 4.30pm

Mid career Financial Planning
12 February 2019 : 10.00 - 12.00 noon : Book via the PLG

ISP Training (Booking details to be circulated shortly)
7 March 2019 : The View, Meeting Room 1 : 10.00 am - 3.00 pm

Wellbeing in Education Conference
25 March 2019 : Tickets are available via www.eventbrite.co.uk and search Wellbeing

Pension Planning
7 May 2019 10.00 am - 11.30 am : (Book via the PLG)


PEP Calendar

For dates of all events, network meetings, conferences, training and workshops taking place in Portsmouth, please go to the PEP calendar

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