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If you have information to be included in the next issue of the PEP bulletin, please send your text, image and link by Tuesday at 12pm to pep@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
COVID-19 planning for the re-opening of schools from 1 June 2020
Schools and Multi Academy Trusts are preparing plans for the admission of additional children from 1 June, at the earliest following the ask of government to welcome back children in Nursery, Reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside priority groups. In addition secondary schools, sixth form and further education colleges are being asked to offer some face-to-face support to supplement the remote education of year 10 and year 12 students who are due to take key exams next year, alongside the full time provision they are offering to priority groups.
Actions for educational and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June 2020
The Government published further planning guidance for primary schools yesterday which can be found here.
There is of course a big 'if' as the re-opening of schools will depend on the known COVID-19 infection rate nearer the time.
In support of these plans a city wide working group will be meeting on Friday 15 May to discuss an overarching plan and agree a number of workstreams to take forward key actions that will support all schools and provide a consistent way of working across the city. The workstreams will be finalised by the core working group on Friday but are likely to include:
- Infection control, health and safety
- Vulnerable children and safeguarding
- Transition EYFS-Yr R and KS1-2
- Transition KS2-3 and KS4-5
- Curriculum and assessment (including a focus on home / digital learning)
- Emotional health and wellbeing
If you would like to be involved please contact Sarah Christopher sarah.christopher@portsmouthcc.gov.uk letting her know which group you would like to join.
You will be aware that there have been significant changes from the government and the DfE to the range of guidance and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) in education settings. This is available via a single link that clearly identifies when each guidance document was last updated.
The Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) provides an updated spreadsheet of published COVID-19 guidance and key announcements from government and/or agencies relating to children’s services. Practical tools from other partners are also included and the spreadsheet continues to be regularly updated. View the spreadsheet here.
New guidance and advice published includes:
VE Day celebrations at The Victory Primary School
Children at The Victory Primary School celebrated VE Day with a street party, sharing the celebration online with absent staff.
The children learnt about the celebration, listened to Churchill’s victory speech, sang songs, danced, ate sandwiches and cakes they had made. There was even a fly-by of world war two planes they made from junk modelling.
VE Day at Arundel Court Primary Academy
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Staff at Arundel Court Primary Academy made a fantastic video to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day. The video says thanks to those who sacrificed and risked their own lives so we can live peacefully today.
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Curriculum and CPD |
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Support from subject leads
While subject network meetings are not currently taking place, the leaders of these networks (SLEs and advisers) are still available to offer support and advice to their colleagues. Some network meetings will be scheduled to be held virtually.
Subject leaders in schools are invited to contact their colleagues directly even if they have not previously attended network meetings. Network leaders will be able to share resources and ideas for use during this current period and moving forwards.
A list of subject leads and their contact details can be viewed here.
Free online workshops for teachers of Spanish
The Education Office of the Spanish Embassies to the United Kingdom and Ireland together with Extenda, the Andalusian Agency for Foreign Promotion, are organising eight online training workshops aimed at teachers of Spanish. The training sessions include a number of independent workshops based on different methodological aspects related to the teaching of Spanish.
The workshops will be held every Tuesday from 4-5pm between 12 May and 30 June 2020. Registration is free. Find out more and register here.
Relationships and sex education webinar series
The Sex Education Forum have a new series of RSE themed webinars for educators during lockdown, including:
Discounts are available for members of the Sex Education Forum. Visit the website to find out more.
Parents and carers engaging in home learning: a checklist for schools
The Education Endowment Foundation has produced a useful checklist for schools to support home learning. The checklist provides five statements for teachers and leaders to use when designing ways for parents to access and support their child’s home learning. In addition, there are tips to consider using in your approach.
More details can be found here.
Emotional health and wellbeing |
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Project Orpheus and Prevent update
The latest Project Orpheus and Prevent update is now available to read here.
Safe4me news update
The latest Safe4me news e-bulletin from the Hampshire Police Education Partnership Team is now available. This issue includes information about new content added to the Safe4me COVID-19: supporting education and safeguarding children webpage. The e-bulletin also contains useful links, articles and resources from other partner organisations.
Home learning packet supporting social emotional learning (SEL)
A resource to support social emotional learning which schools can send to parents to download for free is available here. It includes seven pages of activities to encourage pupils to find calming activities at home.
Teen guide to surviving lockdown and beyond
A useful guide with tools, activities and practices to help teenagers manage social distancing and stay positive during the coronavirus lockdown and beyond is available here.
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LA updates
LA traded services for schools
A reminder that the traded services for the period 2020 - 2022 are now live and available to buy on the traded services website. The website also includes an update on how traded services will be provided to schools during the period in which schools are closed to the majority of pupils. For more information about the new services see the attached letter to head teachers and business managers.
We are asking schools to take decisions about the SLAs they would like to purchase by Friday 5 June 2020, but if this deadline causes difficulties for a school for any reason do let us know.
For further information email traded.services@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Chartered College of Teaching publishes report into implications of school closures and global approaches to education
The Chartered College of Teaching has published a new review of research evidence on school closures and international approaches to education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report 'education in the time of crisis: the potential implications for school closures for teachers and students,' looks at the impact school closures have had on academic achievement and socio-emotional development of students. The report also evaluates the impact on teaching staff too.
Portsmouth library and archive services: support for children and young people during COVID-19
All libraries in Portsmouth closed on Friday 20 March 2020 as part of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, both the public library service and the Schools Library Service (SLS) have developed a range of online offers for children and young people, supporting reading for pleasure as well as formal and informal learning.
More details are available here.
Request for art supplies
Enableability are looking for donations of art supplies including paints. If you have any that you can spare (already open / partly used would be fine) it would be very much appreciated. Please let Sarah Christopher know so that collection can be arranged. Sarah.Christopher@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Could you be a foster carer?
Register for our new virtual recruitment event on Wednesday 20 May and talk to our expert team, as well as some of our current foster carers, all from the comfort of your own home! We are still actively recruiting foster carers, so now could be your time to find out more.
For details on how to register for this free event please visit www.foster.portsmouth.gov.uk/virtual-event
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