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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.
Portsmouth Education Strategy 2020-23
Following approval by the PEP Strategic Board, a three year education strategy for Portsmouth 2020-23 has been published on the PEP website.
The Covid-19 pandemic has created significant challenges for all education settings. Contributing to the management of the pandemic and managing its impact on children will absorb much of the energy of education settings over the coming months, possibly years. This is not a reason to hold back from the development of a clear collective strategy for education in the city, however. More than ever, the city needs strong education leadership with clear individual school/settings and city wide priorities, around which all education leaders focus their efforts. We must do all we can to ensure that the education of children in Portsmouth is not a casualty of the difficult demands of this time.
While the strategy sets the direction for the next three years, it outlines specific actions to be taken over the next year so that there is complete clarity on our focus during this period.
The delivery of the strategy will be done under the auspices of the Portsmouth Education Partnership (PEP) recognising the part that all partners of the PEP will play in delivering the nine priorities that are set out in the strategy, and will be overseen by the PEP Strategic Board.
The PEP structures that were established three years ago will remain in place but will now be augmented by a number of other groups which have been established to address the challenges created by the pandemic.
PEP logo
Many schools and partners are now using and displaying the PEP logo on websites and in various communications. We are keen to encourage this in order to show everyone's commitment to working collaboratively in the city to improve outcomes for children and young people. You can access the logo here.
Mike Stoneman
Deputy Director, Education
Portsmouth City Council
Leadership, recruitment and retention |
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Portsmouth governor briefing - 17 November 2020
We have had an enthusiastic response to the invitation to the Portsmouth governor briefing taking place (virtually) on Tuesday 17 November from 4.30-6.00 (more details here), with 20 governor colleagues signed up so far.
We are keen to include governors from as many Portsmouth schools as possible, and would appreciate your help in spreading the word.
To book a space or for any queries please contact schoolgovernor@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
Curriculum and CPD |
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Portsmouth Music Hub awarded for contribution to corporate and social responsibility
Portsmouth Music Hub has been awarded for its contribution to corporate and social responsibility at a ceremony in London.
The International CSR Excellence Awards took place on 20 October at the Waldorf Hotel, London and the Music Hub was there to be recognised for its One World environmental campaign. Since September 2018, the campaign has been harnessing the power of music and the arts to highlight local and global environmental problems and solutions.
The International CSR Awards recognise environmental best practices around the world. As part of the ceremony, international organisations were able to listen to the Hub's One World song on a video link and to hear about the Hub's award-winning work with children and young people.
Free maths CPD opportunity from the Solent Maths Hub for schools and maths leaders
An online twilight event on 18 November at 4.30pm when Debbie Morgan (Director of Primary at NCETM) will be talking about the new maths curriculum guidance and supporting resources.
It is free to register and once registered you will be sent a link to the event.
Free virtual presentation from Nacoa |
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Nacoa (National Association for Children of Alcoholics) are in a position to deliver some free CPD sessions to school staff in Portsmouth around identifying the needs of and supporting young people affected by alcoholism within the family unit / family home. Nacoa are a national charity who have been funded by the Government Innovation Fund to carry out this CPD in Innovation Fund areas, of which Portsmouth is one.
The virtual CPD covers ;
- Who are Nacoa?
- Our work
- Nacoa model of care
- Alcohol: the family illness
- The roles
- Living with the problem
- Outlook
- Info for teachers
- More information
For more information and to take up this opportunity, please email Chantelle Knight (PSRHE Development Officer) at chantelle.knight@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Free relationships and sex education training and support from The Portsmouth Grammar School
As part of The Portsmouth Grammar School's outreach and partnerships programme, we would like to offer free training and support for local schools in the maintained sector to develop their Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). Our hope, in the long term, is to create a local network, to share expertise and to host professional development events.
Our Head of Pupil Wellbeing, Jo Morgan was recently awarded Best RSE Teacher, 2020 by the Sex Ed Forum and is an experienced trainer and consultant. Areas she can help you with include:
- Compliance with the statutory changes
- Policy development
- Planning and resourcing lessons
- Teacher training - how to deliver RSE with confidence
- Aims and objectives for RSE
- Inclusive RSE and school culture, including support for LGBTQI+ pupils
If you would like to arrange for Jo to come and visit your school, please email j.morgan@pgs.org.uk. Find out more about Jo's work: www.engenderingchange.co.uk
National Tutoring Programme
From November, schools will be able to access support for children and young people who have been most affected by school closures during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak through the National Tutoring Programme.
To register your interest in joining this programme, visit the National Tutoring Programme website.
Solent Maths Hub update |
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The latest newsletter from Solent Maths Hub is now available. This issue includes details of two upcoming work groups:
- Building firm mathematical foundations in reception (starting Tuesday 1 December)
- Mathematical thinking for GCSE (starting Friday 11 December).
Emotional health and wellbeing |
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Project Orpheus and Prevent update
The October 2020 Project Orpheus and Prevent update is now available to read online.
Radicalisation school lessons
Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (CTPHQ) has commissioned Votes for Schools to develop three lessons on topics chosen by the CT Youth Advisory Group. They have been produced for three key ages and adapted for their age: primary, secondary and college/16+.
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What is extremism?: using the Hollyoaks storyline and films to demonstrate the methods involved in radicalisation and the support available. This is emphasised with John’s story. (50min lesson)
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Conspiracy theories: how they influence our views on key issues and can feed into hate and extremism.
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Online radicalisation: highlighting the methods of online radicalisation, using mainstream platforms, chat forums and gaming.
All lessons are designed to be delivered by teachers (or professionals) who receive a lesson plan along with the lesson. The lessons are interactive with films and activities to enhance learning. The notes section on each slide references the source of the image, content or film to ensure full transparency but do not need to be shared with the pupils.
Emotional health and wellbeing services for young people
From January 2021 there will be a new digital mental health offer for young people in the city. This will replace U Matter and will offer mental health support 365 days a year. The switch to an online platform reflects feedback from young people and their families that this would be more convenient and accessible with young people liking the ability to remain anonymous. It will also enable more young people to be supported.
Given current wait times for the U Matter service, any young person referred now is unlikely to be seen by the time the service changes so U Matter will be signposting new referrals to alternative forms of support. To save the young person being redirected, you can signpost directly to these alternative forms of support.
Information has been put on the PEP website outlining what these are. U Matter will still be able to provide advice and guidance to professionals to help them with signposting up until the end of December 2020.
Motiv8: what will young people need next?
The Board of Motiv8, a youth charity working with young people in SE Hampshire, have produced a report entitled 'What will young people need next? Motiv8's youth work during Covid-19 and beyond.'
The report highlights the youth work undertaken by the charity as a result of the impact of Covid-19, focusing on the needs of young people and the programmes it has developed to meet those needs.
The key emerging themes for young people include increasingly poor mental health and emotional wellbeing, bereavement and loss, uncertain futures, lack of social interaction, keeping safe, family instability, and pressures on services.
Veg Power: Eat Them to Defeat Them returns for 2021
Eat Them to Defeat Them, the programme from Veg Power and ITV which uses advertising and a school programme to get kids to eat more vegetables, returns in February 2021.
It will be led by a £3m TV campaign from ITV, Channel 4 and Sky Media. We have listened carefully to feedback from schools and caterers. We have a clear idea of what worked best in 2020, how it could be improved, plus we are very aware of the challenges and uncertainty facing schools at this difficult time.
As a result, we are simplifying the programme for 2021, introducing nothing new, improving just the best elements as well as engaging with more school caterers to take on the work. Our goal is to be in 1,750 schools, reaching 500,000 kids.
Special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) |
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First online Portsmouth Inclusion Conference held
Portsmouth City Council’s first online Portsmouth Inclusion Conference was held on 22 October, celebrating the continued commitment by Portsmouth schools to high quality support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Around 100 teachers, education staff and other professionals who work with children with SEND attended the conference, which is normally held face to face but was moved online this year due to the pandemic. Keynote speakers were Ian Hunkin, Director of the Sigma Teaching School and previously head teacher of The Harbour School, and Jarlath O’Brien, head teacher and behaviour columnist for the Times Educational Supplement.
Post 16 and higher education |
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New apprenticeship training providers
Apprenticeship frameworks were switched off on 1 August 2020 and the council and schools can now only offer apprenticeship standards. This means the contract with Portsmouth College has now expired and the council has undergone a process to secure new training providers for the below apprenticeships. All new apprenticeship starts must be with these new providers.
Teaching Assistant Level 3 - the council's in-house training provider the Community Learning Centre will now be delivering this apprenticeship, for more information please contact Chantelle.Byng@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
Early Years Practitioner Level 2 and Early Years Educator Level 3 - Professional Training Solutions successfully won the bid to deliver these 2 apprenticeships, for more information please contact j.denyer@protrain-solutions.co.uk.
If you have any questions about the above information please contact apprenticeships@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call 023 9268 8236.
Apprenticeship funding available
In July the government announced their "A Plan for Jobs" which included funding for employers recruiting new apprentices between 1 August to the 31 January 2021. Please see below the full details:
- The apprenticeship incentive, will start on 1 August 2020 until 31 January 2021.
- This money will only be available for new recruits who start an apprenticeship between the above dates. It cannot be used on existing staff looking to upskill or apprentices progressing from one level to another.
- Any new recruits under 25 that starts an apprenticeship before 31 January the school will get £2000.
- Any new recruits 25 or over that starts an apprenticeship before 31 January the school will get £1500.
- The funding will be paid in two payments, the first 90 days after the person has been registered on the digital account and the other payment at 365 days.
- There is no limit on the number of incentives PCC can claim and schools can spend the funds on what they want.
If you have had any new apprentices start in August or are about to start you will be eligible for this funding. To ensure funds reach your account please contact apprenticeships@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call 023 9268 8236 and provide details of your apprentices and your bank details.
LA updates
New local Covid-19 contact tracing service
Portsmouth City Council is now operating a local Covid-19 contact tracing system. This allows us to contact residents who have tested positive for coronavirus when the national contact tracing team has been unable to reach them, which will help keep our infection rate low and protect us all.
A step-by-step guide, and other useful coronavirus support information can be found online.
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Updated information for families
In light of the new restrictions that came into place in England on Thursday 5 November, Portsmouth City Council has updated the 'Schools and families' section on their coronavirus portal.
We are reminding parents and carers that schools and colleges remain open, and have stressed that education is critical for the wellbeing and life chances of young people. We're also encouraging them to stick to the guidance issued by schools.
The HR news information is located on the human resources Google homepage and maintained schools and any academy with an HR Traded Services agreement can access it here.
Further information can be obtained by contacting HR.
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