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As we draw to the end of what has been another challenging year, I wanted to write to say a huge thank you for your ongoing leadership and ambition.
Since coming into my new role as director of children, families and education, I have had the opportunity to visit a large number of schools in the city. I have been struck by your drive and determination to ensure that every child in Portsmouth achieves their best outcomes.
Whilst we cannot underestimate the impact of the pandemic on our work, the Portsmouth Education Partnership continues to push ahead with our strategy, with a clear focus on the four priority areas.
We have benefitted enormously from the work that Frances Soul has done as the independent chair of the PEP. She has been proactive in working and engaging with our key partners and all 14 multi academy trusts to ensure their views and ideas are heard. She has improved our ways of working and shaped the format of the PEP strategic board meetings to ensure that we are a productive body with a real focus on what matters.
Looking ahead, we know the next year will be a busy one. The PEP strategic board will play a pivotal role in overseeing the responsibilities that will come from Portsmouth being identified as a priority education investment area (PEIA).
I hope you will take time to rest and enjoy your summer holiday.
Very best wishes,
Sarah Daly Director, Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council
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Get your tickets for the
PEP Strategic Conference now |
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Senior colleagues are reminded that the PEP Strategic Conference has been rescheduled to Wednesday 5th October. The conference takes place at the Village Hotel from 9am to 1pm, followed by a networking lunch until 2pm.
We will look back on our key priorities and celebrate the successes of the last year. The discussions and contributions at the conference will help shape our work moving forwards. This will include how we will work, as a Priority Education Investment Area, to improve standards and outcomes for children and young people in Portsmouth.
The conference agenda will be published in due course. If you have any questions regarding the event, please email pep@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. Tickets can now be reserved on Eventbrite now.
Portsmouth Inclusion Conference |
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The 8th annual Portsmouth Inclusion Conference will take place at the Marriott Hotel on Thursday 13 October 2022 and this year's theme is 'making school a place all children want to be.'
There are exciting keynote speakers, including Marie Gentles OBE. Marie, a former teacher and middle leader was appointed the strategic lead for a London Borough Nurture group project which has immense success in transforming pupils behaviours and significantly reducing the rate of permanent exclusions in the borough. Marie went on to become a member of the DfE alternative provision stakeholder reference group and now works as a behaviour advisor for the government and is contracted to the National Behaviour Hubs programme. Marie also runs her own consultancy business and her work was recently documented by the BBC in a programme titled 'don’t exclude me'.
Pooky Knightsmith has been reconfirmed as the final keynote speaker. An internationally respected face of child and adolescent mental health, Pooky works tirelessly to ‘be the change she wants to see’. A prolific keynote speaker, lecturer, trainer and author, she develops and shares practical, evidence-informed approaches to promoting mental health – arming health, social care and education staff with the skills, understanding and knowledge they need to support the children in their care.
Pooky has a PhD in child mental health from the Institute of Psychiatry, is the author of many books, is the research and development director at Creative Education and is a former chair of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition. She lives with PTSD and autism.
As usual there will be a range of interesting workshops delivered by practitioners from whom you will be able to pick up new information and ideas to apply in your own setting.
Early bird tickets are now on sale for the reduced price of £85+VAT (full price tickets £100+VAT).
Free online mental health support extended to 19-25-year-olds |
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 Kooth, a free online mental health and wellbeing support service, is now available to all 11-25-year-olds in Portsmouth, following its success with 11-18-year-olds over the past year.
Whether a young person is having a bad day, feeling lonely, or is suffering with mental health issues such as anxiety or depression - Kooth is available to help.
If you know, or work, with a young person, please consider spreading the word about Kooth. There are no waiting lists or referrals for this service, and young people can register anonymously online. Visit www.kooth.com to find out more.
The team at Kooth are running a series of free webinars for professionals, where they will discuss Kooth and how it can be best implemented across different services such as education and health and social care.
To sign up for one of the sessions on Zoom, click on your preferred date below:
Sign up to Primary CoPs now |
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The Primary Council of Portsmouth Students (Primary CoPS) is the city-wide voice of young people in primary schools, bringing together representatives from a wide range of school councils.
It is a programme that empowers and excites the imagination of the youngest leaders in our city, whilst helping schools to share best practice, learn from each other and feel part of a city-wide student voice ecosystem.
As we rebuild from the pandemic, we want to make Primary CoPS even more accessible and inclusive, enabling every primary school in the city to take part, by:
- Making it completely free for all primary schools to take part
- Focusing the programme around two key events - one large primary CoPS summit in November and Student Voice Day in June/July
- Enabling schools to bring more students - with up-to 10 student representatives per school (these can be split across the year groups)
We are able to make this happen thanks to the support of Unloc’s corporate partners, the ongoing support of Portsmouth City Council and the hard work of our fundraising team.
Please take a look at the information leaflet. Schools can sign up now by completing a short online form, identifying their school link person, and confirming their commitment to the programme. Applications close on 29 July.
Strategic Student Voice and Co-production Coordinator |
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Available on a flexible part-time or secondment basis
Portsmouth City Council's Children, Families and Education directorate aims to work in coproduction wherever possible in order to achieve the best outcomes for those who make use of our services. This includes individual, operational and strategic co-production.
We are looking for someone with relevant knowledge, skills and experience to conduct a strategic review of current coproduction and engagement opportunities for young people and to develop a forward plan. This person will also induct the interim elected MYP to engage with their peers across the city, elected members, local authority officers and senior staff in schools and lead the organisation of the elections for the next MYP in Spring 2022.
In order to cover this work, we aim to agree a contract for up to 40 days to be worked from August 2022 to March 2023. The day rate would be negotiated with the successful applicant. The post holder will be expected to work flexibly including some work during evenings and school holidays. There may be occasional weekend working.
For an informal discussion please contact Sarah Christopher, PEP and School Inclusion Manger, Portsmouth City Council on 07825 420519 or Sarah.Christopher@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Buckland & Stamshaw Green Festival |
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All are invited to attend a free family-friendly event, supporting a wilder Portsmouth.
Join us on Thursday 25 August at 11am - 4pm at Buckland Park & Buckland outdoor adventure playground for a range of free activities. A free BBQ will also be available for all children too.
For more information about the event, visit the Tree for Cities website or contact Zoe White, green and healthy city co-ordinator at zoe.white@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
Mental Health Leads Network |
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Thursday 29th September 2022
3.30-5pm Conference Room B, Civic Offices. Hybrid meeting
You are invited to a new network bringing together school staff and partners working to support Social Emotional and Mental Health.
We would encourage all schools to join this meeting. All those with an interest in mental health in education are invited including pastoral leads, ELSAs, DSLs and SENCOs. Senior Mental Health Leads are strongly encouraged to attend.
School colleagues will be joined by staff from MHST, MABs, the EP Team, Early Help and other partners.
This is a great opportunity to improve joint working and further strengthen SEMH partnership working.
This will be a hybrid meeting. Please join us in person if possible.
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