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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.
Inclusion
Admission criteria for inclusion centres and special schools |
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Following points raised at a recent meeting, we would like to clarify the position regarding diagnoses and admission criteria to specialist provision in Portsmouth. A question was asked at the recent ND awareness workshop regarding the need for a diagnosis for entry to the new Wymering School.
Claire Harvey, SEND Team leader, was able to confirm at this workshop that a diagnosis of Autism is NOT required to secure a place at this school. Indeed, as a needs led city, none of the special schools or inclusion centres in Portsmouth require a diagnosis as part of their admission criteria e.g, Autism, ND, ADHD, dyslexia etc.
Decisions on all specialist placements are made by the Inclusion Support Panel (ISP). Places are allocated by ISP to children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plan according to their needs.
Further details about inclusion centres and special schools can be found on the Local Offer website. If you would like to see the detailed admission criteria for any of these settings, please email sen.education@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
Recording neurodiversity (ND) profiles on the Insight Hub |
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Thank you to all the schools that have recorded ND profiles on the Insight Hub. Please could we ask schools to record the ND profiles on the Insight Hub if this hasn’t already been done, this will support us in reviewing the impact of the tool.
The Neurodiversity team are happy to record the ND profiles for schools. Please email the Neurodiversity team with the names of children in your school who have had the profiling tool completed and the team will add them to the hub for you. Please send the names and date of birth for each child to Neurodiversity0-19Enquiries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
Every school has their own individual school portal for vulnerable pupil tracking, which pulls together various data sources for children who attend your school. If you do not currently have access to this, please speak to your DSL within school who will currently be familiar with the portal and will be able to submit the information for you.
We would recommend that you record any ND profiles that you have already completed for children within your school, and then continue to record these as and when you complete them. Step-by-step instructions showing how to record ND profiles can be found here.
Support for children and young people bereaved by suicide |
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Listening Ear offer a specialist counselling service for children and young people bereaved by suicide. The counselling will take place at the child's school or in a community venue. Any parent, guardian or professional can make a referral via the Listening Ear website.
Listening Ear also provide the Amparo support after suicide service which provides practical and emotional support after bereavement for anyone living in Hampshire affected by suicide.
Guides are available for supporting children and young people who have been bereaved by a suicide and responding to a suicide with skill and confidence. There are guides for professionals and parent/carers written by Churchill Fellow Anna Wardley, who specialises in improving support for children and young people after suicide bereavement.
Online webinar for new self-harm support service |
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Solent Mind has recently launched a self-harm support service which offers support for families of children and young people experiencing self-harm, and to professionals in education settings. The service aims to use a holistic approach to increase knowledge, reduce isolation, challenge stigma and provide support through peer groups and an online hub of resources and training.
Solent Mind invite you to join their webinar on Monday 24 April 2023, 10.30am - 11.30am, where you can find out more about the service. This includes how people can access support and what training is available.
School improvement
Local School Nature Grants Scheme |
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Learning Through Landscapes is offering outdoor learning training sessions and nature equipment for nurseries, schools, and other early-learning providers to promote outdoor learning for children. The Local School Nature Grants Scheme will provide a two-hour outdoor learning training session, along with an assortment of equipment up to the value of £500.
Priority will be given to applicants that include children in the decision-making process, such as through student councils or eco-committees. Projects that incorporate and benefit the local community, such as through volunteer opportunities or visual improvements to the local environment, are encouraged.
The next deadline for applications is Friday 28 April 2023.
Portsmouth: The Digital City project update |
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Digital champions
Sign ups for our next cohort of digital champions are now in full swing and we’re excited to welcome our next cohort. As a reminder, there are now bespoke programmes for all staff in our Portsmouth schools and these are fully funded through the apprenticeship levy and offer other benefits including match funded projects and free CPD.
If you would like more information or would like to secure a space on any of the programmes in April, June or September, view the flyer or contact Gemma Gwilliam (ggwilliam@copnorprimary.co.uk). You can also watch a short video from the launch of the programme here.
Science training from HISP
A reminder that we have now launched our citywide STEM offer which includes Ofsted training from HISP. Please use the link in the PDF or email Gemma (ggwilliam@copnorprimary.co.uk) for more information.
STEM networks and citywide STEM offer
As part of our citywide STEM offer, we are developing STEM subject leaders networks to support leaders and teachers with:
- Sharing best practice
- Having access to resources
- Developing expertise
- Knowledge of relevant research and pedagogy
- CPD and training opportunities
- Creating experiences for our children
These networks will mostly go 'live' from September, with regular meetings and a Teams page to host your subject and supporting communication and collaboration.
These are available for:
- Primary computing leads (live now)
- Secondary computing leads
- Secondary computing teachers
- Primary science leads (live summer 2023)
- Secondary science leads (live summer 2023)
- Secondary science teachers
- Primary design technology leads
- Secondary design technology teachers
- Anyone interested in supporting the development of STEM subjects
After Easter, we will be putting together the plans for next year’s citywide STEM offer, which will include training and CPD for all staff as well as even more opportunities to engage our children and their families with STEM activities. As part of this, we are developing our STEM networks and looking to ensure that we have everyone on our centralized mailing lists who needs to be.
If you would like to join any of the networks, please use this form so that we can begin to add you to the relevant Teams page and begin working with the network leads (and Sarah Hilditch) on these for the next academic year.
Exhibit at the Teach Portsmouth Jobs and Opportunities Fair 2023 |
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 Do you have a range of non-teaching roles you'd like to promote to a local audience? Building on the recent success of Teach Portsmouth's 'become a teaching assistant' event, the team are now broadening their remit to support the recruitment of all non-teaching roles in schools and colleges.
The Teach Portsmouth Jobs and Opportunities Fair brings together adult education providers, schools, colleges, and academies to Portsmouth Guildhall on Monday 22 May 2023 from 9am - 2pm to promote non-teaching vacancies and share information and advice on employment and training.
We would welcome interest from schools, colleges and academies who would like to exhibit at the event to promote non-teaching vacancies, volunteering opportunities and inspire people to consider careers in education across the city.
The deadline to request a stand is Friday 5 May 2023.
Mini golf at Canoe Lake |
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Looking for a fun-filled day out with your students? Look no further than our beautiful mini golf course! Our course is the perfect place for end of term school trips, offering a delightful safe environment with plenty of lovely plants and stunning surroundings.
And the best part? We're offering a special discounted rate of just £2 per person for school groups! This means your students can enjoy a fun day out without breaking the bank.
Get your students to add up their scores and practice their addition, or get them to spot some local wildlife and plants as you go around the course.
Don't forget to test your golf skills as you race to beat your colleagues or students! We provide clubs and golf equipment suitable for all ages, so everyone can get involved and have a great time. Our area is also fully gated, ensuring a safe and secure environment for your students to play in. Situated in Canoe Lake, between the Butterfly House, the play park and the Model Village. So why wait? Book your school trip to our mini golf course today.
For bookings, please contact Richard at rsexton143@gmail.com or 07766 315605.
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Outdoor learning and PE update from Hampshire Outdoors |
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The latest edition of Hampshire Outdoors Outdoor Learning (including Trailblazer) newsletter is now available. The theme this newsletter is fieldwork.
With National Fieldwork Fortnight happening from 26 June to 7 July 2023, Kate Broadribb, Geography Advisor & Secondary Phase Inspector for HIAS considers the place of fieldwork in the National Curriculum with some brilliant examples; and both Minstead and Stubbington Study Centres share some fieldwork ideas too. As a response to requests for funding information, we have identified some potential sources of grants and funding for outdoor learning.
Don’t forget previous editions of the newsletter as well as our free Trailblazer outdoor learning resources are available on the Trailblazer website.
We receive many queries from schools whether to do curriculum based outdoor learning or go down the forest school route. To help you decide which is most appropriate for your setting, we have put together this handy guide.
PSHE Association quality assured resources |
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Addressing misogyny, toxic masculinity and social media influence in PSHE education is one of the latest, talked about resources across the South East.
Equip pupils with the skills and strategies to recognise and challenge discriminatory behaviours and attitudes.
Musicals concert with the Royal Marines Band Service |
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We are excited to announce a brand new vocal opportunity for students in partnership with the Royal Marines Band Service and Portsmouth Grammar School. This brand new performance is aimed at primarily KS3 - 5 students, however if you have a group of confident year 5/6s, please do sign up and bring them along.
This massed choir performance with the Royal Marines Band Service is taking place on Thursday 6 July 2023 at 6.30pm at Portsmouth Guildhall, celebrating some of the most popular and well-known musical theatre songs.
The performance is an opportunity for students to sing as part of a massed choir as well as opportunities for solo performers accompanied by the Royal Marines Band Service. The performance will include songs from hit musicals, such as The Greatest Show, Dear Evan Hanson and School of Rock.
Places will initially limited to one class (approx. 30 students) per school.
To book, please use the online form. The deadline is Friday 28 April 2023.
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Free literary Teach Meet - the power of storytelling |
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As part of the work of the PEP Early Language and Literacy Development Group, Portsmouth Grammar School are hosting a free literary Teach Meet session on Wednesday 19 April 2023 from 5pm to 7pm.
Following an initial input from Chris Connaughton (writer, actor, director, and educationalist) on the power of storytelling, this informal gathering of like-minded literacy practitioners offers the opportunity to share ideas in five-minute bite-sized slots.
There is no cost to participants, parking is available on the school site (accessible through the main gates on the high street) and refreshments are being provided. All welcome.
If you would like to share your pedagogical expertise on something that is working well in your English lessons, contact Bryony at b.hart@pgs.org.uk. We are looking for presentations from all key stages of no more than five minutes long.
Primary RE network meeting |
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The next primary RE network meeting will be held online on Tuesday 16 May 2023, 3.30pm - 5pm. These meetings are free for all Portsmouth primary subject leaders and teachers of RE. They cover everything from assessment in religious education, to use of the Locally Agreed Syllabus Living Difference IV and managing an Ofsted deep dive into RE.
The meeting will be led by Justine Ball, Hampshire Primary RE Advisor.
All welcome. Please email Laura.Browne@portsmouthcc.gov.uk to sign up and receive the Microsoft Teams link.
Be tick aware |
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Tick awareness is an important step towards reducing the chance of getting a tick-borne disease like Lyme disease. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne infection in the UK. It is important to remind staff, children and families that ticks are found in all areas of the UK and we should all be tick aware.
Being tick aware by knowing what ticks look like, where they can be found, and practising prevention behaviours will help to avoid tick bites.
- Make it a habit to carry out a tick check – an easy way to make sure you haven’t picked up a tick while outdoors. Look over your clothes and body regularly if you’re outdoors and brush off any ticks you see. Carry out a thorough tick check when at home by removing your clothing and having a good look and feel for ticks – look out for anything as small as a speck of dirt or a freckle.
- If you do get bitten, removing the tick quickly and correctly can help to reduce any potential risk of infection.
- Being bitten by a tick doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get Lyme disease as not all ticks carry Lyme-causing bacteria.
- If you are bitten by a tick infected with Lyme-causing bacteria, you can reduce the chances of the bacteria being transmitted by removing the tick quickly.
- A characteristic expanding rash is present in most but not all cases of Lyme disease.
- Seek advice from your GP or dial NHS 111 if you feel unwell after being bitten by a tick, even when you don’t have a rash, and remember to tell them you were bitten by a tick or have recently spent time outdoors.
Please don't think you are only at risk from ticks during off-site visits, they may be present in your school field, during the walk to and from school and it is possible to be bitten throughout the year. We may be unable to entirely avoid ticks, but swift removal and knowledge of them may help to prevent a bite leading to more serious consequences.
In addition to Lyme disease, you may also have seen recent media reports of tick-borne encephalitis. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has advised that their surveillance suggests that transmission of the virus in this way is very uncommon in the UK, and that the risk to the general public remains very low.
There are resources available which you may wish to share with parents and carers, or print off for your staff room:
Free mental health training now available
It was recently announced that Portsmouth has been chosen as one of three cities for a new mental health training course, which is designed to give staff some basic training in children's emotional health. You can now book your place on the online training course, and three different options are available:
- One full day course
- Three morning sessions (two hours per session)
- Two evening sessions (three hours per session)
Training sessions are available from April to September 2023. Any adult who works or volunteers with children, young people and families can take part in the training, which is being delivered by the Anna Freud Centre and Charlie Waller Trust.
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