I don't know how many times we can start a message with 'It's been a particularly challenging year…' but it seems very apt to do so yet again! The cost of living crisis on the back of Covid has been particularly hard on the already disadvantaged and your work is more challenging than ever. I don't need to rehearse the demands made of you with rising costs, needs and recruitment and retention issues.
Yet, as always, Portsmouth schools rise to the challenge, work together, are creative, are supportive of each other as well as the children and families that you serve.
There is not a week that goes by when I don't see, experience and hear about fantastic achievements that are happening in the city's schools. Many thanks for all the invitations to share many of these with you and a huge thank you to all of you for what you do week in, week out.
There are some great things in the pipeline for the next academic year, but in the very short term I wish you all a well deserved break, whatever that looks like to you.
With thanks,
Suzy
Councillor Suzy Horton
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education
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PEP / PEIA Conference 2023 |
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The PEP / PEIA Conference 2023 will take place on Tuesday 19 September from 9am to 4pm at the Village Hotel Portsmouth.
The event will feature a range of workshops aimed at senior leaders, subject leaders and classroom practitioners who will be participating in the PEIA programmes.
Workshops include:
- Priority 3: Attendance - Careers
- Priority 4: Underperforming groups - Pupil premium network programme, SEN in mainstream schools, and making best use of TAs programmes
- Priority 2: Maths - SEND in mainstream
- Priority 3: Attendance - Supporting and promoting excellent school attendance
- Priority 2: Maths - Year 5-8 continuity
- Priority 4: Underperforming groups - Overview of the Metacognition and self regulation programme
- Priority 1: Literacy - Fluency in English
There is also an opportunity for networking during the various breaks and lunch.
Inclusion
No Time For Goodbye - practical and activity based support for children and young people |
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Free two-day training course for school professionals, provided by Listening Ear, to increase confidence when supporting children and young people affected by bereavement, suicide, or loss. Training dates are as follows, please click the links for further information and to book a free place:
Please note that tickets are extremely limited - please nominate one representative only to attend from your school. Representatives must be able to attend both days.
Listening Ear offers a specialist counselling service for children and young people bereaved by suicide. Any parent, guardian or professional can make a referral by visiting the Listening Ear website. They also provide the Amparo service which supports adults who have been bereaved by suicide. Both services are commissioned in Portsmouth and across Hampshire.
Parenting Service offer |
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The Parenting Service offers different forms of support to parents across the city, such as one off 1:1 sessions with a parenting practitioner, discussion groups with other parents run by a parenting specialist, as well as behavioural management courses available to those with a lead professional (should they meet the criteria).
Information about the services currently on offer is available to download and share: a version for professionals which details some of the referral process, and a version for parents which provides a broader overview of the service. Please keep this in mind when distributing the offer to others.
Posters detailing the current discussion groups for September - December are available to print and share with parents, encouraging them to book on if they wish to.
Do feel free to reach out to the Parenting Service inbox with any questions, queries, or suitable referrals (ParentingService@portsmouthcc.gov.uk).
Solent Mind Self-Harm Support Service |
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The new Solent Mind Self-Harm Support Service can provide the following support:
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Support for parents/carers through weekly online peer group sessions and monthly awareness sessions.
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Support for professionals through online awareness training sessions and resources.
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Support Hub a dedicated hub of information and resources for those who are self-harming and those supporting them.
Prevent update |
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The latest Prevent update includes information on:
- Situational risk assessment
- Prevent support document
- Changes in KCSinE (2023)
- Portsdown Primary
- Counter Terrorism SE - factsheet
- Training
Supporting families in Ukraine |
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Portsmouth Helps Ukraine would like to thank all schools who have donated items to their appeal.
If you have any questions or would like to make a donation, please contact Viola Langley (email langleyviola1@hotmail.com or phone 07907941939).
Update from Portsmouth Young Carers Service |
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Young carers newsletter
The latest young carers newsletter is available to read here.
Young carers summer programme 2023
A copy of the young carers summer activity programme can be found here. Please be aware that the following criteria must be met before a young carer can participate:
- They must be between 5 and 18 years old for holiday activities and 8 to 18 years old to come to a regular group.
- They must be referred and registered with our service and have had a welcome call from the team.
- Their parents/guardians must have completed a consent for youth group form.
Please feel free to make copies of the programme for any families who you know are registered with the service and who would benefit from having a paper copy.
Our regular groups for 8- to 14-year-old young carers in both Portsea and Paulsgrove continue to be full and have waiting lists. Our groups for 13+ year olds do have spaces. All groups will continue to run throughout the summer holidays.
For additional information or support from Portsmouth Young Carers Service, please email youngcarers@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
School improvement
Holocaust education |
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Dr Christine Berberich is an Associate Professor in Literature at the University of Portsmouth where she specialises in teaching and researching Holocaust Literatures and Commemoration. Dr Berberich has many years' worth of outreach experience, working with local schools (Mayville High School, Portsmouth High School) in order to further Holocaust education. Every year for Holocaust Memorial Day she organises an exhibition of student and pupil creative work on Holocaust Commemoration for the D-Day Story Museum.
Dr Berberich can offer a number of bespoke services for local schools:
- meetings with teachers involved in teaching the Holocaust (History, RE, English...) to discuss approaches to it and provide links to relevant resources
- ideas about introducing creative work engaging with Holocaust Commemoration in schools and potential to have this displayed for HMD
- interactive education sessions on, in particular, cultural commemorations of the Holocaust
- introductions to, for instance, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust with its own programme of bespoke services for schools
For more information, please email christine.berberich@port.ac.uk.
Skatepark offer: £5 sessions for anyone 16 and under |
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Pitt St Skatepark will be offering £5 sessions to anyone 16 and under during the summer holidays! Pitt St is an indoor skatepark with a huge multi rink space. We welcome all ages and abilities so bring your skateboards, rollerskates, BMXs and scooters for a great time this summer at Pitt St Skatepark. Check out socials for schedule times and session types.
All riders must complete a waiver before entering the park. Anyone under the age of 16 must have a parent or guardian over the age of 18 complete it on their behalf. Anyone under the age of 12 must have an adult on site to supervise. Anyone under the age of 16 must wear a helmet.
Location: 315 Commercial Road PO1 4AY. Entrance via Clarence Street.
GIMAGINE - Get set German! |
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GIMAGINE promotes and supports the learning of German as a foreign language. The National Consortium for Languages Education provides resources and materials to teaching professionals in state-funded schools in England. The wide range of initiatives to support teachers and students includes:
For teachers:
For school classes:
Book launch at The D-Day Story |
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D-Day Story will be hosting the book launch of A Tale of Unlikely Heroes on Saturday 22 July 2023. It follows the tale of two teenagers in WW2 on opposite sides of the channel sharing information for MI5 via carrier pigeon. The story is for upper secondary age ranges so we welcome any young people to attend!
The author Victoria will be at the museum and talking about how she came to write the book and reading extracts from it and the book will be available to purchase. No museum ticket or advance booking is required to attend.
A poster to share with parents/carers can be downloaded here.
If you have any queries, please contact theddaystory@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
Participation and progression
Student Voice Celebration Day 2023 |
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Unloc's annual Student Voice Celebration (SVC) Day in Portsmouth for 2023 took place on Thursday 29 June 2023, hosted by the University of Portsmouth in the Portland
Building.
All of the institutions involved in this year’s Primary Council of Portsmouth Students (PCoPS) and Council of Portsmouth Students (CoPS) were invited to attend.
Click the button below to read a report of the event.
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Family Hubs celebration event, Wednesday 26 July 2023
Families are invited to an afternoon of fun to celebrate the launch of exciting new services at Portsmouth's Family Hubs.
On Wednesday 26 July, 12.30pm - 3.30pm, free events are taking place at Paulsgrove Family Hub (Cheltenham Road, Portsmouth, PO6 3PL) and Somerstown Family Hub (Omega Street, Southsea, PO5 4LP).
Arts and crafts, storytelling, facepainting, a treasure hunt and more will be taking place at both hubs, as well as the chance to meet and hold some animals. Families are welcome to bring their own picnics to enjoy in the hub gardens, light refreshments will be available too.
A poster to share with parents/carers can be downloaded here.
Stomp for Stamps
Join our summer challenge and get children walking, cycling and scooting with the Pompey Monsters for fun and fitness.
Stomp for Stamps is a free, fun treasure hunt for children, friends and families that keeps young minds and bodies active. Taking part is easy - just pop along to any Portsmouth library from Saturday 22 July 2023 and pick up a booklet and colourful pencil to get started.
Children will have great fun making rubbings of the Pompey Monsters and their animal friends, hidden in five of the city's open spaces. Once at least three routes have been completed, swap rubbings for collectable stickers and exchange for a great prize - a fabulous wildflower pot! Look out for the Green Space Challenge in the back of the booklet too!
Ready to get stomping? Pick up a map book from a library from Saturday 22 July 2023.
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Get Active
Want to learn how to ride a bike, or how to get your child riding? Join us for a series of free Get Active events this August, to pick up new cycling skills, get your bike road-ready and discover cheaper, cleaner, healthier ways to travel.
At Get Active you'll find fun activities for all ages and abilities, to keep you and your family on the move, whether you travel for work, shopping, fun or fitness.
You'll also find great deals on used bikes, with up to 50% off at our event. Plus, you'll have the chance to win a brand-new bike and cycling accessories at every event.
Come and join us at:
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Wednesday 2 August - Paulsgrove Park
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Thursday 3 August - Hilsea, Alexandra Park
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Wednesday 9 August - Southsea, Canoe Lake
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Thursday 10 August - Baffins Park (near playground)
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