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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
Neurodiversity team training programme |
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The Neurodiversity team's training programme for the spring term 2024 can be viewed here.
The programme includes:
- Profiling tool training
- Understanding Myself training
- Neurodiversity profiling tool - Support with strategies and building a plan
Please contact the team at Neurodiversity0-19Enquiries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk if you have any specific training requirements.
Consent form
A copy of our consent form is available to download here.
Please can you ask families to complete a copy of this and send through to us if the family are wanting us to contact them for advice and support.
School improvement
Spring term citywide STEM offer |
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We are pleased to share our spring term citywide STEM offer, which brings together computing, science, maths and STEM opportunities for both children and staff. You'll notice that we have two key weeks coming up:
- w/c 5 February 2024 - Computing Week
- w/c 11 March 2024 - British Science Week
More details will follow shortly. You can express an interest (and secure your place).
We also have our Primary Subject Network meetings and are in the process of setting up our Secondary Network meetings. All leads have been emailed so please contact Gemma Gwilliam (ggwilliam@copnorprimary.co.uk) if you have not received this.
Primary Subject Network meetings (All schools are invited)
Date: Wednesday 24 January 2024, 3.45pm to 5pm
*Please note that for this year, the Primary Science Subject Network meetings are optional for Enthuse Schools.
The Computing Leads have created this pre-meeting form and Science Lead this pre-meeting form to support the following agenda:
- Welcome and share your highlight from your 3Hs in this curriculum subject. What can we learn from each other?
- CPD - what is the best CPD that you have ever had in this subject? Why was it so effective? What CPD do you currently access e.g. professional associations, and what would you recommend to a colleague who leads this subject in another school? How can we support everyone's CPD? Note the suggestions so everyone has a useful list to take back to school. (NB: For science leads, we will then add this to the attached offer).
- What does monitoring your subject look like? What have you learnt and what have you done as a result?
- Confirm date, time, venue of next meeting
As always, we are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of our schools and colleges for taking part and to the external organisations for their ongoing collaborative offer.
Household Support Fund Exceptional Hardship Scheme |
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Portsmouth City Council is launching a new Household Support Fund Exceptional Hardship Scheme. The scheme is for households who are struggling financially and are unable to afford essential daily living costs or an essential household purchase, due to an unmanageable drop in income or increase in household costs.
We would be grateful for your help in highlighting this scheme to families who might benefit by sharing the PDF poster and leaflet.
Households wishing to submit an application should complete the online form or search for Household Support Fund on the Portsmouth City Council website. We recommend applications are made online. However, for those who are unable to do so they can make an application by ringing the dedicated HSF helpline on 023 9268 8010.
Residents can make applications during three 'windows', with the first one closing on Thursday 22 December 2023, and the second opening on Monday 15 January 2024. In between windows, residents can register their interest to be notified when the scheme re-opens.
If you have any questions about the scheme, please contact the team on hsfhardship@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
Phishing alert to UK schools |
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City of London Police is warning schools across the UK to be vigilant against phishing attacks targeting school networks. Read their latest advice here.
If you are interested in receiving free training for schools around Cyber Protect advice (which includes some guidance around phishing), please get in touch with the SEROCU (South East Regional Organised Crime Unit) team at: cyberprotect@serocu.police.uk. You will then be sent an invitation to join when the next sessions are open for booking.
Supporting GP practices and pharmacies |
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Please help to support GP practices and pharmacies by sharing this message and poster with your families. Thank you.
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GP practices and pharmacies in Portsmouth have been reporting a rise in abuse towards their staff. Receptionists and other healthcare professionals are being shouted at, sworn at and threatened. In response, Portsmouth City Council, NHS leaders, GP surgeries and pharmacies are calling on Portsmouth residents to unite behind the message that there is No Excuse for Abuse.
Thankfully, the majority of people are kind and respectful to healthcare professionals, who shouldn't come to work fearing they will be abused. Please continue to encourage others to be respectful, especially at busy times when it may take longer to be seen.
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You could foster, yes you! |
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 Did you know that fostering is not just something those with children can do? There are lots of you that could make a difference to a vulnerable child's life by fostering but have heard the damaging misinformation that you need your own children to qualify for fostering.
James and Kate* discuss how not having children of their own shaped their experience as foster carers in our blog here.
We're always looking for new foster carers to come forward. The children that we care for all come from different backgrounds, cultures and walks of life and because of that, we need a varied pool of foster carers to ‘fish’ from.
We understand that myths and misconceptions can hold people back from fostering, but we're here to debunk them. Check out our latest blog post and let us change your mind.
Make a difference to their lives… and yours.
Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) training course 2024
The Educational Psychology Team are once again hosting an ELSA training course over six separate days starting in January 2024. The course is primarily for teaching assistants or learning mentors who wish to support children and young people in all aspects of emotional literacy.
Topics covered will be building relationships, social and friendship skills, self esteem, emotional regulation, anxiety, neurodiversity, loss and bereavement and emotional wellbeing. Trainee ELSAs will also learn specific techniques such as active listening, writing social stories and facilitating Circle of Friends intervention.
The training will be held at the Training and Learning Centre, The Portsmouth Academy, St Marys Road, Portsmouth over six days: 17 January, 21 February, 20 March, 1 May, 12 June and 26 June 2024.
The cost will be £575 per delegate. Please note there is also an ongoing commitment to attend supervision sessions following training to maintain the ELSA status. Explore the leaflet for details about the ELSA role and upcoming training.
The course can be booked through the Portsmouth Traded Services website (course code PLG2-0124-T001) or by emailing Philippa Wilson (Philippa.Wilson@portsmouthcc.gov.uk).
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