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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.
Do you have new or existing members of staff who would benefit from receiving the PEP bulletin each week? If so, please encourage them to subscribe by clicking on the link below.
Welcome to Portsmouth: guide for education professionals working with
children and families |
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Welcome to Portsmouth is a document to support education professionals who work with children and families in the city. Whether you are new to the city or have been working with children and families for a while, we hope that you will find it useful.
Welcome to Portsmouth has been designed to help education colleagues in navigating everything there is to know about safeguarding, education and local services and support. We know that supporting vulnerable children and families in education can be challenging, especially in an ever evolving and changing workforce, therefore we developed this guide to help support in a new or existing role.
If you have any queries in relation to the document, or have any updates, please contact link.coordinators@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
A digital version of the guide is available on the Portsmouth Education Partnership website.
School improvement
Citywide computing offer |
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Following the success of British Science Week, we are now introducing our citywide computing offer, which includes activities for children/pupils as well as training opportunities for staff and are all fully funded. From challenges and Minecraft activities, to cyber training, live assemblies and parent and carer webinars, there's something for everyone.
Please click the button below and use the sign-up forms in the PDF, or email Gemma Gwilliam (ggwilliam@copnorprimary.co.uk) for more information.
Please note spaces are limited and offered on a first come, first served basis.
Portsmouth SACRE survey and directory |
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Survey
As part of the local SACRE (Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education) duty to monitor Religious Education in Portsmouth schools, please could RE leaders or senior staff complete the very brief survey on behalf of their schools.
The survey focuses on the number and reasons for withdrawal of pupils from RE lessons and collective worship. Any results will be completely anonymised.
Directory
Have you seen the useful Places of Worship Directory? This up-to-date resource has been compiled by the Portsmouth SACRE to support schools with information on local places of worship that are keen to welcome visits from Portsmouth schools and has been recognised nationally. There are details of who to contact, what is available and acceptable, plus links to our locally agreed RE syllabus Living Difference IV.
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Chichester Festival Youth Theatre is coming to Portsmouth |
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Who is CFYT for?
Young people in years 9 – 11 who want to meet like-minded people and find a space to be themselves. Weekly workshops help build confidence and gain skills in communication, teamwork, leadership, listening and creativity - all whilst having fun and making friends.
We’d like to offer this opportunity to young people who have struggled to gain access to the arts and who would benefit from the above skills.
What’s involved?
Learn from inspiring theatre practitioners through games, acting exercises and most importantly, having a great time.
When is it?
Workshops will take place Thursday evenings from 6pm - 7.30pm at the Mountbatten Centre from Thursday 18 January 2024. There will be nine workshops in the spring term.
Book a free place by emailing cfyt@cft.org.uk.
Thank a school superhero |
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 Teach Portsmouth would like to update colleagues about the thank a school superhero initiative. So far, over 100 individuals have said thank you to teachers, support staff, head teachers and others but we need even more entries. Teach Portsmouth would like every school in the city to have a collection of thank you messages from different people and we need your help to get us there.
Every school in the city has been sent postcards that people can use to write a thank you message on. The team would encourage schools to place postcards in high traffic areas, where possible. There should be a secure way for postcards to be collected and stored. Once you have used up all your postcards, please return these to the Teach Portsmouth team using the following address: Teach Portsmouth, Children, Families and Education, Portsmouth City Council, Floor 2 Core 6, Civic Offices, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, PO1 2EA.
Postcards will be collated and put into a printed format for schools to display. If you have a newsletter, we would also encourage you to continue sharing the online form with parents and carers to increase sign ups for your staff.
For more information, visit the Teach Portsmouth website.
Orchards for Schools programme |
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The Tree Council is giving away free school orchard tree and hedgerow packs to inspire and empower teachers and students around the UK to be a Force for Nature by connecting to, learning about and caring for trees and nature!
Schools that are successful in their application will receive their orchard and/or hedgerow pack, an engaging set of supporting resources and training, designed by experts and teachers, that are linked to the national curriculum.
Please note this programme is only open to new schools who have not previously applied to Orchards for Schools. Applications close on Sunday 28 January 2024.
Primary languages updates |
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Subject leader network meeting
A programme of citywide meetings has been scheduled for curriculum leads in LA maintained primary schools. The first meeting for the primary languages network will be held online, via Microsoft teams, on Wednesday 24 January 2024 from 4pm - 5pm.
We are very happy, however, for all colleagues to attend, who are part of our community of language-learning champions. If you would like to attend, please contact either Liz Lord (lizlord0502@gmail.com) or Lauren Roe (Lauren.Roe@portsmouthcc.gov.uk).
ALL primary hub meeting
The next ALL primary hub meeting will take place at Cottage Grove Primary School, Southsea, on Thursday 7 March 2024 at 4pm. We will welcome Tanya Riordan, MFL PGCE course leader at the University of Portsmouth for a session on 'Teaching art through the medium of French (Content Language Integrated Learning CLIL).'
Primary languages update
Read the latest primary languages update for this New Year with information about some of the languages events coming up soon, as well as a few little language 'gems'.
Updates from Pompey in the Community |
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EFL Joy of Moving: Move and Learn
Pompey in the Community are looking for schools to receive our free Joy of Moving: Move and Learn project to year 5 pupils at various points across this academic year. The project, funded by the English Football League Trust, lasts for one half term, delivered weekly, and consists of a 45min classroom session on the importance of healthy eating and an active lifestyle, followed by a 45min active session featuring fun games rather than a traditional P.E session. These sessions offer a great alternative to more traditional healthy eating sessions delivered in PSHE, are free of charge and can be booked in for autumn 2 or any half term beyond that.
Please contact Head of Curriculum, Sam Cleare, on Sam.Cleare@pompeyitc.org.uk for more information and booking.
World Book Day - Free books
PITC have been given 250 books from the National Literacy Trust to donate to local primary schools for World Book Day (Thursday 7 March 2024). If your school would like to receive some of these books, please get in touch and we will choose the beneficiaries. We would love for the books to go to pupils who will really appreciate them and/or schools who may need new books to replenish their school libraries.
Free Portsmouth FC matchday programmes
PITC receive large quantities of unsold PFC matchday programmes throughout the football season. We would love to donate these to local schools and pupils to use as an alternative resource for reading, use in their libraries or be given as rewards to Pompey/football mad pupils! If your school would like to receive some programmes, please get in touch and we will drop these into your school. The exact number of programmes received will depend on the number of schools who get in touch. We will provide as many schools as possible with a selection of programmes from this season.
Please contact Sam.Cleare@pompeyitc.org.uk for further information.
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Commando Joe's character-based learning programmes |
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Commando Joe's is on a mission to empower young people by building character, self-confidence, and resilience to create a solid foundation for life. We're not just shaping individuals; we're moulding a generation of resilient young people with the essential life skills to thrive in our challenging world. Our whole-school approach is robust, well-rounded, and, most importantly, fun-filled.
Using our innovative RESPECT framework, we collaborate with schools and teachers to create a dynamic programme of character-based learning. Our highly skilled team of inspirational role models and education professionals ensures a unique and impactful experience. We blend classroom sessions with outdoor activities, playing a leading role in positively shaping resilient and confident young minds.
Choose from our varied programmes - instructor led or school led. The team are offering Portsmouth schools up to £1,000 off any of their school led programmes.
Natasha Griggs, St George's Beneficial CofE Primary School recommends this programme, which they have been using to build character in their school for four years. Natasha said they are "continuing to implement it and embedded it into our curriculum. The kids love it."
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Sufficiency and resources
Consultation revised travel assistance policies |
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The council is currently consulting on the Portsmouth Travel Assistance Policy for Children of Statutory School Age (5-16) and the Portsmouth Travel Assistance Statement for Post 16 Learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. We are not proposing any changes to the eligibility criteria, so children and young people who are currently eligible for home to school and college transport assistance will still be eligible under the revised policy.
The two draft documents have been updated to reflect new DfE guidance on the provision of travel assistance. The revised draft policies also include information about how to apply for a disabled person’s bus pass, emphasise that travel arrangements should support preparation for adulthood, propose a simplified mechanism for calculating and paying personal budgets, and propose an increase the costs of a Privilege Place.
The consultation closes on Friday 19 January 2024. Comments should be sent to HTSTransport@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
Free online staff wellbeing course: You Matter Too!
You might like to start the new year with a renewed commitment to your own wellbeing with our free online staff wellbeing course: You Matter Too! The course will be facilitated by Dr Pooky Knightsmith and Ian Hunkin.
You can find out more details and book your free place on the course using the button below. Simply type the word FREE in the section re finance details. We hope to see you there, because you do matter too!
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