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
Aged 14-25 years old? Attend Dynamite’s SEND Group Open Day and help make a difference
Dynamite, a young person's group for ages 14 - 25 years old in Portsmouth are hosting an open day on Saturday 9 November 2024 at MAKE in Fratton (1 Cornwall Rd, Portsmouth, PO1 5AA).
We are asking schools to share this information with parents/carers in newsletters to help promote attendance at the open day.
This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to explore what it’s like to be part of Dynamite's SEND group, make new friends and even learn how to become a young inspector, helping make Portsmouth more accessible.
There will also be fun creative activities, a chance to meet our team, and refreshments available. No booking required—just drop in!
This online event hosted by The Mint House will share how relational practice in schools has evolved over time and been successfully implemented in schools in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Portsmouth through the development of the Relational and Restorative School Leadership Programme, supported by The Restorative Lab. Tickets are £10.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in the recent Teaching Assistant (TA) Retention Survey.
Your input has been invaluable in helping us understand the key issues affecting TAs across Portsmouth. The PEP Strategic Board has reviewed the survey findings and provided additional feedback.
We are now inviting TAs, headteachers, and HR leads from schools across Portsmouth to take part in an in-person session to co-produce a TA Charter.
This charter will outline a series of values that schools can choose to adopt, using insights from the survey to structure its framework. The key themes from the survey, including pay and benefits, recognition, training, wellbeing, progression, communication, resources, support, and workload management, will form the foundation of the charter.
The session will be held on Thursday 5 December 2024 from 4pm to 6pm at the Civic Offices. Refreshments and snacks will be provided.
Free cyber service to protect against online threats
Schools are being encouraged to sign up for a free cyber defence service from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – a part of GCHQ – which helps block online threats such as malware, ransomware and phishing attacks.
Following a successful initial rollout of the PDNS (Protective Domain Name System) for Schools, the service has now been extended to more educational settings across the UK, with multi-academy trusts, academies, independent schools and school internet service providers encouraged to sign up.
The importance of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) for student safety
The newly released report Teaching Relationships Education to Prevent Sexual Abuse provides clear evidence on why Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is essential for all young people. It shows that starting RSE early equips children with the knowledge and skills to understand consent, set boundaries, and recognise harmful behaviours. It highlights the importance of creating a safe school environment where sensitive topics like online safety, sexual consent, and healthy relationships are discussed in an open and supportive way. The report also demonstrates that comprehensive RSE can help foster positive attitudes and prevent abusive behaviours.
For parents considering withdrawing their children from RSE lessons, this report offers strong evidence of its benefits. It explains how teaching these topics at the appropriate age and stage helps keep children safe and informed. We know conversations with parents about RSE can pose challenges, and we hope that information from this research will help to reassure parents that RSE not only protects children, but also plays a key role in supporting their emotional well-being and personal development.
If you have any questions or concerns related to PSHE provision, please contact the Portsmouth City Council public health team at PublicHealth@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
Interfaith Week (10 - 17 November 2024)
NASACRE, in collaboration with the Faith and Belief Forum and working with colleagues in the RE and Inter faith communities, has brought together a suite of resources that schools can use to mark Interfaith Week.
This year's theme is Sharing My Story: Building Our Future. There is also a new website to help schools develop suitable activities and materials to provide a stimulus for pupils to explore how individuals and communities can live and work together to build a better future.
Dance for Diabetes 2025
Hampshire-based Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation (DRWF) have developed a resource enabling pupils to be physically active without stepping outside of the classroom. This carefully designed resource raises awareness of diabetes, offers a platform to have fun through movement and raises unbudgeted funds for your school.
The annual Dance for Diabetes event has been extremely successful, raising over £50,000 in just 3 years for participating schools and DRWF. Many Hampshire-based schools have participated during this time; sharing over £20,000 between them as a direct result of the pledge to donate 40p of every £1 raised back to the schools!
Schools receive a host of readymade classroom resources supported by a step-by-step and simple to follow dance video, choreographed to a well-known pop song by Hampshire based afterschool provider, FunKidz Dance.
CAS is back for November 2024! This event invites young people aged 15-25 and their parents/carers to find information about education, apprenticeships, and careers opportunities beyond secondary education.
Date: Wednesday 27 November 2024 Venue: Mountbatten Centre Doors open: 3pm - 6pm
This free event is an opportunity for you and your young person to explore the range of progression routes available in and around the city. Over 40 employers, FE colleges, and training providers will be exhibiting at this event, to answer your questions and showcase the range of opportunities in their business and industry.
We are open for non-benefits related free school meals referrals for the winter HAF programme running from 20 December 2024 - 4 January 2025. Please note the closing date for this referral window has changed. We are accepting referrals until Tuesday 26 November 2024; any referrals received after this date will not be approved unless there is an urgent safeguarding need with immediate concerns for their safety.
Please see the updated referral form and information sheet for further details. Referrals can be sent between 1 October 2024 - 26 November 2024. Any referrals sent after this window will not be accepted for access to the winter HAF programme. Referral status will be confirmed ASAP but please be advised the public launch is on Thursday 21 November 2024; to guarantee most availability and equitable access we strongly advise sending in your referrals by 14 November 2024.
The Inclusion Outreach Service is pleased to share the following training opportunity for the autumn term.
Date: Wednesday 20 November 2024, 8.30am - 2.45pm Location: Cliffdale Primary Academy Maximum delegates: 15 people Aimed at: Teachers, HLTAs, 1:1 TAs, SEN(D)CO, assistant SEN(D)CO, all staff supporting children with SEND in a primary school
This course will provide an opportunity to:
Develop confidence in identifying and making changes in your own setting to meet your pupil’s needs.
Explore how visual symbols are used to support pupils in all aspects of their learning.
Explore ways of engaging your pupils while also building positive relationships.
Understand personalised learning approaches and adapting teaching to meet all needs. Explore assessment options and how to capture all steps of progress.
Spend time within the specialist setting, seeing transferrable strategies and activities 'in action'.
Reflection about what you have seen and discuss how to adapt this for your setting.
The HR news information is located on the human resources Google homepage and maintained schools and any academy with an HR Traded Services agreement can access it here.
Further information can be obtained by contacting HR.
Dates for your diary
5 November 2024 Mental health leads forum | 3.30pm - 5pm Register
20 November 2024 Teach Portsmouth Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair 2024 Find out more
