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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
Upcoming sexual health webinars for professionals, parents and carers |
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Our local sexual health service, Let's Talk About It, is offering a series of free webinars tailored to professionals. These sessions are designed to help you stay up to date with the issues young people face, from healthy relationships to LGBTQ+ inclusivity, so you can provide the best support. Sessions are delivered by experienced sexual health practitioners and are open to all professionals in Portsmouth.
There are also specific webinars for parents and carers, offering guidance from expert practitioners. Schools and colleges can help by sharing these sessions with families who may want extra support in talking to their young people about relationships and sexual health.
Visit the Let's Talk About It website to view upcoming webinars and book your place.
MHST education newsletter |
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Please take a look at the MHST education newsletter for February 2025 and supporting attachments below. Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm for improving children's and young people's wellbeing and mental health in the city.
As always we welcome any feedback on our newsletter and encourage you to share any projects or achievements with us so that these can be shared and celebrated in further communications.
Improving toilet access in schools – new toolkit available |
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Toilet access is essential for pupils’ wellbeing and learning, yet many struggle to use school toilets when they need them. Restrictions on toilet access can lead to stress, anxiety, and poor concentration – and may result in dehydration, health complications related to the bladder and bowels, and difficulties for students who menstruate.
To help schools develop policies that balance safety with accessibility, Irise has recently launched the UK Schools Toilet Policy Toolkit. This resource offers guidance on:
- Supporting pupils with periods, especially during exams
- Ensuring LGBTQIA+ students feel comfortable accessing facilities
- Considerations on how to manage behaviour challenges related to toilet-use
We encourage both primary and secondary schools to review their policies. Small changes can make a big difference to pupil wellbeing, confidence, and engagement in learning.
Moving Forward - 27 March 2025 |
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Moving Forward, an event showcasing services and employers across the city who support young people and adults with SEND will be returning this year on Thursday 27 March 2025 from 9.30am to 3pm at the Victory Suite, Fratton Park.
Suitable for young people with SEND (aged 14+) as they transition to adulthood and adults with a learning disability looking to explore opportunities, information will be available on education, employment, health, and community support.
Young people, adults, parents, carers and professionals can come along and learn more about the fantastic services available to those 14+ with SEND or a learning disability in Portsmouth. No need to book – just drop in!
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Month of the Military Child - April 2025 |
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Never Such Innocence will be offering a wide variety of activities for Month of the Military Child (MotMC) in April!
Whether you are joining the 'Purple Up' day on Friday 25 April 2025, entering the poetry and art competition or singing Dandelions - there is something for everyone!
Please visit their website to learn more or access their range of free resources so you can begin planning your MotMC celebrations.
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School improvement
Teach Portsmouth opens doors to new careers in education |
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 Portsmouth's largest education recruitment event kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Teach Portsmouth Jobs and Opportunities Fair, held on Wednesday 26 February 2025, at Guildhall attracted 300 attendees eager to explore employment and training opportunities in the education sector.
This event is a key initiative of Teach Portsmouth, aimed at recruiting local professionals who can educate children and young people in schools and colleges. Recruitment fairs provide a valuable platform for individuals to connect with potential employers, engage in informal discussions, and obtain the necessary information to advance their careers.
The drop-in event gave attendees the chance to sign up for taster sessions with employers. These sessions allowed people to visit a school, meet staff, and learn more about their vacancies. Apprenticeships were also featured, with providers offering information and advice on this training route.
Teach Portsmouth's next event, the Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair, returns to Central Library (third floor) on Thursday 1 May 2025 from 10am - 11.45am and 12pm - 2pm. Schools who would like to exhibit at the event can email teachportsmouth@portsmouthcc.gov.uk to reserve their space.
The Road from Karachi - workshops for schools |
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The Road from Karachi is a lost cookery book found 30 years later and recreated by Nadia and Khalida Arab. Khalida and Riaz Arab ran an Indian and Pakistani cookery school in Portsmouth in the 1980s. They wrote a book but lost their copy.
The cookery book has recipes shared on menus in and around Portsmouth for clean water pumps for those in need in the world as well as has its own cookery lessons at the Southsea Deli.
The Road from Karachi is not just a cookery book. It aims to make an impact locally and globally by delivering workshops in schools and colleges to create specials on menus with students which brings in new cultures, flavours and creativity to then sell for a water pump for those in need in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. The water pump has the name of the school and each student initial. One water pump costs £160.
The cost for a workshop is £350 for delivery of the session which includes an inspiring story, cooking session and special creation. Nadia has 20 years teaching experience in further education and also works as a cookery teacher at the Southsea Deli.
For further information, please contact roadfromkarachi@gmail.com.
British Science Week events - 11 March 2025 |
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Details of this year's British Science Week offer for EYFS to KS4 can be found here.
Please note that sign ups will close on Wednesday 5 March 2025.
If you have any questions, please contact The Digital City Assistant Heads (Amy and Nicci) at Assistantheadofdigital@portsmouththedigitalcity.co.uk.
Participation and progression
NEET Prevention and Re-engagement Conference |
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As you will be aware, we are concerned about the increasing number of young people who are not in education, employment, and training (NEET) in years 12 and 13. On Wednesday 19 March 2025 we will be bringing together a number of stakeholders to develop a new strategy and identify ways to improve the current position.
We would be grateful if your organisation could be represented at this event in March. If you want to book on, please complete the registration form by Friday 10 March 2025 at the latest.
Please feel free to forward to relevant staff in the school, college or partnerships. It is important to ensure that we have wide representation of delegates who can support the development of the strategy.
Portsmouth Inspiring Volunteer Awards 2025 |
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Hive Portsmouth is excited to announce that nominations are open for the 2025 Portsmouth Inspiring Volunteer Awards. This year's event will be bigger and better than ever before, and the award ceremony will be held at The Kings Theatre. This event is one of a kind and celebrates the amazing and essential work that volunteers do every day in Portsmouth.
Categories include:
- Individual volunteer
- Group - team of volunteers
- Young volunteer (under 25 years old)
- Trustee/committee member
- Business - community giving
Use the online form to nominate that special individual, group, or organisation that has made a difference to your life or the lives of others by volunteering. Nominations close at midday on Monday 12 May 2025.
If you have any questions, please email volunteering@hiveportsmouth.org.uk.
Simpler recycling in the workplace |
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The UK government has announced ‘Simpler Recycling’ waste reforms for households and businesses in England.
Under the Simpler Recycling scheme, businesses, schools, hospitals and other ‘non-household municipal premises’ in England will be required to separate dry recycling (including paper, card, plastic packaging, glass and metal) from general waste for collection. In addition to dry recycling, if a business generates food waste, no matter how small the quantity, this will also need to be separated for collection.
From 31 March 2025, recycling and collection measures for all types of recyclable waste are required to be in place in your school, except garden waste and plastic film. The collection of plastic film will begin from 31 March 2027.
Additional information can be found on the Suez website.
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