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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.
Portsmouth's education priorities top of agenda at conference |
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 A conference for Portsmouth's education professionals took place at the Marriott Hotel on Friday 6 June 2025 from 9am - 1pm.
The Portsmouth Education Partnership Conference brought together senior education leaders and council staff for a day of reflection, collaboration, and forward-thinking. The event centred on the conclusion of the two-year Priority Education Investment Area (PEIA) programme, which wrapped up in March 2025 after a significant £2.2 million investment from the Department for Education.
The programme focused on five key priorities: literacy, maths, attendance, digital learning, and a targeted CPD initiative aimed at supporting underperforming cohorts of pupils. Presentations throughout the day showcased the programme’s wide-reaching impact across 61 schools, early years settings, colleges, and the University of Portsmouth. Each presentation was delivered by a local specialist.
The conference was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through collaboration. Across the city, numerous initiatives are already making strides in improving school attendance, raising standards, transforming teaching and learning and reducing workload.
A notable moment during the conference was the announcement of a leadership transition. Frances Soul, the independent chair of the Portsmouth Education Partnership, will be stepping down from her role. Attendees warmly welcomed her successor, James Stuart, who will officially take over in September.
Inclusion
Free training event to help organisations and community groups become more accessible |
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 Portsmouth SEND Local Offer alongside KIDS, a charity that champions the voice of young people, are hosting an in-person training event to help organisations and community groups learn about the benefits of co-production. The event will take place at Central Library on Thursday 3 July 2025 from 10am - 1pm.
Co-production is a collaborative approach where communities and service providers work together as equal partners to design, deliver and evaluate services.
Organisations and groups who attend will learn how they can use co-production to make their services accessible for families with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Please share this information with organisations and community group leaders you work with. Schools and academies are welcome to attend the session too. For more information, visit the Eventbrite page to get your free ticket. Due to limited capacity, two tickets are allowed per organisation only. A waiting list is in operation.
Portsmouth Neurodiversity team training programme |
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The Neurodiversity team are pleased to be able to share their training offer for the autumn term. This includes:
- Profile tool training
- Understanding Myself training
- “See behaviour?... think language and communication needs”
Please contact the team directly to discuss any specific training requirements you may have for your setting or organisation.
To book a place, please email Neurodiversity0-19Enquiries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk confirming which session you would like to book.
Self-harm awareness training with Solent Mind |
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The experienced Solent Mind training team are offering live online (and some face-to-face) training to equip you with the knowledge, skills and tools to support young people you work with who may self-harm or be at risk of self-harming. The training and resources are designed to upskill staff and build a culture of understanding and proactive support.
Upcoming sessions
Self-harm awareness (1 hour) - basic understanding and improving confidence:
- Thursday 19 June 2025 - 1pm to 2pm
- Wednesday 16 July 2025 - 11am to 12pm
Self-harm awareness (3 hour) - more in depth understanding of self-harm, suicide awareness and intervention skills as well as techniques to build resilience:
- Wednesday 2 July 2025 - 12.30pm to 3.30pm
Reflective practice (1 hour) - a chance to share with peers:
- Wednesday 18 June 2025 - 10.30am to 11.30am
The Solent Mind Self-Harm Support Hub also contains a wealth of information and resources to assist your learning and understanding of self-harm and tools to enable you to support a young person who may be self-harming or be at risk of self-harm.
School improvement
Join the Portsmouth PSHE Community of Practice |
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If you're involved in leading or supporting PSHE in a Portsmouth school, there's now a dedicated online space just for you.
The Portsmouth PSHE Community of Practice is a new private group on the Knowledge Hub, created to bring together PSHE leads, senior leaders, and teachers working on PSHE-related projects. It’s a central place to ask questions, share good practice, and access useful resources - all without relying on email chains that are hard to revisit later.
This group responds to feedback from local PSHE leads who wanted better ways to stay connected and collaborate across schools. Whether you're looking for advice, inspiration, or simply want to stay in the loop, this is your space to do just that.
Please set up an account and request to join the group.
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Judaism drop in and Q&A for primary and secondary teachers |
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Are you an RE teacher with questions about Judaism? The Board of Deputies of British Jews is hosting an informal drop in and Q&A session via Zoom on Tuesday 17 June 2025, 3.45pm - 4.45pm. Led by education officer Anna Silver, this is an opportunity to ask anything you like and is open to primary and secondary teachers who teach Judaism.
Zoom meeting link
Meeting ID: 876 7311 8531
Passcode: 409549
STEM with Wings: what's next for quantum? |
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Join us to mark the International Year of Quantum with Dr Jess Wade and colleagues from Imperial on 17 and 19 June 2025.
Free digital events will explore the mysterious quantum realm. Discover how this technology already underpins our lives and find out what's next with scientists on the frontiers of quantum research. Suitable for pupils aged 7-14.
Summer HAF Fun Pompey programme launches - Saturday 14 June 2025 |
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We will be launching our biggest ever HAF Fun Pompey Summer Programme at 10am on Saturday 14 June 2025. Families who are eligible for free school meals can book direct via the Eequ booking system.
Families who have not yet applied for free school meals, including families of children who are due to start school in September, can apply for free meals on the council's website.
Could you help find a home for Peter? |
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Foster Portsmouth is still urgently seeking a new home for 15-year-old Peter* whose current arrangement comes to end on 30 June. We've not yet been able to find a foster carer with quite the right experience and skills to meet Peter’s needs.
So we are continuing to appeal for new potential carers or those currently with another fostering agency to step forward to explore if they could provide the support he needs. Peter, whose favourite hobbies are playing video games such as Fortnite and using his 3D printer, is living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
He shared: “I like doing what other people can do, despite the fact that I am in an electric wheelchair. I do wheelchair football, and I like watching films and board games, and listening to music whilst I am doing something such as Lego or playing my video games."
If you think you, or someone you know, could give Peter the care he needs and deserves, we'd love to hear from you.
*Names have been changed to protect privacy.
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