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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
Nominate a SENDsational service or individual in Portsmouth's award scheme |
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We’re excited to share that nominations are now open for the Portsmouth SEND Appreciation Awards 2025, a city-wide celebration of individuals, teams, and services who go above and beyond to support children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Organised by Portsmouth Parent Voice, in partnership with Portsmouth City Council and The News, the awards recognise outstanding contributions across four categories:
- Support for Young People Award
- Support for Families Award
- Community Choice Award (every nominee receives a certificate)
- Co-production Award
We’re encouraging schools and colleges to share this information with staff alongside parents/carers to increase awareness and the number of nominations. The award scheme is designed to shine a light on the incredible work that goes on in the city and the people and organisations who support children, young people and families with SEND.
Winners will be announced at the Portsmouth SEND Local Offer Live event on Thursday 6 November 2025 at the John Pounds Centre. Please share this link with colleagues and parent/carers. Nominations close on Monday 20 October 2025. If you're nominating in multiple categories, you'll need to submit the same form separately for each nomination.
A poster to display to promote nominations can be downloaded here.
Kooth young people's survey |
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Kooth is conducting a survey to gather feedback from young people in Hampshire who have used the platform. The survey aims to ensure that the platform continues to meet the needs of young people and provides high-quality mental health support.
Please share the following message with young people aged 11 -25:
Calling all young people aged 11-25 in Hampshire
Have you used Kooth - the digital mental health platform? We would love to hear from you about:
- How you used the platform?
- What you found most helpful?
- How you think it could be improved?
All feedback is welcome as it will help to make the service better for young people in Hampshire.
Portsmouth schools unite to champion inclusive practice at annual conference |
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 School staff and council leaders came together on Thursday 9 October 2025 to celebrate and strengthen inclusive practice across early years, primary, and secondary education in Portsmouth.
The city’s annual Inclusion Conference continues to be a key moment in the education calendar, bringing professionals together to improve outcomes for children and young people with additional needs.
This year’s event featured keynote speaker Ginny Bootman, SENCO and author of Independent Thinking On Being A SENDCO, who shared practical strategies for building meaningful relationships between children and education professionals. Her insights inspired delegates to reflect on how connection and understanding can transform inclusive practice.
Attendees also took part in eight interactive workshops covering a range of topics including neurodiversity resources, developing attendance plans, understanding masking behaviours, and normalising anxiety. These sessions offered valuable tools and approaches for supporting children in the classroom and beyond.
Local services such as Portsmouth Parent Voice, Portsmouth Family Hubs, the Parent Carer Board, and SENDIASS were among the exhibitors, showcasing the support available to families across the city.
Free fathers mental health training |
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Thursday 20 November 2025 | 9am - 4.30pm | Civic Offices
This multi-agency training delivered by Families in Mind and Dad Matters is aimed at any professional working with families in the first 1,001 days. Topics covered include: underpinning policy and research; mental health conditions; identification and intervention; managing risk; and developing high quality, integrated and inclusive services. You will also have the opportunity to find out about the fantastic local support available for male carers.
For more information and to book, please email sophie.burgues@solent.nhs.uk.
School improvement
Become a sponsor and help us celebrate 10 years of the Portsmouth Education Partnership |
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To mark a decade of collaboration and progress, Teach Portsmouth is launching an exciting new initiative: The Bright Sparks Book, a high-quality publication celebrating the schemes and projects that have improved education outcomes for children and young people across the city.
From early years to colleges, schools and academies, every setting will be invited to submit an initiative they’re proud of. Each entry will showcase its impact and outcomes, and feature contact details for the nominated ‘Bright Spark,' the individual who led the work, to encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing.
The book is designed to inspire senior education leaders by highlighting best practice across themed sections, helping professionals connect, share ideas, and learn from one another.
To bring this to life, we’re inviting local organisations to sponsor one of 10 themed categories. We’re delighted to already have the support of the University of Portsmouth, Solent Academies Trust, and the University of Chichester Academy Trust.
Sponsorship is £500 + VAT per category. If you are interested in supporting The Bright Sparks Book, please email teachportsmouth@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can find out more information on the Teach Portsmouth website.
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Antimicrobial resistance art competition – closing soon! |
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A quick reminder that the closing date for the antimicrobial resistance art competition is fast approaching. Primary and secondary schools across Hampshire and Isle of Wight are invited to take part in this exciting competition for World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week 2025.
Create a poster or comic strip that explains:
- How drug-resistant infections can happen
- How they might spread
- What the consequences could be
- Why it’s important to use antibiotics responsibly
Submit your entries online by Friday 24 October 2025.
Stories behind the Poppy: The Battle of the Atlantic |
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The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous battle of World War II, a vital connection which brought supplies from North America to keep the people of the United Kingdom from starvation; it stands as an ultimate example of allyship between Canada and the UK.
On Thursday 6 November 2025, Stories Behind the Poppy commemorates 80 years since the Battle of the Atlantic with a series of free, digital events for schools across the UK and Canada. Students will learn about the history of the Battle of the Atlantic and take part in creative commemoration activities.
Walk, wheel or cycle? Share your story and inspire others |
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Do you and your children regularly walk, wheel or cycle to school, to reach activities, or just for fun?
We’re looking for a local family to feature in a short video for our Air Quality Heroes campaign. The video will celebrate the benefits of active travel, like walking, wheeling or cycling, and how it helps improve air quality in Portsmouth.
Whether you cycle the school run or walk to the park, your story could encourage others to travel in cleaner, healthier ways.
You can see the videos we’ve already made on the Cleaner Air Portsmouth website. If you'd like to take part, please visit Air Quality Heroes to express your interest.
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SEND in action in the primary setting
The Inclusion Outreach Service would like to share the following training opportunity with a focus on transition:
Date: Wednesday 12 November 2025, 8.30am - 2.45pm
Location: Cliffdale Primary Academy
Maximum delegates: 15
Aimed at: Teachers, HLTAs, 1:1 TAs, SEN(D)CO, Assistant SEN(D)CO, EYFS, Primary staff supporting children with SEND
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 and questions about what you have seen and discuss how to adapt this for your setting.
To book a place email: Stephanie.Andrews@portsmouthcc.gov.uk giving the name and email address of the attendee.
Year 1 writing - subject knowledge training and assessment
Friday 24 October 2025 | 1pm - 3pm | The Training and Learning Centre
Outline:
- To identify the foundation knowledge that year 1 children need
- To understand how to teach this in a progressive way
- To be able to moderate year 1 writing effectively
This is a two-session course. Session two will be held on Thursday 19 March 2026.
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