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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.
Update on arrangements for PEP chair
Since the last PEP Strategic Board meeting we have been reflecting on the direction of the PEP and the challenges and opportunities it faces.
Given the arrival of the permanent Deputy Director of Education and the recently released curriculum review, we think the time is right to look again at the PEP and how it can further support our children and young people. We need to ensure that the pace of change aligns with national changes and the capacity of the PEP.
In light of this, we have taken the decision to step away from the arrangement with James Stuart. The next strategic board meeting, scheduled for 1 December 2025, will go ahead as planned. This will be chaired by Nathan Caine, Deputy Director, as an interim arrangement, and we will discuss future arrangements for chairing at this meeting.
If you have any queries in relation to this message then please contact Sarah Christopher (Sarah.Christopher@portsmouthcc.gov.uk) or Kate Reynolds (Kate.Reynolds@portsmouthcc.gov.uk).
Inclusion
Portsmouth Neurodiversity Team training programme |
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The Neurodiversity team are pleased to be able to offer the following training in the spring term 2026. The training offer will be a rolling programme of training throughout the 2025/26 academic year.
Profile tool training
Portsmouth Academy Training and Learning Centre | 9.30am - 1.00pm
Training on how to complete the neurodiversity profiling tool and the neurodiversity pathway in Portsmouth.
- Thursday 15 January 2026
- Thursday 19 February 2026
- Thursday 19 March 2026
- Thursday 16 April 2026
Understanding Myself training
Online via Microsoft Teams | 10am - 11am
The Understanding Myself programme has been developed by Daisy Chain as part of the Autism in Schools Project which is a national initiative. It has been piloted and adapted in co-production with neurodiverse young people and is underpinned by numerous psychological theories and practices.
Understanding Myself is a six-week programme (one hour per week) designed to help the young people to understand and be able to communicate their needs.
The aim of the intervention is to increase self-awareness; help others understand the needs of the young people and their unique experiences of the world; improve self-esteem and raise confidence. Once trained you are provided with a pack that will contain all the activities, resources, and information you need to deliver the sessions.
- Wednesday 11 February 2026
To book a place, please email Neurodiversity0-19Enquiries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk confirming which session you would like to book onto.
School improvement
Introducing the Bright Sparks Book |
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 Get ready to share an initiative you are proud of
Teach Portsmouth is proud to introduce a new initiative that builds on the success of the Teach Portsmouth Awards. The Bright Sparks Book will be a physical and digital publication showcasing schemes and initiatives from educational settings in Portsmouth. It will serve as a platform for sharing best practice, encouraging professional learning, and celebrating innovation and impact in education.
The publication will feature 10 themed sections designed to help senior leaders explore different areas of impact. Each school or setting can submit up to three initiatives in total. Every submission should include a named contact, the ‘Bright Spark,' who led the work, allowing others to get in touch to learn more or try something similar in their own setting.
The initiative aims to encourage knowledge exchange between schools and academies, celebrate educational innovation without singling out individuals, and support professional development through shared learning. The Bright Sparks Book will become a lasting celebratory resource that inspires future practice.
Online submissions open on Monday 17 November 2025 and close on Monday 19 January 2026. To learn more and submit your initiative, visit: The Bright Sparks Book – Portsmouth Education Partnership. Each school will receive at least one physical copy and passworded access to a digital version online.
Celebrating Languages in Portsmouth Week |
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Minutes from the initial planning meeting for next year's Celebrating Languages in Portsmouth Week (16 – 20 March 2026) are now available to read here. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Lord at lizlord0502@gmail.com.
The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 13 January 2026. An invitation and meeting link will be shared in due course.
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South Coast Music Partnership Conference |
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Join us on Thursday 8 January 2026 for a powerful day of inspiration, collaboration, and professional growth at the South Coast Music Partnership Conference, hosted in the Sir James Matthews Building, Guildhall Square, Southampton, in partnership with Turner Sims and the University of Southampton Department of Music.
This year’s theme Inspiring Minds, Shaping Futures: Driving Excellence in Music Education, invites educators, practitioners, and leaders to come together to explore bold ideas, share best practices, and ignite new thinking around the future of music learning.
This is your chance to connect, learn, and be inspired by experts across music education, technology, and inclusion. Whether you’re passionate about creative composition, cultural diversity, or preparing for curriculum deep dives, there’s something for everyone!
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Portsmouth Cultural Education Partnership (PCEP) 2026 Expo |
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Creative ways to support young people with SEMH needs
Date: Wednesday 21 January 2026
Location: Aspex, Portsmouth
Timings: 4pm - 4.50pm: coffee and chat with local cultural organisations | 4.55pm - 6pm: creative CPD for teachers
Are you a teacher looking for practical ideas to support young people with social, emotional and mental health needs? Would you like to use creativity to help support your pupils’ wellbeing?
Join us for 50 minutes of coffee and chat with local cultural providers and then an hour of CPD that will explore simple, but powerful creative approaches. We will share three adaptable interventions that work across different age groups and settings, giving you a helpful toolkit to support young people’s wellbeing and help them regulate their emotions and feel grounded. You’ll hear real examples of how these creative strategies have made a difference and learn manageable ways to bring them into your classroom.
This event is free to attend and refreshments will be provided.
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Early years
Reception teachers invited to participate in DfE research |
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The Department for Education (DfE) is inviting reception teachers and teaching assistants to take part in research on their experience of training and working in reception. They want to learn more about what you do and what works for you to help them make future improvements.
The research will be taking place between November 2025 and end of January 2026 and will consist of surveys and interviews (lasting 60 minutes or less) via Microsoft Teams. To thank participants for their time, the DfE will be offering an incentive of £70 for taking part in a research interview.
If you are interested in taking part, and/or know someone who is, please fill in the form and one of their researchers will be in touch.
Participation and progression
Careers webinar: Why choose pharmacy? |
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Thursday 4 December 2025 | 6pm – 7pm | Zoom
Curious about a career that combines science, healthcare, and helping others? Join NHS England South East for an inspiring webinar exploring the world of pharmacy!
Whether you're a student thinking about your future, a parent supporting career choices, or a teacher guiding young minds—this session will shine a light on the exciting opportunities in pharmacy, especially the vital role of pharmacy technicians.
Hear from professionals working in the NHS, discover the different career paths available, and learn how pharmacy can be a rewarding, flexible, and impactful career choice. Bring your questions and leave with insights that could shape a future in healthcare.
Respite care |
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“I get a great sense of satisfaction that I’m helping maintain the main fostering arrangement for the young man that I have. I also get to do lots of fun things with him!” - Steve, foster carer.
Respite carers provide care for a child on a one-off or regular basis in order to give their foster carer or parents a regular break. This might be a child with additional needs or one in a long-term foster family.
Help families thrive… one break at a time.
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