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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
Relational and Restorative Practice (R&RP) in schools update |
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The R&RP work with schools continues to grow in momentum and impact.
For headteachers, the next Trafalgar School experience morning is on Monday 2 February 2026. Contact Nikki.Ledwidge@portsmouthcc.gov.uk to book your place.
Anyone from schools can attend the 2026 Summit Series to explore all aspects of R&RP. See the programme flyer for more details.
Please contact Rebecca.Mason@portsmouthcc.gov.uk to progress your R&RP work or to book bespoke INSET, twilights or staff CPD sessions.
School improvement
Spotlighting Bright Spark Book entries: St Paul's Catholic Primary School embarks on a relational journey |
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 Teach Portsmouth would like to thank schools, academies, colleges and early years settings for sharing their Bright Spark entries so far. The deadline is Wednesday 21 January 2026.
The Bright Spark Book encourages senior leaders to submit up to three schemes, projects or initiatives that have improved education outcomes for children and young people. Settings will receive at least one copy of the publication and access to a password protected digital version.
To inspire senior leaders to submit their own entries, St Paul's Catholic Primary School have shared an entry for the health, wellbeing and belonging section:
St Paul’s has successfully embarked on a relational journey as a core principle, following initial training from expert Mark Finnis and observational visits to a local secondary school. This journey centres around the use of Community Check-in/Check-out Circles, implemented every Monday and Friday morning in vertical, cross-school groupings that rotate half-termly.
All staff lead these structured circles, which begin with a Zones of Regulation feelings check-in, transition into engaging 'fun' questions, and conclude with a 'popcorn' question linked to British Values, the St Paul’s Principles (school rules), climate change, or relevant thematic days.
The primary aim of these circles is to consistently maintain and build strong connections across the entire school community. This practice has been extended to staff meetings, which now begin with a whole-staff community circle. Furthermore, we actively invite parents half-termly to join and experience these circles with their children, significantly enhancing positive relationships between home and school.
This is just one example of our relational journey. Other examples include: solution circles, staff supervision, restorative, relational practise CPD for SLT, welcoming families on the school gates, assertive mentoring, St Paul’s principles, relational leaders and much more.
To encourage settings to learn from each other and to implement similar schemes, the details of the Bright Spark or the person who led on the initiative, should be included in your entry. Senior leaders can then contact the school directly.
Creative ways to support young people with SEMH needs |
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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?
The next Portsmouth Cultural Education Partnership (PCEP) Schools’ Expo will be held on Wednesday 21 January 2026. Please join us for an hour of coffee and chat with local cultural providers and then an hour of CPD that will explore simple, but powerful creative approaches.
Workshop practitioner and artist Trudie Wilson will share three adaptable interventions that work across different age groups and settings: making small worry stones, writing haikus and creating ink paintings to music. Together, these activities will offer a practical toolkit to support young people’s wellbeing, helping them regulate their emotions and feel more grounded. You’ll hear real examples of how these creative strategies have made a difference and you’ll learn manageable ways to bring them into your classroom.
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
This event is free to attend and refreshments will be provided.
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Celebrating... Katherine Johnson |
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Explore the maths of NASA's Katherine Johnson, legend of the Hidden Figures film. This free fun 50-minute maths workshop for children aged 8-11 will include geometry activities guided by Dr Angela Tabiri, the 'world's most interesting mathematician.'
Date: Wednesday 28 January 2026
Times: 10am or 2pm (50 minutes each)
Format: Live, online, and classroom-ready – all you need is paper!
Early years
Share your feedback on the Neurodiversity Profiling Tool and Pathway - early years |
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We are seeking your valuable feedback on the Neurodiversity Profiling Tool and the associated pathway within early years settings. Your insights will help us understand how the tool is being used, its impact, and how we can improve support for practitioners and families.
Why your feedback matters:
- It will inform future training and resources.
- It will help us refine the pathway to ensure it meets the needs of children and settings.
Please complete the short survey by Tuesday 30 December 2025.
The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous and will be treated confidentially and used only to improve our services.
If you have any questions or need support, please contact Claire.Mason@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
Participation and progression
Supercharge your school with the Employer Engagement Project (EEP) |
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Thanks to the fantastic support of The Hearn Foundation, this whole project is completely free for your school! What is the EEP all about? It's where school meets the real world!
Subject-specific sparks: We connect inspiring employer visits directly to specific subjects. Students see exactly how their classroom lessons fuel real-world jobs.
Role model riches: Introduce students to amazing professionals! They'll meet positive role models, hear their journey, and get seriously inspired.
Teacher toolkit boost: Help teachers link class content to actual careers, making lessons more relevant and showing students the power of their education.
Q&A power-ups: Students get to chat with employers, grill them on their career paths, and ask all the burning questions.
The bottom line: We want to boost student aspirations, fire up their attitude to learning, and build real-world confidence so they can confidently picture their future success
- Duration: 1-hour sessions
- Delivery: In-person or virtual
- Year groups: 9 to 11
- Setting: Classroom-based
- Covers Gatsby: Benchmarks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- CDI Framework: Grow, Explore, Create
Ready to bring the future to your students? If your school is in Hampshire (including Portsmouth, Basingstoke, and Southampton), let's get you signed up!
Questions? Email: enquiries@ebpsouth.co.uk
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Share your views on Portsmouth's Family Hubs |
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The team behind Portsmouth’s Family Hubs want to hear from you! If you’re a parent or carer in the city, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts - what you’ve used, what you’d like to see in the future, and what would support your family best.
The survey only takes around 3–4 minutes, and you’ll be entered into a draw to win one of ten £10 vouchers for taking part!
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Top tips to keep your family winter well |
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Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust has shared some top tips to help get you and your family ready to stay well this winter.
To help keep children entertained this winter, they have created a free downloadable activity sheet that aside from some colouring in and games to keep them busy, also offers some top tips.
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