Despite previous requests, the additional codes ‘Analysis’ and ‘Labmat’ which are required when using account code A20005 are still not always being included in the Expense Description on the NatWest site when processing purchase card transactions.  This omission creates unnecessary additional work when processing the journal.

The inclusion of these codes is essential for accurate budget monitoring and auditing.  Can schools please ensure that these codes are consistently added to purchase card transactions to support responsible financial management.

Please let me know if further clarification is needed or if assistance is required in implementing this process.

Carole Mountford

Systems Officer – Finance

01743 258973

carole.mountford@shropshire.gov.uk

The 2025.26 Budget Plan deadline is 30^th June – this is a reminder that the statutory deadline for final submission of schools current year budget plans is 30^th June 2025.  Please can we encourage schools to email their approved and signed plans to education-finance@shropshire.gov.uk as soon as possible.  Any budget plan queries should be sent to your Finance Officer as soon as possible please.  Thank you.

Investments - we would also like to remind schools that they may wish to invest any surplus funds held into the local authority Investment fund which currently attracts an interest rate of approximately 4%.  School investments are instant access so schools can add or deduct from them at any time.  We do ask for up to 3 months notice to apply transfers into the investment fund, ideally annual transfers around budget setting are preferable in the summer term.  A notice to invest must be made in writing by the head (email) to the schools finance team.  If you are considering making a new investment and would like more information please contact jo.morris@shropshire.gov.uk

These meetings, bring an opportunity for professionals and agencies working with children, young people or their families to listen to guest speakers, receive updates on the Early Help arena and share information about services available or issues affecting families within the relevant network area, and to share news and good practice.

We will be updating you with everything that’s going on in Early Help and would love to hear from you, our partners too, so it you would like to share a service update via a Power Point slide or two, then please do let me know and I can build it into the meeting. Alternatively, there will be a chance to provide a brief verbal update.

The initial meeting for this term will be held via Microsoft Teams so ideally professionals should have Microsoft Teams enabled on their laptops.  Dial in to the meetings will be possible but will not provide such a great experience as connecting in through Microsoft Teams.  

North West  Thursday 26^th June from 3.30 – 4.30pm via Microsoft teams Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 314 655 761 671 2 Passcode: 6fx6h4Mo

North East Monday 7^th July from 3.30 – 4.30pm via Microsoft teams Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 319 748 631 337 7 Passcode: Aw7M2fq2

Central   Thursday 3^rd July from 3.30 – 4.30pm via Microsoft teams Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 349 863 070 478 3 Passcode: vh94db6a

South West Wednesday 2^th July from 3.30 – 4.30pm via  teams Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 370 617 414 676 9 Passcode: dW6Tv9Me

South East Wednesday 9^th July from 3.30 – 4.30pm via teams Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 311 906 503 313 8 Passcode: cV26Q6BY

If you have not received an invite but would like to attend any of our Early Help Networking Meetings, please simply put the date/time in your diary copy the Teams link into your calendar so you can join the meeting.  Alternatively, please email your name – agency – job title to Helena (H) Leclezio, Partnership Development Officer helena.leclezio@shropshire.gov.uk  and an invite will be forwarded to you.

We will then add you to our database and send you invites to the locality area meetings of your choice and keep you updated with any early help multi-agency training and information relevant to those working with families in the early help arena.  You can unsubscribe from our invite and mailing list for early help information at any time by emailing Helena (H) Leclezio, Partnership Development Officer helena.leclezio@shropshire.gov.uk

We aim to run these every term, and ideally in September, these will be in person – so if you have a venue where that could take place, we’d be very interested to have a chat about that too.

Looking forward to seeing you in the meeting of your choice.

Kind regards

H

Helena (huh-lean-a) Leclézio (Le-clay-zee-o)

Partnership Development Officer - Early Help

Tel: 01743 258459 Office: 01743 253921

helena.leclezio@shropshire.gov.uk

Recently, PSG have started a new process for contractors carrying out reactive maintenance at schools and other council buildings.

Reactive maintenance is unplanned and could include tasks like fixing damaged flooring, a leaking tap/roof, a damaged electrical socket/light etc.

Under construction legislation, contractors must make a written and proportionate assessment of relevant hazards and how they will be managed for any construction task.

Consequently, construction contractors will be required to complete an initial Point of Work Risk and Hazard Identification (POWRHI) form prior to starting reactive maintenance work. PSG have issued these forms to their framework construction contractors.

PSG will expect contractors to send a copy of this completed form to them before they are paid for the work carried out. 

What does this new process mean for Schools?  

The new requirement for contractors should have little impact on schools and other buildings.

The contractor should be signed in as normal, presented with relevant site information, including the site Asbestos Survey etc. The contractor should then discuss the reactive maintenance task with the relevant senior person at the school. The school should share relevant information relating to the location, timings etc.

The contractor should then document their POWRHI form and discuss the agreed controls. If the contractor does not offer to show you the completed form, schools are encouraged to ask to see it before the work commences.  The form is there to record that the contractor has agreed a safe system of work with the school.

In recent weeks, the Young Carers service has been transferred into Early Help. We are in the process of recruiting to vacancies and reviewing the service, which will include consultation and conversations with young carers to better understand what they would like from a Young Carers service. As part of this work we are keen to understand if schools have their own Yong Carers groups so we can connect, collaborate and support. If you have a Young Carers group in your school and would like to connect with us in this way, please contact the Young Carers Team Co-ordinator: Simon.Jones@shropshire.gov.uk.

Equally if you don’t have a Young Carers group and would like to find out more about our service, or initiating a group, please do contact Simon.

In addition, every Young Carer has a right to a Young Carers Assessment form the local authority and so if you feel you have a Young Carer who would benefit from this please do call EHAST on 03456789021 or visit the Young Carers  information here: Shropshire Young Carers Service | Shropshire Council and complete a referral form which should be sent to EarlyHelpAndSupportTeam@shropshire.gov.uk

The attached presentation has more information.

Jo M Cox

Early Help Supporting Families and Partnerships Operational Manager

Early Help – Childrens’ Services

Shropshire Council

jo.m.cox@shropshire.gov.uk

01743 250948

• PACC's community support work has been recognised with a Shrewsbury Mayor's recognition award. The Healthy Lives holiday programme offers individual activity programmes through the school holidays for neurodiverse children and young people, and includes opportunities to build friendships, confidence and levels of physical activity. The programme already has 200 CYP registered for the summer programme.
• There is a new ‘support while waiting’ page on Healthier Together website (link: Support available while waiting for your appointment ). The short, animated videos have been produced with input from children and young people who use the services, to help explain what the services offer to children and young people who are diagnosed with a Learning Disability and/or Autism.
• Within BeeU, two new Assistant Psychologists have started and are getting involved in the Waiting Well work. The new Assistant Psychologists will contact those children/young people on waiting list. They also hope to link in with PINS (Partnerships in the Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools) project and will be working alongside the Shropshire NDPs (Neurodiversity Practitioners) on support offers for families and schools.
• The Shropshire Neuroinclusive Training Offer is expanding, and more training is being arranged. The delivery of the Autism Education Trust’s (AET) Good Autism Practice (GAP) training is increasing, and, within next few months, we will have trained approx.180 staff across variety of settings, including specialist, primary and post 16 settings. The Neuroinclusive Training Offer for the next academic year will be out soon!
• Children’s Development Centre (CDC) Achievements: 30% increase in specialist nursery nurse capacity; increased speech and language therapy capacity and productivity; and new roles are being developed with full staffing expected by June 2025.

At AmazingCPD we are aware of the key role of Governors in your school. We are delighted to be offering two courses to support governors in the next few weeks:

How to Maximise Impact as a Link Governor - June 25th, 18:00 - 19:30

The strategic role of governors is effective when link governors have impact.  This course will support governors with strategies to maximise impact as a link governor. Delivered by Steve Compton

Book Here

Annual Governor Training: Online Safety 2025 - July 8th, 17:30 - 18:30

Richard Smith  will provide governors with a range of information that will allow them to talk to Ofsted, staff and other governors in an informed and up to date way.

Outcomes from the course

• Increased knowledge of the challenges of Online Safety in an educational setting
• A full understanding of key changes to KCSIE (updated Autumn 2024).
• Increased confidence in the use of terms, vocabulary and acronyms

Book Here

**NEW COURSE** Primary Deputy Heads and Assistant Heads Network Meeting -

2^nd July, 13:30 – 15:00

This online session will support primary school assistant heads and deputy heads develop skills and understanding to allow them to fulfil their current role while also supporting career progression. Delivered by Steve Compton

Book Here

Shropshire Primary Partnership and EmpowerMAT are proud to host the NEW West Midlands Chair's Forum.

This virtual event will focus on next-generation governance, purpose-driven leadership, and effective governance reviews.

Date: 7th October 2025

Time: 17:00 – 18:30

Location: Virtual

Fantastic Speakers:

This is a must-attend for CEOs, Heads, and Chairs of governance at both local and trust levels. Don’t miss this chance to grow your network and sharpen your leadership skills!

• Book your spot now! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../west-midlands-chairs...

Shrewsbury Town council’s Youth Service, Young Shrewsbury is to launch this years’ Stay Safe day!

Building on this successful initiative from last year; Shrewsbury Town Council’s Young Shrewsbury have now planned this year’s “stay safe day” event called Young Shrewsbury’s Youth Social which will be held on Wednesday 25th June 2025, 11am-2:30pm in the upper part of the Quarry. This date has been chosen to coincide with your School/Collage stepping up day so hopefully there will be many young people & parents around the area. 

This year we have once again teamed up with the “Team in Pink” from Shropshire Festivals who are supporting us on the day, so it’s all systems go for the event.

On the day, we aim to offer a range of activities for young people to enjoy alongside services that can offer informal education opportunities that can help young people make better informed choices over the summer whilst they are out and about in their communities and using public spaces and then share this information with others.

The themes identified once again this year are Sexual Health, Alcohol and Drug Awareness, River Safety, Rail & Road Safety, Exploitation, Wellbeing and general ‘how to stay safe messages and keep each other safe’.  We hope to have a range of activities to enhance the day.  We have our newly formed Youth Council to help plan the event to make sure we meet need and have activities that young people want to engage in.

EAS are seeking your feedback on the weekly Pathway Meetings as part of the Shropshire Inclusion Pathway Inclusion Pathway | Shropshire Learning Gateway. This Pathway supports schools where there is a request for

• a primary shared placement with TMBSS
• a medical placement with TMBSS
• or Section 19 support.

The Domestic Abuse Prevention Team is pleased to announce the launch of the Shropshire Domestic Abuse Commissioning Survey.

This survey is open to everyone in Shropshire—whether you have personally experienced domestic abuse, supported someone who has, work in a related field, or simply want to share your views on what is needed in our community.

Your feedback will play a vital role in the commissioning process, by sharing your views we can better understand what’s working, where improvements are needed, and how we can better meet the needs of those affected by domestic abuse in Shropshire. Your input is crucial in helping us design domestic abuse services that are safe, accessible, and truly supportive. The insights you provide will directly influence how services are planned and delivered across Shropshire.

If at any point you feel distressed, please remember that support is available. Please see our domestic abuse page on Shropshire Councils website here for further information.

Take the Survey Here: https://forms.office.com/e/WsvqRZeEpF