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Education Noticeboard

15th May 2025

A round-up of news, guidance and key updates for education settings

Contents

Directors Update

John Fletcher of Madeley

The Virtual School Band

Woodlands Primary School and Nursery

5 x 5 Initiative

New Youth Club in Wrockwardine & Trench

Attendance Support Team Referrals

Modified Timetables

Red Book Training

Working together to Safeguard Children 2025

Getting right from the Start

School & Post 16 Travel Assistance

Job Box April Newsletter

ARC Learning Hub Event

Supermarket School Holiday Food Vouchers

CPD Course to the end of the Summer Term 2025

Exam Stress

May Half Term Activities 

Foster Care Fortnight

Walk to School Week

Directors Update

Dear Colleagues Welcome to this week’s edition of the Education Noticeboard. So many children and young people across the borough took part in events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day. From street parties to learning activities, these celebrations have been a powerful reminder of the importance of remembering our shared history and learning from those who lived through it. Last week we saw the launch of our “5 by 5” initiative, aimed at supporting children under five in becoming happy, healthy, and ready for school. This programme provides a wealth of resources for parents and carers to help nurture key developmental skills, in line with the Government’s early learning goals. Please do encourage families to explore the new website and get involved. We are also pleased to share that a new Youth Club has opened in the Wrockwardine and Trench Parish Rooms. Run by the 4 All Foundation, this free club provides a welcoming space for young people to connect and socialise. In this edition, you’ll also find important updates from our Attendance Support Team regarding referrals, modified timetables, and Red Book training. Our Safeguarding Team has also shared the latest guidance and tool kit aligned with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2025.  Additionally, In addition our early years team has shared some useful research about early years foundation statutory framework Also, a quick reminder for parents and carers, that applications for school and post 16 travel must be submitted by 30 June 2025 to ensure arrangements are in place for the new academic year. We’re pleased to confirm that the Cost-of-Living Holiday Food Voucher Scheme will be available again for the May Half Term and Summer Holidays. Please ensure eligible families are aware of this important support. With exam season underway, we’ve included a selection of resources to help students manage exam stress—please do share these with your student, parents and carers. Next week marks Walk to School Week, beginning Monday 19 May. We’ve attached materials to help encourage pupils to reach their recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Finally, don’t miss the latest edition of the Job Box newsletter, which includes updates on our NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training).  As always there is also a wide range of training sessions available in the new term to support with staff development. Enjoy the rest of your week. Best Wishes, Simon Simon Wellman Director: Education & Skills

VE Day Celebrations

John Fletcher Of Madeley Primary School celebrate VE Day We were so proud of our children who took part in our special VE Day worship on Thursday.  KS2 children performed a selection of choral poems and our choir sang the VE Day song "I'll Remember" beautifully! The whole school looked wonderful dressed in red, white and blue as they enjoyed a range of VE themed activities across the day to develop their knowledge around this significant day in our British history whilst also helping them reflect on the sacrifice of so many for our freedoms we enjoy. Our children were also treated to a special VE Day themed lunch - thank you to our amazing kitchen staff for their hard work preparing such a feast!

VE Day Memorial Bench and The Virtual School Band As councillor Shirley Reynolds said in her introduction to the latest performance by the Virtual School Band, “it is always very fitting when young people who’s, in most cases, grandparents were not alive during the Second World War, give up their time and energy to help remember and celebrate the achievements of a generation that must not be forgotten.” The Virtual School Band played another fantastic gig to help draw in the crowds for the revealing of the VE Day 80th anniversary memorial bench outside Meeting point House. The crowd were treated to a performance of two great songs from their repertoire – Coldplay’s ‘Sky full of stars’ and The Script’s ‘Hall of Fame’. Next up – the Virtual School’s annual DT Conference and celebration event ‘Hotshots’ on 6th June.

VE Day at Woodlands Primary School and Nursery Woodlands celebrated the anniversary of the 80th VE Day in true Woodies’ style! Children and staff all made a huge effort to dress up and show respect to the World War Two veterans. School was an ocean of red, white and blue, and, amongst that, some children and staff dressed as if they were in the 1940s. During the day, the children attended a VE Day assembly, led by one of our History Co-ordinators, Miss Hailey, followed by a VE Day history lesson back in class. The whole school then had a lovely picnic on the field whilst listening to war time music. Mrs Zaki taught the children ‘Hey Mr Miller!’, a song, celebrating VE Day, taught to Woodlands’ Choir members at Telford Sings earlier in the year. Key Stage One and Two sang it, brilliantly, on the playground to begin the afternoon’s celebrations (1940’s outdoor games). Check out our Instagram, woodlandsprimarytelford, for a recording of our song! Miss Hailey has also put together a fantastic display sharing stories of staff’s family members’ experiences eighty years ago.

News

5 by 5 Initiative We were really pleased to launch our 5 by 5 initiative last week. In case you missed it, here's a quick recap 5 by 5 is designed to inspire and encourage children under the age of five to be happy, healthy, and active as they prepare for school. Through five exciting themes, we’ve suggested adventures that will help young children thrive. If you’re a parent or carer with a child under five, why not see how many adventures you can complete together. You’ll find all the themes and adventures listed on our new 5 by 5 website – link to https://5by5.telford.gov.uk/

New Youth Club opens in Wrockwardine Wood & Trench Parish Rooms

Young people in the Wrockwardine Wood and Trench areas can now get together and socialise with friends at a new youth club, which opened recently.

The free club will run fortnightly on Wednesdays for six to 16 year olds at Wrockwardine Wood & Trench Parish Rooms. The next club will take place this Wednesday 14 May. 

It’s run by 4 All Foundation, a charitable organisation, and activities will include gaming, arts and crafts, pool, darts and much more.

Attendance Support

Attendance Support Team Referrals 

Schools are reminded that there remain two pathways for AST legal intervention – the ‘traditional’ Section 444 and the newer Notice to Improve/Penalty Notice route.

The ‘traditional’ Section 444 route is a dripping tap approach and follows a clear escalation process. School issue their own SALs, followed by AST warning letters, then if despite all best efforts of the school, parents don’t engage then an Interview Under Caution progressing to Court action is the best route. Often attendance improves from the day the parent receives the invitation to IUC.

The Penalty Notice route is best considered for cases where there is a sudden and usually significant deterioration in attendance where parents are not engaging with support. A PN can be requested where a child has accumulated 10 unauthorised sessions in a 10 week rolling period. This can include U coded lates.

Prior to a PN, a Notice to Improve (detailing a dated period to allow parents opportunity to engage in support and show improvement) can be used where the school feel that this may be sufficient to change behaviour without the issue of a fine. Where the NTI is unsuccessful, a PN is issued. If, following the issue of an NTI, the pupil continues to rapidly accumulate unauthorised sessions then school does not need to wait the full 6 weeks to refer for a PN. Please note that an NTI is never used in the case of a holiday in term time.

When considering which route to take for escalation, schools must consider the history of the case and how much evidence of support the school has. A penalty notice is an out of court settlement, and therefore by accepting this a parent discharges the offence to the date of issue and so any previous attendance intervention is archived, meaning that the process begins again. For longstanding cases, leaders may wish to consider continuing to employ the s444 route to ensure that they get the best result. The sentencing guidelines also differ between the routes.

Duty Officer

To support schools in identifying the most appropriate pathway, AST have introduced a new ‘Duty Officer’ system to screen referrals. Under this process, schools may receive feedback on referrals for Penalty Notices, Notice to Improve or warnings if the duty officer feels that an alternative pathway is more appropriate and likely to secure a more effective attendance improvement for the pupil.

Modified Timetables

In response to a number of queries from schools around the use of Modified Timetables, the Attendance Support Team are holding an additional briefing to share the most up to date LA guidance on their use.

We therefore invite you to attend a virtual session on Teams on:

Wednesday 2nd July, 4-5.30pm.

The session is free of charge and places can be requested via the CPD booklet.

 To view details of future courses and conferences in the CPD booklet, and for information about all Services for Schools, please click on to the

Telford Education Services Website

Red Book training

AST are pleased to confirm the next date for their full day ‘Red Book’ training is Wednesday 4^th June 2025. 

This training will look different from sessions prior to September 23 as we now deliver this in line with the DfE Guidance ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance’.

All delegates will receive an updated red folder. Delegates should bring any old ‘Red Book’ folders to the training as they are recycled. 

This training is a full day and is charged at £165 pp but with 10% discount for any staff from the same school – all resources, refreshments and lunch are provided. Places can be booked through the CPD Offer :

 To view details of future courses and conferences in the CPD booklet, and for information about all Services for Schools, please click on to the

Telford Education Services Website

Please ensure that school staff with attendance responsibilities are given priority for a place on this course. If you have a new member of staff in school, or have staff who have recently been delegated school attendance responsibility, please contact the CPD team to request a place.

Safeguarding

Update to Working Together to Safeguard Children 2025

On 8^th May 2025, Working Together to safeguarding children was updated with the provision of additional guidance of an illustrated guide, an animated video and details of a toolkit for children, young people and their families, and practitioners working with them.

The additional materials can be shared by practitioners and used with children, young people and their families:

• Working together to safeguard children: an illustrated guide for children, young people and their families
• the short accompanying animated video
• a toolkit of resources

All children should be helped, supported and protected when things are difficult. The illustrated guide, animated video and toolkit explain to children, young people and their families how individuals, organisations and agencies work together to help, support and protect them.

These materials were co-produced with children and young people, along with the Department for Education’s Social Care Advisory Board, facilitated by the National Children’s Bureau.

Practitioners who would like to use the toolkit can email workingtogether.statutoryguidance@education.gov.uk to request this.

Early Years

Getting it right from the Start: How Early Years Practitioners Work with Babies and Toddlers

This research explores how Early Years (EY) Practitioners understand the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework and apply it to the education and care of babies and toddlers (from birth to 2 years). It draws on a series of visits to early years settings, a survey, inspector focus groups and a literature review.

The report has been produced to support leaders and practitioners in refining their approaches to best support our youngest learners. Download the document here.

For further information contact: childcarefunding@telford.gov.uk

School Transport

School & Post 16 Travel Assistance – please apply before the 30 June 2025

Telford & Wrekin Council looks to parents and carers to make arrangements for their (child)ren and young people to travel safely to their allocated school and/or post 16 provider, where possible.

If you are unable to transport your child or young person and you meet eligibility criteria listed on the council’s website, the council can provide travel assistance.

If you are applying for your travel assistance from September 2025, all applications must be received by the council by 30 June 2025.

Applications received after this date cannot guarantee that travel training or travel assistance will be in place for the start of the new term.

You can submit your application NOW on the council's website and transport platform - School Travel Assistance (telford.gov.uk)

Job Box

Latest updates about supporting our young people who are not in education employment or training See attached for latest information

Virtual School

ARC Learning Hub event – Woodlands Primary School on Monday 16th June 2025, 4.00pm - 5.30pm   Developing Trauma Informed and Attachment Aware Practice in School This session will focus on how the leadership team developed TIAA practice within the staff team and successfully implemented a restorative approach, within the wilder school community. This will also include a tour of the school, modelling effective resources and strategies used at Woodlands and sharing the qualitative and quantitative data that demonstrates the positive impact this has had on our children and school community and time for Q&A. This event is free to attend Book your place by clicking on the link below: In Person Learning Hub Events: Woodlands | ARC

Supermarket School Holiday Food Vouchers

The Household Support Fund 

The government has provided the council with further funding via the Household Support Fund for the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.  Councillors are therefore delighted to have been able to make the decision to extend the Cost of Living Holiday Food Voucher Scheme for 11,150 children.

This represents an investment of £1.8 million to support residents with the cost of living during school holiday times.

Details of the vouchers we will be issuing during this financial year (from May Half-Term onwards) are shown in the table below

* These dates may vary in practice, depending on staff/IT availability.

An email has been sent to all direct voucher recipients to notify them of this extension.

Please note that the voucher value for some holidays has changed compared to previous years. This is because there has been a cut in our funding, and both Easter 2025 and Easter 2026 need to be covered from our 2025/26 Household Support Fund allocation.

As previously, we will send voucher codes out directly by email to all parents/carers that we hold a working email address for. 

Please ensure that you continue telling us about any changes to this information that you become aware of as soon as possible.

Our communication to them will continue to include appropriate contact details, should they experience any problems with their voucher code, plus a link to our Frequently Asked Questions web page at www.telford.gov.uk/fsmvoucher.

In the unlikely event that a parent contacts the school with a query regarding a voucher code they have not received, please direct them to winterfunding.grant@telford.gov.uk.  If the query instead relates to problems downloading or spending the e-voucher(s) they have chosen, please refer them to our voucher provider, Select Essentials. They can be contacted on 0800 587 2294 or by completing a form online at

www.select-essentials.co.uk/ContactUs

There continue to be a small number of families who will require your assistance to obtain their e-vouchers or who we don’t have an email address for.  Their voucher codes will again be distributed directly to schools.  As before, please forward or redeem these as appropriate to the parents/carers of the specific child that each has been allocated to.  This will help us track who has received them in the event of queries.

Thank you very much for your ongoing support with providing us your data and distributing these vouchers for eligible pupils at your school.

Full details of how we are using our 2025/2026 Household Support Fund allocation, including details of the application process for our discretionary scheme for those experiencing severe financial difficulties, can be found at www.telford.gov.uk/householdsupportfund.

We have also created two financial advice leaflets – one for people of working age: www.telford.gov.uk/financialadvice and one for pensioners: www.telford.gov.uk/pensioners.  These leaflets can be found on our Cost of Living webpages at www.telford.gov.uk/costofliving, and contain a range of help, support and advice. Please feel free to share these links with parents and carers.

For further information contact: winterfunding.grant@telford.gov.uk

CPD

CPD Courses to the end of the Summer Term 2025

Further details of these and all other courses are available in the 2024-25 CPD booklet on the Telford Education Services website and on the Ollie 

The CPD Booklet to the end of the 2024-25 academic year can be viewed via Telford Education Services

As always, courses can be booked by completing and returning a CPD booking form to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk (unless denoted differently).

In addition to the courses run by Telford & Wrekin Council which are advertised in our CPD booklet, you may also wish to look at the range of courses run by other local providers, whose web links are detailed below:

AmazingCPD

Severn Training Schools Alliance

Other Information and Resources

Exam Stress

With exam season upon us, there are lots of resources online to support students around exam stress and revision techniques.

Please share these resources with students:

👉 revision techniques - https://www.annafreud.org/resources/children-and-young-peoples-wellbeing/self-care/revision/

👉 coping with exam stress - https://www.mind.org.uk/for-young-people/feelings-and-experiences/exam-stress/ or https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/coping-with-life/exam-stress/

There’s also advice available online for parents and carers on how they can help their child beat exam stress by encouraging a healthy routine and creating a calm study environment.

Parents could think about:

• Helping their child get enough sleep
• Being flexible during exams
• Helping them study
• Talking about exam nerves
• Encouraging exercise to boost energy levels, clear the mind and relieve stress

More information is available via the NHS

May Half Term - Holiday Activity Programme

Take a look at our May half term Holiday Activity Programme which runs from 27 May to 1 June 2025. All sessions can be booked in advance (except Fun & Floats). Choose from tennis, Fun & Floats, tobogganing, Tots Donuts and swimming crash courses. There are also offers on at Telford Soft Play, the Bike Hub as well as ice skating crash course at Telford Ice Rink and Ski School at Telford Snowboard and Ski Centre.

Awareness Dates

Here are some awareness dates that might be of interest, along with links to websites and resources:

Foster Care Fortnight will run from Monday  12 – Sunday 25 of May 2025

To mark Foster Care Fortnight, a series of events are taking place across the Borough where people can find out more about fostering with Telford & Wrekin Council.

People can drop in and meet the fostering team at:

• A walk and talk event on Saturday 17 May from 10am to noon (meeting at Telford Town Park visitor centre)
• Turreff Hall on Wednesday 21 May from 6pm to 7.30pm (Turreff Hall is located at Donnington & Muxton Parish Council, Turreff Avenue)
• Costa Coffee on Wrekin Retail Park on Friday 23 May from 10am to noon

Fostering with the Council offers many benefits including competitive rates of pay, access to full training and resources and ongoing support from a dedicated fostering team

Walk to School Week Monday 19 - Friday 23 May 2025

Get moving and encourage kids to be more active during Walk to School Week 2025. The 5-day challenge takes place from the 19th to the 23rd of May and is designed to help children reach their minimum 60 minutes of exercise per day.