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Education Noticeboard

26 June 2025

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

Contents

Directors Update

Telford Flag competition

Briefing for part modified timetables

Red book training

Attendance support referrals

T&W Annual Leadership conference

School Support Staff Negotiating Body - Consultation

Early Years Resource Booklet

CPD

Community Football Match and Fun Day

Moonstruck Astronaut a series of ‘Telford Tall Tales’

Call for research participants

Children's Art Week

Directors Update

Dear Colleagues I hope you’ve all been enjoying the recent spell of good weather. In this week’s edition of the Education Noticeboard, you’ll find key updates from our colleagues in the attendance team, as well as some excellent training opportunities still available to help upskill your staff before the end of the academic year. There is also so information about potentially reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body. Next week marks Children’s Art Week—a perfect chance to get creative and take part in designing the new Telford flag. You’ll find more details in the noticeboard. Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce the Annual Leadership Conference for Telford & Wrekin Headteachers, Principals, and CEOs, taking place on Wednesday 22 October 2025. This year’s theme is “Inspiring Leadership”, building on the success of last year’s event. We’re delighted to welcome Richard Gerver as our keynote speaker. Please make sure to book your place early for what promises to be a fantastic event. Despite the rain, last weekend’s football event hosted by the Virtual School team was a great success—thank you to everyone involved for making it happen! It’s a real pleasure to mark a very special milestone—Crucial Crew is celebrating 30 years of service to the children of Telford & Wrekin. Over the years, they’ve helped thousands of young people develop the confidence and practical skills they need to make safe, informed choices in an increasingly complex world. There’s also an exciting opportunity for primary school teachers to participate in a research study exploring the relationship between mental wellbeing and religion among students in England. More information is available below. Finally, as we approach the end of term, don’t forget to share your good news stories and photos with us—we love celebrating the brilliant work happening across our education settings. Please send your submissions to: education.noticeboard@telford.gov.uk Enjoy the rest of your week. Best Wishes, Simon Simon Wellman Director: Education & Skills

News

Telford Flag Competition

There’s still to enter our competition to find the best flag design to represent Telford and Wrekin.

We want our young creative minds to come up with a design that they feel best represents their hometown – whether it’s celebrating the Borough’s industrial past and the iconic Ironbridge, the Wrekin or the many green and open spaces that make up the Borough.

We’re looking for a bold and simple flag design that could create pride in the community and become synonymous with the Borough in the months and years ahead.

We can’t wait to see the ideas that the young people come up with.

The winner will receive a £250 voucher for their school for new arts and craft materials, courtesy of the competition’s media sponsor, Telford Live.

The competition closes on Friday 13 July at 5pm and the winner will be announced during the autumn term later this year.

If your school is planning to take part, please share details, including the eligibility criteria, with parents and carers.

We’re asking schools to send a picture of each entry as individual jpegs to flagcomp@telford.gov.uk. Please include name, age, school and description of the design with each digital entry as well as confirmation that the parent/carer agrees to the eligibility criteria.

If you’re unable to send the entries through by email, please contact flagcomp@telford.gov.uk to make alternative arrangements.

Flag competition - eligibility criteria

The design

• All designs should be no bigger than an A4 piece of paper
• We’re looking for bold colours and shapes that can be easily reproduced on a flag
• Designs can be created with pencils, crayons, felts and paints, but should not include anything loose or stuck on
• Designs created on a computer will also be accepted
• Entries must be original and created solely by the child

Application details

• The competition is open to all pupils on roll in reception through to year 10 at all Telford and Wrekin schools inclusive
• Schools are asked to check that each child’s parent or carer agrees with the terms set out in the eligibility criteria before submitting their entry. This must be declared for each entry
• Each entry should include the child’s name, age and school and a description of the design on the reverse along with confirmation that their parent/carer has agreed to the terms set out in the eligibility criteria
• Each child can submit one entry only
• Entries received after the closing date (13 July at 5pm) will not be considered

The judging

• A panel of judges will shortlist one entry per school. Details of how the winning entry will be selected will be confirmed in due course.
• The decision of the judges is final and there is no right of appeal against the decision

The winning and shortlisted entries

• The winner and those shortlisted are expected to participate in publicity, including photographs for the media and social media. The schools should ensure all parents/carers agree to this when submitting entries
• The winning design may be modified for practical purposes in any way

General information

• By submitting an entry, participants grant Telford & Wrekin Council the right to use, reproduce, and display the design in any format and to use it in perpetuity
• Telford & Wrekin Council is not responsible for any lost, late, or misdirected entries
• Participation in the competition constitutes acceptance of the eligibility criteria
• The information given in the eligibility criteria is correct, but Telford & Wrekin Council reserves the right to make changes without prior warning
• For more information, contact flagcomp@telford.gov.uk

Crucial Crew celebrates 30 years of teaching Telford and Wrekin school children essential skills

The Crucial Crew initiative – led by Telford & Wrekin Council and funded by the Telford & Wrekin Community Safety Partnership – has equipped thousands of Year 6 pupils with essential life skills to help them stay safe and confident as they transition to secondary school and beyond. Crucial Crew 2025 gets underway today (Monday 23 June) with more than 2,500 pupils taking part.

Held annually at Telford College, the event brings together thousands of youngsters for an immersive, hands-on experience. Over a three-week period, children engage with real-life scenarios covering a wide range of safety topics from fire and road safety to modern-day challenges like knife crime, vaping, internet safety and mental health awareness.

Councillor Richard Overton, Deputy Leader, Telford & Wrekin Council and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing and Enforcement said:

“Crucial Crew has remained relevant for 30 years because it evolves with the times. We’re not just teaching children how to cross the road – we’re helping them navigate the complex world they’re growing up in.

“From the dangers of exploitation to the effects of alcohol and drugs, these are real issues affecting young people today. This programme gives them the tools to make safe, informed choices.”

Council teams that deliver the event include road safety, safer and stronger communities and public protection. Key partners who support include West Mercia Police, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, as well as organisations like The Royal Life Saving Society UK and NSPCC. Each year, the programme is reviewed and updated to reflect the most pressing safety concerns facing young people.

Children take part in interactive workshops, including wearing “beer goggles” to simulate the effects of alcohol and learning how to respond in emergencies involving water, electricity, or fire. The event also tackles sensitive but critical topics such as stranger danger, exploitation and mental wellbeing.

Councillor Paul Davis, Telford & Wrekin Council Cabinet Member for Communities and Civic Pride said:

“It’s incredible to think how many lives have been positively impacted by Crucial Crew over the past three decades.

“It’s not only informative, it’s fun, engaging and memorable. Children leave with practical knowledge that sticks with them for life and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of.”

With 57 schools in the Borough participating this year, Crucial Crew is one of the best-attended events of its kind in the country and shows the commitment from the Council and partners to keeping it relevant and inspiring for the future

Attendance Support

An Attendance Briefing to discuss Part time/Modified Timetables (MTT) on Wednesday 2^nd July 4p.m – 5.30 pm

Many schools make enquiries about part time and modified timetables, particularly in light of the ‘DfE guidance ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance’.

Therefore, officers from The Attendance Support Team and representatives from other teams across education are delivering  this additional briefing via ‘Teams’ to share guidance, advice and information about the use of modified timetables.

We invite you to attend this TEAMS sessions for free by requesting a place via the CPD booklet. Here is a link to the CPD booklet:

Telford Education Services Website

Next Red Book Training 

on Wednesday 17^th September 25 

(full day training)

Due to demand, schools are able to attend the Red Book training on two separate occasions.

This training is ‘Guidance for Referrals and Legal Interventions’ but is more commonly known as The Red Book Training.

All associated resources will be made available to delegates including the most up to date version of the ‘Red Book’.  

Places can be booked through the CPD booking form.

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

For further information  contact attendancesupportteam@telford.gov.uk

Attendance Support Team Referrals

cut off date Summer 2025

Schools will be aware that the Attendance Support Team will have a cut off date to receiving referrals for AST Warning Notices. This is so that any momentum is not lost by a parent receiving a notice so close to the end of term.

Please note that the last date for an AST1A or AST2A to be issued is Friday 4^th July 2025, so please ensure any referrals are submitted by then.

Penalty Notice referrals will continue to be processed throughout the summer, so these continue in the usual way.

Don’t forget, any individual/unique cases can be discussed with the AST

For further information contact attendancesupportteam@telford.gov.uk

Annual Leadership Conference

Telford & Wrekin’s Annual Leadership Conference for Headteachers, Principals and CEO’s – an opportunity to place an early booking!

The Annual Leadership Conference for Telford & Wrekin Headteachers, Principals and CEO’s is taking place Wednesday 22 October 2025 from 8.45am to 1pm, including lunch on departure. 

We are delighted to announce details of our key note speaker – Richard Gerver – one of the world's leading thinkers on human leadership and organisational transformation.  Richard’s biographical details are included in the accompanying flyer.

The focus of the conference will be inspiring leadership and will build on the success of last year’s event, which was attended by virtually all schools in Telford & Wrekin. 

The event will also provide an opportunity to share data on the performance of our schools across the borough, comparing to regional and national data, looking at trends over time and identifying hot issues.  The presentation will include school performance data, SEND, CiC, Fairshare, attendance, exclusions and suspensions and will help to focus strategic networking discussions on the range of issues challenging our schools.

The Partnership Board is delighted to welcome all Headteachers, Principals and CEOs to this event.  There is also some space for Deputy Heads to attend too, but we ask that they only attend alongside their Headteacher, and not as a replacement. 

The delegate fee for this event remains competitively priced at £70 per person, with a discounted offer of £120 for two delegates from the same school, including lunch and all refreshments.  The event is priced to simply cover costs and to hopefully encourage maximum attendance from all of our schools. 

To secure your place/s please send a completed CPD booking form to cpdschoolimprovement@telford.gov.uk as soon as possible.

School Support Staff Negotiating Body consultation

School Support Staff Negotiating Body - Consultation

The Government under the Employment Right Bill will be looking to reinstate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) some key details are set out below along with information on the public consultation where anyone has the opportunity to respond. We will be submitting a response as an LA and would encourage you all to respond as individual schools and Trusts. You are welcome to share this with staff and governors as they can also respond individually if they wish.

Purpose: To establish a dedicated national body for negotiating pay, terms and conditions, training, and career progression for school support staff in state-funded schools in England.

Who It Covers: Includes roles such as teaching assistants, caretakers, catering staff, administrative staff, and other non-teaching personnel. The definition of "support staff" is part of the consultation. This will also include support staff based in Academy Trusts.

Why It’s Needed:

• Support staff make up over half of the school workforce.
• There is currently no sector-specific forum for negotiating their employment terms.
• Schools report recruitment and retention challenges due to inconsistent or inadequate pay and conditions.

Core Offer:

• A minimum national framework for pay and conditions.
• Ensures no staff member will move to less favourable terms.
• Allows schools flexibility to offer more than the national minimum if desired.

Remit:

• Set by the Secretary of State for Education.
• Will include consultation on equalities impact, agency worker use, and existing pay structures.

Implementation:

• Part of the Employment Rights Bill, expected to receive Royal Assent in Autumn 2025.
• Full implementation will follow after further consultation and setup - likely 27/28

Consultation Period:

Open from 11 June to 18 July 2025.  This is a public consultation to inform the

• structure of the SSSNB. School employers – both academies and maintained - are urged to respond to the consultation.
• Please find an LGA summary of the consultation on this webpage which also sets out some considerations, including the Government’s deadline of 18 July 2025.

 DfE Q&A session

The DfE are hosting an informal Q&A drop-in session to support engagement with the SSSNB consultation.

Deputy Director Jo Parry and her team will be available during these sessions to answer questions and provide guidance to help with completing the consultation before the closing date on July 18th.

If you are unable to attend a session and would like to ask a question in advance, please get in touch at School.SUPPORTSTAFF@education.gov.uk

Session details: Thursday 26 June, 4:00pm – 5:00pm

Use this link to join the meeting: Meeting ID: 361 548 782 702 6 / Passcode: mR775Xj9

Dial in by phone: +44 20 3321 5238,,3200061#

Phone conference ID: 320 006 1#

Early Years

Sharing Our Free Online Resource Booklet with Early Years Setting

We have some information from the Stronger Practice Hub about resources available, please see below:

As part of our Stronger Practice Hub offer, we’ve created a free online resource booklet with includes direct links to all of our previous network and webinar recordings – a valuable collection of CPD content for Early Years settings across your Local Authority.

We would really appreciate it if you could share the following message with all Early Years settings in your area who may be interested in receiving a copy:

Thrive Together Stronger Practice Hub Resource Booklet – Now Available!

Would you like a copy of our free online resource booklet, packed with links to past webinars and network sessions?

Simply complete this quick form and we’ll send it over to you:

Thrive Together Recording Request Form

For further information contact childcarefunding@telford.gov.uk

CPD

CPD courses to the end of the Summer Term 2025 and an update on the 2025-26 CPD Booklet

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

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

The new 2025-26 CPD booklet is currently being finalised and will be available on the Telford Education Services site next week.

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

Community Football Match and Fun Day on Saturday 21 June 2025 We are delighted to share a summary of the fantastic football event we had on Saturday, 21st June, with T&W Virtual School, Shropshire Virtual School, and Smashlife, held in collaboration with Bridge Cheese. The event was wonderfully supported by Deputy Mayor Nathalie Page and Councillor Paul Davis, making it an even more special occasion. Despite the rain, everything went off without a hitch, and it was evident that a great deal of effort and planning had gone into making the day enjoyable for everyone involved. The young people had an absolute blast, and their excitement was palpable as they celebrated their victory in the rematch! The joy on their faces was truly priceless, and they all cherished receiving their trophies. A special shoutout goes to Curtis, our VS Sports Lead, who did an excellent job as the referee in the second match game. His dedication and fairness were much appreciated by all. Thank you to all the VST who supported the event on the day We are all eagerly looking forward to the next event on the 20th of June, 2026, and I'm confident it will be just as spectacular as this one. Thank you once again to everyone who contributed to making this event a resounding success. Your hard work and commitment do not go unnoticed.

Moonstruck Astronaut about a series of ‘Telford Tall Tales’ events in Telford Town Centre during the summer and autumn 2025

Moonstruck Astronaut is a not-for-profit community theatre company which has been organising local Drama in the Forest week-long activities for children and a Drama club in Newport over the last seven years. 

Drawing on this experience, Moonstruck Astronaut is excited to be running a series of events in 2025 called 'Telford Tall Tales'. 

 These events are for 8 to 14 year olds and will be taking place in Telford Town Centre this summer and autumn.

Moonstruck Astronaut believes that drama and theatre are powerful and delightful tools for enabling everyone’s confidence, self-expression and holistic wellbeing through the communication, creativity and community they foster.  

Details of how to book these events via Eventbrite can be found in the two attached flyers.

Please also see the links below to Eventbrite to place your bookings

 Telford Tall Tales Summer Storytelling Week 4-8 August

Summer Holiday Drama Camp - Telford Tall Tales Storytelling Week Tickets, Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 09:30 | Eventbrite

Telford Tall Tales Storytelling Saturday, 13 Sept

https://TelfordTallTalesStorySaturday.eventbrite.co.uk

Telford Tall Tales Autumn Storytelling Workshops on Thursdays commencing 18 Sept

Autumn Drama Club - Telford Tall Tales Storytelling Evening Workshops Tickets, Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 18:00 | Eventbrite

 Moonstruck Astronaut has asked that we mention that all prices for the events are subsidised following receipt of an Arts Council England grant.

 This article is submitted on behalf of Rosy Hayward, Arts Administrator, Moonstruck Astronaut

Call for Research Participants

Call for research participants

There is an opportunity for class teachers in Primary schools to take part in a research study, with approval from the University of Wolverhampton. The focus of the research is the ‘Exploration of the relationship between mental wellbeing and religion amongst students’ in Primary schools in England.’

This study explores teachers’ perceptions of the relationship between religion and student’s mental wellbeing in primary schools in England. While we have seen a decline in church attendance in England and a rise in awareness of mental wellbeing, little is known about the relationship, or any perceived link, between the two on primary school students. This research aims to explore class teachers’ perceptions of religion to understand if religion/ religious teaching can impact on students’ mental wellbeing in a positive or negative way.

Please can the advert attached be shared with staff who may be eligible to take part in this research study. This is a voluntary participation study only.

Please email the lead researcher to register interest: K.M.Holden3@wlv.ac.uk

Awareness Dates

Children’s Art Week 29 June – 19 July 2025 Children's Art Week is a UK-wide celebration of visual arts, running for three weeks in June and July, with the aim of engaging children and young people in creative activities. This year, it takes place from June 29th to July 19th.  It offers a variety of activities for children to explore their creativity, including drawing, painting, sculpting, and more, both online and in person at various venues like libraries, schools, and museums.  Key aspects of Children's Art Week: Focus: Inspiring and engaging children with the visual arts.  Activities: A wide range of creative activities for different age groups and abilities, including online workshops and in-person events.  Venues: Libraries, community halls, heritage venues, country parks, schools, museums, and galleries.  Online Resources: Busy Things provides online activities for Children's Art Week.  Benefits: Fosters creativity, self-expression, imagination, self-confidence, and artistic skills.  Participants: Children, families, educators, and community group.