ALLOW City of Wolverhampton Education Providers' Bulletin: 20th October 2020

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Education Providers' Bulletin

Thursday 20th October 2020

City of Wolverhampton
Bulletin

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Bulletin Summary


  1. Message from the Head of Education Excellence
  2. COVID-19 Public Health
  3. Digital Divide Pupil Survey
  4. Early Years
  5. Free School Meals
  6. Good News
  7. Leadership and Management
  8. Safeguarding
  9. Support Services for schools
  10. Training
  11. DfE daily update

Message from the Head of Education Excellence


Dear Colleagues,

Just off the phone to the DfE and they know nothing of any pending ‘circuit break’. So, looks like we will have half-term next week to rest and recuperate. The heads I’ve spoken to so far this week are almost on their knees and the rest can’t come soon enough. Please find time to be with your family and friends to recharge the batteries.

Thank you for managing your schools in the way you have. We have not had one school fully closed, unlike neighbouring authorities, whilst we have seen an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in the community. Our local Public Health team will still be contactable over half-term if you need them and there is some advice below should you be made aware of any new cases.

Also included is the advice that has been issued to all of the Children’s directorate staff to support them if visiting a school or setting. This is similar that that issued last week for Health care staff.

There is also quite a lot of training opportunities that can be signposted to the relevant staff members.

There will be a Bulletin on Thursday but I am not intending to issue one next week.

Please, keep smiling!

Best wishes,

Phil

Phil Leivers
Head of Education Excellence
Phil.Leivers@wolverhampton.gov.uk


COVID-19 Public Health


Covid-19 reporting during half term break

During the half term break, support remains available from Wolverhampton Public Health team for schools and other educational settings to report any new positive cases of Covid-19 amongst pupils and staff. The attached document aims to give advice on how to make this process as easy and effective as possible.

The document (here EY) also mentions ‘5 key messages’ which schools may distribute to parents and staff to help keep them safe from Covid-19 over the break. This will be issued in the next Head Teachers’ Bulletin.

Lead person/s to contact in the LA:

Howard Jobber
Senior Public Health Specialist
Louise.Sharrod@wolverhampton.gov.uk


Weekly drop-in sessions with Public Health and Education team

As part of our support offer for education settings during COVID-19, Public Health and Education teams will be offering weekly drop-in sessions for staff. Drop-In sessions will take place every Thursday 10-11 am, via Microsoft Teams. Members of the City of Wolverhampton Council Public Health and Education teams will be available during this hour for staff to ask questions or seek advice on COVID-19 related issues/scenarios. To join on Thursday at 10-11am please click link below.

Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

Lead person/s to contact in the LA:

Louise Sharrod
Principal Public Health Specialist
Louise.Sharrod@wolverhampton.gov.uk


Digital Divide Pupil Survey


Thank you to all schools who have provided parents with details of out Digital Divide pupil questionnaire. We are pleased to say that currently almost one quarter of schools are represented in the pupil responses.

We encourage other schools to take part by sharing the questionnaire with parents and pupils as the more data we have, the better city wide picture we can build.

We would like to make schools who have taken part aware that currently some schools have partial responses (not all children or not all year groups), so a reminder to parents is advised.

Headteachers will be sent an email with more information about the survey, GDPR and parental consent for schools and for parents/carers. Please read this and take the relevant actions before disseminating the questionnaire link to families.

Lead person to contact in the LA:

Laura Jude
Disadvantaged Pupils Advisory Teacher
Laura.Jude@wolverhampton.gov.uk


Early Years


SENCo and Setting staff training

 The Area SENCo will be producing a series of training events for the coming year.

We are making plans for the 2020/21 training for you, which, at the moment, will be through Microsoft Teams due to the current situation.

The next training will be a SENCo specific course for new SENCos and those who require a refresher. We will be holding this in December and further details including dates and registration arrangements will follow shortly. Click here or here (EY) to see the full details.

Lead person to contact in the LA:
Stacey Henderson
Senior Early Years Advisor
Stacey.Henderson@Wolverhampton.gov.uk 


Free School Meals


FSM parcels

Schools are reminded of the guidance on providing FSM during the Coronavirus pandemic. Please click here or here (EY) to access the document.

Lead person to contact in the LA:

Jo Smith (Schools)
Service Development Team Leader
01902 554283
07766 473190
Jo.Smith@wolverhampton.gov.uk


Good News


Bilston C of E Primary School

Bilston C of E

Leadership and Management - Governance


Leadership and Management Engagement session - For Chair of Governors

Chairs from local authority and academy schools are welcome to attend on 22 October 2020 4 – 5pm.

An engagement session is being provided to enable Chairs of Governors to receive a virtual update from Public Health regarding Covid and the local context, as well as information from a Senior Educational Psychologist about how the wellbeing of school communities, staff and pupils is being provided in these unprecedented times.

To ensure your place on this virtual session please book through WVES. This can be done direct or via your school.

Lead person(s) to contact in the LA:

Linda Brown
School Improvement Senior Advisor Linda.brown@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Sarah McElduff
School Governance Co-ordinator
Sarah.mcelduff@wolverhampton.gov.uk


Safeguarding


Pre-employment checks on teachers from EU and EEA check from 1 January 2021

From 1 January 2021 professional regulators in the EEA (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) will no longer share information about sanctions imposed on EEA teachers with the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).

From 1 January 2021 the Teaching Regulation Agency will no longer maintain a list of EEA teachers with sanctions.

Schools must continue to carry out safer recruitment checks on all applicants outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education - September 2020.

Further information can be found at:

Changes to checks for EU sanctions on EEA teachers from 1 January 2021

Lead person to contact in the LA:

Denise Mooney
School Safeguarding Officer
Denise.Mooney@wolverhampton.gov.uk
01902 551411 or 07469410516


Support Services for Schools


Please click here or here (EY) to find out about a funding opportunity for schools to take part in to organise events during British Science week.

Lead person to contact in the LA:

Catherine Perry
Development Officer (Funding & Projects)
01902 552005
Catherine.Perry@wolverhampton.gov.uk


West Midlands Combined Authority Survey

The West Midlands Combined Authority want to know how Covid has affected young people. They have launched a survey that will run until Friday 23rd October to encourage them to share their views, experiences & advice. Please encourage your pupils to complete the short survey for a chance to win an Amazon Voucher: http://snapsurveys.wmca.org.uk/snapwebhost/s.asp?k=160129497982

Lead person to contact in the LA:

Rebecca Pearch
Graduate Management Trainee (Communications)01902 558335
Rebecca.Pearch@wolverhampton.gov.uk


Make Your Mark 2020

Make Your Mark takes place annually and is supported by Local Authorities, schools, UK Parliament, and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. The ballot this year starts Sunday 1st November 2020 and links into Parliament Week.

Make Your Mark this year will be online only, and no paper ballots will be made available. Schools are being asked to express their interest in taking part. Voting this year will take place throughout November. All young people aged 11-18 are encouraged to take part.

For more information and to sign up your school please see

https://www.byc.org.uk/uk/uk-youth-parliament/make-your-mark

Lead person to contact in the LA:

Andrew Scragg
Participation Officer
andrew.scragg@wolverhampton.gov.uk
07469 410505


Training


SIA Day 5th November 2020

Click here or here (EY) to access the agenda for the next SIA Day. Please book via WVES.


Guidance on booking training

Thank you for booking onto training through https://wves.wolverhampton.gov.uk/. Training sessions will continue to be done via Microsoft Teams or another online platform until further notice is provided. When booking onto training, it is important to check the email address that the delegate has in WVES is correct, to ensure delegates receives the updates and resources directly. Then make sure the reserved booking has been checked out from the online basket from either the school office/ business manager/Headteacher, this will confirm the place. Link to the session can be found on WVES or in the confirmation email in the attachment “Microsoft Teams link & instructions-please arrange checkout to view attachment”. Any bookings made after the time I have sent out the link via email in around 1-2 workings days prior to the meeting, will need to view the link from this attachment.

Lead person to contact in the LA:

Hardip Jassal
Education Training & Finance Officer Hardip.Jassal3@wolverhampton.gov.uk


School Leaders’ Wellbeing: We’re Listening – Thank you!

Thank you so much to those you who attended the listening session about School Leaders’ wellbeing yesterday and who have given your views via email. Here are the slides (here EY) from the session yesterday for those who could not make it which give information about research regarding staff wellbeing, outline some proposed offers of support and also shares current support available. We will use the information you have shared with us to put together an offer of support for School Leaders in Wolverhampton. If you are interested in being part of the working group to shape this offer, please get in touch via email.

Lead person to contact in the LA:

Elaine Perry
Senior Educational Psychologist
Elaine.perry@wolverhampton.gov.uk
07900708206


New development and support network for Pastoral/Wellbeing Leaders: Wellbeing for Education Return

Using funding from the Wellbeing for Education Return, we have set up free Reflective Practice sessions for Pastoral/Wellbeing Leaders in schools and colleges, which will be run half-termly. The first of these will focus on wellbeing, resilience and share a model that you can use to support both staff and students. We are acutely aware of the pressures on school staff now and so the reflective session will allow you to discuss key issues for your school and share ideas for ways forward.

The sessions start after half term and you can book onto them through WVES. Please note that you only need to book onto 1 session as they will all deliver the same content and have reflective practice sessions.

Lead person to contact in the LA:

Elaine Perry
Senior Educational Psychologist
Elaine.perry@wolverhampton.gov.uk
07900708206


Upcoming Baseline Training events

These upcoming online sessions are for class teachers and maths leads. They will look closely at the outcomes of the maths baseline tests. Each session will offer teaching guidance in relation to areas of learning which are likely to have the biggest impact on pupil progress. The focus will be on Paper 1 (Arithmetic) using the QLA baseline. The sessions will be recorded if you can’t personally attend but please book online via WVES

  • Y6 Baseline -Thursday 5th November 2pm-3.45pm
  • Y5 Baseline -Friday 20th November 2pm-3.45pm
  • Y4 Baseline -Friday 4th December 2pm-3.45pm
  • Y3 Baseline -Friday 11th December 2pm-3.45pm
  • Y2 Baseline -Wed 16th December 2pm-3.45pm

Lead person to contact in the LA:

Sandeep Vashisht
Mathematics Advisory Teacher
Tel: 07812495069
Sandeep.Vashisht2@wolverhampton.gov.uk


Engagement Model Training – Children previously assessed at P1-P4

The Engagement Model will now become Statutory in September 2021. This has been delayed by one year, allowing 2020/2021 to be a transitionary year.  ConnectEd Partnership are offering free training for schools previously assessing pupils at P1-P4. 

1)        Thursday 12 November 2020 

2)        Thursday 3 December 2020  

The sessions will take place via Teams from 3.30pm – 5.00pm and participants only need to attend one of the sessions.  ConnectEd Partnership are initially offering 1 session to cover all the training and will follow this up with an optional session in the Spring Term. 

Places will need to be booked by emailing  Harinder.jandu@connectedpartnership.com 

Lead person to contact in the LA:

Anna Vrahimi
School Improvement SEND Advisor
anna.vrahimi@wolverhampton.gov.uk


Health & Safety training

Due to Covid-19 all training courses for schools will take place on Microsoft Teams and not in the Civic Centre or at the GTG Training Academy. 

Before the training courses take place, all attendees will be sent an invite to the training via teams

Manual Handling – 05.11.20
Role of the Client – 10.11.20
IOSH Working Safely in Schools – 11.11.20
Working at Heights – 13.11.20
Asbestos Awareness – 17.11.20
IOSH Managing Safely in Schools – 24.11.20 and 01.12.20
Fire Marshal – 26.11.20
Fire Risk Assessment – 02.12.20

Letters for the training courses are now accessible on Cloudw and can also be found on Wolverhampton Education Services. 

Places can be reserved on either Cloudw or Wolverhampton Education Services WVES website.

Lead person to contact in the LA:

Cyndy Morris
Health & Safety Co-ordinator
cyndy.morris@wolverhampton.gov.uk


Citizenship, Language and Learning training for Secondary settings

Tuesday 20 October - Secondary – Subject English Literacy Network - Online at 3:30 – 4:30pm via Teams

Wednesday 21October -Supporting pupils new to English for subject teachers (Secondary) at 3:30 – 4:30pm via Teams

This workshop will provide teachers of all subjects with an understanding of how to adapt their teaching (both planned and on-the-spot) to support pupils who are new or nearly new to English, enabling them to access, participate and learn more effectively in lessons. 

To view training and to book onto courses, please follow the link to WVES website.

Lead person(s) to contact in the LA:

Helen Handford
Language and Literacy Advisory Teacher
helen.handford@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Mark Smith
Citizenship Language & Learning Senior Advisor
Mark.Smith2@wolverhampton.gov.uk


School Governance Training

Upcoming School Governance training

Tuesday 20 October - Effective Governor Visits at 6-8pm

Tuesday 10 November - An Introduction to effective Governance at 10-12noon

Tuesday 17 November - Managing Complaints at 6-8pm

Tuesday 24 November at Safer Recruitment: The role of the Governing Board at 10-12noon

Tuesday 1 December - Understanding data at 6-8pm

To view training and to book onto courses, please follow the link to WVES website.

Bespoke training to meet the needs of your Governing Board can also be arranged. To discuss your requirements further, please contact Kay Mason Kay.Mason@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Lead person(s) to contact in the LA:

Kay Mason
School Improvement Advisor
Kay.mason@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Sarah McElduff
School Governance Co-ordinator
Sarah.mcelduff@wolverhampton.gov.uk


NQT Training

Please note the following training opportunities are approaching for NQTs and RQTs:  

22/10/20 at 1:30-4:00pm - Identifying next steps in writing with Year 4 teachers

All participants should be booked onto training via WVES.

Lead person to contact in the LA:

Jo Horlock
NQT and Assessment Advisor
Tel. 07792 556576
Jo.Horlock@wolverhampton.gov.uk


DfE daily update


15 October – Coronavirus – Daily update to all early years, children’s social care, schools and further education providers - click here or here (EY)

19 October – Coronavirus – Daily update to all early years, children’s social care, schools and further education providers - click here or here (EY)

20 October – Coronavirus – Daily update to all early years, children’s social care, schools and further education providers - click here or here (EY)



If you would like your Chair of Governors, SENDCo or DSL to receive this bulletin, please email Georgia.Smith@wolverhampton.gov.uk with their email address who will add them to the distribution list.


If you don't have a CloudW account and cannot access a document within this bulletin, please contact Georgia.Smith@wolverhampton.gov.uk who will send it to you.