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- Message from Phil Leivers
- Attendance
- COVID-19 Public Health
- Early Years
- Free School Meals
- Information
- Safeguarding
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- DfE daily update
Dear Colleagues,
Thank you for the way in which you all responded to the challenges last week. Again you showed how resilient you are and can quickly adapt to the changing national guidance.
I am informed from public health that the current rate for Wolverhampton for the 7 days to 11 January is 1007 per 100,000. Some wards remain well over 1000 per 100,000. We will continue to share this information with you to inform your planning and decision making.
As you will recall over the weekend of the 2/3 January we were discussing with the DfE the implications for schools in the City and the public health request that schools should not open to reduce the possibility of contacts and transmission. This was not approved by the Department but within twenty-four hours we had the national lockdown announcement. However, the national guidance was that early years provision and special schools would be open. This remains the current national situation.
In making decisions about how you manage the numbers of staff and children you have on site I am reminded of our agreed principles established at the beginning of the pandemic: that safety and the protection of the most vulnerable must come first. We will continue to share local public health data to help inform the decisions you make in light of your revised risk assessment.
Concerns have been escalated to the DfE, particularly asking for clarity regarding the forth coming census and implications for funding.
On a positive note the lateral flow testing is now beginning to operate in secondary and special schools. An additional test centre has also opened this week at Pendeford Library and there are dedicated times when priority is given to educational workers which I would hope you can encourage your staff to use.
Best wishes
Phil
Phil Leivers Head of Service Educational Excellence Phil.Leivers@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Recording attendance during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – DfE Educational Settings Status form
Please see update from DfE below:
Educational settings status form to resume on 11 January
From yesterday, Monday 11 January, we are asking schools and colleges to resume completing a revised educational setting status form.
Please submit your first dataset by 2pm.
Following the announcement of the national lockdown, we have made changes to the educational setting status form to reflect the position on attendance of pupils and students due to the lockdown.
The information you provide through the form continues to support the government’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Your data will help us build a national picture of educational provision, including attendance of vulnerable children and young people and the children of critical workers in school or college. This will enable us to focus support more effectively, help inform the government’s response and ensure children and young people are safe.
We are asking you to provide information on:
· the number of pupils or students and workforce on site
· the number of pupils or students with a social worker or an education, health and care plan; children of critical workers; and eligible for free school meals
· the provision for free school meals for pupils or students on site and those learning remotely
· pupil or student absences due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
· workforce absences
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Further guidance on completing the educational setting status form, and the full list of questions for schools and colleges, can be found in the guidance on recording attendance during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Attendance Data
Teams across the local authority are working hard together to support schools during the current climate and will share information to help provide consistent information for schools and settings.
Please ensure you update your SIMS/Bromcom/Scholar Pack on a daily basis, so we have the most up to date attendance data available.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Angela Bailey Attendance Manager Angela.bailey@wolverhampton.gov.uk 01902 550621
PVI’s and Childminders
Please book onto one of the following sessions to support with business planning and future planning
Business Map
National business support free Zoom webinar for early years and childcare providers
19 January 2021 9.45am to 12.30pm
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-map-a-national-webinar-for-early-years-and-childcare-providers-tickets-131608780405
or
6.30pm to 8.45pm
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-map-a-national-webinar-for-early-years-and-childminders-tickets-131614619871
DfE has funded Hempsall’s to deliver a new national webinar for all types of early years and childcare provider. You can book your FREE place(s) today by clicking the links above.
Managing an early years and childcare setting, whether it be a homebased childminder, out of school club, a small voluntary playgroup, a nursery or a chain, a school or children’s centre, is complex task. It is one of balancing quality, health and safety, with parents’ and children’s needs, funding and fees, and business sustainability.
The webinar will outline steps providers could take to business plan for now, summer term and across 2021. Developed around a six-step Business Map process, the webinar will assist anyone thinking about necessary business decisions to support business change and sustainability, whether they are new to the role or an experienced manager. For further information please click on the link (here for schools)
lso Early Years Funding Spring 2021
We are aware that many of you are asking questions regarding submitted estimated hours due to current attendance figures.
Can we ask you to please submit your estimated hours in the usual way by Thursday 14th January 2021 for expected 2, 3 & 4 year old funded children ONLY (existing & new starters) for Spring 2021. This means that you fill in your estimates based on the number of existing and new starters you have on roll. We completely understand that there will be some difference between actual number of children who are attending at the moment.
This is to also support us in making funding decisions moving forward.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Stacey Henderson Senior Early Years Advisor Stacey.Henderson@Wolverhampton.gov.uk
Changes to Weekly DfE Survey
Please complete the new DfE survey which will now be based on actual attendance on a Tuesday only. Click here to access the survey. This survey now needs to be completed on a Tuesday or a Wednesday each week in readiness for submission to the DfE Thursday.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Stacey Henderson Senior Early Years Advisor Stacey.Henderson@Wolverhampton.gov.uk
Providing FSM during the partial school closures
Free school meal provision in schools
During the period of national lockdown, schools should provide meal options for all pupils who are in school, including vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. Meals should be available free of charge to:
- all infant pupils
- pupils who meet the benefits-related free school meals eligibility criteria
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FSM provision for pupils who cannot attend school due to Coronavirus
During the national lockdown, we expect schools to continue supporting children eligible for benefits-related free school meals who are at home during term time. Schools will continue to receive funding to cover benefits-related free school meals and they can claim additional funding to help support eligible pupils at home.
We strongly encourage schools to work with their school catering team or food provider to provide food parcels to eligible free school meal pupils who are at home. Where school kitchens are open this should be the approach taken by schools. Schools can claim for additional funding of £3.50 per week for each eligible pupil receiving food parcel provision at home.
If the school has confirmed with the school catering team or food provider that they cannot provide food parcels for pupils eligible for benefits-related free school meals who are at home, you can consider other local arrangements, which might include vouchers for local shops and supermarkets. Schools can claim to be reimbursed up to £15 per pupil eligible for benefits-related free school meals per week.
We will open a national scheme to provide supermarket vouchers via an online portal as soon as possible. Further details will be published shortly.
Further details on how and when additional costs can be reclaimed will also be provided shortly.
Information on options for provision of free school meals to pupils who are at home, and the funding available, can be found in our updated guidance on providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Free meal provision for further education students
Further education institutions should continue to provide support for students who are eligible for free meals, whether they are attending or studying remotely due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Institutions should continue to provide support in the most appropriate way based on their local circumstances.
Further information is available in the 16 to 19 free meals in further education guidance.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Free School Meals Team freeschoolmeals@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Covid-19 rapid test centre opens at Pendeford Library
Wolverhampton's newest rapid Covid-19 test centre – for people without symptoms of the virus – has opened at Pendeford Library.
Testing will be available to the wider community from 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am-6pm at weekends. Anyone without symptoms is invited to attend for a rapid test; appointments are not necessary.
In addition, testing will be available at Pendeford Library for teachers and other staff working in education and Early Years settings, including cleaners, catering, administration and other support staff, between 7am and 10am and between 4pm and 6pm on weekdays. Staff should bring their work ID or a pay slip to confirm eligibility.
Click here to find out more, here (EY).
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Bill Hague Head of School Business and Support Tel. Office: 01902 555100 Tel. Mobile: 07771836958 Bill.Hague@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Example Safeguarding Policy Covid-19 addendum
Please find an example Safeguarding Policy Covid-19 addendum for your use (click here EY). Feel free to amend and personalise the example policy to reflect your setting’s practice. Your addendum must be communicated to all governors and staff and published on your school website.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Denise Mooney Schools Safeguarding Officer Tel. Office: 01902 551411 Tel. Mobile: 07469410516 Denise.Mooney@wolverhampton.gov.uk
The DfE has provide useful guidance and links for schools to support and promote the safe delivery of online remote learning.
Information can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2 (annex c)
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-and-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19
https://swgfl.org.uk/resources/safe-remote-learning/
https://www.lgfl.net/online-safety/default.aspx
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/video-conferencing-services-security-guidance-organisations
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Denise Mooney Schools Safeguarding Officer Tel. Office: 01902 551411 Tel. Mobile: 07469410516 Denise.Mooney@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Using Poetry with your learners during remote sessions and upon their return to the classroom.
Monday 18th January 2:30 – 4pm. Years 2 and 3
Tuesday 19th January 2:30 – 4pm. Years 5 and 6.
Wednesday 27th January 2:30 – 4pm Reception and Year 1
These sessions will present a unit of work that will help pupils to understand the writing of particular poets through a study of several poems. Pupils will write poems themselves and prepare them for performance.
Participants will have a unit of work focused on poetry that can be used as a remote learning opportunity. The courses can be booked on WVES and will be recorded so please sign up even if you cannot attend and want to receive a recording
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Claire Fereday Literacy and Language Teacher Advisor Claire.fereday@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Remote Learning Masterclasses
With Squirrel Learning, we are putting on a series of Remote Masterclasses. All are free to any Wolverhampton School and are bookable on WVES online from now. Even if your teachers cannot make it, they will be recorded and put on vimeo so even if you can’t make it, feel free to book on to receive the video link if you think it will be useful.
The schedule is below:
Course
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Date and Time
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Overview of Online Learning: A workshop that provides an overview of key elements of online learning for teachers and how to deliver it
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Friday 15th January 2:00-3:30
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Overview of Best Practice in Online Learning for EYFS/KS1
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Thursday 21st January 2:00-3:30
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Making your Remote Learning Inclusive for All (with a focus on SEND & EAL)
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Friday 22nd January 2:00-3:30
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Overview of Best Practice in Online Learning in Maths (KS2-4)
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Thursday 28th January 2:00-3:30
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Overview of Best Practice in Online Learning at KS5
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Friday 29th January 2:00-3:30
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Overview of Best Practice in Online Cross Curricular Learning (Project and collaborative-based approaches for history, geography, science, design, etc )
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Monday 1st February 2:00-3:30
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Overview of Best Practice in Online Learning in English (KS2-4)
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Friday 5th February 2:00-3:30
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The first session is in the context of Microsoft Teams the others either Google classroom or Microsoft Teams. At the request of schools, we are running a Google Classroom version of the first workshop. This will be on Monday 18th January @ 3:30pm. The link is https://meet.google.com/nau-ovdq-woz
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Mark Smith Citizenship Language & Learning Senior Advisor Mark.Smith2@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Training opportunities that are offered for NQTS and RQTs include:
NQT Support and Training Programme: NQT drop-in sessions - Thursday 21 Jan 2021 3:45 - 4:45pm
NQT EYFS masterclass 3: using questioning for learning and progress - Thursday 28 Jan 2021 3:45 - 4:45pm
Moderation opportunities that are offered to support statutory assessment and moderation include:
Moderator meeting for all moderators for EYFSP, using the ‘old’ ELG - only open to EYFSP Moderators - Tuesday 19 Jan 2021 1:30 - 4:00pm
Assessment updates for assessment coordinators and senior leaders - Tuesday 26 Jan 2021 1:30 - 3:30pm
All participants should be booked onto training via WVES. If you experience any difficulties in booking then contact the school office for assistance, if further support is needed then please contact Hardip Jassal (Hardip.Jassal3@wolverhampton.gov.uk)
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Jo Horlock NQT & Assessment Advisor jo.horlock@wolverhampton.gov.uk
SENCO Engagement Sessions
There will be three SENCO Engagement Sessions throughout this half term. The SENCO holds a vital role in supporting families and children with SEND, especially during this lockdown period. Attached is an email (click here EY) that was sent out to all SENCOs on Friday. Dates and times for the sessions are included. If your SENCO has not received this email, please ask them to contact Anna Vrahimi. We are in the process of creating a database of all SENCOs across the city.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Anna Vrahimi School Improvement SEND Advisor Anna.vrahimi@wolverhampton.gov.uk
MARAC webinar
We are pleased to share that a webinar has been created to explore the links between domestic abuse, child protection – and what support is available for the adult victim through the MARAC Process. If you would like to book onto this webinar, taking place on Thursday 11th February, please follow the link below. This webinar is aimed at Designated Safeguarding Leads, and anyone who works in an education setting
https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/our-offer/domestic-abuse-schools-maracs/
Lead person to contact:
Sonia Johal MARAC Coordinator – Walsall & Wolverhampton Public Protection 07767043924 Sonia.johal@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
11 January – Coronavirus – Daily update to all early years, children’s social care, schools and further education providers - click here or here (EY).
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