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- Message from Phil Leivers
- COVID-19 Public Health
- Early Years
- Information
- Ofsted Update
- Support services for schools
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- DfE daily update
Dear Colleagues,
Only two more wake ups to go! What a strange term, again. Hopefully, next term will really feel as if we are heading back to business as usual.
Can I encourage those of you not regularly submitting your attendance figures to the DfE to try and do it this week please. We want to see if three weeks in since reopening there is any signs of increases in Covid cases. The local public health helpline will be open next week should you require any support or guidance.
I came across this quote from the Dalai Lama recently:
There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilised as a source of strength.’ No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.
Thank goodness we still have hope.
Best wishes,
Phil
Expansion of Covid-19 Home Test Kit Availability
Eligible groups including parents/carers, household bubbles and childcare bubbles of those attending early years and education settings can collect Covid-19 home test kits from 3 community rapid test sites. Staff in roles that are critical to support re-opening of schools e.g. catering, cleaning and transport staff, wrap-around providers and childminders are also eligible.
- Ashmore Park Hub – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 8.00 – 11.00am
- Pendeford Library – Monday to Sunday 7.00-11.00am
- Civic Centre – Saturday and Sunday 10.00 - 1.00pm
These sites are in addition to the 4 current test sites located at Showell Road car park, Blakenhall Resource Centre, Faulkland Street car park and Mountford Lane car park, which are open for collection on home tests 2.30-8.00pm daily.
Details of all the Cities sites can be found at https://maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Louise Sharrod
Principal Public Health Specialist
Louise.Sharrod@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Mobile Rapid Test Unit Location
The mobile Covid-19 rapid test unit is back at Bantock Park this week.
Anyone without symptoms of Covid-19 is invited to get tested at the unit, situated in the car park of the popular attraction, from 8am-7pm from tomorrow until Easter Monday (5 April).
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Louise Sharrod
Principal Public Health Specialist
Louise.Sharrod@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Covid-19 helplines during the Easter holidays
The Local Authority Schools Helpline will remain open on Tuesday 6 April and Wednesday 7 April (01902 553957), to offer support and advice. Normal Mon-Fri service will resume on Monday 19 April.
Over the Easter break schools can continue to contact the DfE helpline on 0800 046 8687 for advice and support. If, following triage, further expert advice is required the adviser will escalate your call to the PHE local health protection team.
Please remember, your case logs can be emailed to phtrackandtrace@wolverhampton.gov.uk where a member of the public health team will review them and get in touch if needed.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Riva Eardley
Senior Public Health Specialist
01902 554208
Riva.Eardley2@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Covid-19 Head Teachers’ drop-in, Thursday 1st April 2021
Public Health and Education representatives will be available to answer any Covid-19 related questions at a drop-in session between 10am and 11am on Thursday 1st April. You will be able to access the drop-in by using this link.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Howard Jobber
Senior Public Health Specialist
01902 555928
Howard.Jobber@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Weekly DfE Survey
As you are aware the DfE survey is due to be completed for your attendance today, Tuesday 30 March. The survey is based on actual attendance on a Tuesday only. Click here to access the survey.
This survey needs to be completed by 9.00am on a Thursday morning each week in readiness for submission to the DfE Thursday afternoon. It is really important that you complete this survey. A huge thank you for your continued support with this.
This survey will not be completed for weeks beginning the 5 and 12 April but will resume week beginning the 19 April
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Stacey Henderson
Early Years Senior Advisor
Stacey.Henderson@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Period 12 Reconciliation Statements
The SIMS reports for the schools normally runs at 6.30am on 1st of each month however on 1 April the reports will be run later in the day to allow for the run all the authority’s year end processes. Schools will still receive their reports on 1 April but they will probably be sent out in the afternoon.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Andrew McCloskey
Finance Officer
01902 554158
Andrew.McCloskey@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Ofsted will inspect schools and further education & skills (FES) providers in the summer term to provide reassurance about how well children and learners are catching up, but it will not resume a full programme of graded inspections until September.
Following extensive discussion with government and education leaders, Ofsted confirmed on 29 March 2021, that it will undertake on-site, lighter-touch inspections in the summer term. Unlike ‘full’ inspections, these visits will allow inspectors to assess how well schools and FES providers are educating their learners and keeping them safe, but they will not result in a grade.
Further details can be accessed:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/education-inspections-in-the-summer-term?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=f54cf114-572f-4be2-ae6d-4c3cd7e3d55a&utm_content=immediately
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/full-ofsted-inspections-expected-from-september?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=cd212621-461a-4f88-aee8-3b7b43317c12&utm_content=immediately
Rolling update from Ofsted:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ofsted-coronavirus-covid-19-rolling-update?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=243883db-2668-475b-98c4-5b3a35b809f4&utm_content=immediately
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Linda Brown
School Improvement Senior Advisor
07812 494965
Linda.brown@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Swimming Lessons
From the 12 April indoor leisure centres and indoor swimming pools can reopen. WV Active and Places Leisure can welcome schools back from this date onwards. Coordinators from the sites will be in touch to see if schools are ready to restart swimming lessons and arrange new time slots.
Due to our Covid secure guidelines changing facilities and poolside areas have to be cleaned after each school use – this means that potentially we may not be able to offer you previous time slots. We will however endeavour to accommodate as close as possible to original times or requested times.
Also, WV Active Bert Williams is been used as a vaccination centre at the moment. There may be days that schools may have to enter or leave the building via fire exits to avoid coming into contact with members of the public who will be on site for their vaccinations. Our coordinators will explain all.
If you have any questions in the meantime please email Sean McBurney
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Sean McBurney
Head of Service – Leisure & Wellbeing
sean.mcburney@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Summer Training
Please find attached Educational Excellence's Summer Training Brochure outlining all our training for the summer term.
Efficient Curriculum in Writing
Please find attached the efficient curriculum in writing developed by Primary Literacy Leads across Wolverhampton to support priorities in the the summer term.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Mark Smith
CLL Senior Advisor
Mark.Smith2@wolverhampton.gov.uk
National Tutoring Programme Showcase Event - April 1, 13:00-16:15 – UPDATED SCHEDULE
A National Tutoring Programme (NTP) Showcase event to provide the opportunity for NTP providers in the Wolverhampton area to showcase what is being offered to schools through short presentations and opportunity for schools to ask providers questions.
Please find the schedule attached with a brief description from each provider and details of the time of each presentation.
- Please join the event using this link. No booking necessary.
- We have stated times for each provider so that schools can listen to relevant presentations. However, we request that you join the meeting once and leave it running for the duration of the session to avoid the disruption of lobby alerts during presentations
- If you cannot attend please feel free to submit any questions to Laura Jude by email in advance
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Laura Jude
School Improvement Advisor for Equalities
Laura.jude@wolverhampton.gov.uk
or
Mark Smith
CLL Senior Advisor
Mark.smith2@wolverhampton.gov.uk
 Forest Schools Level 3 Accredited Course for teachers and educational professionals
Wildside Activity Centre is facilitating a Forest School training programme that will equip education professionals with the skills and qualifications to run their own forest school for students and young people. Forest School is a child-centred inspirational learning process that enhances the emotional health and wellbeing of students. Wildside is working with experienced provider, Huathe to deliver this OCN Level 3 accredited training. For more details including information on how to book your place, go to https://www.huathe.org/current-courses
Lead person to contact:
Mark Hand
Business Development Manager
Wildside Activity Centre
mark@wildsideac.co.uk
01902 754612
Upcoming City of Wolverhampton Governor Training
20.4.21:10-12noon - Pupil Premium: Monitoring progress and outcomes for Disadvantaged Pupils
4.5.21:6-8pm - Values, Vision & Strategic planning
18.5.21:10-12noon - Understanding data
To view training and to book onto courses, please follow the link to the WVES: http://www.wves.wolverhampton.gov.uk/Training
Bespoke training to meet the needs of your Governing Board can also be arranged. To discuss your requirements further, please contact Kay Mason.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Kay Mason
School Improvement Advisor
Kay.Mason@wolverhampton.gov.uk
29 March – Coronavirus – Daily update to all early years, children’s social care, schools and further education providers- click here.
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