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If you would like your Chair of Governors, SENDCo, DSL or Digital Leads to receive this bulletin, please email Georgia.Smith@wolverhampton.gov.uk with their email address who will add them to the distribution list.
Important - please ensure you download a copy of any of the documents which are attached/ linked to the bulletin and please save a copy to your own computer before editing. This will ensure the original version remains available to other users. Thank you.
- Message from Phil Leivers
- Covid-19 update
- Early Years
- Good News
- Information
- Leadership and Management - Governace
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- DfE daily update
Dear Colleagues,
The latest information that has been shared by our local Public Health is that cases in the City still remain relatively low and schools are showing single cases on the whole. This is due to the efforts that you are all doing to maintain and minimise any risks. Including over 10 schools being distribution hubs for test kits and some continuing to offer on site testing.
There is a Director Briefing on 8 July 8 – 9 am. This will include updates from The Director of Public Health; changes to MASH 24; Adult Education; and update from Emma Bennett. We hope to see you all then as we come towards the end of a most unusual year.
Following on from last week's good news on Wolverhampton boys' football team I’ve just heard that: ‘What a pulsating game that could have gone either way! National Cup semi final. 3-2 victory for the Wolverhampton boys over Liverpool to reach first National Final since 1931. Pride doesn't come close!!!’
A massive well done to all concerned!
Best wishes,
Phil
Survey for schools on raising ambition
Dear all
I am part of a newly established group within the Council looking at how we raise ambition and aspiration amongst young people.
This is a key plank of the recovery and ‘relight’ agenda as we come out of the acute phase of the pandemic.
It is clear that we cannot look at how we do this without fully understanding what is already in place, what is working well and where there is room for enhancements.
With that in mind, we would really appreciate it if you could complete the short survey in the link below. It will be open until 7 July.
https://consultation.wolverhampton.gov.uk/public-health/853e5999
If you would like to discuss any issues in relation to the survey, please do email me.
Many thanks in advance for your help
Neeraj
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Neeraj Malhotra
Consultant In Public Health
Neeraj.Malhotra@wolverhampton.gov.uk
DfE Early Years Attendance Survey
Please complete
As you are aware the DfE survey is due to be completed for your attendance today, Tuesday 22 June. 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 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.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Fraud Alert
Reports have been received from other local authorities that schools have been receiving emails appearing to have been sent from the Head Teacher or a senior member of staff and requests finance staff to process a payment urgently.
The initial email looks like it comes from a legitimate school email address and usually starts with “Are you on your computer?”. If a response is received, the sender then proceeds to request that an urgent payment is made, but the email address then often changes to a Gmail containing a different individual’s name. The requests appear to be for amounts around £10,000.
It is advised that staff responsible for processing payments remain vigilant in order to prevent this fraudulent activity. If you become aware of such fraud, please report it to Audit.Services@Wolverhampton.gov.uk
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Audit.Services@Wolverhampton.gov.uk
Mark Wilkes
Audit Business Partner
mark.wilkes@wolverhampton.gov.uk
01902 554462
Writing Assessment for Primary Schools
Please find attached samples of writing for each year group assessed at various standards to support you in moderating your assessment of writing in this unique year.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Mark Smith
CLL Senior Advisor
Mark.Smith2@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Update on the educational setting status form
Update on the educational setting status form – DfE guidance
The educational setting status form will be paused from Friday 16 July until the start of the autumn term. Please continue to complete the form daily up until and including Friday 16 July. If your school or college term ends before this date, you do not need to submit the form once your setting has closed for the summer.
Thank you for your work in completing the form since March last year. The information you have provided has been vital in helping us to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the education sector.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Donna Evison
Research & Assessment Manager
Donna.evison@wolverhampton.gov.uk
A reminder about transition days
It has come to our attention that nursery to primary transition days are potentially going ahead in situations where the host school cannot provide assurances to the visiting schools that children will not be mixed. The Council continues to advocate a cautious approach and seeks to remind all schools that they must continue to reduce the mixing of bubbles and do all they can to continue education, anything which can potentially disrupt that (such as confirmed covid cases as a result of inter school mixing) should be avoided.
The sharing of risk assessments between the host and visiting school are necessary and if you (as a visiting school) feel that controls are not robust enough to prevent the mixing of bubbles then visits should not go ahead. The attached guidance which has been previously issued outlines some examples of measures that can be taken as an alternative to face to face transition events.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Natalie Barrow
Health and Safety Advisor
01902 551063 natalie.barrow@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Education Improvement Strategy - Headteacher / Principal Induction
Following input at the SIA day on 9 June 2021, Education Excellence wishes to improve and develop the quality of Headteacher induction, for those newly promoted to headship within the city as well as for those who are moving to be headteachers / principals in Wolverhampton.
A Microsoft form has been created to explore this, and we welcome and encourage feedback from established headteachers / principals as well as from those who have recently moved into headship / principal roles.
The form also provides opportunity to be part of the consultation group, as well as sharing an interest in becoming a mentor.
The Microsoft form can be accessed here, and please complete by Friday 25 June.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Linda Brown
School Improvement Senior Advisor
07812 494965
Linda.brown@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Food Safety in schools – SLA now available
You asked – we did. Following requests from schools, you can now purchase an SLA giving you access to experienced and professional food safety officers to help provide you with confidence and reassurance in food safety, mock inspections, food labelling and allergen management matters. Whilst this new SLA is available to all settings, there will initially be a limited number offered. You can purchase now and use at any point during the academic year, subject to availability. Please go to https://wves.wolverhampton.gov.uk/ and log in to view details.
Natasha’s Law
To help you prepare for Natasha’s Law (the UK Food Information Amendment) which comes into effect in October 2021, we are offering a free online allergy training session will be available to all school settings by the end of the academic year, once the FSA guidance for schools is complete. All settings, regardless of who caters, must make themselves aware of this change to the legislation. In the meantime, the FSA website has an overview of the changes, which will impact all settings offering pre-packed for direct sale food. Please go to the FSA website for free support, online training and resources: https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/introduction-to-allergen-labelling-changes-ppds
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Nicola Dixon
Service Manager – Education Statutory and Traded Services
01902 558626
Nicola.dixon@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Wolverhampton Playing Pitch Strategy
In partnership with Sport England and the four Black Country Local Authorities, Knight, Kavanagh and Page Consultancy (KKP) have been commissioned to undertake a Black Country wide playing pitch strategy. The strategy considers all playing pitches for outdoor sports and identifies areas where new or improvements to existing pitches are needed. The consultants will be in contact with all schools with playing pitches over the next few months.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Andrea Fieldhouse
Health Improvement Manager (Education)
01902 556224
Andrea.Fieldhouse@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Google Ed Tech Demonstrator Fully funded model for remote learning for schools
Please find information (document 2) relating to Google Ed Tech Demonstrator and networks that the Manor Teaching School Hub are providing.
Governor/Trustee Vacancies
Does your Governing Body or Academy Trust currently have any vacancies or any potential vacancies coming up? If so please inform us so that we can support your recruitment drive. In order to ensure that you recruit the right person to your governing body or trust we will need to know:
- Vacancy Type (LA/Co-opted/Academy Governor or Trustee)
- Skills Required (Finance/H&S etc)
- or a specific position to be filled (Chair/Vice Chair/ Safeguarding lead etc)
Following a recent recruitment campaign, there are currently several applicants waiting to be placed at schools. If you have a parent vacancy that’s difficult to fill, we can also help advise on how best to recruit.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Sarah McElduff
School Governance Co-Ordinator
Sarah.mcelduff@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Summer Training
Please find attached Education Excellence's Summer Training Brochure outlining all our training for the summer term.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Mark Smith
CLL Senior Advisor
Mark.Smith2@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Assessment network meeting - 30 June 2021
At the first Assessment Network meeting in 2020 it was agreed that task and finish groups would be set up to develop tracking/assessment systems for all foundation subjects. The priority subjects were identified by the schools present and for the next Assessment network meeting, we have invited subject specialists to join to facilitate working groups to develop these requested systems.
Music and Spoken Language groups began the process at the last Assessment network group and will both continue at the next meeting on 30 June 2021 at 1pm to 3:30pm
This time there will also be a PSHE task and finish group – facilitated by Amanda Evans (PSHE Advisory Teacher)
Therefore, we would like to invite subject leaders for these three subjects to the June Assessment network meeting, to enable them to be part of the development of tracking/assessment systems. Each task and finish working group will be facilitated and supported by subject specialists and members of the School Improvement team
The session will be facilitated through teams and participants can book on through WVES.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Louise Mututa
School Improvement Advisor
Louise.Mututa@wolverhampton.gov.uk
07970476527
SIMS Training Schedule Autumn Term 2021
Please find attached the SIMS Training Schedule for the Autumn Term 2021.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Jo Woodcock
SIMS Manager
Jo.Woodcock@wolverhampton.gov.uk
07971 327566
Pupil Premium - Conditions of grant and accountability are changing
Pupil Premium conditions of grant and accountability are changing for the 2021-2022 academic year.
For advice on compliance and best practice schools are encouraged to attend the ‘Pupil Premium Strategy Writing and Review Workshop’ on July 13 13:30-15:00. This workshop is free and bookable via WVES.
The latest conditions of grant for the Pupil Premium can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-allocations-and-conditions-of-grant-2021-to-2022/pupil-premium-conditions-of-grant-2021-to-2022-for-local-authorities
Lead person to contact in LA:
Laura Jude
School Improvement Advisor for Equalities
Laura.jude@wolverhampton.gov.uk
An Introduction for West Midlands schools to learn more about Living Streets: WOW – the year-around challenge for Primary Schools
Wednesday 7 July 3.30pm – 3.45pm, online.
Living Streets are delighted to invite you to an online introduction to WOW – the year-round walk to school challenge, to demonstrate how this exciting programme can work in your school.
The session will take place on Wednesday 7 July and will last 15 minutes, with the opportunity to stay online and ask questions at the end. Register here to secure your free place.
For more information click here.
Lead person to contact:
Sameena Parvaz
Project Coordinator - West Midlands
Sameena.parvaz@livingstreets.org.uk
07714 616 562
Closing the Vocabulary Gap – Thursday 1 July 1:00 to 3pm
A workshop to provide ideas and strategies to support teachers and educators in closing the vocabulary gap within EYFs and Year 1.
Utilising a word aware approach alongside other ideas to ensure schools are confidently supporting the development of vocabulary and language. The aim is for practitioners to leave the session with Ideas and strategies to implement within their setting.
Small changes to practice with big impact on learners.
Please sign up at WVES.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Suzanne Dunn
CLL Teacher Advisor
Suzanne.dunn@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Mental Health First Aid Online Training Courses FREE OF CHARGE
The City of Wolverhampton Council is offering spaces on 2 MHFA England accredited courses to Schools free of charge. The courses are for staff who work to supports young people aged 8-18. They will teach you the skills and confidence to spot the signs of mental health issues, offer first aid and guide them towards the support they need. In doing so, you can speed up the recovery or prevent a mental health issue from getting worse.
Please see the attached flyers for further details and booking information.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Elaine Perry
Senior Educational Psychologist
elaine.perry@wolverhampton.gov.uk
RE Network 2021-2022 – save the dates!
We are pleased to enclose dates for the RE Network meetings for 2021-2022.
Network meetings provide valuable CPD for experienced teachers and leaders of RE and for non-specialist teachers of RE. Wolverhampton’s RE network is cross phase.
7 October – 13:30-16:00 - Booking link: https://wves.wolverhampton.gov.uk/Event/144130
10 March – 13:30-16:00 – Booking link live later this term
19 May – 13:30-16:00 – Booking link live later this term
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Laura Jude
School Improvement Advisor for Equalities
Laura.Jude@wolverhampton.gov.uk
SENDCO Network Meeting
The next SENCO/SEND Network Meeting will be held on Wednesday 23 June, 1pm-3.30pm. All SENCOs from ALL schools welcome and encouraged. Special Schools welcome to join also. The meeting will be led by Anna Vrahimi, School Improvement SEND Advisor and supported by Inclusion and Empowerment, Outreach and Health partners. Agenda is attached.
If you would like to attend, please register on SLA online- www.wves.wolverhampton.gov.uk if you have any difficulties or queries with booking through the system please contact Hardip Jassal on 01902 55 (5930) or Hardip.Jassal3@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Year 6/7 Transition Materials
The LA has worked with Connect Ed to produce some free year 6/7 transition materials for Maths and Literacy which you will have the opportunity to use in the final couple of weeks (But when else will you get the chance for Raul Jiminez and Ruben Neves (well recordings of them!!!) to be explaining Maths misconceptions to year 6!!!) .The materials will be launched at a meeting (which will also be recorded) for year 6 on Thursday 24 June 1:30-3:30.
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Mark Smith
Citizenship Language & Learning Senior Advisor
Mark.smith2@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Reading for Pleasure/Ethiopia
We are suggesting to schools to consider a big reading for pleasure push for the final 2 weeks or so of school to lead into the summer holidays. We will be running an online meeting on Thursday 24 June 3:30-4:45 full of ideas and also how you can link up with libraries including the Summer Reading Challenge and the opportunity for schools to book a library visit pre-summer holidays. The second half of the meeting will also contain details of how you may also be involved in the school libraries project in Ethiopia which many of you supported last year. Again the meeting will be recorded.
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Mark Smith
Citizenship Language & Learning Senior Advisor
Mark.smith2@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Training courses for schools Autumn Term 2021
Due to Covid-19 most 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
Fire Marshal – 23 September
Risk Assessment – 24 September
COSHH Awareness – 1 October
IOSH Working Safely in Schools – 5 October
Control of Legionella – 12 October
Provision & Use of Work Equipment (PUWER) – 14 October
Lone Working & Personal Safety – 3 November
IOSH Managing Safely in Schools – 9 and 16 November
Manual Handling – 18 November
Working at Heights – 26 November
Role of the Client (CDM) – 30 November
Fire Marshal – 1 December
Fire Risk Assessment – 2 December
Off Site training will be held at the Kingswood and Wildside Centre
Visit Leaders – 19 October
New EVC – 20 October
EVC Update – 21 October
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.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Cyndy Morris
Health & Safety Co-ordinator
Cyndy.Morris@wolverhampton.gov.uk
01902 554209
Opportunity to access a high-quality mathematics intervention - Thursday 24 June, 3.30pm – 4.30pm.
Wolverhampton LA is excited to introduce the mathematics Intervention Programme — Spot On With Numbers. Spot On With Numbers, in collaboration with Mathematics Counts, has developed an early intervention programme. Mathematics Counts is run by Louise Matthews, who is the former head of Every Child Counts and has over 30 years experience in mathematics education. She now works for Oxford University on the Improving Working Memory Research Programme.
To access this meeting, please register your interest by completing all parts of this Google form here. A Teams invite to the meeting will then be sent to the email addresses provided via the form.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Sandeep Vashisht
Mathematics Advisory Teacher
Sandeep.vashisht2@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Science Coordinators meeting 29 June 2021, 3:45 - 4:45pm
This meeting will consider the emerging issues relating to the science curriculum that colleagues are now facing after the series of lock down periods relating to COVID-19.
While it is recognised that many schools have integrated science, where possible, both into their home learning and face to face learning in school many are reporting that the children’s grasp of some topics is not as complete as in other topics.
This meeting will be used to showcase a document that a group of colleagues from some local primary schools have developed to highlight the key vocabulary, knowledge, understanding and enquiry skills should be covered in each topic and where it might be covered, or reinforced, if it has been missed due to the challenges COVID-19 has created. There is also suggested activities to support preteaching and over-teaching of the key ideas needed to ensure good progression.
Should you wish to attend the meeting, please book on via WVES.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Jo Horlock
NQT and Assessment Advisor
Jo.Horlock@wolverhampton.gov.uk
&
Louise Mututa
School Improvement Advisor
Louise.Mututa@wolverhampton.gov.uk
NQT Registration and Support training
Thursday 24 June 2021 3:45 - 4:45pm - NQT CLL Masterclass 6: Incorporating British Values into your Teaching
To view training and to book onto courses, please follow the link to the WVES
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Jo Horlock
NQT and Assessment Advisor
Jo.Horlock@wolverhampton.gov.uk
EYFS meeting to consider the arrangements for transition to Year 1: June 23 1:30 – 3:00pm
The aim of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for all colleagues teaching in Reception Year to meet together to discuss next steps as they prepare to support the children in transitioning to Year 1. They will have opportunity to work in small groups, each hosted by an experienced EYFS practitioner to identify what has gone well this year, transition arrangements and mechanisms for reporting next steps each child might need.
We will also discuss progress in phonics with next steps and further developing a love of reading.
There is no charge for this session as it is part of the SLA for assessment.
To view training and to book onto courses, please follow the link to the WVES
Lead persons to contact in the LA:
Sophie Cross
Teacher Advisor, EYFS
Sophie.Cross@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Promoting Inclusion from the Early Years- Free opportunity for professional development related to inclusive practice
The CWC have invested in the ‘Prompting Inclusion from the Early Years’ project because we recognise the importance of getting inclusion right for schools and children. Therefore, this project is free at the point of delivery for schools.
The ‘Keys to Inclusion’ engagement sessions will be facilitated by Inclusive Solutions via zoom and offer a participatory exploration of the following questions: Why is inclusion so important? What is inclusion? How do we include children with complex or significant SEND? What does an inclusive classroom/school look like? What does inclusion have to do with me? These questions will be interrogated with reference to underlying principles relating to inclusive practice. Head Teachers, SENDCos, Early Years Leads, Reception and Year 1 Class Teachers and support staff are encouraged to sign up to one of the ‘Keys to Inclusion’ engagement sessions on:
Monday 5 July 2021 (2-4pm)
We have organised three different dates and times in the hope that one will be convenient for school staff to attend. Please email Samantha Pearce to provide names, roles, email addresses and the date that you would like to attend the ‘Keys to Inclusion’ engagement session.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Samantha Pearce
Business Support Administrator
sam.pearce@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Wolverhampton Education Wellbeing Network Meeting: Tuesday 13 July 3.30-5pm
We are inviting pastoral and mental health leads in schools and colleges to the second meeting of the Wolverhampton Education Wellbeing Network. This network brings together work involving the Link Programme and the Wellbeing for Education Return.
The session is free and being led by the LA Educational Psychology Service and CAMHS. We have invited speakers from the Voluntary and Community Sector and from Public Health to share opportunities and resources for schools. We will share updates regarding mental health and wellbeing services and you will have the chance to ask questions and speak to one another.
If you would like to attend, please complete and submit the form below:
https://forms.office.com/r/BQNnait8Us
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Elaine Perry
Senior Educational Psychologist
elaine.perry@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Upcoming City of Wolverhampton Governor Training
21 June – Coronavirus – Daily update to all early years, children’s social care, schools and further education providers - click here.
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