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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
- Early Years
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Education Safeguarding Update
- HR - Workforce
- Information
- Training and Consultation
- DfE daily update
Dear Colleague
We were informed yesterday of our Local Area SEND Inspection. CQC and Ofsted inspectors will arrive on-site in Wolverhampton next Monday 20 September 2021 to begin a Local Area inspection of Special Educational Needs and Disability services for children and Young People (0-25).
The inspection team will be tracking cases, which will involve visiting offices to talk to staff, reading files and considering and observing front-line practice. This will include shadowing staff in SEND services and may involve visits that take place in health, school and other non-local authority settings.
The purpose of the inspection is to evaluate the local area’s effectiveness in:
- Identifying children and young people who have special education needs and/or disabilities
- Assessing and meeting the needs of children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities
- Improving outcomes for these children and young people
Once we are informed of the individual case files that have been selected for auditing and tracking, we will notify the lead representatives of those agencies and professional bodies that are identified in the case records.
We will provide further information on the inspection activity and methodology once we have received the final detail from the Lead Inspector. This will include named settings and schools which inspectors may want to visit.
I will share more information on Thursday.
Thank you for your support,
Phil
Phil Leivers
Phil.Leivers@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Attendance in education and early years settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
The DfE started this data collection last year as part of the early response to the pandemic. The data you have provided has been central to informing the government COVID response on Early Years.
The DfE are requesting attendance data for this week and this must be reported on Thursday 16 September.
Method of collection as follows:
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Nursery schools and Schools with a nursery class please reply to the email sent to you from the research and assessment team
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Private nursery settings a member of the Early Years Team will call you to collect your figures, due to a problem with the survey.
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Childminders can you please email or text your attendance figure to your Quality and Access Officer, due to a problem with the survey.
It is really important that we have an accurate picture of the number of children attending early years provision across the city, thank you again for your continued support with this. The next date for the data collection will be week beginning 11 October.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Stacey Henderson
Senior Early Years Advisor
Stacey.Henderson@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Support Visits for Out of School Clubs
As a local authority we are able to offer as part of the new Education Excellence Strategy school operated breakfast and after school clubs a yearly support visit. The visit is designed to support the club manager in providing the best possible care for the children of Wolverhampton.
We understand that Covid has had an impact on the sustainability of some clubs but with more working parents returning to their place of work these provisions are as important as ever.
Your Quality and Access Officer will then be in touch during the academic year to arrange a visit. If you feel that urgent support is required i.e. business sustainability, welfare requirement query or imminent Ofsted.
Out of School Clubs Survey
To ensure we have the most up to date information, we ask that you complete and return the below survey.
As a local authority we have a legal obligation under the Childcare Act 2006 to provide parents/carers with information on the childcare options available to them throughout the city. We also have a responsibility to ensure there is sufficient childcare for working parents. We understand that for many schools, Covid has had a huge impact on the breakfast and after school provision that they provide, and we need to get an up to date picture of the potential long term effects within this sector.
We are requesting an update from every primary school in Wolverhampton in order to accurately collate this information.
Please download and complete the attached form in full and return it by Monday 27 September.
If you do not offer any childcare, then please complete by selecting ‘no childcare offered’.
Update on Education Safeguarding
As I’ve previously indicated I am looking at how we can provide a universal offer that will support all schools whilst being able to offer bespoke support through a Service Level Agreement. I would be grateful if you could spend a few minutes completing a short survey on the SLA to help shape it to meet your needs. If I can have responses by 24 September please.
thanks
Phil
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Phil Leivers
Head of Education Excellence
Phil.Leivers@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Recent update of the School Workforce FAQs and introduction of new approach to individual risk assessment
Our FAQs/Guidance document has been updated to reflect answers to your recently asked questions, ie CEV (re-issue of local guidance dated 19/07/21), pregnant employees and whether staff choosing should receive paid leave. It can be accessed here.
Our most recent guidance and information on the new approach to assessing individual risks through a ‘wellbeing conversation’ can be accessed from here:
Briefing for Headteacher - Wellbeing Conversation
Guide for managers - Wellbeing Conversation
This process now replaces the completion of the previous individual risk assessments for all employees.
Our HR FAQS are accessible from here.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Marie Marenda
HR Business Partner – Education and Schools
Marie.marenda@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Get your free flu vaccination and get protected this winter
The flu vaccine is offered every year on the NHS to help protect people at risk of flu and its complications and to prevent spread of the virus.
All teaching staff that belong to one of the eligible groups, should speak to their GP / practice nurse, midwife or a participating pharmacy to book a vaccination appointment.
In addition, the council is once again offering other teaching staff that would like to get vaccinated against seasonal flu to receive a FREE occupational flu scheme voucher which can be redeemed at any participating Boots pharmacy.
Please see the attachment for more details about how individual staff can request a voucher.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Riva Eardley
Principal Public Health Specialist
flufighters@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Temporary Extension of Free School Meals Eligibility to NRPF groups and additional Pupil Premium Grant claims for 2021-2022
Schools are reminded of the temporary extension of FSM eligibility to NRPF groups. Please see guidance via the link below. Please note that the application process is school led. Forms that you can use to complete the process are available via a link in the guidance. If families have a NASS number, please contact Jo Smith to check eligibility.
Pupils who receive FSM under this temporary extension of eligibility will also be eligible for the Pupil Premium Grant in 2021-2022. Schools will need to make a claim for additional Pupil Premium for these pupils. The process for making additional claims has not yet been published by the Education & Skills Funding Agency but will be shortly. When further details are available, we will update schools via this Bulletin.
For further information please click here.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Laura Jude
School Improvement Advisor for Equalities
Laura.jude@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Senior Mental Health Leads in Schools Update:
You should have received email communication recently providing an update on the implementation and training for Senior Mental Health Leads in Schools. If you have not received this email then please contact Emma Thornbery, Principal Educational Psychologist - Emma.Thornbery@wolverhampton.gov.uk.
All schools and colleges are required to have an identified Senior Mental Health Lead for their school who will take a lead role in whole school development work related to wellbeing and mental health and who should work to ensure clear processes to identify and support children when there are concerns regarding their wellbeing and mental health.
We are developing a local partnership training and support offer and are in the process of applying to the DfE to be an approved provider, so that Wolverhampton schools can access the training and support offer for free through the government grant scheme.
In order for us to plan for delivery we are asking all Wolverhampton schools to complete the below short survey to indicate whether you would be interested in accessing the training provided by Wolverhampton Educational Psychology Service and partners. The survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete. Please complete the survey by Friday 24th September. If you have any questions in relation to this then please contact Elaine.Perry@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Opportunity to become part of the Mental Health Support Team in Schools Programme
We are really excited to have secured funding to be able to involve more schools and settings with the Mental Health Support Team in Schools (MHSTs) programme. MHSTs are intended to provide early intervention on some mental health and emotional wellbeing issues, such as mild to moderate anxiety, as well as helping staff within a school or college setting to provide a ‘whole school approach’ to mental health and wellbeing. In Wolverhampton the teams comprise of CAMHS and Educational Psychology staff working together to achieve the aims of the programme.
To express an interest in becoming part of this, please complete this form by 29 September 2021. There is also more information about the MHSTs on the form: https://forms.office.com/r/U22AthhPKe
Lead person to contact:
Mags Courts
Head of CAMHS Commissioning
margaret.courts@nhs.net
Repeated: Reminder: The engagement model
The engagement model is now statutory for use from September 2021 for pupils working below the standard of national curriculum assessments and not engaged in subject-specific study. STA has published guidance on the statutory requirements for using the engagement model. Schools can no longer assess pupils against P scales 1 to 4.
Further information will be available in the 2021/22 assessment and reporting arrangements scheduled to be published later in the autumn term.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Anna Vrahimi
School Improvement SEND Advisor
anna.vrahimi@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Autumn Training Brochure
Please see the attached Education Excellence Autumn Training Brochure.
Upcoming City of Wolverhampton Governor Training
We offer a wide range of training designed specifically for governors, along with delivering bespoke training on many topics. Please share the training opportunities we offer with your Governing Body.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Sarah Mcelduff
School Governance Coordinator
Sarah.McElduff@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Leadership Conference
Don’t forget to sign up for this year’s Leadership Conference. We have 100 school leaders from across the city and from all phases currently signed up to attend. It will be our first opportunity to physically meet up and train together in a very long time.
Thursday 7 October 2021 at 8:00am Wolverhampton Racecourse
Please see the attached Conference booklet for further details on the programme and keynote speakers. As in previous years, ConnectEd member schools receive 2 free places. Additional places can also be booked at a reduced cost and non-member schools are also welcome to attend.
Click the link here to book your places.
We have made a number of adaptations to the event this year to minimise any transmission risks and are working with Public Health support on this. We:
- Advise anyone showing symptoms of Covid-19 or who has been advised by NHS Test and Trace to isolate not to attend the event
- Recommend a rapid lateral flow test in the 48 hours prior to the event
- Recommend the wearing of face coverings indoors (particularly in areas which are likely to become crowded).
Lead person to contact:
Tish Keech
ConnectEd Partnership
tkeech@cloudw.co.uk
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Mathematics subject knowledge workshops
Below are details of dates and timings for upcoming mathematics CPD sessions. These will be suitable for all teachers, including ECTs, working in Key Stage 1 and 2. The sessions will take place online via TEAMS and will be recorded. Please book on via WVES.
Friday 17 September, 1.30pm – 3.45pm- Developing the teaching of “number and place value” in Key Stage 1 and 2 - The session will look at key aspects of the “number and place value” strand within the national curriculum as well as the DfE Teaching mathematics in primary schools (non-statutory guidance). Strategies and resources for effectively teaching the key concepts within place value will be shared and modelled.
Friday 8 October, 1.30pm - 3.45pm - Developing the teaching of “addition and subtraction” in Key Stage 1 and 2 – as above but focusing on key concepts within the “addition and subtraction” strand.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Sandeep Vashisht
Mathematics Advisory Teacher
sandeep.vashisht2@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Primary Science Learning Centre – CPD available
Ofsted's recently published "Research Review Series: Science" suggests that:
"Expecting teachers to pick up subject knowledge through time spent teaching is misguided. It is therefore important that teachers have access to high-quality subject-specific CPD. This needs to be focused on the content and how to teach it, as opposed to generic pedagogies and so should be aligned with the curriculum that teachers teach."
Therefore the Primary Science Learning Centre (Science HUB) is offering subject leader training, plus high quality subject knowledge CPD for primary teachers in the three key areas of science - Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
This CPD is initially designed to be delivered remotely, however, if sufficient numbers enrol on the CPD from one local area it may be possible to deliver the training face to face.
Please find further details here.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Louise Mututa
School Improvement Advisor
Louise.Mututa@wolverhampton.gov.uk
A Scientist Just Like Me
The Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT) have produced a resource designed to raise awareness of diversity in science-related jobs and to provide illustrated examples of a wide range of science-based careers. It consists of a series of short slideshows, each one ‘telling the story’ of a particular scientist or person working in a science-related job. The people included share details of their work and their everyday lives, making their stories relatable to children. Great for use in lessons, clubs, assemblies and more!
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Louise Mututa
School Improvement Advisor
Louise.Mututa@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Promoting Inclusion from the Early Years
Training offer
Thank you again to those schools who were able to complete and return the Staff Skills Audits. We have developed a training offer for schools based on analysis of the completed staff skills audits, identified needs of children entering Reception and Year 1, and information shared during individual transition MAPs. Please see link for training sessions, dates, times and Microsoft Team links to access the sessions during the Autumn Term. Please note that this is a free training offer. We would encourage any school staff working in the Early Years Foundation Stage, Year 1, SENDCos, and Head Teachers to attend relevant training sessions. The first session is on 20 September. Further training session titles will be added for the Spring Term.
Support Network- Solution Circles
We are offering six distinct Solution Circle sessions for school staff and support services to attend throughout the academic year. Please see link for what is a solution circle? And link for dates, times and Microsoft Teams links to access the sessions. Solution Circles offer an opportunity to share experiences and successes and collaboratively problem-solve in relation to any issues or concerns that school staff may experience when creating inclusive environments in the early years. We encourage school staff to attend as many of the Solution Circles as possible for participation irrespective of whether or not you have an issue or difficulty to raise. We are hoping that this will provide a foundation for developing a network of support across schools.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Dr Stephanie Herriotts-Smith
Senior Educational Psychologist stephanie.herriotts-smith@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Suicide Awareness and Prevention – Free training from Papyrus
Sadly, there have recently been some recent deaths by suicide of young people in the West Midlands. We held awareness raising sessions with schools last term and have now commissioned Papyrus (Prevention of Young Suicide Charity) to deliver some half-day Suicide Prevention Training sessions.
This is being funded by Public Health and so is free to attend. Dates, booking and more information can be found on the Wolverhampton Safeguarding website (please note that on the Papyrus web link, it says 'session X of 4' - you only need to attend one session. This is as we have booked 4 sessions with them). These sessions would be useful for DSLs and Mental Health / Pastoral Leads.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Elaine Perry
Senior Educational Psychologist
elaine.perry@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Youth Mental Health First Aid 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 support young people aged 8-18. They will teach you the skills and confidence to spot the signs of mental health issues, offer mental health first aid and guide children and young people towards the support they need. We have dates booked in for the Autumn Term, both a half-day awareness session and a 2-day full training. Places can be booked for the 2-day course here and the half-day course here and more information is in the flyer attached.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Elaine Perry
Senior Educational Psychologist
elaine.perry@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Repeated: Reminder - SENCO NETWORK MEETING - FREE
The next SENCO/SEND Network Meeting will be held on Wednesday 15th September, 1pm-3.30pm. These are now free. All SENCOs from ALL schools welcome and encouraged. Special Schools welcome to join also. The meeting will be led by Anna Vrahimi.
Focus: SEND Data by Primary Need – How does your school compare to local and national?
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Anna Vrahimi
School Improvement SEND Advisor
anna.vrahimi@wolverhampton.gov.uk
10 September – Coronavirus – Daily update to all early years, children’s social care, schools and further education providers.
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