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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 Councillor Mike Hardacre
- Message from Phil Leivers - Head of Education Excellence
- Early Years
- Information
- Training and Consultation
- DfE update
Dear Educationalists,
Recently I had the pleasure of attending your ConnectEd conference. What a pleasure it was to see professionals gathered together discussing Education and young people. I hope you derived as much enjoyment and professional enhancement as I did on the day.
One of the exhibitors was from the Fairtrade group for Wolverhampton. I would like to commend the work they do to all of you as it is about ensuring a fair deal for producers in the Third World and reducing exploitation. A message we can all endorse. The Fairtrade foundation has a wealth of resources for the curriculum across all Key Stages. Their website is https://schools.fairtrade.org.uk and contains items on topics such as climate warming, sustainability and the food and supply chains which keep us fed. The local contact is their education lead Mrs Ann Bickley who can be contacted on annbickley33@gmail.com.
Can I conclude by hoping that the next half term is a little less difficult for you than the last half term was. I know you will have been, and will continue, to work hard to ensure that none of our young people suffer educational deprivation as a result of the pandemic which has affected all our lives so much over the past couple of years.
Many of you will have read that the Chancellor is removing the pay cap in the public sector. I and my colleagues will be making representations at the highest level that the future settlements of the various pay review boards are fully funded by the government – otherwise you will be receiving an effective cut in the budget. As matters become clearer I am sure Officers will be sharing as much as possible with you at the earliest opportunity.
Best wishes
Councillor Mike Hardacre
mike.hardacre@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Welcome back, hope you had a good half-term. I’ve been asked to draw the following to your attention:
There have been reports of littering involving potentially unopened boxes of rapid Covid-19 test kits in an area of the city. It is not known who was responsible, but on the back of this incident we would appreciate your help in reinforcing with students asked to take a twice-weekly rapid test of the importance of ensuring that they are doing so, and also the importance of disposing used test kits in the correct manner.
Thanks,
Phil
Phil Leivers
Head of Education Excellence
Phil.Leivers@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Extended Entitlement (30 hours)
In preparation for next term can all settings and schools please ensure that any current parents accessing the Extended Entitlement have reconfirmed their eligibility code through the Childcare Choices website. If there are any new families due to start next term have who intend to access the Extended Entitlement, we advise all settings and schools to prompt them to make applications as soon as possible so that eligibility codes obtained and validated before the end of term.
Rising 3’s- If settings have had any rising 3s this term or any due to start next term, please ensure that eligibility codes have been obtained or manual checks carried out in line with TFT criteria before applying for funding.
Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) – An additional £100.00 per term is available to support the develop and learning of disadvantaged 3 and 4-year-olds. Settings are reminded that applications must be made for any new children.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Early Years update session Wednesday 10 November 9.30-11.30
Please join on the link below to access the session
Join on your computer or mobile app
DfE Reporting Covid Cases Requirements (Nursery Schools, Private Nursery settings and Childminders)
The DfE have been made aware by Ofsted that some Early Years settings have not been reporting COVID-related closures to Ofsted because they think this is no longer a requirement.
Please can we remind you that you must notify Ofsted, or the childminder agency with which they are registered, of any confirmed cases in the setting, whether a child or a staff member. Settings should also tell Ofsted if they have to close the setting as a result. It is a legal requirement as set out in paragraph 3.52 of the early years foundation stage statutory framework that you should report as soon as you are able to, and in any case within 14 days. Settings can see ‘tell Ofsted if you have a COVID-19 incident at your childcare business’ to ensure that all the required information is included in your notifications.
The Wolverhampton NHS Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service
The Wolverhampton NHS Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service want to find out your views on the best way to run Children’s SLT Service. This meeting is only for colleagues working in schools and settings and is via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, 18 November between 4.00 and 5.00 pm. There will be separate meetings for other groups. Please contact Phoebe Kent by email who will forward the meeting link.
Please come along with your thoughts and ideas. Alternatively, complete the Surveymonkey that covers the same questions that we are asking at the meeting. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/V9LNFNJ This runs throughout November.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Education Excellence Strategy (EES) 2021 – 2024
Sincere thanks to all headteachers and leaders in school for your contributions to the autumn conversations; these are progressing well.
As part of the EES, identified schools will shortly be receiving invitations to attend TAS (Team Around the School) meetings at the end of the term.
This is an hour-long meeting which will facilitate an update from school leaders and SIAs, and will be attended by other personnel from council teams where applicable.
Details for TAS meetings are set out in the strategy which can be accessed here:
Pupil Premium Update
The DfE has updated its guidance ‘Using pupil premium: guidance for school leaders’ to include strategy statement templates for primary, secondary and special schools.
The latest can be accessed here:
Lead person to contact in the LA:
 Join the Global Day for Climate Justice: Saturday 6 November (11.30-2pm)
WEST PARK Wolverhampton WV1 4PH.
Stand together to tell leaders “Actions speak louder than words”. We want them to act to slow climate change. Join us in West Park for this family friendly event, by the bandstand there will be stalls, poetry, speeches and much more, Come and help make our voices heard! ALL WELCOME bring your friends.
https://actionnetwork.org/events/wolverhampton-global-day-of-action-for-climate-justice-6th-nov
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Claire Darke
Councillor for Park Ward Wolverhampton
claire.darke@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Autumn Census 2021 - DfE Update on school–led tutoring
Please see the attached Autumn Census DfE update on School-Led Tutoring grant.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Donna Evison
Research & Assessment Manager
donna.evison@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Phonics screening check for Year 2 Pupils Autumn Term 2021
It is statutory for schools to administer a past version of the phonics screening check during the second half of the 2021 Autumn term to all pupils in year 2 and return the results to the LA.
Please find the attached letter. Schools are asked to return their ctf files to the Research & Assessment Team by Friday 10 December 2021 to give us enough time to check errors and queries with you before the end of the Autumn term and to submit to DfE by their deadline.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Donna Evison
Research & Assessment Manager
donna.evison@wolverhampton.gov.uk
School Workforce Census - NQT / Early Career Teachers
The DfE's addition of the NQT Status data for School Workforce Census is the first time that this census has been used for the direct funding of schools. With this in mind, we suggest that schools should take extra care in checking that the NQT Status is correct for workforce members included in this census.
Please see attached document for further details and instructions how to update your SIMS system.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Jo Woodcock
SIMS Manager
Jo.Woodcock@wolverhampton.gov.uk
School Cleaning Charges 20.09.21 to 18.10.21
The attached schedule shows school cleaning charges for the period 20.09.21 to 18.10.21. Should you have any queries, please contact Caroline Holt (Caroline.Holt@wolverhampton.gov.uk) on 01902 555700, or Gianina Antoniou (Gianina.Antoniou@wolverhampton.gov.uk) on 01902 558808, or Lisa Green, Cleaning Manager, on 01902 555202 (Lisa.Green3@wolverhampton.gov.uk).
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Andrew McCloskey
Finance Officer
andrew.mccloskey@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Culture of Inclusion and Belonging
We would like to ask our Wolverhampton schools to be involved in developing further the support and resources for our children and young people who have additional social, emotional, physical and learning needs. Please see attached a leaflet that explains the programmes we have to develop these resources further. If you are interested please also see attached the link to a short questionnaire that will enable you to see the dates of the meeting should you or anyone in your leadership team wish to be involved in this exciting opportunity to evolve our Wolverhampton SEND approach.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Helen Bakewell
Head of Inclusion and Empowerment
Helen.Bakewell@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Black Country Primary School Swimming Survey
Please find below a Black Country Primary School Swimming Survey ABC (and partners) are collating for all schools across the region to complete. There is an opportunity to win £150 of sports vouchers and the survey should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete. The survey will inform future support and opportunities including around Aquatics Legacy for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/H97BJRS
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Tim Aldred
Education Lead: Active Black Country
tim_aldred@blackcountryconsortium.co.uk
Repeated: Fundraising for Ethiopian School Libraries
If you are interested in supporting an Ethiopian School Library (and learning more about Ethiopia) then please watch this three minute video about our work in Ethiopia and the opportunity to work with schools.
https://vimeo.com/635971403
One possibility for example is to do a joint event with Children in Need. Huge thanks in advance
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Mark Smith
Citizenship Language & Learning Senior Advisor
Mark.Smith2@wolverhampton.gov.uk
School Improvement Workshop for Head Teachers and Educational Leaders - Thursday 11 November 2021
Please find attached agenda for the School Improvement Workshop for Head Teachers and Educational Leaders.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Louise Mututa
School Improvement Advisor
Louise.Mututa@wolverhampton.gov.uk
07970476527
Training for Safeguarding Leads
This 2 day course is aimed at the DSLs and their Deputies, it is vital for those new to the role and helpful for those who would like a refresher, particularly in light of all the recent updates and changes in guidance.
DSLs and their deputies do not have to attend this training but it helps to contextualise the role in a school.
When: Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 November 2021 – 9.30am to 2.30pm each day
Where: Via TEAMS (Link will be sent to each applicant)
Cost: ConnectEd Members— one free place per school, additional members £50.00 each. Non-members £150.00 per delegate
If you would like to book any staff members onto this training please click here to complete the booking process.
Lead person to contact:
Helen Hogan
helen.hogan@connectedpartnership.com
Making a Difference for EYFS Pupils
Training course led by Billesley Research school
This programme will support school leaders to:
● Understand the research relating to early literacy and mathematics
● Accurately identify key priorities within teaching & learning, targeted support and wider strategies to support EYFS pupils
● Understand the role adults play in learning
● Apply the principles of effective implementation to embed and sustain the processes, practices and programmes in your strategy.
This is a 3 day course and further details can be found in the attached flyer.
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
02.11.21 – Coronavirus – Daily update to all early years, children’s social care, schools and further education providers.
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