Schoolsnet Bulletin Board

The TSC South West, in association with Glenmore and Winton Academies, are holding this webinar on Thursday 29th April from 4pm-5pm 

As of 1^st April 2021, the government advised that those who are clinically extremely vulnerable no longer need to shield. Further information is available here.

The Pupil premium: conditions of grant 2021 to 2022 for local authorities (Guidance), published on 30 March, includes new requirements for pupil premium strategies in terms of use of evidence and accountability.

As you will be aware the Department for Education (DfE) has announced a new helpline to support potential victims of sexual harassment and abuse in education settings.

Additional Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for summer term one.

Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached (updated from 08.04.21).

The Education & Skills funding Agency has advised that the coronavirus (COVID-19) free school meals additional costs online form for schools and colleges is now live.

Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached (updated from 29.3.21)

The determined school term dates for academic year 2022-23 are now available on the Gloucestershire County Council website.

Following the national announcement of the reintroduction of PCR testing following a positive LFD test (at home or in school), our regional PHE Health Protection Team has updated and re-issued the flowchart for childcare and educational settings and the checklist for managing possible and confirmed cases and outbreaks of Covid-19.  Both are attached here for your information.

The TALC pilot finishes at Easter and we want to share our learning and the changes to TALC moving forward.

Ofsted has confirmed that the full programme of inspections will recommence from September 2021.

During the summer term, the majority of Ofsted’s activity will continue to be lighter-touch monitoring inspections, as have been in place since January, with a fuller inspection only taking place where there has been a clear improvement from a current Inadequate or Requires Improvement rating, or where there are serious concerns, particularly in relation to safeguarding.

The Secretary of State for Education has written to children and young people to recognise the impact of the disruption they have faced over the past year and to thank them for their resilience.

The letter is published on the DfE media blog and on DfE’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Schools and colleges are asked to share the letter directly with children and young people. 

If you have appointed an NQT who will join your school in the Summer Term, please complete and return a NQT registration form by 30^th April 2021 to: NQTs@gloucestershire.gov.uk 

Following the success of previous years’ CPD programme, we are running a similar programme this year, with all events running virtually. 

As part of its regional support offer to schools and Teaching Schools as the school system transitions to the new Teaching School Hub model, the Teaching School Council South West has invited schools to a series of webinars in April about the upcoming reform to the ECF, ITT and NPQs programmes.  Dates and links to join those meetings are at the attached link; please add them to your diaries. 

Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached (updated from 23.3.21).

Parents and carers of children who have been advised to self-isolate by their education setting or by NHS Test and Trace are now able to apply for a Test and Trace Support Payment or discretionary payment of £500, if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Recommendations and guidance for home visits to vulnerable students.

Following the success of the asymptomatic testing programme on the return to school, it is vital that both staff and students keep testing at home throughout the Easter holidays and into the summer term. They should:

Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached (updated from 16.3.21)

The Government has revoked the Exit Cap legislation with effect from 12 February 2021.

As you may be aware, updates have been made by the Department for Education (DfE) to the  Early Careers Framework reforms which outline proposed changes for September. 

Please see attached a presentation providing an overview of The Engagement Model, which is statutory from September 2021.

Schools to continue with contact tracing over Easter.

A template letter has been prepared for schools to use to communicate with their communities on how they can support keeping infection rates down and prevent any further disruption to learning .

The premium must be spent by school proprietors on making additional and sustainable improvements to the provision of PE and sport for the benefit of all primary-aged pupils to encourage the development of healthy, active lifestyles.

An election count took place on Friday 19 March 2021 for Secondary School Governor (Academy) representatives (two seats).

The SHE team would like to make you aware of recent staff changes and inform you that we will be resuming our audit programme after the Easter Holidays.

The Virtual School has produced a newsletter which shares good practice, training and news regarding supporting previously looked after children.

The Charity Brake are delighted to announce that Brake’s Kids Walk is back! 

In response to requests, details and links to the key Covid-19 reporting documents are attached. The procedures around reporting positive cases are unchanged but there is a small amendment to the information on the checklist. The latest version of the flowchart has been adapted to reflect asymptomatic testing in schools.

Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached (updated from 9.3.21).

Message from Chris Spencer, Director of Children's Services

The Education Skills & Funding Agency has announced that the coronavirus (COVID-19) workforce fund for schools and colleges online form is now live.

For any school being used for local or general elections this year, the charges can be found on the attached letter.

Occupational Health and GHLL continue to work together to raise awareness on mental health and emotional wellbeing in schools and colleges in Gloucestershire.

The date for the UK's largest inter-school cycling, walking and scooting challenge is 19^th – 30^th April but your school can choose how and when to take part.

The following update contains information from Gloucestershire County Council around changes to Department for Education (DfE) exclusion reason codes, updates to the exclusion reporting process,  changes to the DfE exclusion statutory guidance process during Coronavirus pandemic and an overview of updated guidance and documents available to head teachers, governors and parents.

Read the latest newsletter from the Additional Needs and High Needs Transformation Programme – including details for the next webinar on the proposed new banded funding model to make funding available for children earlier, and more information on the TALC programme.

Future Me Gloucestershire is about young people, for young people, by young people.

Launching today, a resource pack for young people (Year 9 onwards) on mental health and wellbeing, together with an introductory film by the team and their first newsletter. Researched and written by Future Me Youth Representatives, with personal experiences about mental health and wellbeing shared to help young people feel they are not alone and as a result, more able to access support.

Please see below message from Chris Spencer, Director of Children's Services.

RE with intent and impact: creative, thoughtful RE that makes a difference!

Tuesday 18th May 2021, 09:15 - 15:45.

An updated Covid-19 risk assessment is attached.

LA advice on how schools should proceed with regard to children not attending at this current time can be seen here. This takes into account the latest guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care along with Public Health England and gives advice regarding Education settings and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable.  

Ofsted has published new information on how remote education is working for children and young people with SEND. Their findings are taken from the autumn and spring term interim visits.

Updated FAQs for the full reopening of schools are attached.

The DfE has announced the Early Career Framework (ECF) National Providers and that schools can choose to sign up with one of them. Teaching School Hubs will be required to select an ECF National Provider to work with as a delivery partner and will have a target to promote this provider's programme and recruit a number of schools/Early Career Teachers. The Teaching School Council is keen to encourage Headteachers not to rush into an individual relationship with a provider, before Hubs have communicated who they will be working with - the ideal is a coherent offer for schools and as many signing up via the Hubs as possible. Schools still have the option to make independent arrangements if they choose.

The expectation is that most staff, pupils, and students will already have access to face coverings from their wider use in society. However, it is recommended that all settings have a small contingency stock of face coverings available if an individual is struggling to access a face covering, or has damaged/forgotten their own.