Schoolsnet Bulletin Board
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Registration of Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) for Spring Term 2021 (reminder)
f you have appointed an NQT who will join your school in the Spring Term, please complete and return a NQT registration form by 22nd January 2021 to NQTs@gloucestershire.gov.uk
- 12.01.2021
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NSPCC Covid-19 Resources
The NSPCC really appreciate the challenges that schools are facing at the moment and that safeguarding and child protection are as important now as they ever have been.
- 11.01.2021
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Cancellation of 2021 KS1 and KS2 national curriculum assessments
The Department for Education has confirmed (press release, 6 January) that ‘statutory KS1 and KS2 tests and teacher assessments planned for summer 2021, including the KS2 tests in reading and mathematics, will not take place.’ This includes also the phonics screening check and all statutory trialling.
- 11.01.2021
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Guidance Briefing for schools
The DfE released detailed guidance relating to the current lockdown situation yesterday here and further guidance has been, and continues to be, released on specific areas.
- 08.01.2021
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Key Communications from DfE for Schools (21.12.20 - 31.12.20)
Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached.
- 07.01.2021
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Covid-19 Annex for Safeguarding Policy
As we have entered a third national lockdown with schools and colleges being closed to the majority of pupils, please ensure that your Safeguarding Policy reflects the local restrictions and remains effective.
- 06.01.2021
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Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021 consultation
The Department for Education opened a consultation to KCSiE for 2021 on 10th December 2020 .
- 06.01.2021
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Chelsea’s Story
In light of the Government’s announcement last night to close all schools and colleges until at least February half term for most pupils, Alter Ego Creative Solutions has decided to make the ‘streamed to be seen’ performance of Chelsea’s Story aimed at Year 8 students available to all Gloucestershire Secondary Schools from now until the end of March 2021.
- 06.01.2021
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EU Settlement Scheme
The EU Settlement Scheme is a free scheme which enables EU citizens resident in the UK, and their family members, to obtain the status they will require in order to live and work in the UK after 30 June 2021
- 04.01.2021
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LA update: return to school and mass testing
Following yesterday’s announcements from the government, there are significant and immediate changes to the arrangements that schools will make for the start of term. In Gloucestershire, the changes largely apply to secondary schools and colleges.
- 31.12.2020
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DSL Support Hubs for Educational Settings and Early Years Settings that buy into Traded Services
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Support Hubs for Spring Term 2021 - dates and times, examples of content, and an extended invitation to relevant staff within your teams.
- 31.12.2020
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Key Communications from DfE for Schools (14.12.20 - 18.12.20)
Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached.
- 30.12.2020
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Council launches consultation on budget for the future
Gloucestershire County Council has launched a public consultation on its draft budget for 2021/22, and is calling on all stakeholders to have their say on the proposals.
- 21.12.2020
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Looking After Your Wellbeing
Please see attached a letter from Sarah Scott, Director of Public Health and Chris Spencer, Director of Children's Services.
- 17.12.2020
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School Staff Health and Wellbeing
We understand that the demands placed upon school staff this year have been enormous. We want to reassure you that the safety, health and wellbeing of staff is a priority for all services providing support to schools.
- 16.12.2020
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Key Communications from DfE for Schools (7.12.20 - 14.12.20)
Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached.
- 16.12.2020
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Youth Support Team Holiday Hunger Scheme – December 2020 (reminder)
The Youth Support Team would like to speak to relevant members of school staff that can get a message to pupils and families who would most benefit from their holiday hunger scheme in Cheltenham and Gloucester.
- 16.12.2020
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2019/2020 LGPS Pension Fund Annual Report
The 2020 Annual Meeting of the LGPS Pension Fund, the pension fund for support staff, was cancelled this year.
- 16.12.2020
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Impact on Coronavirus on school finances - survey
The F40 are campaigning for substantially increased school funding to meet the costs which schools are having to sustain because of the coronavirus pandemic.
- 16.12.2020
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Music Grants for Schools and Music Bursaries for Students
Grants of up to £1000 are available to schools to develop extra curricular music activities e.g. lunchtime and afterschool clubs. Bursaries of up to £200 are available (paid to the school) to enable those students that can least afford it to have access to tuition, exams and instrument hire.
- 16.12.2020
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TALC pilot update on EHCPs
TALC referrals will no longer be accepted for children and young people who are in receipt of an EHCP or for whom a school has submitted an EHCP assessment request.
- 11.12.2020
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Working Together 2018 (as amended 9.12.20)
While technically not a new edition of Working Together, retaining the same date, there are many significant changes in the new guidance.
- 10.12.2020
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Reducing Parental Conflict Programme and practitioner training offer
Schools are invited to a session on Tuesday 15th December, 1:30 - 3:00 pm to learn about the DWP Reducing Parental Conflict Programme and practitioner training offer. This session will be on Microsoft Teams with Emily Ingle, Regional Integration Lead, who will give you an overview of the RPC programme and the free training offer and a ‘taster’ of the training in module 1.
- 08.12.2020
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Section 175/157 Safeguarding Audit
The Section 175/157 Safeguarding Audit for Schools and Early Years settings is now LIVE.
- 08.12.2020
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Covid-19 message for parents and carers
Template letters have been prepared for schools to use to communicate with their communities on how they can support them to stay open. These have been signed by Sarah Scott, Director of Public Health.
- 08.12.2020
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2021 Assessment, Monitoring, Moderation and Reporting Arrangements
The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) has confirmed primary assessment and reporting requirements for the academic year 2020/21.
- 07.12.2020
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Open Days
DfE guidance continues to advise against all unnecessary visitors to school sites and we are advising that open days should not take place in a physical form. Virtual tours have proved successful for a many schools and are a good alternative until the national restrictions are relaxed.
- 03.12.2020
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Fraud Awareness Warning
Internal Audit has received intelligence that primary schools may be targeted by threat actors applying pressure to make a payment supposedly against a High Court Writ.
- 03.12.2020
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Rebuilding learning: reconnection, recovery and resilience
A series of webinars, led by Professor Barry Carpenter CBE, OBE, PhD (Professor of Mental Health in Education, Oxford Brookes University), to support Gloucestershire schools through the process of long term recovery are now available to view via YouTube.
- 02.12.2020
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Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) Primary CPD Programme 2020-21
Following the success of previous years’ CPD programme we are running a similar programme this year, built around the Teachers’ Standards, supporting NQTs in their induction year. The initial events will run ‘virtually’.
- 01.12.2020
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Registration of newly qualified teachers (NQTs) for Spring Term 2021
If you have appointed an NQT who will join your school in the Spring Term, please complete and return a NQT registration form by 22nd January 2021 to: NQTs@gloucestershire.gov.uk
- 01.12.2020
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Remote Learning
The Oak National Academy continue to update their guidance for schools, including support with planning remote offers, both in mainstream and in specialist/SEND provision, webinars on best practice and case studies from a range of settings.
- 30.11.2020
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New funding to support schools
The Department for Education has announced new funding which will be backdated to 1 November and cover the current half term, with detailed guidance due to be published shortly.
- 30.11.2020
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Impact on schools from Tier 2 regulations
From December 2 Gloucestershire will move to Tier 2 restrictions for Covid-19. Revised guidance can be found here.
- 30.11.2020
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium
The Department for Education has updated guidance on what schools must publish online, to include the use of the COVID-19 catch-up premium.
- 26.11.2020
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Breaches of Covid Regulations
Schools are being made aware of circumstances where families are breaching Covid regulations particularly with regard to the requirement for their children to self isolate. It may be possible for schools to offer advice to parents to influence their behaviour but schools are not responsible for what happens off the school site.
- 26.11.2020
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Schools COVID-19 Inspection Checklist
The end of lockdown is approaching and new guidance is anticipated in the next few days for schools depending on the designated tier for Gloucestershire. This may be a good time to review the existing risk assessment and COVID-secure procedures within your school, to ensure that they comply with any new guidance and to reinforce good procedures with staff and students.
- 26.11.2020
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Key Communications from DfE for Schools (16.11.20 - 20.11.20 updated)
Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached (updated from 18.11.20).
- 25.11.2020
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COVID-19: Working at school during pregnancy (28 weeks)
Pregnant staff (at all stages) are in the clinically vulnerable category and are generally advised to attend work unless advised otherwise by an individual letter from the NHS or a specialist doctor which states they must not attend work.
- 25.11.2020
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Section 175/157 Safeguarding
The Section 175/157 Safeguarding Audit for Schools and Early Years settings is due to be launched at the beginning of December 2020. It is a requirement that each setting must submit an audit response by the deadline.
- 24.11.2020
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Whole School Child Protection Training
The Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Executive has launched virtual “Whole School Child Protection training” and are taking bookings now.
- 24.11.2020
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Stranger Danger - Notifications
You may be aware that there have been an increased number of a stranger danger reports across the county recently.
- 24.11.2020
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Youth Support Team Holiday Hunger Scheme – December 2020
The Youth Support Team are hoping to offer a holiday hunger scheme in Gloucester and Cheltenham during the coming holiday (21 Dec – 1 Jan) and would like to speak to the relevant member of staff so they can target the pupils and families who would most benefit from this scheme.
- 23.11.2020
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Schools Forum Outcome report – 12 November 2020
The Schools Forum Outcome report from the meeting held on 12 November 2020 is attached.
- 23.11.2020
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End of KS1 and KS2 Teacher Assessment and Moderation CPD
This year, the LA programme of KS1/KS2 Assessment and Moderation CPD will take place on virtual platforms. The format will comprise: recorded sessions for each of English reading, English writing, mathematics and science; plus ‘live’ Q&A webinars (separate sessions for each subject).
- 23.11.2020
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Parent Carer Forum – information to support parents
Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum is funded by the DfE to support and represent parents of children with additional needs including SEND as per the SEND Code of Practice.
- 18.11.2020
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Key Communications from DfE for Schools (16.11.20 - 20.11.20)
Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached.
- 18.11.2020
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Make sure your PEPs are SMART
Personal Education Plans (PEPs) are an integral part of the overall care plan for each child in care.
- 17.11.2020
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Supporting effective information sharing and multi agency working through the registering of My Plans and My Assessments/My Plan +
Effective Early Help happens when professionals communicate with one another about the support they are providing and concerns they may have. You can do your part to support this by completing Notification forms where there is an Early Help Plan for a child/family and sending this to the Early Help team to support decision making and effective communication to aid holistic, multi agency working.
- 17.11.2020
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Make Your Mark 2020 (reminder)
Make Your Mark is a British Youth Council campaign, endorsed by the UK Parliament and is an opportunity for 11-18 year olds to express opinions and begin their democratic journey by voting on the policies they’d like to introduce or change.
- 17.11.2020