Schoolsnet Bulletin Board

The Living Streets annual badge design competition gives pupils the chance to design the new WOW badges. Last year, they had over 90,000 entries making it one of the biggest design competitions for children in the UK. 

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a new online platform to order personal protective equipment (PPE) in England.

The Department for Education (DfE) is seeking views on proposed changes to the statutory guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (KCSIE) with a view to implementation in September 2022.

In 2022, Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service.

Applications to attend the Platinum Party at the Palace, to be held at Buckingham Palace on 4 June, close on 23 March and can be submitted online.

The Virtual school is now able to provide a new service, offering support, guidance, advice and signposting to assist  all children and young people with a social worker  on a Child in Need or Child Protection plan. This is not for those young people already in care or previously looked after.

Many of you will have received some exciting information from a company called Reprezent regarding ‘On The Level’ Mental Health education and support for Gloucestershire schools and colleges.

Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached.

As part of the ‘Transition to Work’ workstream of Child-Friendly Gloucestershire, we would really welcome your views about how to improve careers education and careers support for young people in Gloucestershire.

Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached.

The 2022/23 Primary, Secondary and Special Schools Budgets are now available to view.

Following changes to the Ofsted School inspection handbook (February 2022), the EOI team has updated the document (version 3) summarising key information regarding types of Ofsted inspection and associated timescales that have been applied from the start of the academic year 2021/22.

The government announcement on Monday 21 February has meant several changes for schools when they start back after half-term. DfE guidance has been updated throughout this week with revised operational guidance and contingency framework last issued on 24 February.

The following update contains information from Gloucestershire County Council around statutory duties in relation to reporting exclusions and information on post permanent exclusion phone calls by Gloucestershire County Council.

As a result of decreasing take-up amongst schools within the County, the LA have taken the decision not to renew its bulk subscription to the Fischer Family Trust (FFT) service for the 2022/23 financial year. As such, schools will not be able to access the service via the LA.

Banded funding is about allocating funds to settings that will allow creativity and flexibility to achieve outcomes at the earliest opportunity.

Following his well-received webinar that explored the development of a well sequenced curriculum intent, David Shears will be leading a follow up session that will focus upon implementation and how the curriculum is taught at subject and classroom level.

Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached (updated from 10.02.22).

The conference is taking place on 30 March, 10am – 2pm and hosted by The Music Works, Kings House, 27 St Aldate Street, Gloucester GL1 1RP.

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) has published guidance on how to submit details of pupils who are eligible for KS2 national curriculum tests in 2022.

The BBC’s Production apprenticeship is a chance to turn a passion for telling stories into a career and BBC Radio Gloucestershire is looking for their next apprentice. In September 2022 they will welcome over 200 new apprentices into the BBC, will any come from your school?

As you will be aware the National Tutoring Programme (NTP) supports schools by providing access to high-quality tutoring to help pupils whose education has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a new video for head teachers, Gloucestershire schools and pupils talk about how the Daily Mile helps to reduce anxiety and gives a safe space where pupils can talk to teachers, or just benefit from catching up with their friends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G7CaisBmkI.

Race Equality Week marks the launch of the #MyNameIs campaign to raise the importance of getting someone’s name right.

Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached (updated from 03.02.22).

In partnership with Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum (GPCF), Gloucestershire County Council and the Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, we have coproduced a newsletter for parents and carers.

We know that this is a hugely challenging time for schools as the pandemic continues to have a significant impact. We want to take this opportunity to remind schools of the free wellbeing support available and help you promote it with your staff.

Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached (updated from 14.01.22).

Please find attached a co-signed letter from the South West Regional Schools Commissioner, South West UK Health Security Agency (formerly PHE) and the South West Directors of Public Health.

This new newsletter shares good practice, training and news regarding supporting previously children in care.

Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached (updated from 17.01.22).

The Schools Forum Outcome Report from the meeting held on 13 January 2022 is now available.

The 2021/22 IFRS 16 Leases Data Collection Return is now on Schoolsnet.

The schools financial year end closure of accounts timetable and notes for 2021/22 are now available to download from the year end guidance page.

The Education Outcomes and Intervention team has created a document to summarise key information for schools regarding types of Ofsted inspection and associated timescales that have been applied from the start of the academic year 2021/22.  It aims to collate information and guidance that Ofsted has published taking account of the on-going impact of COVID-19.

The NHS in Gloucestershire is launching a new mental health support finder, which signposts children, young people, parents & professionals to appropriate mental health services, including CAMHS, Tic+, Young Minds Matter and Young Gloucestershire, amongst other local services.  The new mental health support finder launches on 7 February to coincide with Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week.

Climate change response is more pressing than ever and schools can make a huge difference by getting involved. It needn’t involve hours of planning or impact on all the other priorities. Check out the Thinktravel blog “Sustrans Big Walk & Wheel and More”.

Further to the government announcements around the return to plan A next week, local implications are currently being considered. We recommend that schools maintain their current control measures until we receive further direction.

Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached (updated from 10.01.22).

The Alcohol Education Trust has been highlighting the prevalence and under reporting of drink spiking recently. UK Parliament is currently conducting a survey asking those who have had their drink spiked or witnessed drink spiking to provide information about their experience to build a clearer picture of where, when and how drink spiking is taking place.

If your school hasn’t joined the survey in the past or you missed the 2020 survey – please consider joining this survey.

The Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service, run by SWGfL in partnership with the Marie Collins Foundation, is now available to safeguarding professionals across England and provides the tools to equip and empower practitioners to address the alarming normalisation of harmful sexual behaviour in children and young people.

An offer for families who can claim a FREE eCode to access YogaBugs Virtual - Healthy Screen time for the whole family throughout January and February 2022.

The NATRE Strictly RE Conference is taking place as a virtual event, with a programme of twilight sessions in the run up to the main event taking place on Saturday 29^th January and Sunday 30^th January.

Applications for Holiday Free School Meal Vouchers for the February holiday period are now open until midday 14^th February. Voucher emails will be sent out between 15^th and 16^th February.

The determined school term dates for academic year 2023-24 and 2024-25 are now available on the Gloucestershire County Council website.

As case rates remain very high we anticipate that schools will frequently reach the threshold for reporting outbreaks of Covid-19 this term.  We recommend schools continue to report these to the DfE Helpline. 

Nominations are now open for students (11-18) to stand as candidate in the upcoming Youth Parliament Elections to represent their peers across the county. Deadline for nominations is Monday 31 January.  A workshop for prospective candidates will be held on 22 January. 

Details and links to the key communications from the Department for Education are attached (updated from 04.01.22).

Following recent changes to Government guidance from the start of the new term, please find attached an updated South West Consensus letter. 

Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning has some free courses in January and February 2022. Take a look at the training pages to find out more.