Schoolsnet Bulletin Board

We are taking bookings for central training for teachers, introducing the Facts4Life approach to health resilience and mental health.

This Education Support Fund has been extended for another two years. The bidding round opened on 14 September 2018 and closes on 19 October 2018.

School budgets are under strain across Gloucestershire and beyond. The prospects for 2019/20 are particularly challenging not least because, in common with other local authorities, we are struggling to contain spending on High Needs. A consultation paper setting out some options for next year will be published next week.

In 2017, due to product obsolescence, RM SecureNet was discontinued.

After completing product assessments (with input from schools) and the required procurement process, the Local Authority (LA) contracted with Angel Solutions for a replacement system, which was implemented in August 2017. 

The School Emergency Closure website and process is changing soon. During the last week in September you were sent an email by Deborah.peake@gloucestershire.gov.uk asking you to confirm some important details as we need to send you secure login information. If you have not yet responded to the email, please can you do so as quickly as possible as this will enable the roll out of the new simpler School Emergency Closure site and allow a test day to be arranged for schools to practice.

The Joint Waste Team is inviting all primary school pupils in Gloucestershire to take part in an exciting new competition to create their very own Christmas recipe showing how to use up all those seasonal leftovers.

The DfE has updated the guidance for Ofsted and local authorities regarding unregistered independent schools and out of school settings.

The deadline for submitting the Half Year Return is 16th November 2018.

Following the successful pilot project for KS1 literacy last year, we are pleased to offer subject leaders and senior leaders opportunities to work with an Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) Research School on two projects in 2018-19:

• Improving literacy at KS1
• Improving literacy at KS2

Now that temperatures are decreasing, it is essential to check schools can log into TREND and that all of the TREND network cables are connected. 

The Gloucestershire Schools Forum Outcome Report from the meeting held on 20^th September 2018 is attached.

During this time, any urgent referrals or queries should be sent to the Occupational Health Unit by email ohu@gloucestershire.gov.uk

 A number of schools have changed email address from the standard "@gloucs.sch.uk". As you will appreciate it is important that the LA has an up-to-date list of the Head Teacher, Chair of Governor and Admin email addresses.

The Pavilion, Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham, Glos GL51 6PN.

The local authority (LA) is seeking to appoint a team of external moderators to complete statutory end of KS1 and KS2 writing moderation in June 2019.

Schools need to be aware of fraudsters attempting to commit fraud by trying to change supplier bank account details.

A small working party has been very busy, putting together a variety of resources/activities for schools to use, with Pittville Park as the focus.

Following funding from Heritage Lottery Fund, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust have opened a new education centre at Greystones Farm in Bourton-on-the-Water. This recently renovated centre features a dedicated education room, an education garden, working dairy farm and replica Iron Age roundhouse.

The DFE has made further changes to KCSiE.  Many schools have reissued part 1 to staff as part of their start-of-term safeguarding update.  The 19th September changes are minor and as far as we can see at this stage, do not require the document to be reissued to staff.

The Local Authority has reviewed the EHC needs assessment process and as a result of this, the decision has been taken to no longer hold Team Around the Child (TAC) meetings towards the end of the process.

The Home Office in co-operation with other Government Departments has issued guidance on the Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults for professionals working in education, health, housing, benefits, law enforcement (police) and related partner organisations.

The GSCB has developed a series of one minute guides on topics such as Single Central Record and CSE for schools, which will be published on a monthly basis.

The referral form for Prevent/Channel has been updated. The aim of Prevent is to support individuals where there is a potential risk of radicalisation and violent extremism.

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) has published guidance for statutory teacher assessment (TA) for the academic year 2018/19.

The local authority will continue to offer end of KS1 and KS2 Assessment and Moderation CPD in 2018/19.

The first network meetings are in November and December 2018.

Each subject package of three meetings is  £240.00 per delegate, which includes the venue and catering costs.

Following the success of previous years’ CPD programme we will be running a similar programme this year, built around the Teachers’ Standards, supporting NQTs in their induction year.

Following the successful pilot project for KS1 literacy last year, we are pleased to offer subject leaders and senior leaders opportunities to work with an Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) Research School on two projects in 2018-19: Improving literacy at KS1 and KS2.

The inaugural Education Leads Information and Networking Event to will be held at The Growth Hub, Oxstalls Campus on October 10th between 6pm and 8:30pm.

The Governors September Budget Plan Forecast 2018/19 template is now available to download at school budgets 2018-19.

The nomination period closed on Friday 7 September 2018 at 5pm, for the vacant Secondary (Academy) School Governor seat on Gloucestershire Schools Forum, one nomination was received.

On 1^st May 2019, the Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Board (GSCB) will be running a one day course for administrators to ensure that they have everything they need to know to administrate safeguarding smoothly in schools. 

DfE are asking school leaders, business professionals and teachers for their views on how they can best support schools to use apprenticeships in their workforces by completing this survey.

As part of Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Board’s on-going commitment to Gloucestershire Schools through traded services, we are pleased to announce new dates for the drop in sessions for the Single Central Record.

This course will provide an introductory overview of effective Early Years Foundation Stage practice and provision in schools.

A substantial resource is available, with training, to support the Christianity elements of your RE curriculum.

From September, the functions of the Radiation Protection Officer (RPO) for Gloucestershire will be undertaken by the Safety Health and Environment Unit (SHE).

As you will be aware, when a school makes the decision to permanently exclude, the LA has to be notified by the Headteacher on the day the decision is made to permanently exclude. Up until now, this has been done using a word document which is then emailed into the LA. 

From September 2018, this process will no longer exist and instead we are asking schools to notify us via a dedicated online form.

If you haven’t already done so, there is still an opportunity to complete the survey and have your say before it ends on 14^th September.

You will all be aware that children of compulsory school age who are registered at a school are expected, by law, to attend school regularly.

The updated contact details for the Education Outcomes and Intervention Team is attached.

Following the success of previous years’ CPD programme we will be running a similar programme this year, built around the Teachers’ Standards, supporting NQTs in their induction year.

We will be holding two NQT Induction Tutor network meetings on the afternoon of 27^th September and 2nd October 2018 (2pm - 4pm) at the Pavilion in Cheltenham. NQT Induction Tutors can opt to attend either session.

If you have appointed an NQT who has joined your school this term, please complete and return a NQT registration form by 20^th September 2018 to: NQTs@gloucestershire.gov.uk 

The agenda will include:

• National and Local Updates
• Closing the Gap
• Governance
• Curriculum and Assessment
• EYFS

Each year we deliver free half-day or full-day continuing professional development (CPD) workshops to primary and secondary teachers across the UK. Our educational programmes are supported by a range of free guidance materials, lesson plans and resources. Our bespoke teacher training workshops are delivered free of charge, we only ask organisations to cover travel (and where necessary accommodation) for an Education Officer to come out from London.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been made aware that two UK laboratory supply companies have supplied schools and potentially other users with gauze mats which contain asbestos.

For Headteachers, Designated Safeguarding Leads, Pastoral Teams only from Darren Peters, Gloucestershire Constabulary

With reports of Whatsapp messages inviting young people to play a dangerous online game called ‘Momo Challenge’, we have received the following message from the police.

The DfE has updated the keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) guidance to reflect the recently revised working together to safeguard children guidance.

Places are still available for the training and coaching session which is taking placing on Monday 15th October.