Schoolsnet Bulletin Board

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) has published statutory guidance for schools and local authorities (LAs) regarding the administration and process of external moderation at the end of KS1 and KS2.

The purpose of the survey is to ensure that headteachers have a real voice in influencing the Educational Select Committee’s (ESC) inquiry into school funding.

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.

The pay increases are agreed nationally by the Local Government Association in negotiation with the Trades Unions. We have just received confirmation of a two year pay deal for Green Book employees.

The focus will be for schools and academies in Gloucestershire to receive local and national updates from Gloucestershire County Council in relation to supporting attendance. In addition, to provide an opportunity to share and develop effective practice to support improvements in attendance.

New training course available from June 2018 through the Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Board that will provide information on safer working practices and Allegations Management.

Following on from last year’s successful launch of the new Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus for RE, the 2018 conference will be packed with practical and inspiring ideas for implementing the syllabus.

Make Music Gloucestershire have offers for schools plus opportunities for students.

With effect from 31 March 2018, the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) will cease to function. From 1 April 2018, the Teacher Services Division of the NCTL, which includes the Teacher Qualifications Unit and the Teacher Misconduct Unit will form the Teaching Regulation Agency.

If you have appointed an NQT who has joined your school this term, please complete and return a NQT registration form by 3^rd May 2018 to: NQTs@gloucestershire.gov.uk 

Schools must notify the local authority when the name of a pupil of statutory school age is to be deleted from the admission register under any of the fifteen grounds set out in the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 as soon as the ground for deletion is met and at the same time the name is removed.

The arrangements for this year’s KS1 teacher assessment cluster moderation meetings are as follows:

The arrangements for this year’s KS2 writing teacher assessment cluster moderation meetings are detailed below. 

The local authority is facilitating P scale clinics in six special schools aimed at for teachers and teaching assistants who have assessed pupils as working below the pre-key stage standards at the end of KS1 and KS2.  The purpose of the clinics is to support practitioners reach accurate end of key stage teacher assessment judgements.

Need help with buying new books and how to record them? Free events.

The School of Liberal and Performing Arts at the University of Gloucestershire are lead partners of a

three‐year European project: ARTPAD (Achieving Resilience Through Play and Drama).

The project explores the use of drama and play for supporting teachers and practitioners working with children and young people to promote engagement with learning and we are holding an event

on Tuesday 24th April, 15:30 - 18:30 at University of Gloucestershire, Oxtalls Campus, Gloucester.

Royal Forestry Society ‘Teaching Trees’ project is offering assemblies to schools to provide an overview of the importance of good woodland management and what we can all do to support woodlands now. Teaching Trees also offers outdoor learning sessions at £2 per child.

We are delighted to announce the launch of the new Early Years Business Support team.   We have developed a generic business support email which can be used by all Gloucestershire Early Years Providers requiring business support.

Please find attached the Gloucestershire Schools Forum Outcome Report from the meeting held on 15 March 2018.

Outcome Report

Children already entitled to free school meals under the old criteria will have their entitlement protected until 31 March 2022 regardless of any changes to their family circumstances. This has been agreed by the DFE.

In January 2018 the latest inspection framework was introduced. The Ofsted: Developments in education inspection blog looks at the way Ofsted inspects education, from early years to schools and the further education and skills sector. It provides updates on developments and features current issues.

The DfE has announced that the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) will develop the new Reception Baseline Assessment for introduction in the academic year 2020/21. 

Ofqual has published an observational study of 2017 local authority KS2 writing moderation.

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) has published information and guidance to support schools with the administration of the 2018 KS1 and KS2 national curriculum tests and phonics screening check (PSC). 

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) has published guidance for how local authorities (LAs) conduct monitoring visits to schools for KS1/KS2 national curriculum assessments and the phonics screening check. 

The Governors Budget Plan 2018/19 template is now available to download.

Google and the family internet safety experts at Parent Zone recently launched the Be Internet Legends programme for Key Stage 2 primary school students to help them be safe and confident explorers of the online world.

The third phase of the Home Office Disrespect Nobody campaign will run from 29th March to the beginning of May 2018.

The resources from the March briefings are now available.

Please note that with changes to the Disclosure and Barring Service over the years, the 2010 blanket letter now no longer applies because not all Gloucestershire County Council posts in schools fall under the definition of a Regulated Activity. 

An e-mail has been sent to all Infant and Primary schools outlining the data collection process for 2018.

The GSCB Newsletter for Education Setting is attached.

GSCB Newsletter

The result of the election for a Primary (Maintained) Governor Representative is:

Sara Morris, St John’s C of E Primary School (Cheltenham), is duly re-elected to the Forum (new term of office 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2021).

Please find below a link to the GCC website showing the determined term dates for 2019/20 Academic Year for Gloucestershire Community and Voluntary Controlled schools. 

Term Dates

Your pupil number forecast will be available to download week commencing 26^th March, it is a likely indication of your pupil numbers over future years to enable you to plan provision. 

Phonics training for teachers and teaching assistants will be taking place across the county during the summer term.

There have been a number of reports of phishing/scam emails to schools. Please make sure you check your emails carefully paying particular attention to suspicious email addresses and attachments.

The spring edition of the Closing the Gap newsletter is now available.  This is intended to provide useful updates for those leading on Closing the Gap in your school. 

Your pupil number forecast is now available to download, it is a likely indication of your pupil numbers over future years to enable you to plan provision. This pupil number forecast will be used in assessing basic need, through the school capacity return, to ensure sufficiency of school places throughout the county. It will also be used in any Section 106 agreement negotiations affecting your school. The forecast is available via Perspective Lite.

Gloucestershire County Council’s Educational Psychology Service and the Nurture Group Steering Committee are carrying out a survey regarding the use of Nurture Groups and Nurturing Approaches in the Local Authority.

Social Care Front Door have advised that they are noticing two trends regarding MARF.

We all have a role to play in protecting children and young people from child abuse and neglect. To help protect a child or young person, look out for changes in their Appearance, Behaviour, Communication (ABC).

Primary: For all primary schools and academies

Tuesday 22 May 2018, 9:00am-12:00pm or Wednesday 6 June 2018, 9:00am-12:00pm

Secondary: For all secondary schools and academies

Thursday 14 June 2018. 9:00am-12:00pm

Special Schools are welcome to attend either session.

Refreshments and registration available from 8:45am for a 9.00am prompt start.

Following the success of the recent KS1 and KS2 Assessment and Moderation CPD events, we are running one further event for each Key Stage. These will be run on 17^th April at the National Star College. They are half day sessions at a cost of £60 per delegate.

Date: Weds 25^th April 2018

Time: 7-9.30pm

Venue: Oxstalls University Campus .  This is a free event.

Gloucestershire County Council is supporting the ‘Together we can tackle child abuse’ campaign which is led by the Department of Education.

Date: 19^th April 2018

Times: 09.15-15.30

Venue: The Pavilion, Cheltenham GL51 6PN

Cost: £40 per person to cover administration, venue and refreshment costs which includes lunch.

It has been drawn to our attention that some schools are being approached by an organisation called Milsted Langdon Financial Planning (MLFP) offering to attend the school to provide pension-related information/advisory (or other financial) services for teachers and support staff. The advertising material that they use has the Gloucestershire County Council logo on it, which implies that we endorse them as a company, which we do not. 

The Cheque Book Schools CFR return 2017/18 template is now available to download.

https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/schoolsnet/school-office/finance/funding-reporting-and-accounting-guidance/financial-reporting-and-returns/

The new statutory guidance for the designated teacher for children in care and previously looked after children has now been published.