Education Bulletin - 10 June 2022

Updated 10 June 2022

Important contact details

Email childrensservicesresponse@plymouth.gov.uk for Children's Service general queries
Email covid19@plymouth.gov.uk for general COVID-19 queries to the Local Authority

From Ming Zhang
Service Director of Education, Participation and Skills

Dear colleagues,

Hope you all had some deserved rest during half-term and the Jubilee weekend.

Further to the publication of the Schools White Paper, the Department of Education last week issued its policy paper Implementing School System Reform in 2022 to 2023, outlining the next steps to achieving the government's goal that every school to be in, or in the process of joining a trust by 2030. The Department has also published details of how local authorities can apply to establish a multi-academy trust.

School White Paper Implementation Plan 2022-23

The implementation plan for the coming academic year commits to working with local partners within each of the Department's 55 Education Investment Areas (EIAs), and publishing priorities for each by the autumn. Plymouth is one of the EIAs. Therefore, this implementation plan will impact us directly with the need to identify our priorities. Many Headteachers and MAT CEOS have attended the round table sessions with the Regional Director and will already be familiar with what the implementation plan sets out to do. As a local authority, we will continue to work closely with the maintained schools, DfE and MAT CEOs to move forward this agenda for the best interest of the city's children and young people, which is at the heart of whatever we do.

Minister Quince's Letter to Schools

Education Minister Will Quince wrote out to Headteachers and schools this week, setting out how they can participate and engage in the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.

Our HAF co-ordinator has been advised by the DfE that we may receive increased interest and contact because of the DfE communication.

Children's Social Care System

Please note that the weekly social care emails to schools will be paused from this week due to the CareFirst / Eclipse changeover. An email to all schools has been sent, advising that the system/database used by PCC to inform the weekly school lists is currently being phased out and replaced. During this changeover period the weekly social care reports will be switched off to prevent inaccuracies whilst the two systems are being utilised. Reports will therefore be paused from this week.

As usual please direct any queries regarding student's social care status to the allocated social worker or the Children's Social Care Team via 01752 668000. The service will be in contact about restarting the reports once the changeover has been completed and systems tested sufficiently.

National Tutoring Programme

Thanks to the schools that have already submitted the NTP online survey response. I would be grateful if those that have not done so can kindly complete the online survey. The questionnaire takes no more than a few minutes to complete and will help us to:

understand the impact of the tutoring programme at a city level provide feedback to elected members
provide feedback to partners such as the DfE

Please use the updated link to access the questionnaire - Education - National Tutoring Programme - questionnaire

Kind regards.

Ming

Education updates

Government policy, legislative announcements and news

The Independent Review of Children's Social Care final report was published this week. The report found that the current system is increasingly skewed to crisis intervention, with outcomes for children that continue to be unacceptably poor, and costs that continue to rise. It recommends a dramatic whole system reset.

Government is setting out initial measures in response to the recommendations in the report. This includes plans to set up a new National Implementation Board of sector experts and people with experience of leading transformational change in the care system. Seven areas of England have been identified so far to receive funding to set up family hubs, which offer early help and intervention. (Plymouth is also hoping to be successful having submitted a bid in December 2021). Local Authorities will also receive funding for schemes that support vulnerable children to remain engaged in their education and strengthen links between social care and education.

Next steps towards a stronger school system with all schools in strong trusts (New)

Detailed plans for moving all schools into strong academy trusts have been published, kick starting work towards the goal set out in the Schools White Paper for every school to be in, or in the process of joining, a trust by 2030. The Department has also published details of how local authorities can apply to establish a multi-academy trust.

Education recovery funding doubles for secondary schools (New)

Funding for the Government's education recovery programme is to double for secondary schools next year, supporting pupils to catch up on lost learning.

Skills boost for local communities (New)

Under the scheme, announced by Higher and Further Education Minister Michelle Donelan, The Open University will work with colleges that do not currently offer higher technical education, or want to expand the range of courses they offer.

New expert child protection units across the country (New)

The national child safeguarding practice review into the murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, 6, and Star Hobson, 16-months, has recommended that experts in police, health and social work should form dedicated multi-agency teams to investigate allegations of serious harm to children.

Inspiring Futures - Multi-Platform and Plymouth Early Insight Career Films

Please see all information and links relating the Y6 Multi-Platform event on July 5th, linked to the library of films we offer all primary schools.

It's time for the Plymouth Early Insight Career Films, threaded with positivity. We now have an addition to the library with a Livewell film joining the 4 films shown to your Y6 children last year, over 1000 Y6 children evaluated the films last year, and it was great reading!

The films just take a minute to download, are all approx. 5 mins long and yours to keep.

The Bailey Partnership https://ql.mediasilo.com/ql/6203d7001c28702ada04e346

Fine Tubes https://ql.mediasilo.com/ql/6203d70ef3927217b6c5aafb

Plymouth City Bus https://ql.mediasilo.com/ql/6203d72ad58b3f7f53fbf898

Livewell Southwest https://ql.mediasilo.com/ql/6203d7421c28702ada04e347

Twofour https://ql.mediasilo.com/ql/6203d7501c28702ada04e348

As before all we ask is that they are shown in a career themed session, perfect to support the multi-platform event and that both the children and teacher complete the short evaluation.

Register for your school to join - Primary Futures virtual multi-school activity Tuesday 5th July - 9.30am-10.30am. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/514570765119689488

Health and wellbeing updates

Plymouth Safeguarding Children Partnership June 2022 Training

There are a wide range of training courses due to run in June 2022. We are delivering over 70% of the courses onsite at our new training venue at Plymouth Argyle's Home Park stadium in the Jack Leslie boardroom. The course details are below:

1. Child Protection Refresher | Remote | £25 | 21 June

2. Understanding Child Protection | In-Person | £75 | 13 and 29 June

3. Domestic Abuse | In-Person | £75 | 16 June

4. Online Safety | Remote | £25 | 8 June

5. Harmful Sexual Behaviour | Free | 15 June

6. Trauma Informed Practice | Free | 20 June

7. Adolescent Safety Framework | £25 | 29 June

We have also added two new courses to our roster:

1. Introduction to Early Help

2. Having Curious and Courageous Conversations

The Introduction to Early Help is being delivered remotely and the Curious and Courageous conversations is being delivered both remotely and in person at our Plymouth Argyle Home Park venue.

Course Information and Bookings - Plymouth Safeguarding Children Partnership (plymouthscb.co.uk)

If you have any questions regarding Partnership training, please email safeguardingtraining@plymouth.gov.uk

E-Bug Programme

In January 2022, the e-Bug programme, operated by United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA), disseminated resources to all maintained schools and academies across England to promote behaviour change among children and young people on infection prevention control and treatment.

We are now running an evaluation to understand:

Whether schools are covering topics such as infection prevention and control, antibiotics and vaccinations with students
How educators would like to receive training and communication from UKHSA Teacher attitudes towards educating students on topics such as anti microbial resistance

The e-Bug programme will use these results to strengthen the implementation of the programme and will communicate results with you in case these are of interest to your team. Could you please consider taking part in this evaluation.

The survey needs completing by Wednesday June 24th and is likely to take 10-15 minutes to complete. The relevant links are:

Primary Schools: UKHSA e-Bug Spring Survey for Primary School Educators (phe.org.uk)
Secondary Schools: UKHSA e-Bug Spring Survey for Secondary School Educators (phe.org.uk)

Mental Health and Emotional Health and Wellbeing Offer to Schools - June 2022

The Mental Health and Emotional Health and Wellbeing (EHWB) Services will be working together in partnership to deliver an offer to children and young people in schools and in the community.

Nominations open for STAR Awards 2022, School Staff Award Category

After a two year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, we're delighted to announce that the Star Awards have returned for 2022.

Our employees will be at the centre of all aspects of the nomination process, shortlisting for finalists and the event itself. The nomination process is now open and closes on Friday 1 July. You can nominate colleagues or teams for the school staff award. The short listed finalists will be invited to attend the event which will be held on Saturday 17 September in the Belvedere Marquee on the Hoe. The annual Star Awards event provides the perfect opportunity for us to say a huge thank you to our employees for their hard work, commitment and dedication.

School STAR Awards Nomination 2022 (office.com)

You will be asked to complete the nominee information and complete two questions relating to why you are making the nomination. We have a 125 word limit for both these questions. If you require any additional information, email starawards@plymouth.gov.uk and a member Star Awards team will respond.

2022 Star Awards criteria for the school staff award

This award is for Teachers, Teaching Assistants and anyone within a school environment who shows inspiration, dedication, commitment and originality to enhance pupils learning experiences.

Delivering excellence in the provision of learning and teaching.

Significant contribution to enhancing their pupils learning experience and the quality of their learning as well as going the extra mile in support of pupils and their school.

Dedication and commitment to the service they provide to the school and its pupils. Demonstrating outstanding service and support and dedication to their role.