31st October 2022

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome back after half term.  We hope you had a restful break.

School Condition Surveys

Starting November 2022, the Council will be undertaking a detailed Building Condition Survey of all Community and Foundation Schools.  

This survey will made up of the following 4 elements: 

• A detailed Building Condition Survey (building fabric, mechanical and electrical and external areas) 
• Review of the statutory building compliance and required maintenance checks that are being carried at the schools (including: Legionella risk assessments, electrical inspections, Gas Safety inspections, Lift inspections, Asbestos register and any other relevant statutory building compliance checks required at schools) 
• An assessment of the energy efficiency and performance of the school buildings with options for improvements works. 
• A measured survey of all buildings on the school site 

These surveys will be carried out by our appointed external consultants Concertus Design & Property Consultants Ltd. They will contact during the next few months to arrange a suitable dates to carry out the surveys and answer any questions you have on the survey process. 

Once the surveys have been completed a copy of the survey reports will be issued to schools to review and one of the Project Managers within the Capital Programme Works Service will be available to meet with you to go through the results. 

Please note this is separate from the Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) programme being managed by the Department for Education. 

Guidance for OAA Schools Consultation 2024-25

This is a reminder that all schools considering consultation of their admissions arrangements for 2024-25 need to do so for at least 6 weeks between 1st October 2022 and 31st January 2023. This applies to 'own admission authority' schools which are academies, voluntary aided schools, free schools, foundation schools, UTCs and studio schools. 

For community schools, the local authority is responsible for consultation. 

All 'own admission authorities' are required to consult at least every 7 years even if they do not plan any changes to their admissions policies. 

Attached below is an updated guide for consultation arrangements. Please ensure that if you are consulting on your arrangements that you send details of your consultation to the local authority (you can do this by contacting us on admissions@hillingdon.gov.uk). 

All admission authorities (including the local authority) MUST determine their admission arrangements annually by 28th February. This will include publishing your arrangements on your website and sending a copy to the local authority. This must be done even if you choose not to consult.

If you have any queries regarding the consultation process, please contact the School Placements and Admissions Team for further information.

Guidance for OAA schools Consultation 2024-25 (PDF) [317KB]

Head Teachers Termly - Friday 11^th November 2022 

Please see Agenda:   Head Teachers Termly Agenda - Autumn 2022 (PDF) [120KB]

Please see links below to the Safeguarding Partnership and Stronger Families HUB in advance of the meeting for information and context:

(Hillingdon Safeguarding Children Partnership Arrangements) 

Stronger Families - Hillingdon Council

SEND & Inclusion Newsletter

You can find the latest edition here.  Please share with colleagues.

First Aid Courses - Price Increase

For the first time in many years there will be a slight increase in prices for first aid courses delivered by the Council. This is for both individual course places and for courses which can be booked to run at your premises.

The slight increases take affect for any courses booked from 1^st January 2023 onwards.

Take advantage of the cheaper prices whilst you can and book your first aid courses now. If you book now for a course in 2023 you will pay the current prices. For details on how to make bookings and the price rises please click here.

5 Ways to Protect Your Under 5s This Winter - please share with parents/carers

A new post, "5 ways to protect your under 5s this winter" has just been published on the UK Health Security Agency blog.

As this is the first winter without pandemic restrictions in two years, children may be more susceptible to the usual winter bugs and viruses this year. This blogs lists useful advice for managing winter illness in children.

Read the new post here.

The Skills Hub, Listening Period

Please see update received from Lynn Barratt, Executive Director of Development, Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust:

Between 8 May 2019 to 25 June 2019, Orchard Hill College Academy Trust conducted a Public Consultation process, under Section 10 of the Academies Act 2010, to establish a new special school in Hillingdon.  The proposal was to close the current school The Skills Hub (at Providence Road UB7 8HJ) in order to build a new free school to provide better facilities and to accommodate students from the age of 5 to 19. 

Following a majority of survey respondents (67%) stating that they were in favour of the proposed new school, permission was granted by the Department for Education to proceed and is subject to entering into a funding agreement with the Secretary of State for Education.  The new school, which will retain the name of The Skills Hub (TSH), is currently being built on the same site as The PRIDE Academy, another school in the Trust. The new school is scheduled to open in January 2023.

We are undertaking a 'Listening Period' with our key stakeholders, as part of the closure process of the current TSH, to offer information as to why the school is closing and for stakeholders and interested parties to submit their views on how the school closure process can be best managed. Please see below a link to the school's website with further details behind the proposal for closure.

https://theskillshub.org/free-school/listening-period/

The listening period runs until Friday 11^th November 2022. You may submit any comments to us via the following email address: Reception@yphub.org or by writing to Office Manager, The Skills Hub, Providence Road, Yiewsley UB7 8HJ.

At the end of the listening period we will produce a summary of responses received, and we will address and respond to any concerns raised. This summary will be published on the school's website.

Ollie the Octopus with Dr Karen Treisman

We are delighted that Dr Karen Treisman will be joining us for a 2-day webinar in November.

The webinar will be focused on Dr Treisman's book Ollie the Octopus, which centres on children who have experienced loss and bereavement.

It is essential that both days are attended as they are designed to work in tandem.

On: 10^th & 11^th November
Time: 9.30 am - 4.00 pm
VIA: Zoom

Dr Karen Treisman, is a Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist who has worked in the National Health System and children's services for several years, including working with Looked After Children in Kensington and Chelsea. Karen has extensive experience in the areas of trauma, parenting, adversity (ACE's) and attachment, and works clinically using a range of therapeutic approaches with families, systems, and children in or on the edge of care, unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people, and adopted children.

If you wish to attend, please complete this FORM  no later than Tuesday 8^th November.  Please be aware that by completing the form you are acknowledging you are able to attend both sessions.

Please contact Bo'dwyer@hillingdon.gov.uk if you have any queries.

Brilliant Parents - please share with parents/carers

Please see Brilliant Parents October 2022 Newsletter

Brilliant Parents are hosting a 'Lunch and Learn' Webinar for parents on Understanding ADHD and ASD. Judah Racham will deliver his expertise online, and towards the end there will be an opportunity to ask questions.

On: Tuesday 8^th November

Time: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm via Webinar

Please use this link to book: Understanding ADHD and ASD Eventbrite registration

Previously shared course offers  

L&D Training for Schools:     

An Introduction to Trauma and Attachment Course - 10^th November 2022   

Time: 4 pm - 6 pm      

Venue: Via Webinar      

Cost: Free to Schools purchasing the L&D SLA, £65 to Schools not purchasing the L&D SLA       

A young person's attachment difficulties can impact their behaviour.  It is important for all practitioners who work with children and young people to have a sound knowledge of this, especially as children and staff are currently living through a natural disaster.  These circumstances will undoubtedly add to current complex trauma or create difficulties for children who had not previously presented with trauma or attachment difficulties.   

Humanities Coordinator Meeting - History - 15^th November 2022   

Time: 9:30 am -11:30 am      

Venue: Via Webinar      

Cost: The course is free to schools purchasing the L&D SLA.  For schools not purchasing the L&D SLA and all others there is a fee of £80 per person for this half day course.       

These are face to face events with trainer Kate Moorse.   Please click here for more details.   

Humanities Coordinator Meeting - Geography - 24^th November 2022   

Time: 1 pm - 3 pm      

Venue: Via Webinar      

Cost: The course is free to schools purchasing the L&D SLA.  For schools not purchasing the L&D SLA and all others there is a fee of £80 per person for this half day course.       

These are face to face events with trainer Kate Moorse. Please click here for more details.   

Please book your places for any of these courses via Learning Zone or email learninganddevelopment@hillingdon.gov.uk with any query.