20th November 2023
Dear Colleagues,
Please find our weekly briefing below and share with colleagues who can respond on behalf of your school or setting. Thank you.
Reminders: |
|
|---|---|
Maintained schools to submit their census returns. Please contact schoolcensus@hillingdon.gov.uk if you have any queries | By 24/11/23 |
Schools should review the DRAFT Hillingdon's Penalty Notice Code of Practice 23-24. Please email attendancesupport@hillingdon.gov.uk if you have any comment | By 27/11/23 |
All settings must submit their completed safeguarding development plan to education@hillingdon.gov.uk. The new self-evaluation process and the self-evaluation audit tool can be found here | By 01/12/23 |
Schools should register to participate in the Health Related Behaviour Survey here. Please see this link for more information | By 15/12/23 |
Hillingdon LEAP can be accessed for information and guidance for all schools | Ongoing |
The SEND & Inclusion Training Brochure can be viewed here | Ongoing |
The HLP Brochure can be viewed at Hillingdon Learning Partnership | Ongoing |
Hillingdon School Term Dates Amendment
Some terms dates were recently brought to our attention as being different to neighbouring boroughs and the challenges this brings to our residents. The decision was therefore taken to align these. We apologise for any inconvenience caused but please be reassured that we have aligned them now until 2027 with other boroughs so there shouldn't be any further amendments. Maintained schools must follow this framework and academies are encouraged to follow these for boroughwide consistency. Please access the updated term dates via LEAP here.
Safeguarding Training for Governors
Thank you to those governors who attended the session led by Michael Hawkins, Head of Education & Lifelong Learning. A recording of the session and the slides used can be found on LEAP here.
Public Consultation on Smoking and Vaping - please share with your staff
Following a notification from Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), Hillingdon Public Health would be most grateful if you could spare a little time to complete the public consultation on smoking and vaping measures here.
The government has launched a consultation seeking views on plans to reduce the appeal of youth vaping, affordability and availability of vapes to children. Proposals being consulted on include:
- Making it an offence for anyone born on or after 1st January 2009 to be sold tobacco products
- Restricting the flavours and descriptions of vapes so that vape flavours are no longer targeted at children - we want to ensure this is done in a way that continues to support adult smokers to switch
- Regulating point of sale displays in retail outlets so that vapes are kept out of sight from children and away from products that appeal to them, such as sweets
- Regulating vape packaging and product presentation, ensuring that neither the device nor its packaging is targeted to children
- Considering restricting the sale of disposable vapes, which are clearly linked to the rise in vaping in children. These products are not only attractive to children but also incredibly harmful to the environment
- Exploring further restrictions for non-nicotine vapes and other nicotine consumer products such as nicotine pouches
- Exploring whether increasing the price of vapes will reduce the number of young people using them
- Introducing new powers for local authorities to issue on-the-spot fines (fixed penalty notices) to enforce age of sale legislation of tobacco products and vapes
Views on these proposals are now being sought from everyone in the UK, including teenagers, parents, teachers, the retail sector, clinicians and medical professionals, public health stakeholders, academic experts, employers and trade unions. There is a time scale of 8 weeks to submit views on government plans and to share experiences and the consultation closes on 6th December 2023. Please note responses can be submitted via the 'Respond Online' tab found in the link above.
Cutting The Cost of School Uniform Webinar
The DfE is hosting a one hour live event to help school leaders implement the statutory cost of school uniform guidance on 29th November at 4 pm. During the webinar you will hear directly from school leaders about how the principles of the guidance have been applied in their schools to reduce the cost of their uniform while still maintaining their core values and ethos. There will be time to ask follow-up questions to gain a greater insight into the schools' decision-making process.
Christmas Market in Aid of Ukrainian Children
Please share this flyer with all your staff and parents:
3.12.2023 Christmas Market (PDF) [104KB]
Climate Schools Programme
Help your students explore solutions to tackling climate change and discover skills they didn't know they had in a brand-new pilot programme for schools. Sign up to take part in this new pilot programme to receive free lesson plans, resources and activities aimed at 11- to 14-year-olds. The Climate Schools Programme offers science, geography and English lessons that not only align with each nation's curriculum but also inspire the next generation to explore green engineering careers and tackle climate change head on.
Further information and sign up can be found here: Climate schools programme
Regards,
Abi Preston
Director of Education & SEND
Children's Services, London Borough of Hillingdon, 4E/07, Civic Centre, Uxbridge UB8 1UW
