5th February 2024

Dear Colleagues,

Please find our weekly briefing below to share with your colleagues who can respond on behalf of your team, school or setting. Thank you.

Reminders:      

Primary schools should complete the Wraparound Childcare survey	ASAP
Governors can sign up to attend the online Support & Challenge Session on28^th February at 6 - 7 pm HERE	By 21^st February
Headteachers or Deputies should attend the Head Teachers' Termly meeting. Agenda and MS Teams link to join will be shared shortly	On 12^th March
All governors are invited to attend SEND Training on 21^st March at 6 -7 pm online. Please register to attend HERE	By 13^th March
You can sign up here to attend the Hillingdon Virtual School Conference on 3^rd July	By 14^th June
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

Updates/Information:
Exclusions Support The Exclusions Support team wants to build the relationship where we can support schools before exclusions and suspensions take place. Here is some information regarding the team and some of the support we can offer. Exclusions and Reintegration Team Neil Kenny (Lead Officer) Kathryn Franklin (Support Officer) Information As we are working towards reducing the number of suspensions and exclusions, we would like to bring awareness to the support available to schools. The LEAP portal has information to help support and guide you regarding suspensions and exclusions. You can access the exclusions LEAP page using the link Exclusions this includes letter templates, good practice examples and links to forms. In addition to the LEAP page, the inclusion toolkit is a helpful document with intervention ideas and services that can offer support Education Inclusion Toolkit . Also, we will be emailing regarding pupils who have had an increased number of suspensions to discuss with schools about the support put in place for them. This is to bring awareness to the schools and promote the support available from the LA. Forms The Exclusions guidance states that the LA should be notified without delay. Use the links below to complete the forms that inform the LA of the suspension or exclusion. Exclusions Notification Form Suspensions Notification Form Phone numbers (Monday-Friday 9 am - 5pm) Neil - 07902709166 Kathryn - 07415200464 Email exclusionsupport@hillingdon.gov.uk Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We are here to support.
DSL Events Calendar Dates for upcoming Cluster Groups and other sessions for DSLs can be found on LEAP here: Safeguarding / DSL Events Calendar. More dates will be added as they are planned, please bookmark this page for easy reference.
Post 16 Update This flyer has been provided to help schools/colleges understand the importance of the Quality in Careers Standard. Currently I am aware of one school in Hillingdon that has the Standard, as well as two that are currently in the process of completing it. Quality-in-Careers-Standard-portrait-FINAL (PDF) [787KB] 'The DfE strongly recommends in its statutory guidance that all schools and colleges should achieve the Quality in Careers Standard because of the proven correlation between making better progress on Gatsby Benchmarks and possession of Quality in Careers Standard'. Mike Pearson, Post 16 Partnerships Co-ordinator
Grants & Fund Information The Grants & Funding Opportunities for Schools page on LEAP has been recently updated.

Updates/Information:

Exclusions Support

The Exclusions Support team wants to build the relationship where we can support schools before exclusions and suspensions take place. Here is some information regarding the team and some of the support we can offer.

Exclusions and Reintegration Team

Neil Kenny (Lead Officer)

Kathryn Franklin (Support Officer)

Information

As we are working towards reducing the number of suspensions and exclusions, we would like to bring awareness to the support available to schools. The LEAP portal has information to help support and guide you regarding suspensions and exclusions. You can access the exclusions LEAP page using the link Exclusions this includes letter templates, good practice examples and links to forms. In addition to the LEAP page, the inclusion toolkit is a helpful document with intervention ideas and services that can offer support Education Inclusion Toolkit .

Also, we will be emailing regarding pupils who have had an increased number of suspensions to discuss with schools about the support put in place for them. This is to bring awareness to the schools and promote the support available from the LA.

Forms

The Exclusions guidance states that the LA should be notified without delay. Use the links below to complete the forms that inform the LA of the suspension or exclusion.

Exclusions Notification Form

Suspensions Notification Form

Phone numbers

(Monday-Friday 9 am - 5pm)

Neil - 07902709166

Kathryn - 07415200464

Email

exclusionsupport@hillingdon.gov.uk

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We are here to support.

DSL Events Calendar

Dates for upcoming Cluster Groups and other sessions for DSLs can be found on LEAP here: Safeguarding / DSL Events Calendar.

More dates will be added as they are planned, please bookmark this page for easy reference.

Post 16 Update

This flyer has been provided to help schools/colleges understand the importance of the Quality in Careers Standard. Currently I am aware of one school in Hillingdon that has the Standard, as well as two that are currently in the process of completing it.

Quality-in-Careers-Standard-portrait-FINAL (PDF) [787KB]

'The DfE strongly recommends in its statutory guidance that all schools and colleges should achieve the Quality in Careers Standard because of the proven correlation between making better progress on Gatsby Benchmarks and possession of Quality in Careers Standard'.

Mike Pearson, Post 16 Partnerships Co-ordinator

Grants & Fund Information

The Grants & Funding Opportunities for Schools page on LEAP has been recently updated.

For Action:
Governors Networking Event All Hillingdon school governors are invited to this event on Tuesday 18th June 2024 at 6 - 7.30pm at the Civic Centre in Uxbridge. Please click here to register to attend You must register to due security arrangements at the Civic Centre.
Census - Errors and Queries Identified in COLLECT There is just under 2 weeks left for schools to complete the Spring School Census. Of the 9 Maintained schools who are registered by COLLECT as Outstanding, 4 really do not have any data, 4 are Loaded and Validated (please correct your errors/queries in COLLECT or add return level notes and then click SUBMIT in COLLECT), and 1 is Amended by Source (please make sure all errors/queries are addressed and then click SUBMIT in COLLECT). With Non-Maintained schools (e.g., academies and independent schools) we only have visibility if your return is DfE Authorised. The schools that are not Authorised should complete their returns by 14^th February 2024. Please view the Guidance PDF file attached below, it focusses on the errors that have been occurring in the Maintained schools. Also attached are some other documents that can assist you. Thank you to all the schools that uploaded their data and corrected any errors and explained queries. You can contact schoolcensus@hillingdon.gov.uk with any questions. Marc Sherman, Data Team 2023-24_school_census_annexes_v1.0 (Excel doc) [127KB] Adding Notes for Queries in COLLECT (PDF) [362KB] General Guidance (PDF) [265KB] Key Dates (Excel doc) [18KB] Moving a child from On-Roll to Off-Roll in COLLECT (PDF) [1003KB] School_Census_Notepad_entries_2023_24_v.1.0 (Excel doc) [52KB] Viewing your errors and queries in COLLECT (PDF) [547KB] Viewing your School Census report on COLLECT (PDF) [163KB]
Universal Free School Meals In January 2024 the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan announced that he would be extending the funding for Universal Free School Meals for another academic year. This means that all primary aged children in state funded schools will continue to be able to have a free school meal until July 2025, subject to the Mayor's formal budget setting process. Please can you complete this short Survey for the Local Authority to understand the current provision within the borough and possible challenges in the delivery of the scheme.
Hillingdon Music Service Emerging Talent 2024 Following on from last year's Emerging Talent Panel event, this year's is open to secondary school performers of any instrument/voice. Young musicians will be invited to submit a snippet of a solo recording, and the best will be invited to take-part in a special event led by professional performers. The Emerging Talent Workshop will take place on Saturday 13th April at The Global Academy, Hayes. Please share this poster with your music staff and students Emerging Talent March 2024 (PDF) [824KB]
Are You a Carer? Leaflet Can ALL settings share this leaflet with your parents / carers. Are You a Carer Leaflet 2023 (PDF) [952KB]
Winter Playday 13^th February 2024 Primaries, please share this information with your parents / carers: Winter Playday is a free fun event for families in Hillingdon. Taking place in the Pavilions Shopping Centre on 13^th February from 10 am to 4 pm. The event will include information stalls from a range of organisations as well as free activities including dance tasters, story time, arts and crafts, sport activities and more. Please see: Winter Playday - Discover Hillingdon
'Fizz Free February' Primaries, please share this information with your parents / carers: In the month of February, Hillingdon Community Dental Serviceare taking part in 'Fizz Free February' which aims to encourage everyone to think about reducing the number of fizzy drinks they are drinking and giving them up. Some facts: Drinking fizzy drinks can lead to tooth decay and other health conditions. Hillingdon has 28.2% of 5-Year-old children with decayed, missing or filled teeth which is above the England average. More 5-9-year-old children are hospitalised due to tooth decay than for any other reason. Some fizzy drinks can contain as much as 20 teaspoons of sugar!!! They are holding an event at Botwell Green Library for parents/carers and children on Wednesday 7^th February (information in flyer below) with a display and a presentation. Also attached is a poster with help finding an NHS Dentist and our oral health website which contains lots of useful information about keeping teeth healthy. Fizz Free Feb '24 event information flyer (PDF) [376KB] Finding an NHS Dentist & OHP Website (PDF) [509KB]

For Action:

Governors Networking Event

All Hillingdon school governors are invited to this event on Tuesday 18th June 2024 at 6 - 7.30pm at the Civic Centre in Uxbridge.

Please click here to register to attend

You must register to due security arrangements at the Civic Centre.

Census - Errors and Queries Identified in COLLECT

There is just under 2 weeks left for schools to complete the Spring School Census.

Of the 9 Maintained schools who are registered by COLLECT as Outstanding, 4 really do not have any data, 4 are Loaded and Validated (please correct your errors/queries in COLLECT or add return level notes and then click SUBMIT in COLLECT), and 1 is Amended by Source (please make sure all errors/queries are addressed and then click SUBMIT in COLLECT).

With Non-Maintained schools (e.g., academies and independent schools) we only have visibility if your return is DfE Authorised. The schools that are not Authorised should complete their returns by 14^th February 2024.

Please view the Guidance PDF file attached below, it focusses on the errors that have been occurring in the Maintained schools. Also attached are some other documents that can assist you.

Thank you to all the schools that uploaded their data and corrected any errors and explained queries.

You can contact schoolcensus@hillingdon.gov.uk with any questions.

Marc Sherman, Data Team

2023-24_school_census_annexes_v1.0 (Excel doc) [127KB]

Adding Notes for Queries in COLLECT (PDF) [362KB]

General Guidance (PDF) [265KB]

Key Dates (Excel doc) [18KB]

Moving a child from On-Roll to Off-Roll in COLLECT (PDF) [1003KB]

School_Census_Notepad_entries_2023_24_v.1.0 (Excel doc) [52KB]

Viewing your errors and queries in COLLECT (PDF) [547KB]

Viewing your School Census report on COLLECT (PDF) [163KB]

Universal Free School Meals

In January 2024 the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan announced that he would be extending the funding for Universal Free School Meals for another academic year. This means that all primary aged children in state funded schools will continue to be able to have a free school meal until July 2025, subject to the Mayor's formal budget setting process.

Please can you complete this short Survey for the Local Authority to understand the current provision within the borough and possible challenges in the delivery of the scheme.

Hillingdon Music Service Emerging Talent 2024

Following on from last year's Emerging Talent Panel event, this year's is open to secondary school performers of any instrument/voice. Young musicians will be invited to submit a snippet of a solo recording, and the best will be invited to take-part in a special event led by professional performers.

The Emerging Talent Workshop will take place on Saturday 13th April at The Global Academy, Hayes.

Please share this poster with your music staff and students Emerging Talent March 2024 (PDF) [824KB]

Are You a Carer? Leaflet

Can ALL settings share this leaflet with your parents / carers.

Are You a Carer Leaflet 2023 (PDF) [952KB]

Winter Playday 13^th February 2024

Primaries, please share this information with your parents / carers:

Winter Playday is a free fun event for families in Hillingdon. Taking place in the Pavilions Shopping Centre on 13^th February from 10 am to 4 pm. The event will include information stalls from a range of organisations as well as free activities including dance tasters, story time, arts and crafts, sport activities and more.

Please see: Winter Playday - Discover Hillingdon

'Fizz Free February'

Primaries, please share this information with your parents / carers:

In the month of February, Hillingdon Community Dental Serviceare taking part in 'Fizz Free February' which aims to encourage everyone to think about reducing the number of fizzy drinks they are drinking and giving them up.

Some facts:

Drinking fizzy drinks can lead to tooth decay and other health conditions.
Hillingdon has 28.2% of 5-Year-old children with decayed, missing or filled teeth which is above the England average.
More 5-9-year-old children are hospitalised due to tooth decay than for any other reason.
Some fizzy drinks can contain as much as 20 teaspoons of sugar!!!

They are holding an event at Botwell Green Library for parents/carers and children on Wednesday 7^th February (information in flyer below) with a display and a presentation.

Also attached is a poster with help finding an NHS Dentist and our oral health website which contains lots of useful information about keeping teeth healthy.

Fizz Free Feb '24 event information flyer (PDF) [376KB]

Finding an NHS Dentist & OHP Website (PDF) [509KB]

Regards,

Abi Preston

Director of Education & SEND

Children's Services, London Borough of Hillingdon, 4E/07, Civic Centre, Uxbridge UB8 1UW

5th February 2024

Reminders:

Updates/Information:

Exclusions Support

DSL Events Calendar

Post 16 Update

Grants & Fund Information

For Action:

Governors Networking Event

Census - Errors and Queries Identified in COLLECT

Universal Free School Meals

Hillingdon Music Service Emerging Talent 2024

Are You a Carer? Leaflet

Winter Playday 13th February 2024

'Fizz Free February'

Reminders:      

Winter Playday 13^th February 2024