1st July 2024

Dear Colleagues,

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

Reminders:
All primaries should complete the School Food Matters Survey for Headteachers	By 19^th July
Hillingdon LEAP can be accessed for information and guidance for all settings	Ongoing
Notification of Critical Incident & contacts can be found here	Ongoing
Education Services contacts can be found here	Ongoing
The SEND & Inclusion Training Brochure can be viewed here	Ongoing
The HLP Brochure can be viewed at Hillingdon Learning Partnership	Ongoing

For Action All Schools:
London Measles - Escalation to Level 3 Measles cases are rising across London, with NW London consistently having the highest number of cases. The UK Health Security Agency has now escalated the whole of London to what they refer to as level 3 transmission for measles which means that their response is targeting only vulnerable contacts and only high-risk settings will be followed up. Encouraging parents to use summer holidays when children are in open space, have less direct contact which reduces measles transmission resulting in fewer reported cases is a good opportunity for families; unvaccinated parents and children to get their MMR vaccination. The number of cases and outbreaks of measles has caused significant disruption, in schools, and in community settings, and resulted in avoidable illness. We welcome headteachers sharing information with staff, parents, carers, and students before the end of term to look at their vaccination status, and if they are missioning their 1^st of 2^nd MMR vaccination to be proactive over the summer, contact their GP and get booked in to be vaccinated. MMR vaccination is safe, effective, and free; if you have had an MMR vaccination in the UK there is almost no risk of getting measles. There are no negative effects from vaccinating people who are already immune. It will help us if you would raise awareness of measles and the importance of protection with MMR vaccination with your school community. This is a short VIDEO that we would welcome you sharing with staff, student and parents that explains how vaccination can reduce transmission in school settings. An education pack has already been circulated to schools with information (Education pack for schools for measles \| ADPH London). If you have any concerns or questions, please contact us at publichealth@hillingdon.gov.uk. Thank you for your help with tackling measles in London. Kelly O'Neill, Director of Public Health, Hounslow and Hillingdon
Information Sharing Advice for Safeguarding Practitioners The DfE have now published their updated Information sharing advice for safeguarding practitioners for people who provide safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers. It now includes more clarity on the use of consent and the legal frameworks needed to support the sharing of information. I know we are all aware of the contents but good to have something written. The guidance actually has some really good explanations in it to support schools in making decisions and in when to/why to get consent but when to also share and record the rationale for lack of consent. Nicole Diamond,Lead Child Protection Advisor for Schools & Deputy LADO
AXIS Please see latest newsletter from the AXIS Service here: Axis-Monthly-Bulletin-June-2024
Introduction to Ending Gender-Based Violence Toolkit Training for Governors Tender are running training for School Governors as part of the London Mayor's £1 million pledge to support educators to address gender-based violence. This free session is being held on Thursday 11^th July at 5.30 - 6.30 pm. Please register here to attend: School Governors Tickets The Secondary Teacher Toolkit is available here: https://www.london.gov.uk/VAWGToolkit The Primary Teacher Toolkit is available here: https://tender.org.uk/our-services/training/toolkit-training/ If you have any questions, please contact Rose at toolkit@tender.org.uk

For Action All Schools:

London Measles - Escalation to Level 3

Measles cases are rising across London, with NW London consistently having the highest number of cases. The UK Health Security Agency has now escalated the whole of London to what they refer to as level 3 transmission for measles which means that their response is targeting only vulnerable contacts and only high-risk settings will be followed up.

Encouraging parents to use summer holidays when children are in open space, have less direct contact which reduces measles transmission resulting in fewer reported cases is a good opportunity for families; unvaccinated parents and children to get their MMR vaccination. The number of cases and outbreaks of measles has caused significant disruption, in schools, and in community settings, and resulted in avoidable illness. We welcome headteachers sharing information with staff, parents, carers, and students before the end of term to look at their vaccination status, and if they are missioning their 1^st of 2^nd MMR vaccination to be proactive over the summer, contact their GP and get booked in to be vaccinated. MMR vaccination is safe, effective, and free; if you have had an MMR vaccination in the UK there is almost no risk of getting measles. There are no negative effects from vaccinating people who are already immune.

It will help us if you would raise awareness of measles and the importance of protection with MMR vaccination with your school community. This is a short VIDEO that we would welcome you sharing with staff, student and parents that explains how vaccination can reduce transmission in school settings.

An education pack has already been circulated to schools with information (Education pack for schools for measles | ADPH London). If you have any concerns or questions, please contact us at publichealth@hillingdon.gov.uk.

Thank you for your help with tackling measles in London.

Kelly O'Neill, Director of Public Health, Hounslow and Hillingdon

Information Sharing Advice for Safeguarding Practitioners

The DfE have now published their updated Information sharing advice for safeguarding practitioners for people who provide safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers. It now includes more clarity on the use of consent and the legal frameworks needed to support the sharing of information.

I know we are all aware of the contents but good to have something written. The guidance actually has some really good explanations in it to support schools in making decisions and in when to/why to get consent but when to also share and record the rationale for lack of consent.

Nicole Diamond,Lead Child Protection Advisor for Schools & Deputy LADO

AXIS

Please see latest newsletter from the AXIS Service here: Axis-Monthly-Bulletin-June-2024

Introduction to Ending Gender-Based Violence Toolkit Training for Governors

Tender are running training for School Governors as part of the London Mayor's £1 million pledge to support educators to address gender-based violence. This free session is being held on Thursday 11^th July at 5.30 - 6.30 pm.

Please register here to attend: School Governors Tickets

The Secondary Teacher Toolkit is available here: https://www.london.gov.uk/VAWGToolkit

The Primary Teacher Toolkit is available here: https://tender.org.uk/our-services/training/toolkit-training/

If you have any questions, please contact Rose at toolkit@tender.org.uk

For Action Primary Schools:
Blast! Online Blast! Online is an online showcase, run by Hillingdon Music Service. It is an opportunity to share video performances of primary school classes playing whole class instruments. We would love to hear as many performances from your schools as possible. This will provide an exciting end of year performance event for your classes and is also extremely helpful for the Music Service to see the product of your instrumental lessons. You will receive a certificate of participation to display in your school. Please see poster with more information: Music Hub Blast Online Competition July 2024 (PDF) [837KB] The link to the submission form can be found HERE
*Please share with parents / carers* Learn Hillingdon Summer Workshops LH Summer Holidays 24 Workshops Programme (Word doc) [23KB]
Inclusive Books for Children Free Book Box Offer! The Charity Inclusive Books for Children (IBC) are introducing the IBC Book Box, their brand-new, UK-wide book gifting initiative aimed at increasing access to free inclusive books for the children who need them most. Every month from September 2024, they will be giving a box of 100 engaging and high-quality inclusive children's books to an eligible school. Only one application is allowed per school. Applications must also be made by a lead or senior member of staff. The application window is open now and closes on Wednesday 10th July 2024. Find out more about IBC: IBC Book Box (for primary schools and community libraries) \| IBC (inclusivebooksforchildren.org) To apply for a free book box: IBC Book Box (google.com)

For Action Primary Schools:

Blast! Online

Blast! Online is an online showcase, run by Hillingdon Music Service. It is an opportunity to share video performances of primary school classes playing whole class instruments. We would love to hear as many performances from your schools as possible.

This will provide an exciting end of year performance event for your classes and is also extremely helpful for the Music Service to see the product of your instrumental lessons. You will receive a certificate of participation to display in your school.

Please see poster with more information: Music Hub Blast Online Competition July 2024 (PDF) [837KB]

The link to the submission form can be found HERE

Please share with parents / carers

Learn Hillingdon Summer Workshops

LH Summer Holidays 24 Workshops Programme (Word doc) [23KB]

Inclusive Books for Children Free Book Box Offer!

The Charity Inclusive Books for Children (IBC) are introducing the IBC Book Box, their brand-new, UK-wide book gifting initiative aimed at increasing access to free inclusive books for the children who need them most. Every month from September 2024, they will be giving a box of 100 engaging and high-quality inclusive children's books to an eligible school. Only one application is allowed per school. Applications must also be made by a lead or senior member of staff. The application window is open now and closes on Wednesday 10th July 2024.

Find out more about IBC: IBC Book Box (for primary schools and community libraries) | IBC (inclusivebooksforchildren.org)

To apply for a free book box: IBC Book Box (google.com)

For Action Secondary Schools:
SEND Youth Forum Could secondaries please share this poster with students with SEND who are over 14 years old and display around your settings. SEND Youth Forum Flyer (PDF) [370KB]
IMPACT Study Needs Your Help Urgent support is needed with recruiting schools for our IMPACT study. The study team welcomes non-selective NW London secondary schools to participate in exploring inequalities in accessing mental health support. As you know the research cannot progress without sufficient survey data. Read more about our study here. We will reimburse each participating school £300 for their engagement, link schools in with Imperial's social mobility outreach programme, as well as other events in our academic centres. We are also happy to link in with careers teams to discuss careers in data science, social research and health care. Participating schools will need to distribute an opt out letter to parents, then host us for the first survey which takes approximately 25 minutes and circulate a link to a second follow-up 5-minute survey one week later. We can provide 30 tablets for onsite survey completion if IT facilities are not available. Please share any school contacts that we can reach out to by emailing details to impactschoolstudy@imperial.ac.uk or download and share the project poster provided on our webpage linked above. Many thanks! Dasha Nicholls - Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry *ARC Outreach Alliance* Young People's Open Minds in Northwest London

For Action Secondary Schools:

SEND Youth Forum

Could secondaries please share this poster with students with SEND who are over 14 years old and display around your settings.

SEND Youth Forum Flyer (PDF) [370KB]

IMPACT Study Needs Your Help

Urgent support is needed with recruiting schools for our IMPACT study. The study team welcomes non-selective NW London secondary schools to participate in exploring inequalities in accessing mental health support. As you know the research cannot progress without sufficient survey data. Read more about our study here.

We will reimburse each participating school £300 for their engagement, link schools in with Imperial's social mobility outreach programme, as well as other events in our academic centres. We are also happy to link in with careers teams to discuss careers in data science, social research and health care.

Participating schools will need to distribute an opt out letter to parents, then host us for the first survey which takes approximately 25 minutes and circulate a link to a second follow-up 5-minute survey one week later. We can provide 30 tablets for onsite survey completion if IT facilities are not available.

Please share any school contacts that we can reach out to by emailing details to impactschoolstudy@imperial.ac.uk or download and share the project poster provided on our webpage linked above.

Many thanks!

Dasha Nicholls - Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

ARC Outreach Alliance Young People's Open Minds in Northwest London

Regards,

Abi Preston

Director of Education & SEND

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