23rd September 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: |
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Primaries can sign up to fully funded staff Mindfulness sessions HERE | by 01/10/24 |
All Schools can register for 24/25 Educational Visits Coordinator Training HERE | by 25/10/24 |
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 |
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For Action All Schools: |
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Schools Statutory Data Collection from the Children's Commissioner I am writing to inform you that as Children's Commissioner for England, I have launched a survey to capture up-to-date information about children's experiences of school, to celebrate the achievements of schools in supporting their pupils, and drive improvements in the support available across England. I would be grateful if you would share this information and ensure that all schools and colleges in your Local Authority complete this survey by Friday 20th December 2024. Under Section 2F of the Children Act 2004, I have statutory powers to collect data relating to children from any public sector organisation in England, meaning it is compulsory for all schools to provide the information requested. The survey can be accessed here, and more information is available here. I have made it my mission since taking up the role three years ago to listen to children and give their voices and views a platform. Based on extensive engagements with children across the country, including two of the largest ever surveys of children - The Big Ask and The Big Ambition, I have set out a positive vision of what childhood should look like, where children feel their views are important and listened to by the adults who make decisions in their lives. With a new government, this is now the moment to find out the state of the nation of support in schools. The survey asks about support offered to pupils and their families, staff roles and responsibilities, and the characteristics and vulnerabilities of pupils. I will publish overall findings, not naming any individual schools, and will take them to the new Government, to inform future policy and help all those working with children to make schools supportive environments for everyone to learn and thrive. Yours sincerely, Dame Rachel de Souza, Children's Commissioner for England
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LADO / Managing Allegations Training This training is suitable for Headteachers, Chair of Governors and DSLs or anyone that may be involved in managing allegations against staff in their settings. On: 3rd October 2024 or 7th November 2024 Time: 9.30 am - 12.30 pm At: The Civic Centre, Uxbridge This training is free of charge to all education settings in Hillingdon. Please book via the Learning Zone and you will get a certificate to download afterward - Children LADO Training : Managing allegations against staff & volunteers/LADO training 2024/25 (learningpool.com). If you do not have a Learning Zone account yet please email learninganddevelopment@hillingdon.gov.uk.
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Safeguarding Training for Governors - 12th November 2024 6 - 7.30 pm Safeguarding training for governors is an annual requirement. The Education Improvement & Partnerships service are hosting an online training session which will provide an overview of different types of abuse children and young people may experience. It will then focus on the safeguarding requirements and best practice in schools and the role governors play in supporting this. The session will highlight current local and national issues as well as providing oversight of Hillingdon processes. Certificates for attendance will be issued after.
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Ukrainian/Afghan Participation Team We would like to remind you about an important update regarding the ongoing cooperation between your school and our participation officers. As part of this collaboration, we've adjusted the schedule for face-to-face meetings, shifting from a weekly to a termly basis. To ensure a smooth transition, we ask that you:
Your prompt response will help us continue offering the best support to your students. For any questions or further details on the support we can offer, please feel free to reach out to Iuliia Tsekhotska-Koc, Programme Manager at itsekhotska-koc@hillingdon.gov.uk.
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Administrators/SBM Network Meeting The next meeting will be held on Thursday 17th October 2024 at 1 - 3 pm in Committee Room 6 at the Civic Centre. Please email joannapalmer44@hotmail.com if you wish to attend.
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The National College CPD Package & The School Bus - Discounted Subscription for Early Years and Schools The National College are offering all Hillingdon schools discounted membership. Details and discount code can be found on LEAP here: The National College. A demonstration version is available for those interested via The National College. Your school will gain on-demand access to:
With Leadership & Governance, you'll benefit from:
Compliance Resources:
Your leadership team will be able to:
If a new school to The National College AND The School Bus signs up for a membership to The National College for the first year and commits to paying for the second year of Leadership & Governance (The School Bus), they will give you the first year of Leadership & Governance entirely free. Please contact jamie.boulton@nationalcollege.com to sign up.
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Learn Hillingdon Adult Community Education We are here to support you grow a talented workforce. We have lots of professional development qualification courses to support the development of your support staff including:- · Understanding Autism Level 2 Certificate · Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences Level 2 Certificate · Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties Level 2 Certificate · Understanding Safeguarding and Prevent Level 2 Certificate · Understanding Domestic Abuse Level 2 Certificate · Understanding Children and Young People's Mental Health Level 2 Certificate Most of these qualification courses are delivered online (via google meet) in the evening, please contact tdonnelly@hillingdon.gov.uk for more information or check out: Professional Learning and Development - Hillingdon Council There are still some places available on Level 2, 3 and 4 for Teaching Assistants and Early Years professionals. Remember to send a copy of any job adverts for support staff, so the team can share this directly with learners by contacting zwilson@hillingdon.gov.uk.
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Please share with parents / carers Learn Hillingdon Adult Community Education Are you interested in a career in Health Care or Mental Health? Did you know that there are approximately 22,000 vacancies in the care industry in London currently? There are a wide range of care jobs currently available from full time to part time to bank staff working full days, half days, evenings, nights and weekends including 'live in jobs'. This could be supporting adults with learning disabilities, the older generation and those with physical disabilities where they need a personal assistant. You could be a travel buddy or just offer an older person someone to talk to once a week, the list of roles is endless. We offer Health and Social Care courses, including Mental Health from Entry 3 to Level 2. All these courses are part time, and we can introduce you to employment agencies who are looking for skilled workers. More course information here Health and Social Care courses - Hillingdon Council If you would like to book a Skills Assessment you can book here Learn Hillingdon Skills Assessment Booking Form
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Subsidised Breakfast Club Provisions Schoolbreakfast.org.uk are delighted to announce that the National School Breakfast Programme has been extended for another year. This means, that schools eligible for the programme and are not on it already, could be receiving support to run an affordable school breakfast provision until July 2025. As part of the programme, they can deliver bagels, cereals and porridge to a school each week to enable them to provide breakfast in a variety of ways including: a traditional breakfast club, bagel bar, classroom breakfast or arrival breakfast. All participating schools receive a 75% subsidy for breakfast club provision until the end of the current programme in July 2025, meaning they pay just 25% of the cost of food and delivery. They can also advise on ideas and suggested funding streams to support the cost of their breakfast. Eligibility:
Click here to register expression-of-interest-form
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For Action Secondary Schools: |
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SEND Youth Forum - Aim High On Tuesday 17th September we held the very first SEND Youth Forum, now named 'Aim High' as selected by the young people who attended our launch event. They will decide what they would like to work on to improve services for young people with SEND as well as consult on projects with the LA. Already they have identified they want more sports opportunities; they want to work with us to support more awareness of SEND in schools; and to help young people have better lives by sharing experiences and being a voice for improvement. The group will meet once a month to do this important work but also to have fun and develop new skills. Please share the flyer linked below and encourage other young people between year 9 age and 26 to be involved and have their say. Our young people told us they want to change the world for people with SEND but will start off with Hillingdon first, one step at a time!
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Post 16 Prospectus The 2024/2025 Post 16 Prospectus is now live and bigger than ever. This year's version includes more visuals- as requested by young people during focus groups in the Autumn of 2023. There are a variety of ways in which this document was used last year - even in one case being used as a whole careers lesson! The question is - how will you use this resource?
We would like you to showcase how you are using this resource and welcome photos of it in action - which we can publish in the headteachers Weekly Update bulletin. We are on a mission to ensure that as many young people see this resource as possible so that they are aware of the amazing provision available within our school sixth forms, colleges, and local training providers. As you may or may not be aware the Baker clause states that schools must allow colleges and training providers access to every student in years 8 to 13 to discuss non-academic routes. It also states that schools need to impartially promote the full range of technical education qualifications and apprenticeships. Please ensure this link is shared with students and parents/carers: Hillingdon Post 16 Prospectus 2024/25 - Hillingdon Council And this link can be shared with all school staff and governors: Post 16 Prospectus - Leap (hillingdon.gov.uk) Please contact Mike Pearson at MPearson@hillingdon.gov.uk if you have any questions or queries.
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KISS and SORTED Education Offer for Secondary Schools The Substance Use and Misuse Programme known locally as 'SORTED' and the Sexual Health and Well Being Programme known as 'KISS' are part of the LA's Targeted Team within the Youth Offer. SORTED and KISS offer a range of interventions for children and young people aged 11-24 to raise awareness and minimalize the risks around substance use and sexual health and relationships. We also offer information and advice services to parents and training to professionals. The teams would like to offer this year a range of assemblies and workshops for all secondary schools in Hillingdon. We encourage you to take advantage of this offer to support your students to provide them with information to make positive informed choices. SORTED Topics:
KISS Topics:
Please contact the teams if you have any queries or need assistance at: SORTED- sorted@hillingdon.gov.uk KISS- shwb@hillingdon.gov.uk
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KISS Kiss also provides a confidential service for young people to discuss questions or concerns they have around relationships, online safety and sexual health, as well as providing free contraception. They run KISS drop-in at the Uxbridge Family Hub on Thursday afternoons. If you are a professional working with a young person, you can bring them along without the need for an appointment, or you can book to see us at a specific time within the drop-in session. To book, you can scan the QR code on the poster below to request an appointment. If the young person you are working with does not wish to attend but you would still like to speak to a KISS advisor, feel free to still come along or book. Booked sessions can either be online or in person at the Uxbridge Family Hub. (For professionals) KISS Drop-in Information Summer 2024 (PDF) [2MB] We would be grateful if you could share this poster with your colleagues who work with young people and if you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch!
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Regards,
Abi Preston
Director of Education & SEND
Children's Services, London Borough of Hillingdon, 4E/07, Civic Centre, Uxbridge UB8 1UW
