9th December 2024

Dear Colleagues,

Can we ask you to please forward this email to the leads in your settings or team members who might be interested in the content, so they can follow up the relevant offers. Thank you in advance!

Reminders:
Development Day for DSLs - further details to be shared soon	on 04/04/25
Schools' Forum meeting papers can be accessed here	Ongoing
Emergency closures of all schools must be reported to education@hillingdon.gov.uk	Ongoing
Notification of Critical Incident can be found here	Ongoing
Education Services contacts can be found here	Ongoing
Hillingdon LEAP can be accessed for information and guidance for all settings	Ongoing
HLP Course Booking	Ongoing

For Action All Schools:
Schools Forum Meeting - 18^th November 2024 Papers from this meeting can be accessed here: Hillingdon Schools Forum - Hillingdon Council
'Achievement for All' Session for Governors Governors are invited to attend this online session on 21^st January 2025 at 6 pm - 7.30 pm. Led by Michael Hawkins, Head of Education & Lifelong Learning, this session will look at the Council's new Education Strategy and the area wide priorities for the next few years, with a particular focus on disadvantage. We will discuss the Hillingdon picture and ways governors can challenge and support the key actions schools are involved in. We will also look at inclusion, attendance and exclusions. Governors can register HERE to attend.
Part-time Timetables All pupils of compulsory school age are entitled to a full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude and any special educational needs they may have. In some circumstances their education may be provided partially at school and partially at another educational setting or through education otherwise than at a school. In very exceptional circumstances, where it is in a pupil's best interests, there may be a need for a school to provide a pupil of compulsory school age with less than full-time education through a temporary part-time timetable to meet their individual needs. For example, where a medical condition prevents a pupil from attending school or another setting full-time and a part-time timetable is used to help the pupil access as much education as possible. A part-time timetable should not be used to manage a pupil's behaviour. A part-time timetable should: Have the agreement of both the school and the parent the pupil normally lives with Have a clear ambition and be part of the pupil's wider support, health care or reintegration plan Have regular review dates which include the pupil and their parents to ensure it is only in place for the shortest time necessary Have a proposed end date that takes into account the circumstances of the pupil, after which the pupil is expected to attend full-time, either at school or alternative provision. It can, however, be extended as part of the regular review process with the parent's agreement. In some limited cases, a pupil with a long-term health condition may require a part-time timetable for a prolonged period. Where the pupil has a social worker, the school is expected to keep them informed and involved in the process. If the pupil has an education health and care plan, the school should discuss the part-time timetable with the EHC Co-ordinator so that any support package that is in place can be reviewed as swiftly as possible. In agreeing to a part-time timetable, a school has agreed to a pupil being absent from school for part of the week or day and therefore must record the absence accordingly normally using code X, only for non-compulsory school age pupils or C2 for compulsory school age pupils. In addition to this, the Local Authority is to be notified through completing a Part time timetable form via LEAP here and sending the completed signed Part time timetable proforma available here to the school's allocated Attendance Support Officer and every time it is reviewed.
Reminder of Public Health Advice for the Winter Months As expected in the winter months, seasonal illnesses are circulating and to support parents, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published advice on how to reduce their spread. Schools should continue maintaining high attendance expectations and refer parents to NHS guidance to know when a child is too ill for school. Pupils should not miss school on a precautionary basis and can normally attend school with a cough or cold, unless they have a fever or diarrhoea and vomiting.
UKHSA London Measles Incident Reduced from Standard Incident to Routine As per the UKHSA advice, measles case numbers have reduced in London. However, there is still a risk of sporadic measles cases and outbreak arising in community and educational settings. Therefore, schools and early years settings should stay aware that some people are considered very vulnerable to severe measles infection. This includes immunosuppressed people, unvaccinated pregnant women and children under the age of one. What this means for Schools and Early Years Settings: Advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for early years and educational settings is to: Continue to support uptake of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, which provides the best protection against illness and its serious complications. Continue to follow the advice contained in the ADPH Education Resource Pack for schools for measles that was previously sent to all schools in the summer. The measles resource pack has guidance on how to contact the North London Health Protection Team if you have vulnerable contacts that have been exposed to a single or multiple cases in their settings. The Health Protection Team will continue to identify and protect those at most severe risk of measles infection, and also aim to interrupt community transmission of measles through contact tracing of confirmed and probable cases.
Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) Programme Second Milestone Payment: The second milestone payment is 25% will be shared with schools for the January 2025 Cash Advance. Claims above 90% take up: As with the first year of the scheme, allocations for the Mayor's Universal Free School Meals in the second year were based on an uptake rate of 90% and provision is again being made for any schools that exceed 90%. The process will be similar to that used last year. In order to apply for this additional funding, you will need to complete this form here (please also see copy here: School Form for 10% Top Up (Excel doc, 28 KB)) on two separate data collection dates in January or March. You may choose which date, but the first should be during the week commencing 13^th January 2025 and the second during the week commencing 3^rd March 2025. Schools with a high proportion of children practising Ramadan may wish to choose the week before to collect data for the second data collection date, i.e. the week commencing 24^th February 2025. The form should be submitted by email to Nav Minhas nminhas@hillingdon.gov.uk by Friday 14^th March 2025. Please ensure that the data form is checked by your head teacher prior to submission. Submitting the form to the GLA through the local authority will be taken by the GLA as confirmation that the return has been authorised by the head teacher. As part of the GLA's checking procedure, schools may be asked to provide further information before any funding is issued, particularly if data is missing or incomplete in forms. Please note that the additional funding will directly reflect the percentage uptake above 90 per cent. For example, for a claim showing 96 per cent meal uptake, the school will receive 6 per cent more funding than their original allocation. This additional funding will initially be issued to the borough, and then to the school in July 2025. If schools have experienced an increase in pupil intake during this academic year, they should contact their borough to notify the GLA via a separate process. Please note that claiming this additional funding is optional and only schools where the pupil meal uptake rate is over 90 per cent are eligible. Further information can be found in the guidance at Claiming additional funding for meals uptake above 90 per cent \| London City Hall. Please contact Nav at nminhas@hillingdon.gov.uk with any enquiries.

For Action All Schools:

Schools Forum Meeting - 18^th November 2024

Papers from this meeting can be accessed here: Hillingdon Schools Forum - Hillingdon Council

'Achievement for All' Session for Governors

Governors are invited to attend this online session on 21^st January 2025 at 6 pm - 7.30 pm. Led by Michael Hawkins, Head of Education & Lifelong Learning, this session will look at the Council's new Education Strategy and the area wide priorities for the next few years, with a particular focus on disadvantage. We will discuss the Hillingdon picture and ways governors can challenge and support the key actions schools are involved in. We will also look at inclusion, attendance and exclusions.

Governors can register HERE to attend.

Part-time Timetables

All pupils of compulsory school age are entitled to a full-time education suitable to their age, aptitude and any special educational needs they may have. In some circumstances their education may be provided partially at school and partially at another educational setting or through education otherwise than at a school.

In very exceptional circumstances, where it is in a pupil's best interests, there may be a need for a school to provide a pupil of compulsory school age with less than full-time education through a temporary part-time timetable to meet their individual needs. For example, where a medical condition prevents a pupil from attending school or another setting full-time and a part-time timetable is used to help the pupil access as much education as possible.

A part-time timetable should not be used to manage a pupil's behaviour.

A part-time timetable should:

Have the agreement of both the school and the parent the pupil normally lives with
Have a clear ambition and be part of the pupil's wider support, health care or reintegration plan
Have regular review dates which include the pupil and their parents to ensure it is only in place for the shortest time necessary
Have a proposed end date that takes into account the circumstances of the pupil, after which the pupil is expected to attend full-time, either at school or alternative provision. It can, however, be extended as part of the regular review process with the parent's agreement.

In some limited cases, a pupil with a long-term health condition may require a part-time timetable for a prolonged period. Where the pupil has a social worker, the school is expected to keep them informed and involved in the process.

If the pupil has an education health and care plan, the school should discuss the part-time timetable with the EHC Co-ordinator so that any support package that is in place can be reviewed as swiftly as possible.

In agreeing to a part-time timetable, a school has agreed to a pupil being absent from school for part of the week or day and therefore must record the absence accordingly normally using code X, only for non-compulsory school age pupils or C2 for compulsory school age pupils.

In addition to this, the Local Authority is to be notified through completing a Part time timetable form via LEAP here and sending the completed signed Part time timetable proforma available here to the school's allocated Attendance Support Officer and every time it is reviewed.

Reminder of Public Health Advice for the Winter Months

As expected in the winter months, seasonal illnesses are circulating and to support parents, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published advice on how to reduce their spread.

Schools should continue maintaining high attendance expectations and refer parents to NHS guidance to know when a child is too ill for school. Pupils should not miss school on a precautionary basis and can normally attend school with a cough or cold, unless they have a fever or diarrhoea and vomiting.

UKHSA London Measles Incident Reduced from Standard Incident to Routine

As per the UKHSA advice, measles case numbers have reduced in London. However, there is still a risk of sporadic measles cases and outbreak arising in community and educational settings. Therefore, schools and early years settings should stay aware that some people are considered very vulnerable to severe measles infection. This includes immunosuppressed people, unvaccinated pregnant women and children under the age of one.

What this means for Schools and Early Years Settings:

Advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for early years and educational settings is to:

Continue to support uptake of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, which provides the best protection against illness and its serious complications.
Continue to follow the advice contained in the ADPH Education Resource Pack for schools for measles that was previously sent to all schools in the summer.

The measles resource pack has guidance on how to contact the North London Health Protection Team if you have vulnerable contacts that have been exposed to a single or multiple cases in their settings. The Health Protection Team will continue to identify and protect those at most severe risk of measles infection, and also aim to interrupt community transmission of measles through contact tracing of confirmed and probable cases.

Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) Programme

Second Milestone Payment: The second milestone payment is 25% will be shared with schools for the January 2025 Cash Advance.

Claims above 90% take up: As with the first year of the scheme, allocations for the Mayor's Universal Free School Meals in the second year were based on an uptake rate of 90% and provision is again being made for any schools that exceed 90%.

The process will be similar to that used last year. In order to apply for this additional funding, you will need to complete this form here (please also see copy here: School Form for 10% Top Up (Excel doc, 28 KB)) on two separate data collection dates in January or March. You may choose which date, but the first should be during the week commencing 13^th January 2025 and the second during the week commencing 3^rd March 2025.

Schools with a high proportion of children practising Ramadan may wish to choose the week before to collect data for the second data collection date, i.e. the week commencing 24^th February 2025.

The form should be submitted by email to Nav Minhas nminhas@hillingdon.gov.uk by Friday 14^th March 2025. Please ensure that the data form is checked by your head teacher prior to submission. Submitting the form to the GLA through the local authority will be taken by the GLA as confirmation that the return has been authorised by the head teacher. As part of the GLA's checking procedure, schools may be asked to provide further information before any funding is issued, particularly if data is missing or incomplete in forms.

Please note that the additional funding will directly reflect the percentage uptake above 90 per cent. For example, for a claim showing 96 per cent meal uptake, the school will receive 6 per cent more funding than their original allocation. This additional funding will initially be issued to the borough, and then to the school in July 2025.

If schools have experienced an increase in pupil intake during this academic year, they should contact their borough to notify the GLA via a separate process.

Please note that claiming this additional funding is optional and only schools where the pupil meal uptake rate is over 90 per cent are eligible.

Further information can be found in the guidance at Claiming additional funding for meals uptake above 90 per cent | London City Hall.

Please contact Nav at nminhas@hillingdon.gov.uk with any enquiries.

For Action Secondary Schools:
*Please share with your students* Winter Acting & Film Workshops for Refugee & Asylum Seekers aged 14 plus Would you like to get better at your English and get creative over the holidays? Compass is coming to Brunel University to run workshops for three days! Come and join the Winter Acting and Film programme. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/xDommXj5JgUQS51P9 Brunel Workshop (PDF, 200 KB)

For Action Secondary Schools:

Please share with your students

Winter Acting & Film Workshops for Refugee & Asylum Seekers aged 14 plus

Would you like to get better at your English and get creative over the holidays? Compass is coming to Brunel University to run workshops for three days! Come and join the Winter Acting and Film programme.

Brunel Workshop (PDF, 200 KB)

Regards,

Abi Preston

Director of Education & SEND

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