22nd April 2025

Dear Colleagues,

We hope you had a restful break and enjoyed the time over Easter.

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:
Governors can sign up to attend Introduction to Understanding Schools Finance & Governors Responsibilities here	On 28/04/25 6 pm
Governors can sign up to attend Introduction to Understanding Governor responsibilities in Suspensions & Exclusions here	On 07/05/25 6 pm
Headteachers or deputies should attend Head Teachers' Termly. Agenda with link to join will be shared nearer the time.	On 10/06/25 10 am - 12 pm
Governors can sign up to attend the Governors Networking Event -An in-person event at the Civic Centre. Governors Networking event Registration Form	On 18/06/25 6pm
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:
Hillingdon Education Strategy 2025-30 After consultation with schools, the new Education Strategy was agreed by the Children, Families & Education Select Committee in December 2024 and then approved by the Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education. Please read this here: Education Strategy 2025-30 - Leap
School Consultation on Annual Review Guidance As part of our SEND Local Area Partnership Improvement Plan, we are initiating work on the quality assurance framework and various processes related to the EHCP. One key area of focus is the Annual Review process. The health contribution to the Annual Review Guidance has been shared with all educational settings for your feedback, and we are currently awaiting responses. Additionally, the Annual Review Process guidance on LEAP (Annual Review - Leap) requires updating. Therefore, we would like to collaborate on reviewing existing guidance to ensure it is fit for purpose and to enhance the quality of the process. Please review this draft version of the revised guidance: Draft -Annual Review Guidance April 25 (PDF, 587 KB) and provide your comments, suggestions, or amendments by Friday 16th May here. We appreciate your input and look forward to your feedback.
Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) Programme The Third milestone payment of 25% will be shared with schools in the May 2025 Cash Advance. Schools can continue to use the following GLA link to access resources which includes templates, information for families and good practice examples. These can be used to assist with communication with families to encourage take up of the FSM for Key Stage 2 pupils If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the Education team at education@hillingdon.gov.uk.
Words Into Action The Achievement for All (AfA) Programme is pleased to offer primary and secondary school leaders a 3 session CPD on writing purposeful Pupil Premium strategies. This will be delivered by Phil Stock from the Greenshaw EEF Research School. The flyer provides a fuller explanation: Words into Action-Hillingdon (PDF, 641 KB) This bespoke training will: Build on your existing strategies Align to the DfE template guidance with checklists for intent, intended outcomes, challenges, activities and review Focus on EEF implementation guidance recommendations It consists of 7 modules delivered over 3 sessions on: 19^th May - 3.30 - 5 pm online session via MS Teams 5^th June - 9.30 am - 3 pm face session location tbc 26^th June - 3.30 - 5 pm online session via MS Teams This is open to 25 Hillingdon schools that have signed up to participate and commit to the AfA programme. School leaders are invited to attend a 45-minute webinar to hear more about the CPD and details of how to sign up on Thursday 1^st May at 3.30 - 4.15 pm. Please register to attend here
Strengthening Safeguarding: Best Practices for School Leaders Conference Around 50 schools were represented at a conference held at the ACS International School in Uxbridge on 4 April. The event was an opportunity for school safeguarding leads to come together and review their action plans and think about creative and impactful ways to ensure comprehensive safeguarding practice in their settings. The day featured guest speakers and a presentation by young people from Hillingdon giving their view on safeguarding in schools. Hannah Ives, Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), said: "The aim of the day was to support schools in sharing good practice and thinking about innovative ways to safeguard children. Safeguarding is such a complex topic which encapsulates many areas and good practice, theories and knowledge is ever changing and growing. We know schools are often the professional group that have most contact with children and, therefore, they have the opportunity to identify concerns as well as put in place meaningful interventions. My team's role is to support and upskill designated safeguarding leads with the aim of ensuring consistent, effective safeguarding practice across Hillingdon schools." Teri O'Brien, Deputy Head & DSL of Pentland Field School said: "I have heard such great feedback about the event already. I personally feel it has been the most meaningful and impactful continuing professional development that I have attended in a very long time. There was great networking, excellent discussions and meaningful reflections. The day in my opinion was a huge success."
Incels The growing national discussion around the Adolescence programme on Netflix is highlighting the world of Incels. Please see some useful tools, research and information to help raise awareness: Incels - Leap The DfE are running training sessions on Intro to Incels, a basic overview of incels and the wider manosphere. For dates and information please see: DfE London Prevent - Intro to Incels Tickets
Exclusion Support Service Just a reminder that the expectation is for suspensions and exclusions to be reported to the LA in a timely manner (on the day or the day after the suspension/exclusion). Receiving late notifications means that the data we collate is inaccurate, and we are not able to inform the relevant parties who may be able to offer support. Please use the forms on LEAP to notify us. Suspensions Form Permanent Exclusion Form  Please reach out to us via our email exclusionsupport@hillingdon.gov.uk for further support regarding suspensions and permanent exclusions.
AXIS Newsletter Please see AXIS April Bulletin 2025 (PDF, 529 KB)
Spring School Census We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support with helping schools to successfully complete the recent spring census collection. The spring census will be removed from COLLECT at 3pm on 9 May 2025. If you want to take a copy of your spring census data, please do so by this date as this will be the last opportunity to get an export of your data before the database is archived. The formats available are XML and CSV, we recommend you use the CSV format. To assist you with the forthcoming May census we suggest you request your person responsible for the census to run all reports and download them to your school server. We recommend this to allow you to repeat resolutions/notes that worked in the Spring in the Summer. Summer School Census Test Version Available A 'beta' release of the 2025 summer school census is now live in COLLECT. The blade is available for you to become familiar with, test your data, and get ahead on error resolution. This will remain available until 4pm on Friday 9 May at which point the blade will be removed and cleared in advance of the start of the live collection on Thursday 15 May. The DfE and LA strongly recommend that, if possible, all schools take the chance to load a file output from their management information system (MIS) into COLLECT during the familiarisation process. This will allow schools to check that all the required data is generated correctly from their MIS into the summer census return, and whether any validation errors or queries against their data is resolved before the collection goes live. This will be especially important for any schools completing the summer school census for the first time. If you have any queries please contact msherman@hillingdon.gov.uk
WCL Mind - CYP Postvention Service The new CYP suicide bereavement website has been launched: Children & Young People Suicide Bereavement Support - West Central London Mind. Children and young people can self-refer and there is no limit to how much time has passed since the loss. The service isn't a crisis service but will offer support through the process of suicide bereavement. Any questions or support needed, please feel free to contact Fiby Saad,Children and Young Person Postvention Worker at FSaad@wclmind.org.uk Sign up for the newsletter here
Secondary Transfer Open Evenings Year 7 Transfer Open Evenings 2025-26 (PDF, 180 KB)

For Action All Schools:

Hillingdon Education Strategy 2025-30

After consultation with schools, the new Education Strategy was agreed by the Children, Families & Education Select Committee in December 2024 and then approved by the Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education.

Please read this here: Education Strategy 2025-30 - Leap

School Consultation on Annual Review Guidance

As part of our SEND Local Area Partnership Improvement Plan, we are initiating work on the quality assurance framework and various processes related to the EHCP. One key area of focus is the Annual Review process.

The health contribution to the Annual Review Guidance has been shared with all educational settings for your feedback, and we are currently awaiting responses. Additionally, the Annual Review Process guidance on LEAP (Annual Review - Leap) requires updating. Therefore, we would like to collaborate on reviewing existing guidance to ensure it is fit for purpose and to enhance the quality of the process.

Please review this draft version of the revised guidance: Draft -Annual Review Guidance April 25 (PDF, 587 KB) and provide your comments, suggestions, or amendments by Friday 16th May here.

We appreciate your input and look forward to your feedback.

Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) Programme

The Third milestone payment of 25% will be shared with schools in the May 2025 Cash Advance.

Schools can continue to use the following GLA link to access resources which includes templates, information for families and good practice examples. These can be used to assist with communication with families to encourage take up of the FSM for Key Stage 2 pupils

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the Education team at education@hillingdon.gov.uk.

Words Into Action

The Achievement for All (AfA) Programme is pleased to offer primary and secondary school leaders a 3 session CPD on writing purposeful Pupil Premium strategies.

This will be delivered by Phil Stock from the Greenshaw EEF Research School. The flyer provides a fuller explanation: Words into Action-Hillingdon (PDF, 641 KB)

This bespoke training will:

Build on your existing strategies
Align to the DfE template guidance with checklists for intent, intended outcomes, challenges, activities and review
Focus on EEF implementation guidance recommendations

It consists of 7 modules delivered over 3 sessions on:

19^th May - 3.30 - 5 pm online session via MS Teams

5^th June - 9.30 am - 3 pm face session location tbc

26^th June - 3.30 - 5 pm online session via MS Teams

This is open to 25 Hillingdon schools that have signed up to participate and commit to the AfA programme.

School leaders are invited to attend a 45-minute webinar to hear more about the CPD and details of how to sign up on Thursday 1^st May at 3.30 - 4.15 pm. Please register to attend here

Strengthening Safeguarding: Best Practices for School Leaders Conference

Around 50 schools were represented at a conference held at the ACS International School in Uxbridge on 4 April.

The event was an opportunity for school safeguarding leads to come together and review their action plans and think about creative and impactful ways to ensure comprehensive safeguarding practice in their settings. The day featured guest speakers and a presentation by young people from Hillingdon giving their view on safeguarding in schools.

Hannah Ives, Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), said: "The aim of the day was to support schools in sharing good practice and thinking about innovative ways to safeguard children. Safeguarding is such a complex topic which encapsulates many areas and good practice, theories and knowledge is ever changing and growing. We know schools are often the professional group that have most contact with children and, therefore, they have the opportunity to identify concerns as well as put in place meaningful interventions. My team's role is to support and upskill designated safeguarding leads with the aim of ensuring consistent, effective safeguarding practice across Hillingdon schools."

Teri O'Brien, Deputy Head & DSL of Pentland Field School said: "I have heard such great feedback about the event already. I personally feel it has been the most meaningful and impactful continuing professional development that I have attended in a very long time. There was great networking, excellent discussions and meaningful reflections. The day in my opinion was a huge success."

Incels

The growing national discussion around the Adolescence programme on Netflix is highlighting the world of Incels. Please see some useful tools, research and information to help raise awareness: Incels - Leap

The DfE are running training sessions on Intro to Incels, a basic overview of incels and the wider manosphere. For dates and information please see: DfE London Prevent - Intro to Incels Tickets

Exclusion Support Service

Just a reminder that the expectation is for suspensions and exclusions to be reported to the LA in a timely manner (on the day or the day after the suspension/exclusion). Receiving late notifications means that the data we collate is inaccurate, and we are not able to inform the relevant parties who may be able to offer support. Please use the forms on LEAP to notify us.

Suspensions Form

Permanent Exclusion Form 

Please reach out to us via our email exclusionsupport@hillingdon.gov.uk for further support regarding suspensions and permanent exclusions.

AXIS Newsletter

Please see AXIS April Bulletin 2025 (PDF, 529 KB)

Spring School Census

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support with helping schools to successfully complete the recent spring census collection. The spring census will be removed from COLLECT at 3pm on 9 May 2025. If you want to take a copy of your spring census data, please do so by this date as this will be the last opportunity to get an export of your data before the database is archived. The formats available are XML and CSV, we recommend you use the CSV format. To assist you with the forthcoming May census we suggest you request your person responsible for the census to run all reports and download them to your school server. We recommend this to allow you to repeat resolutions/notes that worked in the Spring in the Summer.

Summer School Census Test Version Available

A 'beta' release of the 2025 summer school census is now live in COLLECT. The blade is available for you to become familiar with, test your data, and get ahead on error resolution. This will remain available until 4pm on Friday 9 May at which point the blade will be removed and cleared in advance of the start of the live collection on Thursday 15 May. The DfE and LA strongly recommend that, if possible, all schools take the chance to load a file output from their management information system (MIS) into COLLECT during the familiarisation process. This will allow schools to check that all the required data is generated correctly from their MIS into the summer census return, and whether any validation errors or queries against their data is resolved before the collection goes live. This will be especially important for any schools completing the summer school census for the first time.

If you have any queries please contact msherman@hillingdon.gov.uk

WCL Mind - CYP Postvention Service

The new CYP suicide bereavement website has been launched: Children & Young People Suicide Bereavement Support - West Central London Mind.

Children and young people can self-refer and there is no limit to how much time has passed since the loss. The service isn't a crisis service but will offer support through the process of suicide bereavement.

Any questions or support needed, please feel free to contact Fiby Saad,Children and Young Person Postvention Worker at FSaad@wclmind.org.uk

Secondary Transfer Open Evenings

Year 7 Transfer Open Evenings 2025-26 (PDF, 180 KB)

For Action Primary Schools:
KS2 Writing Moderation This year's Moderators' Handbook can be found here. Schools selected for moderation will be notified on 16 May (date set by STA) by email to the headteacher. If you have any queries in the meantime, please contact the team at education@hillingdon.gov.uk

For Action Primary Schools:

KS2 Writing Moderation

This year's Moderators' Handbook can be found here. Schools selected for moderation will be notified on 16 May (date set by STA) by email to the headteacher.

If you have any queries in the meantime, please contact the team at education@hillingdon.gov.uk

Warm regards,

Abi Preston

Director of Education & SEND

Children's Services, London Borough of Hillingdon, Civic Centre, Uxbridge UB8 1UW