6th October 2025
Dear Colleagues,
This bulletin is for all settings that educate Hillingdon children, maintained, academies and independent.
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: |
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Primaries can sign up to the AfA Primary Event at Ruislip Gardens Primary School HERE | on 14/10/25 |
Annual Safeguarding Training for Governors is mandatory. Please sign up here: Safeguarding Training for Governors 2025/2026 Registration Form
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Useful Links: | |
Hillingdon LEAP can be accessed for information and guidance for all settings |
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Critical Incident Notification can be found here |
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Emergency closures of all schools must be reported to education@hillingdon.gov.uk |
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Education Services Contacts can be found here |
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Education & SEND Policies can be found here |
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EYES information can be found here. Support guidance and training videos have now been added for schools & settings. |
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Governors can access LA training here |
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Schools' Forum meeting papers can be accessed here. If anyone would like to attend meetings, they are welcome to do so.
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For All Schools & Settings: |
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Ofsted Session for Headteachers Join the Education Improvement & Partnerships team for an informative and collaborative session designed especially for Headteachers. We'll be exploring the new framework, its impact on school improvement activities, and how the council will support schools with training and preparation. On Monday 20 October at 3.30 - 4.30 pm via MS Teams. Please sign up here: HERE. Once registered, you'll receive a link to join the session.
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Volunteers for Inspections Ofsted will be prioritising volunteers for a full Section 5 inspection in the weeks between 10 November and Christmas. These inspections will result in a complete set of grades and the publication of a report card. Routine scheduling will restart towards the end of the period and not before 1 December. If there are sufficient volunteers Ofsted will continue to prioritise them after 1 December. Inspections will be paused in the week commencing 15 December, the final week before Christmas. They will be prioritising schools that were in the statutory window for a full Section 5 inspection (i.e. before July 2026). Volunteering for an inspection does not guarantee that Ofsted will inspect the school. Once submitted, they are unable to confirm whether the inspection will be scheduled though will endeavour to prioritise volunteer schools for consideration during this period. If a school is selected, the school would be notified using our standard notifications procedure. If the school is not selected, it will be inspected at its usual point in the inspection cycle as part of our routine scheduling. Volunteer inspections will be subject to the evaluation areas in the toolkit and will follow the methodology and grading approach for a full Section 5 inspection. Volunteering for an inspection will have no bearing on the way the inspection is conducted or its findings. During the inspection, standard procedures and policies will be followed. Requests can be made to Ofsted up to 10 November 2025 via education@hillingdon.gov.uk.
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Head Teachers' Termly Autumn 2025 This meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday 18th November at 9.30 - 11.30 am. Agenda with link to join will be shared shortly. All headteachers or their deputies should attend to receive key updates.
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Assure The old link for the Assure portal, which is accessible to all staff members, is being phased out in the coming months. Therefore, all schools are urged to promote/circulate the use of the new portal. See link & QR code: https://app.uk.sheassure.net/hillingdoncouncil/p/Schools
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First Aid Training During your Inset Days If you have inset days coming up before or after the Christmas holiday period and need staff training in first aid, Hillingdon Council can come and run the courses you need at your school. Please don't leave it too late as our trainers are always in demand at this time of year. Details of all the courses we offer can be found on the Council's website along with our competitive prices to run them at your school. Should you wish to enquire please email firstaidtraining@hillingdon.gov.uk. Click this link for information - First Aid Training
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REMINDER: The HEART (Hillingdon's Empathy, Attachment, Relationships and Trauma-Responsiveness) Award Hillingdon Virtual School is excited to announce the launch of the HEART Award, open to all schools across the borough. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to further their journey toward becoming attachment-aware and trauma-informed. The award includes:
Information events about the HEART Award will be held via Microsoft Teams on the dates listed below. You only need to attend one session, and we kindly request that a representative from your Senior Leadership Team joins on behalf of your school. Please click the links below to join your chosen session. - Tuesday 7th October 9am-10am - Wednesday 8th October 12pm-1pm - Thursday 9th October 2pm-3pm - Friday 10th October 3.30pm-4.30pm If you have any questions ahead of these dates, please contact Chloe Rock at crock@hillingdon.gov.uk.
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Help the DfE Understand your Role in Supporting School Improvement The DfE's Schools Digital team is researching how schools and governing bodies identify and evaluate support and strategies that drive school improvement. This research will inform the development of DfE's 'Regional Improvement in Standards and Excellence' (RISE) universal support offer for all schools. DfE would like to hear from anyone working in a school, trust, council or diocese involved in school improvement. Please complete the short sign-up form to take part.
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Martyn's Law The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn's Law, approved in April 2025, introduces new safety duties for premises, including many education settings. There is a 24-month implementation period for planning and preparation before the law takes effect. The Department for Education has published a non-statutory overview to help education settings understand their responsibilities. Further information on how Martyn's Law affects education settings is available on GOV.UK.
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Cybersecurity Awareness As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, Ofqual is urging schools to ensure they are protected from malicious software and backups are in place to restore students' coursework and other vital systems in the event of an attack. Please visit the National Cyber Security Centre small business guide to cyber security for practical tips designed for schools on how to defend against cyber attacks.
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Free School Tickets for An Ideal Husband at Compass Theatre The Compass Theatre in Ickenham, is showing a production of An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde, performed by local amateur group Proscenium. Dates of performances are 8 to 11 November, 7.45pm. They are happy to offer free tickets to maintained and academy schools who would like to see this production and have set aside up to 20 tickets each night with the Compass box office, for schools who might like to attend. You can also find details on the Compass Theatre website. https://discover.hillingdon.gov.uk/article/14795/An-Ideal-Husband-by-Proscenium If anyone would like tickets they should contact publicity@proscenium.org.uk.
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For Primary Schools: |
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KS2 Assessment and Moderation 2025/26 Please forward this LEAP link to your Assessment Leads & Year 6 teachers. It contains important information relating to statutory guidance, training opportunities for teachers, along with a CPD offer to act as an LA Moderator for KS2 Writing. Academy schools - the STA requires you to nominate your moderation partner by 9th January 2026, please complete the form linked within the briefing paper. If you have any queries or require further support, please email the moderation team at education@hillingdon.gov.uk
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Expanding School-based Nurseries The government wish to expand provision in school-based nurseries to help more children to access high quality education and support parents to work. To assist with this, there are two grant schemes that schools can apply for: Hillingdon Childcare Capital Expansion Grant - this is a significant initiative aimed at expanding early years entitlements for working parents. Grant allocations are likely to be in the £30 000 - £40 000 range, and less. Suitable types of projects may include remodeling an existing provision to create additional capacity, purchasing of equipment to support expanded capacity, or projects that adapt existing childcare places to make them suitable for a wider range of needs. We have already received informal expressions of interest from some schools, and those schools will be receiving further information. The Department for Education Guidance further explains the intended purpose and types of work: Childcare Expansion Capital Grant - Allocations Guidance If your school who would be interested in applying for this funding and would like an application form, please contact FIS@hillingdon.gov.uk. Please note the deadline for applications for the first phase of funding is Monday 20 October 2025. Further application phases may be held if there is sufficient funding remaining after the first phase. DfE School-Based Nurseries Capital Grant - the government is inviting schools across the country to bid for up to £150,000 funding from a £45 million pot to create a further 300 new or expanded best start school-based nurseries, offering up to 7,000 more places, from September 2026. Applications for this are open from 24 September 2025 and must be submitted by 5pm, on 11 December 2025. More information can be found on this website - School-based Nursery Capital Grant 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK. The DfE are also holding a webinar for schools on 16 October 2025 to provide more information. To register for this, please use this link. For community schools in Hillingdon: if a community school wishes to lower its age range to take two-year-olds, there needs to be a consultation and decision-making process for this, led by the local authority. If your school is interested in reducing its age range to offer places for two year olds next September, please can you email fis@hillingdon.gov.uk and we can advise of the next steps for this.
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Food Procurement Challenges We know school meals are complex to deliver, and you're the experts. To tailor the School Food Matters support package to primary schools, we're asking staff involved in food procurement or contract management - such as School Business Managers, kitchen teams or senior leaders - to complete a short survey. It takes under 10 minutes, and you'll be entered into a draw to win one of ten £200 vouchers for your school. What will you receive? Your feedback will shape a package of free support launching later this term, from workshops and training to guidance and resources, to 'meet the consultant' advice sessions. These are all designed to help schools improve procurement, contract management and food quality. School Food Matters is working with the Mayor of London, with generous support from the Partnership for Health Cities to help schools across London to continue improving the quality of meals and to make sure every primary school child enjoys lunches that are nutritious, high quality and delicious. This survey will inform this work. If you have any questions, contact Eve Blair, Impact and Strategy Manager at School Food Matters (eve@schoolfoodmatters.org). Thank you for helping us shape support that works for you and your schools' needs.
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For Secondary Schools/FE: |
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Talk Money Week The Money and Pensions Service's 'Talk Money Week' runs from 3 to 7 November. The theme this year is 'Start the conversation' and invites schools and colleges to open up discussions about money with students. From budgeting basics to understanding savings or tax, every conversation counts. The Money and Pensions Service has published a toolkit with lots of ideas and resources to help schools get involved and talk money in the classroom.
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Warm regards,
Abi Preston
Director of Education & SEND
Children, Families & Education
London Borough of Hillingdon, Civic Centre, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW
