LA Education Weekly Update
26 January 2026
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:
| Governors can sign up to attend 'Understanding Governor Responsibilities when Handling Complaints' here | On 26/01/26 6 pm |
Primaries can register to attend the Wraparound Care - SEND & Transition Session. Register here | On 27/01/26 9.30 am |
Year 6 teachers should sign up to the KS2 Assessment & Moderation Briefing Session 2. Please register to attend HERE. | On 05/02/26 10.30 am |
Clerks/Governance Professionals can sign up to the LA Spring Term Briefing here | On 05/02/26 9.30 am or 10/02/26 6 pm |
Headteachers or deputies should attend the New Ofsted Framework Session. Click here to join the meeting | On 06/02/26 10 am |
Headteachers of Community Maintained schools should sign up to Health & Safety Responsibilities Training. Sign up HERE | On 12/02/26 or 24/03/26 |
Governors can sign up to 'Understanding Responsibilities for All Governors for SEND & Inclusion Provision within Schools' here | On 24/02/26 6 pm |
Schools can sign up to attend the Celebrating Inclusion Conference: Empowering Every Learner in Hillingdon HERE | On 18/03/25 |
Governors can sign to attend 'Understanding School Performance Data for Governors' here | On 23/03/26 6 pm |
Useful Links:
Please contact education@hillingdon.gov.uk with any queries
Hillingdon LEAP can be accessed for information and guidance for all settings
Critical Incident Notification can be found here
Emergency closures of all schools must be reported to education@hillingdon.gov.uk
Education Services Contacts can be found here
Education & SEND Policies can be found here
EYES/Establishment Portal information can be found here
Governors can access LA training here
Hillingdon Learning Partnership
Schools' Forum meeting papers can be accessed here. If anyone would like to attend meetings, they are welcome to do so.
All Schools/Settings:
Commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day
27 January is Holocaust Memorial Day, remembering essentially the Holocaust and Nazi persecution of Jews but also subsequent genocides in Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda and Darfur.
Our young people were born decades after these events, yet it is so important to give students the opportunity to reflect and debate on past events and how they should inform the present and the future. We hope that your school will be doing something to raise awareness of this with your students. Here are links to two sites that can provide resources to help commemorate.
DSL Cluster/Networking Meeting
The next session is online on 11 March 2026 at 2 - 4 pm. DSLs must sign up to receive the link to join here: DSL Cluster/Network Meeting : Wednesday 11th March 2026 2 - 4 pm via MS Teams - Fill in form
Meet the SEND EHC Team
Please join us at these drop-in sessions to meet EHCCos, Senior EHCCos and Team Managers face‑to‑face and to discuss any challenges related to particular CYP or processes.
Location: Civic Centre, Uxbridge
Dates (9:30 am -12:00 pm):
· Tuesday 12 May 2026
· Tuesday 7 July 2026
· Tuesday 6 October 2026
· Tuesday 24 November 2026
· Tuesday 13 January 2027
Please share this invite to colleagues in your settings.
Thank you, as always, for your partnership and for everything you do for children and young people. We look forward to seeing you at a drop‑in and to continuing to work together in the most efficient way for families and settings.
Webinar for Schools on their Disability Duties
The Council for Disabled Children has recently uploaded a webinar onto YouTube for schools on their disability duties. This complements three sets of guidance on disability duties from July. See guides and training packages for schools on the disability duties in the Equality Act for more information.
The DfE commissioned the materials to support inclusive practice and to help disabled pupils achieve the best possible educational and other outcomes.
Free Whole School SEND Training, Host by NASEN
Five new Autism CPD online units have been added to the Whole School SEND CPD suite, alongside 20 existing Inclusive Practice units supporting teaching across a wide range of needs. Funded by the DfE, the units respond to growing demand from schools and Further Education settings for clear, evidence-informed guidance that works in real classrooms.
The Autism units support education professionals at every level - from practical classroom strategies to whole-school leadership.
Sign Up | Whole School SEND (log in required)
Governor Training - Understanding the Enhancements in Careers
On: Wednesday 15 April 2026
Time: 3.30 - 4.45 pm
Please see booking details here: Governors Training flyer - 15 April 2026 (PDF, 438 KB)
Parental Complaints
This guide was produced by Parentkind and endorsed by the DfE and Ofsted. You may find this useful to share with your parents/carers.
Parent Guide to School Complaints (PDF, 1 MB)
Primary Schools:
KS2 Writing Moderation Cluster Session (in person)
On: Thursday 19 March 2026
Time: 9 am - 12.30 pm
Place: Committee Room 6, Civic Centre, Uxbridge
Suitable for: Year 6 teachers/writing leads
Please join us at this cluster session to provide teachers with the opportunity to work together with colleagues to explore standards and expectations in KS2 writing.
Register here: LA KS2 Writing Moderation Cluster Session (in person) 2025/26 - Fill in form
Think Equal
We are excited to offer our school nurseries the chance to take part in the Think Equal programme — a globally acclaimed, award-winning initiative designed to nurture the social and emotional development of children aged 3 to 4 years. All the training and resources are free as part of the programme.
What you'll receive for free:
- 22-24 narrative picture books (hard copies)
- A booklet with 90 lesson plans
- A booklet with 50+ best practice resources
- Plus, free training and support for practitioners.
Think Equal helps children to:
- understand and manage emotions and impulsive behaviours
- build confidence and a strong sense of self-worth
- show empathy and care for others
- resolve conflicts peacefully and solve problems effectively
- think critically and make responsible decisions
- form healthy relationships and collaborate with peers
To register your interest in the programme, please complete the form below by Friday 30th January: Think Equal Programme for School Nurseries - Fill in form
Once you have completed the form, we will send you a link to join the online information session, which will take place on Wednesday 4 February at 10 am and will last approximately 30 minutes.
Picture News Assemblies for Primaries
Children's Mental Health Week - Live Assembly
Wednesday 11 February, 9.15 - 9.45 am
Join Picture News and special guest, children's author and mental wellbeing advocate, Katie Hopper for a live assembly during Children's Mental Health Week, as we explore why feeling included matters. Katie will share one of her stories live and children can reflect on how their words and actions can help others feel welcome and supported. Register here
Celebrating Lunar New Year - Live Assembly (with very special guests!)
Wednesday 25 February, 9.15 - 9.45am
Join us for a special online event as we explore how the Lunar New Year is celebrated. We'll learn about traditions, stories and symbols, and hear from two children who will be sharing their own experiences of celebrating this special time. A lovely opportunity for pupils to discover how different cultures welcome a new year with joy, family, and hope! Register here
Secondary / FE:
Regulating On-screen Assessments Consultation
This consultation sets out Ofqual's proposed approach to regulating on-screen assessment in GCSEs, AS and A levels, and seeks views on how these proposals might apply to vocational and technical qualifications, where on-screen assessment is already more widely used. Subject to the outcome of this consultation, detailed rules and guidance will follow in 2026. If you have an interest in on-screen assessment or in general qualifications, please respond and share your views.
Warm regards,
Abi Preston
Director of Education & SEND
Children's Services, London Borough of Hillingdon, 4E/07, Civic Centre, Uxbridge UB8 1UW
