LA Education Weekly Update
22 June 2026
Dear Colleagues,
We would be grateful if you could share this briefing with relevant leads within your setting or with team members who may have an interest in the content, so they can follow up on the opportunities outlined.
This bulletin is intended for all educational settings supporting children in Hillingdon, including maintained schools, academies and independents.
Reminders:
Secondaries and Post-16 settings should sign up to attend the AfA Event here | On 30/06/26 |
Secondaries should attend the Secondary Language Link session. Click here to join the session | On 06/07/26 at 3.30 pm |
Schools Forum is a public meeting, anyone wishing to attend should contact schoolsforum@hillingdon.gov.uk. The next meeting is online, meeting papers will be uploaded here one week before. | On 7/7/26 at 1 pm |
Primaries should attend the Wraparound Drop-In Network Meeting. Click here to join the meeting | On 08/07/26 at 2 pm |
Schools can register to attend the in-person Network Meeting for Supporting Service Children at Vyners School. Register here Summer Term Service Children's Champions network meeting - Fill in form | On 15/07/26 at 2 pm |
Useful Links:
Hillingdon LEAP can be accessed for information and guidance for all settings. Please contact education@hillingdon.gov.uk with any queries.
- Critical Incident Notification can be found here
- Emergency closures of all schools must be reported to education@hillingdon.gov.uk
- Education Health Care Needs Assessment Panel sign up can be found here
- 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:
Final reminder -Strategic Financial Planning & Forecasting Session for All Schools
Polite reminder that we are pleased to invite Headteachers and School Business Managers to attend an online workshop focused on:
- Forecasting pupil numbers as shared in the School Organisation Plan
- Understanding the financial implications of declining rolls
- Effective multi-year financial planning
- Deficit recovery plans
If you are unable to attend, we encourage you to send a colleague to participate, ensuring that the information is shared within your school.
Workshop Dates (you should only attend one session):
- Wednesday 24 June 2026 at 10 - 11:30 am or
- Wednesday 1 July 2026 at 1 - 2.30 pm
These sessions will provide practical guidance, useful analytical tools and real-world examples to help schools plan strategically in response to changing pupil demographics and financial challenges. To secure your place, please complete this registration form for each attendee. A MS Teams link will be shared once you have registered.
Annual Review Training Session for Schools
To improve our collaborative working with establishment for the EHCP process, we have reviewed functionality within the Council and have a new system to be able to complete the annual review process online with instant submission into the relevant team at the LA. To assist with this change, we will be providing an overview of the new process for annual reviews where there will be an opportunity to ask any questions whilst the team are online to support.
The training will be held online on Wednesday 15th July 2026 at 1 - 1.45 pm and is for all staff involved in the EHCP annual review process.
Please click here to join the session
If you or your colleagues are unable to attend, a recording of the session and guidance documentation will be supplied for the relevant staff to review when possible.
Please can this be shared with your staff who are involved in the annual review process to ensure we can support your establishment with this process ahead of our go live in July.
If you have any queries, please contact Meg Chandler, EYES Project Manager at MChandler@hillingdon.gov.uk.
Prepare for Winter Illness Webinar
Illness absence remains the biggest driver of school absence, the DfE are encouraging schools to prepare early for the winter.
Together with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England, they are hosting a free webinar on from 4:00 to 5:15pm on 24 June, to help all schools (including specialist SEND schools) and their staff prepare for the autumn vaccination programme.
The session will cover:
- the importance of flu vaccination for children's health and learning
- how the flu vaccine works
- how schools can work effectively with their local School Age Immunisation Service (SAIS) team
- a brief overview of the wider importance of childhood and adolescent vaccines
The webinar is aimed at headteachers, school staff, LA officers and education professionals, including those supporting children with SEND.
The UK Health Security Agency has recently updated its guidance on supporting immunisation programmes for children and young people.
Free Day Out! Mayors Picnic in the Park
Please could you share the information below with parents/carers and display the attached poster around the school.
We're pleased to invite families to a fun-filled afternoon at the Mayor's Picnic in the Park!
Date: Saturday 11 July 2026
Time: 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: The Closes, Church Close, West Drayton UB7 7PY
Cost: FREE
Enjoy a relaxed afternoon of live music, entertainment, and community fun. Bring along your picnic, something comfortable to sit on, and make the most of this great family day out!
More details here - The Mayor's Picnic in the Park | Hillingdon Council
Picnic in Park A4 Poster (PDF, 734 KB)
Join Us in Supporting the Mayor's Charity - Dress Down Day Initiative for Schools
We are delighted and proud to share that Hillingdon Autistic Care & Support (HACs) has been chosen as the Mayor of Hillingdon's Charity for this year. This recognition highlights the incredible work HACs does in supporting individuals and families across our community.
This presents a wonderful opportunity for our schools to come together and make a real difference.
We warmly invite your school to support the Mayor's Charitable Trust by dedicating one of your upcoming Dress Down Days to fundraising for this important cause anytime before March 2027.
By taking part, your school will:
- Show support for the wider community
- Give pupils a meaningful way to contribute to a local cause
- Be part of a borough-wide effort supporting the Mayor's charity
Every contribution, no matter how small, will help make a positive impact—and together, we can achieve something truly special.
If your school would like to take part, simply schedule a Dress Down Day at a time that suits you and let us know by emailing: Mayor@hillingdon.gov.uk
As a gesture of appreciation, the Mayor, Cllr Reeta Chamdal, would love to personally visit the class or form that raises the most funds and present a certificate of recognition. This special visit will take place by 7 May 2027.
Thank you in advance for your support, enthusiasm, and commitment to helping our community thrive. We look forward to seeing many schools get involved in this rewarding initiative.
Primary Schools:
Excellence in Reception Teaching Course
This is a national professional development (NPD) course for:
- teachers who have completed their induction
- experienced reception teachers
- teachers moving into a Reception role
The course draws on the latest early years research and evidence to support teaching in today's classrooms.
Funded places are available for participants working in most state-funded settings, including academies, and the course is designed to fit around teaching commitments.
To register your interest, please use this link before the end of June: Register interest in NPD course - NPD - GOV.UK
To find out more about the course content: Excellence in reception teaching: content framework - GOV.UK
World Cup Fever!
Hayes Park School has recently received coverage from the BBC across radio, TV and online platforms following the creation of a World Cup-themed resource pack designed by one of their teachers. You can find full details and read more on their website here: https://www.hayesparkschool.co.uk/News/World-Cup-Fever/
Warm regards,
Abi Preston
Director of Education & SEND
Children's Services, London Borough of Hillingdon, Civic Centre, Uxbridge UB8 1UW
