Director's Message - 13th July 2020

Dear Colleagues,

As we reach the end of the Summer term, providers of out-of-school provision will be preparing to support children through the holidays. The updated guidance on protective measures on the 10th July includes:

Considering group sizes (including the position for early years settings which provide care for both those under and over the age of 5).
Added information on the opening of indoor sports facilities, and when providers will be able to use these venues.
Clarification that providers should only be operating in premises legally able to open.
Added links to further relevant guidance providers may need to have regard to.

Other DfE guidance updates continue to be available via our FAQs and these include:

Behaviour and discipline in schools
Exceptional costs update and financial support
Supplier relief procurement guidance
Further Education update
Managing premises update
Parents / carers updated guidance that schools can share

Birth certificates request

A number of schools have recently requested clarification on asking parents/carers to provide their child's birth certificate following the offer of admission at their school.

Section 2.5 of the School Admission Code of practice states that once a place has been offered, admission authorities may ask for proof of birth date, but must not ask for a 'long' birth certificate or other documents which would include information about the child's parents.

However, for data protection regulations, schools must be clear about the reason for requesting this information. Unless you are requesting this for safeguarding purposes i.e confirmation of child's age because their presentation has highlighted doubt, you should stop this practise.

School Leaders' Briefing

This fortnight's School Leaders' Briefings articles are:

Transition - Paper file transfer day
School Admissions Code Consultation
Virtual School - Live Webinar with Dr Karen Treisman
30 hours free childcare
Update from DfE on the Autumn 2020 School Census
Flexible Phonics - CPD for Schools
Hillingdon Young Carers
Free Traffic Light Tool Training from Brook
Teach Computing - Cyber Choices Webinar
The Riot Act - What Next...?
CSSC Sports & Leisure Offers
Local PPE Supplier
Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group - School Support for wellbeing, bereavement and loss

If you require any LA support, please contact us via education@hillingdon.gov.uk.

Regards

Dr Ming Zhang