Dear Colleagues, Issue 27 Welcome to this week’s Education Essex. 31 March 2014 We hope you enjoy the essays by heads on taking forward the new primary curriculum – details are given below Thank you for the full return on strike data. Diary Dates It was excellent to see so many at the SEND readiness conferences last week. Best wishes for a good Easter break. Have a good week, 4/4/14 – Last day of spring term 6/6/14 – ASHE Conference Tim Coulson Director of Commissioning: Education and Lifelong Learning Checklist School Updates 11/4/14 – Deadline for contributions to Taking Forward the Primary Curriculum in Essex 31/8/14 I-Essex website closes Sign up to the Education Essex mailing list Taking Forward the Primary Curriculum in Essex Headteachers Primary(KS1/KS2) At this point of curriculum change and development in England's schools, headteachers from Essex primary schools offer their considered reflections on how primary schools across the country might take forward and shape their own curriculum framework for pupils. You can view the document online at Essex Grid for Learning If anyone who wishes to make a contribution to the final publication the closing date is 11 April. Contact: Alison Fiala, Lead Commissioner Email: alison.fiala@essex.gov.uk Important Changes To Pupil Premium Grant For Children In Care Headteachers and Designated Teachers for Children in Care Foundation (EYFS) Infant (KS1) Junior (KS2) Primary(KS1/KS2) Secondary (KS3/KS4) All There are significant changes to the arrangements for Pupil Premium for children in care. The government has introduced the Pupil Premium Plus of £1900. Most significantly it has set out that the Virtual Head will be responsible for the Pupil Premium Plus budget and although there is a presumption that funding will be passed to schools, there is no longer a requirement to do so. The changes are aimed at improving the educational attainment of this group of vulnerable learners. To make the new arrangements as simple as possible, whilst achieving the right outcomes it will be managed through the Personal Education Plan completed by schools on CLA Tracker. A letter to all schools with more detail will be sent out in the next few days in order that you can give consideration to implementing this within your school. In this week's issue: School Updates Taking Forward the Primary Curriculum in Essex Important Changes To Pupil Premium Grant For Children In Care Mitie Facilities Services Apprenticeship 2014/2015 Essex Legal Services’ Legal Toolkit Public Liability Insurance Update School Communications Office Move Continuous Professional Development Attention English/Literacy Subject Leaders! Events and Resources The DfE Conditions of Grant and guidance are available for information. Colchester Institute Apprenticeships in Sport Contact: Cathryn Adams, Lead Commissioner for Children in Care and Safeguarding (Virtual Head) Email: cathryn.adams@essex.gov.uk Telephone: 01245 434957 Musical Theatre Summer School – 28 July – 15 August Mitie Facilities Services Apprenticeship 2014/2015 All staff Secondary (KS3/KS4) Post 16 (Colleges/ Sixth Spring National Citizen Service Forms) All Mitie are looking to recruit 11 Facilities Services Apprentices from the Essex Community who are keen to get their foot in to the Facilities Management industry. Mitie have established the revolutionary Facilities Services Apprentice Scheme, to help give 16 year old school leavers the chance to embark on an exciting future in Facilities Management as part of our contract with Essex County Council. Every apprentice who takes part in this vocational apprenticeship course will have access to magnificent mentoring, a fantastic NVQ level 2 qualification in Facilities Services by training partner Jigsaw. Whilst studying this qualification, apprentices will be gaining real life experiences from a range of service lines and whilst earning an apprentice salary too. A pack will be sent out through the blue bag system which contains a flyer which tells you all about the apprenticeship scheme and an application form. The scheme is for post 16 up to 21 years. For more information regarding the scheme then please: Contact: MITIE and Essex County Council Partnership Email: essex.apprenticeships@mitie.com Essex Legal Services’ Legal Toolkit All staff Secondary (KS3/KS4) Look out for the next issue of Education Essex on Wednesday 23 April 2014 Visit Essex Schools Infolink Top 5 Essex Schools Infolink Areas visited this week: Education Essex Human Resources Special Schools Essex Legal Services have now issued articles relating to common legal issues, along with a legal toolkit folder, to Secondary and Special Schools this week. Folders will be received in the internal postal system and documents to insert into the folders have been emailed by the Schools Communication team directly to schools via your school admin address. Health and Safety Oracle Finance Please ensure you check your emails carefully as schools are encouraged to print a copy of the articles and place these in the folder provided for ease of use. If you do not receive your folder by Friday 4 April or if you have not received the document to insert into the folder by email, please: Contact: Lynda O’Brien, Essex Legal Services Email: lynda.obrien@essex.gov.uk Telephone: 01245 506766 Visit: Essex Legal Services Essex Schools Infolink For enquiries and password assistance regarding the Public Liability Insurance Update Headteacher, EVC, Chair of Governors All Phases All Secure Area on Essex Schools Infolink contact the Password Team Essex County Council Insurance department seeks third party providers to hold a minimum of £10 million Public Liability Insurance cover. It has been drawn to our attention that this would apply to all Educational Visits Providers. To download the full document login to EVOLVE > ‘Resources’ ECC Tab > Public liability Document. For more information please: Contact: Educational Visits Support Team Email: educationalvisits@essex.gov.uk Telephone: 01245 221020 Schools Communications Office Move All staff All Phases Department for Education News Preventing bullying Departmental advice for school leaders and school staff on preventing and responding to bullying as part of their overall behaviour policy. All The Schools Communication Team will be having an office move on Tuesday 8th April. If you experience any difficulty with contacting the team by telephone, please email us at schools.communication@essex.gov.uk History teachers Free resources for the new national curriculum. Continuous Professional Development Schools - you need to agree admission arrangements for entry in 2015-16 by 15 April and publish them on your website. Attention English/Literacy Subject Leaders! Subject Leaders Foundation (EYFS) (KS2) Infant (KS1 Junior Primary(KS1/KS2) All In response to the many requests that we have had, we have produced a range of CPD courses including several linked to the New Curriculum. These include phonic and spelling programmes and a repeat of the new National curriculum training. Please book swiftly to avoid disappointment. You can view the timetable online which contains English courses for the Summer term. Contact: Professional Development, Essex Education Services Email: cpd@essex.gov.uk Telephone: 033301 30781 New Ofsted report How effective are arrangements to safeguard children who experience neglect. Events and Resources Visit Department for Education website Colchester Institute - Apprenticeships in Sport All Heads of Physical Education Secondary (KS3/KS4) Post 16 (Colleges/ Sixth Forms) Events for April All Would you like to be part of a successful apprenticeship programme that can aid your centre or school? An apprentice has the potential to play a key role in developing and promoting sport and physical activity: We can help with the recruitment and selection process, including free advertising in order to select the right apprentice to suit your needs. Did you know that there is also an apprenticeship grant worth £1500 available for employers of 16-24 year olds that could be available to you? We have had many past and current apprentices successfully placed in areas including schools and sport and leisure complexes. A number of students have also been offered full time positions with their employer on completion of their apprenticeship. Please see the attached leaflets on the apprenticeships offered at Colchester Institute. Activity Leadership (Level 2) Sports Development (Level 3) To get involved, please: Contact: Alexandra Monk – Trainer and Assessor in Sport, Colchester Institute Email: alex.monk@colchester.ac.uk Musical Theatre Summer School – 28 July – 15 August All staff Primary(KS1/KS2) Secondary (KS3/KS4) All Essex Dance Theatre’s Musical Theatre Summer School is back by popular demand. An ideal way to meet new friends and build confidence, the Summer School is suitable for both boys and girls aged six and above. No previous experience in performing arts is necessary. Each week has a different theme – choose from Frozen, Grease, Lion King, or all three! 2/4/14 - World Autism Awareness Day Every year, autism organisations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events. 13/4/14 – Palm Sunday Palm Sunday commemorates Christ's triumphant arrival in Jerusalem to the cheers of the crowd. 20/4/2014 – Easter Sunday - Easter Sunday is the culmination of Holy Week. Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Events for Pupils Libraries seeking young volunteers Essex Libraries are looking for volunteers aged 14 and over to help with the Summer Reading Challenge during the summer holidays. During the day there are classes in drama, dance and singing culminating in a final performance on the Friday. The course costs £100 per week 9:30am -3:30pm with a discount available for siblings and a longer day option for working parents. Essex Dance Theatre is part of Essex County Council’s Youth Service and prides itself on its open door policy. For more information Visit: www.essexdancetheatre.co.uk Telephone: 01245 476335 Competitions Visit Events for Schools and Pupils for information on other schools events and competitions. Useful Resources in Essex Spring National Citizen Service All staff Secondary (KS3/KS4) All The NCS Spring programme is taking place during the Spring school holiday and there is still an opportunity for students (Year 12) to sign up. NCS is a government-funded programme, aimed at 15-17 year olds and is designed to bring together young people from diverse backgrounds, teach them teamwork, leadership and communication skills. It will make them more responsible and ready for life after school and engage them in their local communities. It will help boost their CVs with a certificate signed by the Prime Minister and is also recognised by UCAS. Due to the funding the cost of the entire project is just £35. Bursaries are available for families who may struggle with this amount. This amount covers everything a young person needs on the programme, such as residential accommodation, transport to and from the residential, food, equipment etc. Places are available to all students, regardless of academic ability or special needs. The places will mainly be filled on a first come first served basis so it’s important to sign up quickly. For enquiries or to book on, please Contact: Stuart Braybook, National Citizen Service Recruitment Officer Email: stuart.braybrooke@essex.gov.uk Telephone: 01245 436632 What’s New on Essex Schools Infolink Please see details below regarding new and updated information available this week on Essex Schools Infolink: Join Essex Schools Infolink Webinars Information about free resources can be found on Educational Resources for Schools Essex Schools Infolink Please ensure research is conducted before entering any form of contract especially if pupils will be using the resource or interacting with the service. Visit Events for Schools and Pupils and Educational Resources for Schools Visit Essex County Council Website After a successful trial last week with a selection of schools, we will now be holding online webinars to discuss improvements to the website, gather feedback from colleagues on proposed features to add to the website and demonstrate new functions. This is a great opportunity for schools and colleagues to share their views on Essex Schools Infolink and contribute to our development plans. All school colleagues are welcome to join the webinars and provide feedback or ask questions. Webinars are short online sessions which you can access at your desk and do not require webcams, as only the chair of the meeting will be visible. Please contact the Schools Communication team to join the next session. New Website Address Essex Schools Infolink can now be found at http://schools.essex.gov.uk. Users will be temporarily automatically redirected to the new website address, however colleagues are advised to update links in favourites bars and on desktops as the redirect page will be switched off on Monday 31 March 2014. Failed Password Attempts Following notification sent to all schools before half term, users of the secure area on Essex Schools Infolink will now only have three password attempts before their account is locked. The change has been introduced to increase the protection of information held within the secure area. Please take extra care when entering your password and users are reminded not share password information with colleagues. If your account is locked please contact password.EIM@essex.gov.uk for assistance. = Copyright © 2014 Essex County Council, All rights reserved. Essex County Council may share information with schools on externally promoted opportunities but this information service is not part of any brokerage arrangements set up by, or on behalf of, the County Council and schools are responsible for checking that the quality and terms of the products or services meet their requirements. We would strongly advise you to look carefully at any contractual agreements before signing up to them; and if necessary to seek legal guidance Education Essex is written by the Schools Communications team. If you have any comments or would like something included in a future edition of Education Essex please contact us: Telephone: 01245 434745 Extension: 40745 Email: Schools.Communication@essex.gov.uk Previous editions of Education Essex can be found on the Essex Schools Infolink website by visiting the Home page > General Information > Education Essex