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