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Issue 25: 21 March 2017
This electronic communications bulletin
is available on the North Somerset
Education Services Partnership website
at nsesp.org
Vacancy Bulletins
The Schools Vacancies Bulletin for this week will be available on the website from
Wednesday 22 March 2017.
LEARNING EXCHANGE UPDATE
Learning without Limits Conference 13 July
Click here
Learning without Limits – record expression of interest in continuing as a
member of the LwL networks by 7 April
Click here
Learning Exchange Offer April – July 2017 – booking form to be returned
by 23 March
Click here
HANS Conference 2017 – Positive Leadership in Challenging Time
27 and 28 April 2017 – closing date 7 April
Click here
Standards & Testing Agency – Assessment update 14 March 2017
Click here
FFT summer term training programme
Click here
Online safety update
Click here
CPD update
Click here
INFORMATION, UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
DfE Fair Funding Consultations
Click here
Heads, all phases
Update on traded services – closing date 27 March
Click here
Heads, all phases
Inclusive practice during transition to school
Click here
Heads, SENCOs and Inclusion Managers
Self-harm guidance for schools
Pastoral leads, safeguarding leads, SMT, SENCOs
Click here
Click here
Prevent training – response required
All school staff
Inclusion Link Programme 2017 – a programme to support pre-school to Click here
school transition – deadline for submission for referrals 6 April
Heads, SENCOs, Nursery and reception class teachers
Click here
Your Life Your Care Survey
Heads and designated teachers
MEETNGS, CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
Click here
The Campus – Easter holiday activities
LEARNING EXCHANGE UPDATE
http://thelearningexchange.org.uk/
Learning without Limits Conference
Thursday, 13 July
09:00-15:00
The Batch Country Hotel, Lympsham
As advised at the recent Learning without Limits networks in conjunction with the
Learning without Limits Headteacher Advisory Group we have decided not to hold
networks in terms 5 and 6. Instead we have arranged two keynote speakers from Voice
21 to work with you for a full day conference in term 6.
In November 2016, as part of the network, we focused on dialogic teaching and the
work of Robin Alexander and Neil Mercer. During the session, we shared the work of
School 21 using an introductory video from the School 21 website and by exploring the
oracy framework. Feedback from the session indicated that schools were really
interested to know more about, firstly, how to teach oracy skills and, secondly, how
School 21 moved from a set of design principles, values and attributes to a fully
embedded vision that is at the heart of everything the school does.
Attendees of the Learning without Limits Network Year 2 sessions will be entitled to a
free place as part of the LwL Y2 package. Please ensure you book your place on CPD
Online.
Additional places are available at a cost of £135 per delegate (LE members) and £160
per delegate (LE non-members). These will be held on the waiting list on CPD Online
and allocated on a first come first served basis once the closing date on the CPD
website of 26 June is reached.
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Booking
Please ensure you book your place(s) on CPDOnline.
If you have any queries, please email [email protected]
Learning without Limits
As you are aware, the Learning Exchange will no longer be able to support the
administration and facilitation of the Learning without Limits Networks beyond July 2017.
The LwL Advisory Headteacher Board have been working together to consider how we
may be able to continue to offer this programme for school improvement from
September 2017. Many network participants have reflected back to us that
continuation would be highly desirable in order to sustain momentum and continuity
within our collaborative networks.
In order to take this willingness to a strategic and costed plan for schools wishing to
sustain their work, we need to know how many schools would be interested in
membership of the LwL networks from September 2017 – August 2018. The LwL Advisory
Headteacher Board can then engage in discussion with The Beach Teaching School
Alliance, who have offered to facilitate the administration of the networks. The LwL
Advisory Headteacher Board and The Beach Teaching School Alliance are committed
to continuing to keep fees minimal in order to meet cost recovery only.
If you would like to record your expression of interest in continuing as a member of the
LwL networks, please can you email [email protected] by
Friday 7 April 2017.
The LwL Advisory Headteacher Board will then take this interest forward and respond in
Term 5 with a proposed structure, leadership / facilitation and cost for continuing with
the LwL school improvement networks from September 2017.
The LwL Advisory Headteacher Board is also seeking new members. The Board is
responsible for determining the on-going direction of Learning without Limits in North
Somerset. Members must be able to commit to attending at least three meetings per
year. If you are interested, please contact [email protected].
The LwL Headteacher Advisory Board
Learning Exchange Offer April – July 2017
REMINDER - Please return your Learning Exchange Offer booking form by Thurday 23
March 2017 to [email protected].
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REMINDER - HANS Conference 2017
Positive Leadership in Challenging Times, 27 and 28 April 2017
Closing date 7 April 2017
The HANS Conference ‘Positive Leadership in Challenging Times’ will be held on
Thursday 27 and Friday 28 April 2017 at Cadbury House, Congresbury.
This year’s speakers provide a blend of positive thinking around leadership and the
challenges given to us by the young people we work with and their families.
Please book your place via CPDonline. When you have booked your place, please
return your dinner choices (form available to download on CPDonline) to Angie Mason
([email protected]). Closing date for bookings – 7 April 2017.
Standards & Testing Agency – Assessment update 14 March 2017
Please visit the Standards & Testing Agency website for the 14 March update which
includes:
Key Stage 2

Reminder – complete pupil registration by Friday 17 March
Primary Assessment


Information – STA at the Education Show, Thursday 16 March
Information – KS1 and KS2 teacher assessment and moderation
FFT summer term training programme
Throughout the summer term, FFT are holding a series of hands-on introductory and
advanced courses for FFT Aspire users.
Online safety update
What is LEGO Life?
LEGO have recently launched LEGO Life; a social network app aimed at children under
the age of 13. On LEGO’s website parents can sign up to receive the LEGO Life
magazine if their children are aged between 5 and 9 or help their children sign up to
the LEGO Life app.
CPD Update
CPD Events – Term 4
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Please note dates for the following events:

Key Stage 2 Moderation Workshop – 29 March 2017
CPD Events – Terms 5 and 6
The following training events are now available to book on CPD Online:



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

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



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Year 1 Phonics Screening Check – 3 May 2017
Leading on English Network (Learning without Limits) – South – 16 May 2017
Leading on English Network (Learning without Limits) – North – 23 May 2017
Just About Books – 1st session – 25 May 2017
Leading on Mathematics Network (Learning without Limits) – North – 13 June 2017
Leading on Primary Religious Education Network – 15 June 2017
Primary Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher Meeting – 22 June 2017
Headteacher and Chair of Governor Briefing – 22 June 2017
Leading on Primary Languages Network (Learning without Limits) – 27 June 2017
Leading on Mathematics Network (Learning without Limits) – South – 27 June 2017
Leading on Primary Science Network – 29 June 2017
Deputy Headteacher Network – 6 July 2017
Just About Books – 2nd session – 6 July 2017
Learning without Limits Conference – 13 July 2017
Booking
Please ensure you book your place(s) on CPDOnline.
If you have any queries, please email [email protected]
Gail Webb, Interim Head of School Improvement
INFORMATION, UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
DfE Fair Funding consultations
Thank you for all of your input on the DfE Fair Funding Consultations. Responses from
the Council and the SSF have now been submitted. Please find below the responses
that have been submitted by the Council. Changes to the draft version that was
previously circulated via Noticeboard have been shown as tracked changes.
Response to Schools National Funding Formula consultation
Response to National High Needs Formula consultation
Louise Malik, Head of Education Transformation
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Update on traded services
As detailed in edition 23 of Noticeboard, issued on 7 March, we will soon be receiving
the final proposals from both Somerset and South Gloucestershire Councils which will be
considered alongside recommendations from our own officers at the meeting of the
Executive Committee on 25th April.
This is a reminder that we intend to give all schools an opportunity to see the proposals
and to assess them against the criteria we have produced. The proposals and the
assessment criteria will be issued to schools on the afternoon of the 23rd March, through
a Red Noticeboard, with responses accepted until 5pm on 27th March. I recognise that
this is a short timescale but I hope that the advance notice of this that we provided
earlier in the month, and this reminder, will enable many of you to respond.
Louise Malik, Head of Education Transformation
Inclusive practice during transition to school
North Somerset prides itself on its inclusive practice and the care and attention taken to
ensure that vulnerable children with additional needs are, whenever possible,
educated within their local community. It is clear that many school staff and in
particular Head Teachers, Inclusion leaders and support staff work hard to ensure that
the principles of the SEND Code of Practice and requirements of the Equality Duties Act
are followed.
MAISEY (multi-agency information and support in EY) plays an important role in planning
for the transition of pre-school children into school. In recent months, MAISEY has been
made aware of several situations where schools have shared their concerns about their
ability to financially meet children’s additional needs, with prospective parents. This
information has added to parents’ worries around choosing a suitable school for their
child.
Please can we remind all school staff that information and advice is available from the
SEN team for any school concerned about how to manage their SEN budgets
effectively to meet the needs of all children.
Anna Sutherland, Senior Educational Psychologist and Chair of MAISEY
Self-harm guidance for schools
Please see the new guidance for schools about how to respond to self-harm.
Gabrielle Stacey, Vulnerable Learners’ Service Lead
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Prevent training
Please be aware I have only had a response from a handful of schools regarding
Prevent training. Prevent comes under our statutory safeguarding duty.
Please kindly complete the form and email me as soon as possible regarding the status
of your staff members’ Prevent knowledge.
Naomi Grace, Safeguarding in Education Lead
Inclusion Link Programme 2017
A programme to support pre-school to school transition
I am pleased to confirm that North Somerset will be offering the Inclusion Link
Programme this year to children who meet one of the following criteria:
a)
b)
c)
d)
The child is in receipt of Early Years SEND Top-up Funding (any level or category)
The child is looked after (CLA) by the Local Authority
The child is a Gypsy, Roma, Traveller (GRT) child
The child is a Refugee child
And the pre-school must be working in partnership with the parents/carers regarding
the child’s transition to school.
Please note that due to changes in the Learning and Achievement Branch, visits to
schools and settings will no longer be funded by the Local Authority. Link workshops will
be fully funded.
NB: Children moving from nursery class to reception class within the same school are
not eligible for the Inclusion Link Programme.
All referrals must be submitted by Thursday 6 April 2017.
For further information about the programme, please follow the links below.

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Inclusion Link Programme 2017 information for early years settings and schools
Inclusion Link Programme 2017 information for parents/carers
Inclusion Link Programme 2017 referral form
Inclusion Link Programme 2017 workshop details
Reception Intake form (for children who are not eligible for the Link Programme)***
** Reception intake form – This form is to be completed by early years settings if a child
is not eligible for the Inclusion Link Programme and they feel that it would be helpful for
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the Reception Teacher to visit pre-school to meet the child and to discuss the child’s
transfer into school. This form is be sent directly to the receiving school.
If you have any queries about the Link Programme, please contact:
Rebecca Fisk, Lead Early Years Consultant (Inclusion)
Telephone 01275 888 979 or email [email protected]
Stana Dimopoulos, Inclusion Support Officer (EYFS)
Telephone 01275 888 677 or email [email protected]
Your Life Your Care Survey
Over the last few weeks in Noticeboard you have been asked to help support our
children who are looked after to participate in a survey to measure their well-being and
gather their experience of being in care. The results of the survey help to inform how
we can improve services for all children in care, as well as contributing to a national
research study ‘Bright Spots’, which aims to understand from children and young
people ‘What makes a good Care Journey’.
Thank you to those of you who have already given children the opportunity to take part
– 20% have been able to contribute so far. This is a fantastic start, but our aim is that all
children and young people who wish to take part have this chance. The links will close
on Friday 31 March so please find an opportunity to support children and young people
to complete the survey before then. It is essential that we hear their voices.
Age Group
4-7
8-11
Secondary +
Totals
Number of
responses
8
8
22
38
Response rate
(%)
35%
24%
17%
20%
Girls:
21
Boys: 16
Prefer not to say: 0
Foster care: 35
Friends/Family: 1
Residential care: 0
Living elsewhere: 1
Links to the survey can be found here:
Ages 4-7
Ages 8-11
Secondary plus
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For further information please contact [email protected]
Thank you for your support with this important piece of work.
Wendy Packer, Virtual School Head Teacher
MEETINGS, CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
CPDOnline events with spaces remaining
CSE Skills and Practice 2nd of May
CSE Working with Parents 28th of April
Book via CPDOnline.
Naomi Grace, Safeguarding in Education Officer
The Campus – Easter holidays 2017
Easter holiday activities
Castle Kids Holiday Club:
Registration form, dinner menu, information for parents, activity programme
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