During these trying times, ConnectEd would just like to say a big thank you to those among us who are continuing to work extremely hard to support one another. We appreciate all of your hard work!
Contents
Our newsletter is divided into the following sections:
National News - including the latest Government advice and information Local News - including Back to school resources, and PASS and SGO Update Good News - something to bring a smile to our faces! Business Section - including Policies, CPD opportunities, Our Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Scheme, contact details, Plus, News from the Key.
Further information, guidance and resources can be found on 'The Key' at the bottom of this newsletter or by logging onto our members page on the ConnectEd website and clicking The Key and selecting The Key for School Leaders.
LOCAL NEWS
To read the latest City of Wolverhampton Council Education Providers' Bulletin, please click here.
At this time of the year we would normally be in the latter stages of preparation for our City Diversity Celebration. Sadly, this year, this has not been possible. Click here for more information on the 33rd City Diversity Celebration in 2021!
Strengthening Families Hubs
A number of questions have been raised about Strengthening Families at recent ConnectEd Network meetings. Our colleagues from Strengthening Families have provided the following information and supporting documents attached:
Children’s Village, Dove, Market Hub and Graiseley Strengthening Families Hubs will be opening on the 16th November initially for our Health services to resume their clinics for children and families across the city. There has been agreement that they will also support the need to undertake statutory work where agreed by management and support staff who travel into the city to see children and require suitable ‘touchdown’ spaces. Strengthening Families Workers and Social Workers continue to be asked to work from wherever possible in line with government guidance. Both SFW’s and SW’s are seeing children as usual either within the home or at schools where this is beneficial.
The pathway for referral requesting support from Strengthening Families has not changed, The Team Around the Family Pathway is attached for your reference.
Adult Education have requested to use the space in the hub to deliver ESOL (this funding is specific to Bingley/ Graiseley) and Family Learning linked to worklessness.
Attached is the contact details of all the hubs with Delivery Managers and Social Care Team Managers emails. Also attached are the details for all Strengthening Families School Link workers.
Early Help Navigators are available to support with initiation of EHA and Training and their contact information can be seen below:
Baljeet Farmer – Eastfield and Bilston Area
baljeet.farmer@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Andrea Hadley – Graiseley and Bingley
andrea.hadley@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Laura Marsden - Dove and Whitmore Reans
laura.marsden@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Janine Till - Low Hill and Children’s Village
Janine.hill@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Eclipse Support contacts for System issues, training and navigation/ Initiation:
Stacey Homer - stacey.homer@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Balraj Juss - balraj.juss@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Libby Brown - libby.brown@wolverhampton.gov.uk
CALLING ALL BUDDING ARTISTS!
Please see attached here the Young People Schools competition on behalf of Public Health Wolverhampton, and please find all resources attached here. Closing date for entries is 9th December 2020.
Back to school Resources
Picture NewsUpdated! Hearts for Homes
Picture News are encouraging schools to send a heart with an encouraging message to local care homes.
To read full details please click here.
Safeguarding during coronavirusNEW! Information for School Governors and Trustees
This article is aimed at school governors and trustees and takes them through the things they need to consider to help ensure their school, college or academy is keeping children safe during this time
School-to-School support for COVID-19 Recovery
The government is funding school-to-school support for schools that need particular help with COVID-19 recovery, which can include support focusing on developing remote education provision, stabilising education structures and the welfare of staff and pupils. System leaders in education provide support for an average of 5 days and in line with the current COVID-19 guidance for schools. Please click here for further information.
PASS and School Games Organiser Update
FREE online Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Programme (MATP) workshopNEW!
Free connectivity from Vodafone to 250,000 schoolchildren this winter so they can keep connecting and learning at home
The Vodafone schools.connected programme is now open to primary and secondary schoolchildren across the UK.
Schools can order the data SIMs to give to pupils who find it difficult to access education from home because they don’t have the right connectivity. Each SIM has a 30GB data allowance valid for 90 days.
To order your free SIMs click here.
BUSINESS SECTION
NPQ Programme - Spring 2021 Cohort Application window now OPEN!
Please note that funding arrangements for NPQ programmes have altered and DfE Scholarship funding is no longer guaranteed.
ConnectEd Partnership, through Best Practice Network are offering NPQ qualifications through the Apprenticeship Levy. Applicants can still apply through the traditional route, where costs would need to be met by either the individual or the school.
Click on the following links to find out more information and how to apply: NPQML and NPQSL self/school funded NPQs through the Apprenticship Levy
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 18TH DECEMBER 2020
Reminder!NQT first Assessments due
Please note that the First Assessment for your NQTs are due to be completed by Friday 11th December 2020.
If you have any queries regarding the assessment process, please contact Bal Athwal.
Y6/Y7 Transition 2021 NEW!
At the meeting of Wolverhampton Secondary Headteachers last week it was agreed that they should, where possible, hold their Y6 into Y7 transition days during week commencing 5 July.
Secondary Curriculum Hubs 2020 BOOK NOW !
We are pleased to bring you another programme of Secondary Curriculum Hubs for this term - these are for subject leaders and teachers of each of the curriculum areas to attend and can include NQTs.
These are the Curriculum hubs which are available to book now:
All sessions will take place from 4pm to 5.30pm via 'Teams'
Follow the link(s) above to book or to view full details click here. For further details please contact Lisa Davies
Engagement Model Training
Children previously assessed at P1-P4
The Engagement Model will become Statutory in September 2021. This has been delayed by one year, allowing 2020/2021 to be a transitionary year.
ConnectEd Partnership are offering free on line training for schools previously assessing pupils at P1-P4 on the following dates:
Thursday 3rd December 2020
Thursday 14th January 2021
Thursday 25th February 2021
The sessions will take place via Teams from 3.30pm – 5.00pm and participants only need to attend one of the sessions which will cover most of the training. An optional session will follow in the Spring Term.
Places will need to be booked by emailing Harinder.jandu@connectedpartnership.com
Train to Teach with ConnectEd Partnership
Does your school have any staff who are interested in training to become a qualified teacher through the School Direct Route? The application window for teacher training starting September 2021 is now open. To find out more, and to book a place on one of our School Direct Information events being held soon, please click here.
Updated Policies
The following policies have been updated and are recommended to schools:
Grievance Policy
Maternity Policy
School Workforce Planning Document – this document has been considered and does not require any update at this time
School Workforce Planning Guidance Document
Volunteering Policy
Whistleblowing Policy
These updated documents are now available on the ConnectEd Partnership website and those schools that buy into LPAAC will have received copies via email.
2020-21 CPD PROGRAMME
ConnectEd Partnership are pleased to offer the following CPD opportunities for 2020-21 – please click on the relevant programme to see full details and how to apply:
All our CPD programmes can also be found on our website
Additional CPD will be advertised on this newsletter and via our website as it becomes available, including our Secondary NQT Professional Development Network and Secondary Curriculum Networks.
If you have any questions relating to CPD opportunities please contact Harinder Jandu.
(Please be aware that the Scheme was not overspent for the 19/20 financial year, therefore all schools that overspent their premium did not have to repay their overspend)
Please ensure you notify the scheme of resignations. Employees receiving occupational maternity pay (twelve weeks at half pay) are required to repay this money if they decide not to return to work. Credits reimbursed by ConnectEd to the school for non-returning maternity employees will be repayable to the scheme. It is the responsibility of the Head teacher to notify the scheme accordingly. In this situation the scheme will invoice the school to recover the full amount reimbursed for the employee concerned.
ConnectEd Partnership reserves the right to delay reimbursements to schools that have overspent their premium contribution until the school have confirmed in writing the following year buy in. Therefore for the few schools that have only joined for one year please start to consider what your intentions are for the following year. You still have time to join for the second year 21- 22 at fixed rates.
The Terms of the Scheme determine that any overspend is met by schools contributing additional funding based on claims made compared to premium contributions. If, at the end of the financial year, the account is in surplus the money will be rolled over to the following year and reflected in the premium charges. If the account is overspent, the amount will be charged to schools in the proportion to which they have claimed on the account. Schools who decide not to renew their membership of the scheme will be recharged the full amount of claims offset against the premium paid along with ConnectEd Partnership reserving the right to charge a leaving administrative fee of up to 5% of premium paid. The leaving administrative fee is payable regardless of the reimbursements made.
Schools will be reminded by email as staff reach the end of their paid leave period (39 weeks) to ensure that return to work and resignations are notified to the Scheme.
Phase Group and Network Meetings for the Spring Term NEW!
It has been agreed that the ConnectEd meetings scheduled for (at least) the first half of the Spring Term will be held online via Teams.
Wednesday 20 January at 8.30am PASS Operational Board
Thursday 21 January at 1.30pm WHINS
Tuesday 26 January at 9.30am CN 1
Thursday 28 January at 8am CN 5
Friday 29 January at 9.30am CN 6 &7
Wednesday 3 February at 9.30am CN 3
Thursday 4 February at 8am CN 8
Tuesday 9 February at 9am ASPIC
Thursday 11 February at 2pm CN 4
Friday 12 February at 9.30am CN 2
If you have any questions or would like to propose an agenda item for a meeting please email Kate Hodgetts
Shaw Maths Hub
SHaW Maths Hub provide highly regarded, free Maths professional development for teachers from EY to Post-16 to support ALL schools.
The following funded Professional Development opportunities are now available - Please click on the links below for further details and booking information:
SHaW Maths Hub provide highly regarded, free Maths professional development for teachers from EY to Post-16 to support ALL schools. Website: www.shawmathshub.co.uk Twitter: @shawmathshub Register here to receive fortnightly email updates
News from The Key
REMINDER - There is a 'helpline' available to members Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm who can be contacted on 0800 061 4500 or via email enquiries@thekeysupport.com
The Key provides a weekly news bulletin on policy changes and developments that will affect schools.
If you would like to share your stories with us, we would love to hear from you. There is a template at the top of this newsletter, or alternatively contact one of our members of staff at the bottom of the newsletter.
Get In Touch
Here is an overview of the ConnectEd Partnership Team
Got a query or request and not sure who to contact?
To join the Partnership or for further information about what the Partnership can offer you contact us!
Comments/Feedback The Partnership welcomes comments and feedback on activities of the Partnership, and any suggestions for future development. enquiries@connectedpartnership.com
Our mailing address is:
ConnectEd Partnership Ltd
Berrybrook Education Business Suite, Berrybrook Primary School
Greenacres Avenue, Underhill
Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV10 8NZ
United Kingdom
