Department for Education News
School Updates
Continuous Professional Development and Events
Finance Update
HR Updates
Facilities Update
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Department for Education News
- DSG Settlement 2013/14
- Copyright Licence Deal
Audience: Headteachers/Administration and Finance
Key Stage: All Key Stages
School Type:All
DSG Settlement 2013/14
The Department for Education (DfE) has announced the School Funding Settlement for 2013/14. The underlying school budget will be kept at the same cash per pupil as in 2012/13.
The distribution of DSG is now presented in three ‘notional’ spending blocks, an early years block, a schools block and a high needs block. In addition the baseline has been adjusted to reflect the incidence of high needs pupils and places supported by the Authority. The underlying school budget will be kept as cash flat per pupil for 2013/14.
Schools Block
£m / Early Years Block
£m / High Needs Block
£m / Total
£m
Total DSG 12-13 / 790.342 / 42.302 / 107.104 / 939.748
Total DSG 13-14 / 794.497 / 52.588 / 107.654 / 954.739
The Early Years Block has £10m to support the introduction of a free nursery offer for some two year olds.
The minimum funding guarantee remains at -1.5%.
The pupil premium has been announced at £900 for disadvantaged pupils and £300 for service pupils.
It is important to balance flexibility with local needs and the LA will work with the Schools Forum to determine the final distribution per block that best meets local needs and minimises turbulence in the transition to the new formula.
For further information and downloadable documents relating to DSG and Pupil Premium:
Visit:Schools Funding Settlement 2012-13 including Pupil Premium at the Department for Education
Copyright Licence Deal
Audience: All Teaching Staff/Administration and Finance
Key Stage: All Key Stages
School Type:All
Copyright Licence Deal
Schools are set to benefit after the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) and the Department for Education sign a three-year deal on the copyright licensing for schools.
From April 2013, the Department will manage a national CLA Schools Licence for all state maintained schools in England. Schools need this licence in order to copy materials from books, magazines and websites legally. In addition, the deal will also include a new licence from the Music Publishers Association to cover copying of items such as printed sheet music.
The move could save schools up to £6 million in total that can instead be spent on frontline school services.
For further information and the full article:
Visit: News and Press Noticesat the Department for Education
Alternatively visit www.cla.co.uk/for information regarding CLA Schools Licence
School Updates
- Essex Family Solutions Service now up and running
- School Safeguarding Survey 2012
- EMTAS e-bulletin, Spring Term 2013
- Clerks’ Briefings Agenda January 2013
- Chance to be Chancellor
- Health and Safety – Swimming Pools
- Health and Safety internal monitoring
- Broadband update
Audience: SENCO/Home School Support Services
Key Stage:All Key Stages
School Type:All
Essex Family Solutions Service now up and running
A new service aimed at helping families identify their own solutions to their problems has been launched by Essex County Council.
The Essex Family Solutions Service, led by service manager Lise Bird, is aimed at engaging families with a range of issues on a voluntary basis for up to 12 months. Families will be supported and challenged to identify their own solutions. The team will use solution focussed and motivational styles of working to help families move forwards towards their goals.
The criteria for involvement with family solutions include issues with anti-social or offending behaviour, educational issues and families claiming an out-of-work benefit.
This service is being developed as part of an integrated programme, aligning with the Community Budget pilot and existing and future services for families with complex needs (FCN).
For more information on the service:
Visit:
Contact: Family Solutions Service manager, Lise Bird,
Email:
Telephone: 01245 265151
School Safeguarding Survey 2012
Audience: All Staff
Key Stage: All Key Stages
School Type:All
School Safeguarding Survey 2012
Many thanks to the many schools that took part in this survey last term. The attached report was presented in December to the Essex Safeguarding Children’s Board (ESCB). In summary, the survey was carried out in October 2012 and 61% of schools contacted responded to the survey.
- There was no difference in the way in which different types of schools (academies / not academies) answered the questions – this was a key question from the ESCB.
- Nearly all schools reported they had a named senior teacher championing safeguarding and promoting child welfare and nearly all had adopted the LA’s model child protection policy.
- Only 58% had used the local authority Section 11 Audit Tool – the ESCB commented that this was a concern.
- Nearly a fifth felt the safeguarding audit process could be better.
- Around 20% of schools had plans that did not fully take account of children and families’ views.
- 31% of schools said there is a need for better signposting for pupils and parents on safeguarding and mental health issues.
- The majority of schools have induction processes for all staff and volunteers that include safeguarding.
- Around 14% don’t train staff or volunteers to recognise signs of abuse and neglect.
- Nearly a quarter said that not all governors are trained in safeguarding.
- Nearly all Schools check references and verify qualifications.
- A quarter do not train ALL staff involved in recruitment in “Safer Recruitment”.
- Schools have at least one person involved in recruitment trained in “Safer Recruitment”.
- Those schools not meeting the effective inter-agency working wanted more guidance on procedures.
- The local authority Section 11 Audit Tool is promoted more widely.
- Provision of material to school to help promote safeguarding and mental health issues to staff, pupils and parents.
- Schools should be encouraged to seek the views of children and families when making plans.
- More is done to encourage schools to review and promote their safeguarding procedures and duties to staff.
- More guidance on how and when information about a child should be shared and when it should be made available to other agencies.
- Ensure all staff and volunteers are trained in recognising the signs of abuse and neglect.
Attached: School Safeguarding Survey
EMTAS e-bulletin, Spring Term 2013
Audience: Inclusion/Multicultural/PSHE/RE Co-ordiantors/Teaching staff
Key Stage: All Key Stages
School Type:All
EMTAS e-bulletin
In September 2012 EMTAS (Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service) launched a new termly e-bulletin, designed to give schools advance information about festivals and special days, new ideas for school events and links to some great resources in the areas of Diversity and Equality. We have received some positive feedback about our first edition
Here is your next bulletin.
For further information and contact details please see the bulletin.
Clerks’ Briefings Agenda January 2013
Audience: Clerks
Key Stage: All Key Stages
School Type:All
Clerks’ Briefings Agenda January 2013
Please find attached the agenda for the spring term clerks' briefings; and please note that some of the venues are a change from our usual venues. (See below for addresses)
Please note the change of venue for 16 January 2013(Danbury Outdoors) and 17 January 2013(Wilson Marriage Centre).
11 January 2013 / 10AM – 12 noon / AldermanBlaxillSchool
Paxman Avenue
Colchester
CO2 9DQ
16 January 2013 / 10AM – 12 noon / Danbury Outdoors
Well Lane
Danbury
CM3 4AB
17 January 2013 / 10AM – 12 noon / Wickford Centre
SS11 7TZ
17 January 2013 / 7PM – 9PM / Wilson Marriage Centre
Barrack Street
Colchester
CO1 2LR
23 January 2013 / 2PM – 4PM / Harlow Centre
CM18 6TE
We look forward to seeing you at the clerks’ briefings
Please book your placevia Schools' Learning and Development:
Telephone: 01245 434300
Email:
Chance to Be Chancellor
Audience: Pupils 14-18
Key Stage: SecondaryPost 16
School Type:All
Action Required: Entries must be received by 15 February 2013.
Give your students the Chance to be Chancellor!
Chance to be Chancellor is a digital educational challenge which uniquely gives your students a chance to learn about, and share their opinions on, Budget 2013. Via an online tool, Chance to be Chancellor challenges your students to make informed decisions on spending and taxation.
We gather the opinions of all students who take part and publish them in the ‘Youth Budget’ to provide a platform for young people’s views on Budget 2013. Students can also enter a national competition by creating a short video (max 90 secs) arguing their own choices with a chance to win an IPad and an exclusive invite to the Youth Budget 2013 launch event.
Chance to be Chancellor runs until 15 February 2013 and is open to all 14-18 year olds.
For further information and to get your students taking part:
Contact: Robert Bickers
Email:
Telephone: 020 7566 5032
Visit:
Find us on Facebook
Tweet us on Twitter: @Payingforit
Health and Safety – Swimming Pools
Audience: Headteacher/ PE Co-ordinator/ Buildings & Facilities Management
Key Stage:All Key Stages
School Type:All
Please see below the attached three letters that have been sent separately to community schools, foundation schools and academies and to schools with swimming pools.
Letter for Foundation and Academies
Letter for Community Schools
Letter for Community Schools with Swimming Pools
Health and Safety internal monitoring
Audience: Headteacher/ Buildings & Facilities Management
Key Stage:All Key Stages
School Type:All
Action Required: Complete the Health and Safety Internal Monitoring by 30 January 2013
Health and Safety internal monitoring
Thank you to all the schools who have completed the Health and Safety internal Monitoring to date. For those schools who have not completed the closing date is 30th January 2013.
It is available from the Health and Safety home page on the Essex Schools Infolink website under the Health and Safety Internal Monitoring section.
The purpose of the exercise is to ensure basic health and safety management systems and standards have been implemented throughout the school. It forms part of Essex County Council’s legal obligation to monitor health and safety within schools
Headteachers must ensure all applicable checklists are completed and submitted for their school.
A report of schools failing to complete this exercise will be sent to the Director of Schools Children and Families.
For further information or if you have any questions or require any help:
Contact: Health and Safety
Email:
Telephone: 01245 436896.
Broadband update
Audience: ICT Co-ordinator or Technician/Admistration and Finance
Key Stage: KS1KS2PrimarySecondary
School Type:All
Broadband update
On 20 December, Schools’ Forum approved the new contract for schools’ broadband. The new contract has been procured via OEJU Restricted procurement and the successful company is Daisy Updata Communications Limited (DUCL) which is a joint venture company between Updata Communications Limited and Daisy Communications Limited. The new contract will upgrade all primary, infant and junior schools to a minimum of 10Mbs connection from 2Mb but most will benefit from next generation access methods up to 34Mb where available. The new contract has also the following benefits for all schools:
- All Primary, Infant and JuniorSchools upgraded to a minimum of 10mbs and where next generation access is available the schools will be connected at up to 34Mb. All upgrades to be completed by April 2014.
- Secondary Schools will have an upgraded path to 1Gbs when required.
- Direct connection to the JA.netnetwork for schools.
- Secure Online Storage Facility for FMS/MIS systems within schools.
- Next Generation filtering system allowing schools more control over the internet and the support for transparent proxy for ‘bring your own device into schools’
- Video Conferencing Core connected to the JA.net network and the internet.
- SIP gateway for digital voice traffic from schools.
- Virus Protection for Schools
- Web hosting for schools
- Schools will also be able to benefit from the following services from this contract which will be available to schools, if they wish to take them up, via a service catalogue:
- Mobile Telephony - £4pm Sim Unlimited Calls and all other Mobile telephony services.
- IPT – IP Telephony systems for schools.
- Unified Communications Systems
- SMS Gateways for text services for schools
- Full internal LAN Management within the school
Continuous Professional Development
- Urgent reminder – Personal Education Plans (PEP) for Children in Care
- Programme For Specialist Leaders In Behaviour And Attendance (Pslba – Harlow)
- Integrated Working Training Programme (Amended)
- The EPS Maths Intervention
Audience: Inclusion/SENCO
Key Stage:All Key Stages
School Type:All
Action Required: Booking forms must be received before Thursday 10 January 2013.
Personal Education Plans (PEP) for Children in Care
You will have seen from previous communication that the Achievement Service for Children in Care has announced the new Personal Education Plans for Children in Care. In order to ensure that designated teachers are prepared for this change here are 16 training venues across Essex available throughout January 2013. The information flyer and booking form is attached so please ensure this is returned promptly – the first session is 10 January 2013. Headteachers are being asked to ensure that the designated teacher attends the training in order to drive up the performance and educational outcomes for Children in Care.
Please return the completed booking form to
For further information or if you should have any questions:
Contact: Achievement Service for Children in Care
Email:
Telephone: 01245 434957
Programme For Specialist Leaders In Behaviour And Attendance (Pslba – Harlow)
Audience: All Staff
Key Stage: All Key Stages
School Type:All
Action Required: Applications must be received by Friday 18January.
Programme for Specialist Leaders in Behaviour and Attendance (PSLBA – Harlow)
There are currently a few places available on the next delivery of the Programme for Specialist Leaders in Behaviour and Attendance (PSLBA) which starts on Friday 25th January 2013.
The Programme for Specialist Leaders in Behaviour and Attendance is a FREE interactive learning programme for all professionals working in the field of behaviour and attendance. It was previously known as the National Programme for Specialist Leaders in Behaviour and Attendance (NPSLBA). PSLBA offers an opportunity for professionals at all levels of responsibility in schools to develop and enhance their leadership skills and to relate this to their work with young people around behaviour and attendance.
The programme requires attendance at three study days / cluster sessions which will be held at Goodman House, Harlow on the following days.
Study day 1 –25th January 2013 9:30 – 4:00pm
Study day 2 –22nd March 2013 9:30 – 4:00pm
Study day 3 - 7th June 2013 9:30 – 4:00pm
Candidates will also need to attend a further five cluster sessions lasting approximately two hours but these will be arranged at the study days to ensure they are convenient for those attending.
A completion certificate is available to participants who meet all the requirements of the programme. Further accreditation may be possible and this will be discussed with those candidates who may be interested but please note that this will require further study and incur costs.
There is no charge for the PSLBA programme.
For further information or if you should have any questions:
Contact: Julie Keating
Email:
Telephone: 01245 436012
Integrated Working Training Programme (Amended)
Audience: All Staff
Key Stage:All Key Stages
School Type:All
Integrated Working Training Programme
A new training brochureis available with details of the sessions being held during the first quarter of 2013.
In addition to the courses/workshops outlined in the above brochure we have some interactive learning sets based around the subject of working with resistant parents that are available to book and detailed within the flyer.
For further information, to book a place on a course or if you require any additional help or support:
Contact: Integrated Working team
Email:
Telephone: 01245 434073 / 01245 434061
The EPS Maths Intervention
Audience: Teaching Staff/SENCO/Maths Co-Ordinatar
Key Stage: KS1KS2Primary
School Type:All
Action Required: Book your place on the course as soon as possible.
The EPS Maths Intervention
The EPS MI was developed in Essex to meet the needs of pupils working below National Curriculum Level 2. The EPS MI is a 12 week programme which will increase pupils’ arithmetical skills. On average pupils make double the rate of progress on standardised assessments when compared to the progress made by pupils not using the intervention.
The course takes place on: 8 March 2013, 9:30 – 3:30 at the Wickford Centre
The package includes:
- One day of training for 2 members of staff (one must be a teacher and the other the person who is to deliver the training if different);
- 2 in-school visits after the training to support implementation;
- all materials needed to deliver the EPS MI.
For further information and to book a place:
Contact: Alpa Varsani, Assistant Educational Psychologist
Email:
Finance Update
- Change to Schools Scheme of Finance for Schools
- Free School Meals and the January Census
Audience: Finance
Key Stage:All Key Stages
School Type:All