Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to this week’s issue of Education Essex.
Congratulations to Caroline Haynes and all her colleagues at Tendring Technology College on the outstanding judgment in the school’s inspection.
Schools Forum met last week (all papers can be found Schools Forum, Agenda – 9 October 2013, Essex Schools Infolink). Two significant developments were the agreement of a factor to recognise the additional needs of reception classes and the importance of improving speech therapy provision for special schools in some parts of the county.
I am pleased to confirm that the 2013 primary performance summaries (provisional) will begin to be circulated later this week. You will receive them in hard copy – and electronically via SSET, for those schools who subscribe to Target Tracker. We continue to enhance these documents and would welcome feedback on this latest iteration. Once we have access to the published dataset in February 2014, a finalised version will be distributed to schools.
Also, headteachers should have received by email this week a letter regarding a draft of the proposed new strategy on Special Education Needs. This strategy is a response to the opportunities to review provision in light of the changes that are going to be required as part of the reform of the SEN legislation which will be implemented in 2014 and a commitment to see improvements in the provision for and the achievements of children and young people with SEN.
Finally, this weekthe Youth Service public consultation has begun which will help shape the future of our Youth Service provision. You can find out more information including how to access the survey in the Youth Service Public Consultationitem under school updates.
In this week’s issue:
School Updates
- Important Update Regarding Changes to Oil Contracts and Suppliers
- Update on RAISEOnline and Fisher Family Trust (FFT) data publication schedules
- Youth Service Public Consultation
- Young Essex Assembly Update
- SHEU Survey: Supporting the Well-being of Children and Young People in Essex
- Private Fostering Information Session
- Child Suicide – Working Together to Reduce the Risk
- Free Workstations available
- Essex Music Education Hub Workshops
- Young People’s Library Survey 2013: Children Talk, Libraries Listen
- Stop Loan Sharks Educational Resources
- Sumdog Maths Competition for Essex Schools
- Schools Radio Competition
Tim Coulson
Director for Education and Learning
School Updates
- Important Update Regarding Changes to Oil Contracts and Suppliers
- Update on RAISEOnline and Fisher Family Trust (FFT) data publication schedules
- Youth Service Public Consultation
- Young Essex Assembly Update
- SHEU Survey: Supporting the Well-being of Children and Young People in Essex
Audience:Business Manager
Phase:All Phases
School Type:All
Please be advised that from Monday 14October 2013 the Pro5/CBC arrangement for the supply of liquid fuels has being extended for a further two years until the end of September 2015. If you are a user of this arrangement please find the new supply details attached.
For any DERV user please note the new supplier for this product is Hall Fuels. If you could please make arrangements to contact this company early to ensure all your details and requirements are known to them prior to placing orders.
Please also find attached information regarding change of company name for GB Oils Limited.
For further information or if you have any queries:
Contact:Laraine Tolson, Category Manager Procurement Services
Email:
Telephone: 01245 434 691
Update on RAISEOnline and Fisher Family Trust (FFT) data publication schedules
Audience: Headteacher/ Data Manager
Phase:All Phases
School Type:All
Fisher Family Trust (FFT)
We have received the following update from Fisher Family Trust (FFT) on the schedule for publication of their latest datasets in FFTLive:
Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 3
- Interactive reports released in FFTLive (w/b Monday7 October 2013)
- Interactive reports released in FFTLive (middle to end of w/b Monday 7 October 2013)
- LA databases released (early w/b Monday 14 October 2013)
- Governor Dashboard, Self-Evaluation Booklet & interactive reports released in FFTLive (Saturday 19 October 2013)
RAISEOnline have announced the provisional timetable for the release of 2013 unvalidated data. These datasets will not reflect the outcomes of requests for changes to the data that schools may submit via the schools performance tables checking exercise. The exact dates of publication will be confirmed in advance of the particular key stage release and communicated to users via the Latest news section of RAISEonline.
- Year 1 and Year 2 phonics data – mid October 2013
- Key Stage 1 unvalidated data – mid October 2013
- Key Stage 2 unvalidated data – end of October 2013
- Key Stage 4 unvalidated data – early to mid-December 2013
Contact: Kojo Osam-Boakye or Mark Gant
Email: or
Telephone: 01245 437 023 / 01245 434 832
Youth Service Public Consultation
Audience:All Staff
Phase:All Phases
School Type:All
Essex County Council (ECC) has started a six week public and stakeholder consultation period, helping us determine the future shape of our Youth Service provision.
As with other areas of the organisation, the Youth Service has been tasked with identifying savings - contributing to ECC’s overall savings target of at least £215m. The service is now engaging with a wide range of people and key stakeholder groups to help determine how the service should be shaped in the future to best meet service users’ needs.
The Public and stakeholder consultation period is ‘live’ until Wednesday 20 November 2013, and the survey and all accompanying literature can be accessed online. Copies of the consultation can also be requested by calling 01245 436 632.
Until public consultation has taken place, we do not know how the service will operate in the future. Detailed analysis will take place at the end of consultation, forming the basis of a business case which will go to Outcomes Board either in December or in January 2014.
Young Essex Assembly Update
Audience: All Staff
Phase:All Phases
School Type:All
The Young Essex Assembly(YEA) is the elected youth council for Essex. It was created in 2003 and since then 75 young people aged 11-19 have been elected every 2 years. The aim of the YEA is to represent all young people and to be the official, democratically elected voice for young people in Essex. The current group of young people are half way through their term of office.
To read more about the YEA and what it has been up to recently please read the attached updateand the reports below:
- YEA Sitting Report August 2013
- YEA Summary Information August 2013
Contact: Young Essex Assembly Team
Email:
Telephone: 01206 824193
SHEU Survey: Supporting the Well-being of Children and Young People in Essex
Audience: Headteacher/ Student Support Services
Phase:All Phases
School Type:All
Please findattached the Involvement Team's summary reportand children and young people friendly summary and highlights reports on this year's findings from our annual wellbeing survey of children and young people in Essex (commonly referred to as the 'SHEU Survey')..
This year, the SHEU survey gathered the views of nearly 10,000 children and young people across Essex, during spring term 2013. The total sample achieved was 5,068 pupils in primary schools and 4,779 pupils in secondary schools and 116 pupils in special schools.
Other reports available upon request from the Involvement Team and produced by the Research and Intelligence Unit are:
- Special schools report
- Pupils receiving free school meals
- Smoking, drugs and alcohol
- Bullying and Feeling Safe
- Emotional wellbeing of pupils
- The Schools Health Education Unit (SHEU) have also produced district reports, summarising, where the sample size allows us to do so, the findings for each of the districts.
- Further information for schools and details on how to take part in the 2014 survey can be found on Essex Schools Infolink
- You can also read the Research and Intelligence Unit's detailed report
Contact: Involvement Team
Visit: SHEU Survey, Essex Schools Infolink
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Continuous Professional Development
- Private Fostering Information Session
- Child Suicide – Working Together to Reduce the Risk
Audience:Headteacher/ Safeguarding Officer
Phase:All Phases
School Type:All
An information session regarding private fostering, including schools legal responsibility to notify the Essex Private Fostering Team if you are aware of a child living in a private fostering arrangement, is taking place on Monday 25 November 2013 from 10 – 11 am.
For further information please see theattached flyer and to book your place:
Contact: Corrie Castleman
Email:
Telephone: 01206 266 373/ 07748 623 336
Child Suicide – Working Together to Reduce the Risk
Audience:Headteacher/ Safeguarding Officer
Phase:All Phases
School Type:All
The Essex Safeguarding Children Board (ESCB) has decided to hold a conference to examine the issues around the difficult and challenging subject of child suicide. The event will be held jointly for decision makers and young people, with an ambition to improve the outcomes for all children and young people in Essex.
Please see the attached letter of invitationfor Thursday 21 November 2013 in the Pavilion Suite at Essex County Cricket Ground in Chelmsford between 10am and 2pm.
As places are very limited we are inviting 2 pupils from each secondary school to attend (with a member of staff). Places are limited and will be given on a first come first served basis.
If you would like to book places on this conference:
Contact: Essex Safeguarding Children Board
Email:
Telephone: 01245 434927
Visit: Essex Safeguarding Children Board
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School Visits, Events and Resources
- Free Workstations available
- Essex Music Education Hub Workshops
- Young People’s Library Survey 2013: Children Talk, Libraries Listen
- Stop Loan Sharks Educational Resources
- Sumdog Maths Competition for Essex Schools
- Schools Radio Competition
Audience:Administration/ School Business Manager
Phase:All Phases
School Type:All
Could you use a free workstations for your School Office?
Anglia Ruskin University has 28 workstations (Left Handed and Right Handed), size 1800 with 28 pedestals.
The workstations will be available until the end of October.
For further information or your school is interested and would like to arrange collection:
Contact Ann Debney
Telephone: 0845 196 4227
Essex Music Education Hub Workshops
Audience:Music Coordinator/ Pupils
Phase:All Phases
School Type:All
Essex Music Services, Essex County Council
We run ensembles for young people of all ages and abilities. Please see the attached flyers below for information on upcoming workshops which we are happy for you to share with pupils.
Half-Term Workshops
Singing
These provide a great opportunity for young people living or educated in Essex to come and sing together in a friendly, fun environment.
Essex Fun Singers for pupils in Years 1 - 2
Sunday 27 October 2013 9.15am – 12pm
Essex Young Singers for pupils in Years 9+
Sunday 27 October 2013 – Tuesday 29 October 2013 9.15am -3.30pm
Essex Training Choir for pupils in Years 5 - 8
Wednesday 30 October 2013 –Thursday 31 October 2013 9.15am -3pm
Essex Beginner Choir for pupils in Years 3 - 4
Friday 1 November 2013 9.15am – 3pm
Brass
Our instrument workshops offer young people living or educated in Essex the chance to experience playing together in an ensemble with tuition from some of the finest and most experienced tutors in Essex. Watch out for workshops for wind and string players after half-term.
Players of grade 2-5 standard
Sunday 27 October 2013, 1.30pm – 4pm
Charge of £5 per pupil
For further information:
Contact: Music Team
Email:
Telephone: 01206 798788
Visit:Events for Pupils, Essex Schools Infolink
Young People’s Library Survey 2013: Children Talk, Libraries Listen
Audience:Administration Staff/ Pupils/ Parents and Carers
Phase: NurseryEYFSInfantJunior PrimarySecondary
School Type:All
Essex Library teams would be very grateful if your school could help publicise the Young People’s Library Survey 2013 to parents either through your school newsletter or school website.
From Monday 21 October 2013 to Sunday 3 November 2013, Essex Libraries will be undertaking a confidential survey to find out what children and young people think about their library services. Children visiting Essex libraries during these weeks will be asked to complete a short and simple questionnaire (parents will be asked to complete the survey for those under five and in Key Stage 1). The survey will help us to find out how family friendly our libraries are and how much support they offer to children, parents and young people.
(NB Colchester and Galleywood Libraries will be closed for some work this time and so will running the survey in the spring)
For more information:
Visit: Essex Libraries
Stop Loan Sharks Educational Resources
Audience:All Staff
Phase:Junior SecondaryPost 16
School Type:All
An estimated 310,000 household are in debt to illegal money lenders across the country, these criminals exploit and extort borrowers and resort to extreme methods to enforce repayment.
The England Illegal Money Lending Team are a national enforcement team cracking down on loan sharks and as part of their on-going awareness raising work they’re launching brand new lesson plans for schools. The lesson plans encourage pupils to think about how they would manage their money in adult life, whilst talking sensitively about loan sharks. The lesson plans are completely free of charge, aligned to the curriculum and PFEG quality marked. There are two packs, which will be finalised in December 2013, covering key stages 2, 3, 4 and 5. Both packs have links to English, Maths and Drama, amongst other subjects.
Please click here to register for either an email or a hard copy.
To report a loan shark:
Call the 24/7 confidential hotline 0300 555 2222
Text ‘loan shark + your message’ to 60003
E-mail:
Visit: Online Resources and Services, Essex Schools Infolink
Sumdog Maths Competition for Essex Schools
Audience:Maths Coordinator/ Teachers/ Pupils
Phase:Junior Secondary
School Type:All
An exciting maths contest aimed at ages 6 to 14 has been set up for schools in Essex.
Students compete by playing the free games on the Sumdog websiteanytime between 8am on Friday 22 November 2013 and 8pm the following Thursday. It will only take an hour or so in total to get a competitive score.
Sumdog adapts its questions to each student's ability, so all students have a good chance of winning. And to make it fair to schools of all sizes, schools are ranked on the average number of correct answers.
For further information or to find out how your school can join in the fun:
Visit: School Based Events, Essex Schools Infolinkor Sumdog
Schools Radio Competition
Audience:All Staff/ Pupils
Phase:All Phases
School Type:All
Sponsored by The Vision charity: ‘Best 30sec. Schools Radio Promo’
Schools have the chance to win £100 of audio equipment for your school radio station or club. Entrants are requested to create a 30 second audio promo for a Schools Radio station or club. So it’s time to get creative by writing, recording, producing and mixing to create your station promo.
Your promotion could be advertising the station, a feature, looking for new members or to promote a download you have created.
The deadline is Monday 21 October 2013 for us to receive your entry online; the winner will be announced on Thursday 31 October 2013.
How to Enter
Email the following details to:
(1) The name of your School
(2) The name of your teacher
(3) Your Radio Club or Station Name
(4) A photo of the team (if compliant with School Policy)
(5) Your audio in MP3 format
Competition Guidelines
- You must be a schools radio station or club in the UK
- Schools up to and including sixth forms
- One entry per school
- The judges’ decision is final
- The deadline is Monday 21 October 2013
Visit:School Based Events, Essex Schools Infolinkor Schools Radio
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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:
Previous editions of Education Essex can be found on the Essex Schools Infolink website by visiting the Home page > General Information > Education Essex