South and West Association of Leaders in Special Schools (SWALSS)
School Business Managers / Administrators Conference: Taunton Racecourse: Thursday 12th October 2017
‘Professional Effectiveness and Accountability - Enhancing Knowledge and Expertise’
Time / Presentation: topic / presenter9.00am – 9.20am / Registration / Refreshments / Exhibitor viewing
9.20am – 9.30am / Welcome and housekeeping / introductions to exhibitors: Adi Hargreaves: Chair
10.00am – 11.00am / Ofsted Update – Management Tasks and Responsibilities to Enhance Ofsted Assessed School Performance – Do’s and Don’ts!!
Deirdre Fitzpatrick: Director of Education ICAN, former special school headteacher, extensive experience of school inspections
· Working as a collaborative team with job specificationsincluding responsibilities reviewedregularly
· Delegated tasks and accountability - pro-active performance management and appraisalframework
· Ofstedinspection requirements
- Single Central Record. website regulations [DfE]
- safeguarding - staff awareness and training
- systematic and thorough staff recruitment - references, referee's, DBS checks
- site management and safety policies, guidelines and records, health, and safety considerations
- records of pupil and staffabsence. Links with families
- details of any critical incidents
- staff induction and performance management reports and reviews
- records of governor participation in monitoring and evaluation processes
- accountability - to include withinteam support andhigh professional standards
- involvement in the school development plan [SEF]
· Administration tasks in supporting SLT developments including financial management
· School/college policies - updated regularly and made available to all members of staff
· Processing LA or MAT requirements
11.00am – 11.15am / Refreshments and exhibitors
Time / Presentation: topic / presenter
11.15am – 12.15pm / The roller coaster journey from application to convert to opening as a MAT
Peter Evans: CEO Learn@MAT and Karen Baker: SBM, Knowle DGE Learning Centre, now part of Learn@MAT
· The speakers along with colleagues from 2 Special Schools and 2 Pupil Referral Units began a journey in October 2015 which through highs and lows has eventually reached the official opening of Learn@MAT, a specialist MAT in Bristol and the surrounding areas from September 1st, 2017. The CEO (designate) and the lead School Business Manager will take us through some of the key steps and potential pit-falls of that conversion journey and things to be aware of in preparing for opening
· The Management Journey - Key Factors: processes and procedures, roles and responsibilities, financial and legal services, accountability, vision, and mission - staff and governors’ commitment
· Business and development plan - priorities and associated administration tasks
· Fundamental Questions - Why, How, What, When, Where?
- Why - factors influencing the decision for successful special schools to become an academy?
- How - in conjunction with a board of governors addressing the development process with staff consultation?
- What - requirements of DfE, EFA, LA impact on staff, pupils, and families. Multi-professional staffing considerations
- When - decisions taken and time-table established? Families and community informed
- Where - obtaining the appropriate legal and financial advice and guidance?
· Legislation: Solicitor - legal process, funding agreement, commercial transfer and property, statutory obligations
· Finance: Accountant - governors’ financial responsibilities, internal monitoring and controls, budget implications for staffing costs
· Multi Academy Trusts – vision, mission, objectives, leadership structure, shared business, finance, and administration management teams
· Structural review, shared governance
· Course Members to bring along any questions for the question and answer session at the completion of the presentation
12.15pm – 1.00pm / Lunch
1.00pm – 1.15pm / Recruit, Develop, Support and Retain Teachers
Leeanne Horner: Senior SEN Consultant HAYS Education
· With the release of the new DfE white paper and the new safeguarding regulations coming into enforcement, HAYS have prepared a number of useful tools to support your school in “Providingworld-class education and care that allows every child and young person to reach his or her potential, regardless of background.” (education white paper DfE Vision statement)
· Our presentation will give you an overview or the services available to you through Hays and the savings you can make through targeted recruitment
Time / Presentation: topic / presenter
1.15pm – 2.15pm / Perfecting Premises Management
Stephen Blackburn: Education Management Consultant: EVERY Business and Compliance Management System
· This session focuses on how the Every Compliance software can be the most effective way of obtaining and staying compliant, effectively manage property problems to reduce those corridor interruptions as well as managing your contracts to ensure you don’t roll over
· With best practice advice on applying and monitoring of systems management for day-to-day activities that ensures efficiency and safety (Ofsted)
2.15pm – 2.30pm / Schools Advisory Service (SAS) – Insurance Benefits for Special Schools
Gemma Marshall: Manager School Support Service
· An established service available to schools covering staff absence supported via insurancepolicy benefits
· Insurance package coversabsence, wellbeing care screening, therapies, medical care, serious illness counselling
· Examples of cost packages provided - used extensively in special schools in England
2.30pm – 3.30pm / Financial Planning – The Question of Pensions?
Rob Lester: Financial Consultant, Milsted Langdon, Financial Advisory Service to School and Colleges
· Teachers', and Local Government
· Purpose of thesession is to unravel theoptions, processes and procedures relating to entitlement - ill health factors, phased retirement, state pension implications,AVC's, phased and early retirement and most importantly thetax implications, in addition working past 65 and beyond
· Examples of pitfalls that people so often encounter
· Enhancingpersonal knowledge and understanding of the systems andto guidestaff colleagues in their enquiries
3.30pm / Evaluation Summary / End of Conference: Adi Hargreaves: Chair