Please note: The Local Authority has not undertaken any quality assurance checks on items relating to goods, services and training events submitted by external organisations in this section.
If you have any problems opening the links please contact diane.hunter@halton.gov.uk
CONTENTS
- Safeguarding in Education Development Officer
- Key Dates
- Syrian Resettlement Programme (SRP)
- Exclusions Court ruling
- Aviva Community Fund
- UK Road Safety Week 2018
- The Gruffalo’s Child
- Schools Funding Bulletin – September 2018
- Independent Travel Training
- School Crossing Operative Job Advert
Safeguarding in Education Development Officer
Applies to – All Schools
Status – Action
Safeguarding in Education Development Officer is a school funded post it is important that there is a primary and secondary representative on the interview panel. It is aimed to hold the interviews for the replacement for Nicola the week before half term. If you are interested in undertaking this role please can you contact Tracey Coffey by e-mail on tracey.coffey@halton.gov.uk
A copy of the job description and person specification is attached for your information.
Key Dates
Applies to – All Schools
Status – Information
Chair of Governors Briefing
6.30pm on 18th September 2018 –Halton Suite – Select Stadium Widnes – please encourage all Chair to attend this early evening briefing
Early Years Cluster Groups – Launch’. 3rd October, from 3.30 – 5.30pm.
An introduction to the who is who is the new Early Years Team
Early Years Cluster Groups – Launch’. 3rd October, from 3.30 – 5.30pm.
The purpose of the launch is to provide an introduction to the ‘new look’ Ready For Reception/GLD cluster groups. Schools and Early years settings will be clustered into locality groups to provide opportunities to carry out joint moderation activities and networking.
Inclusion Conference
17th October 2018 – all day at The Stadium – this is an important conference that we would like all headteachers to attend and will send out the agenda shortly
Primary Heads Meeting
1st November 2018 9.30 to 12pm – The Atrium Daresbury Laboratory
28th February 2019 – The Bridge Suite – Halton Select Stadium
20th June 2019 – The Bridge Suite – Halton Select Stadium
23rd November 2018 – Halton Stadium
Governors Conference – all Heads and Governors are invited
Meetings for Halton Association of Secondary Heads (with LA)
Thursday 18th October 2018 – HASH Partnership at Cronton College
Thursday 21st February 2019 – HASH Partnership at St’s Peter & Paul
Thursday 16th May 2019 – HASH Partnership at The Grange School
Syrian Resettlement Programme (SRP)
Applies to – All Schools
Status – Information
In February 2016, the Council’s Executive Board, in response to a request from the Government Immigration Minister, began to participate in the Syrian Resettlement Programme (SRP) and the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme (VCRS).
Through these two schemes there are now 112 individuals who have settled in Halton, almost half of which are children under the age of 18.
The Executive Board also agreed that Halton would participate in the widening dispersal scheme for Asylum Seekers, and for the last 2 years, Serco has been negotiating with the Home Office, NHS England and the owner of the former care home at Lilycross, Widnes – to be used as interim accommodation (temporary accommodation) for Asylum Seekers. However now that Serco have decided not to pursue this any further due to commercial reasons, the Council has started to work with Serco to procure properties for widening dispersal accommodate, i.e. properties within the wider community of Halton.
Halton’s participation in all of these schemes means there is an increasing change in our demographic, and this is perhaps most keenly felt within our schools and early years settings.
With that in mind, the Council has commissioned two days of training for colleagues working within these environments.
The training day will include the following:-
An Inclusive Environment: creating a School of Sanctuary (drawing on the wider community context and the impact of Social Media), effective admission and induction processes;
- Who are our EAL learners? ;
- EAL Best Practice: the language acquisition process, the mother tongue, strategies, differentiation, attainment;
- Managing Interventions and Additional Support;
- Working with Parents, Carers and the wider Community – exploring any barriers to engagement; and
- Planning for EAL learners.
The content of each day would provide a secure context in which each school can operate; it would also ensure that mainstream practitioners would have the confidence and skills to meet the needs of newly arrived EAL students as well as supporting more advanced learners.
Each delegate would receive copies of the resources used on the day. As well as these resources, the Council has agreed to purchase an additional set of PDF documents which include these as well as a wider bank of resources which will be available electronically.
The day will run from 9:00 am to 3:45, at the Select Security Stadium Halton.
Two dates have been confirmed as 18th October and 8th November. There is no need to attend both – as their content will be exactly the same.
It is anticipated that each school/learning establishment will send one person – who then take that learning back into the school/education environment.
There are 30 places available on each day – and it’s a first come first serve basis.
If you would like to have a place reserved for your schools, or have any further questions – please contact Shelah Semoff, Partnership Officer on
0151 511 8677 email: shelah.semoff@halton.gov.uk
Exclusions Court ruling
Applies to – All Schools
Status – Information
Click here to view Schedule pupil version Primary
Click here to view Schedule pupil version Secondary
Click here to view Schedule Teacher version Secondary
Click here to view Schedule Teacher version Primary
Click here to view evidence of action
Click here to view notification of permanent exclusion form
Click here to view notification of fixed term exclusion form
Click here to view protocol for pupils with SEMH
The exclusion of an autistic boy after he hit a teaching assistant with a ruler, punched her and pulled her hair, was unlawful, a court has ruled.
Following the incident in February 2016, the child, known only as “L”, was given a one-and-half day exclusion.
But a judge in the Upper Tribunal has ruled that “aggressive behaviour is not a choice for children with autism”.
The Department for Education says it will consider the implications of the ruling.
Judge Rowley said that “In my judgment the Secretary of State has failed to justify maintaining in force a provision which excludes from the ambit of the protection of the Equality Act, children whose behaviour in school is a manifestation of the very condition which calls for special educational provision to be made for them.
Further information is available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-45182213
Where schools in Halton are struggling with pupils with challenging behaviour they need to ensure they have used all appropriate strategies and followed the Protocol including completing the appropriate CARE Profile attached. It is only when schools have done this and the child remains at risk of permanent exclusion would the LA expect to see the Evidence of action for pupils with SEMH (including with persistent behaviour) form being completed, attached, and this along with the CARE Profile being submitted to the preventing exclusions inbox preventingexclusions@halton.gov.uk
Where schools have followed the Protocol and they do exclude pupils the appropriate exclusion notification form paperwork attached should be completed and returned to the Education Welfare Service. For a fixed term exclusion the paperwork should be returned within 5 school days and for a permanent exclusion the paperwork must be sent to the Education Welfare Service Debbie.houghton@halton.gov.uk and david.purcell@halton.gov.uk within 24 hours of the permanent exclusion
For further information please contact:- Debbie Houghton Principal Education Welfare Officer
Aviva Community Fund
Applies to – All Schools
Status – Information
The Aviva Community Fund opens for applications on the 11th September 2018. Community organisations and schools will be able to apply for funding of up to £25,000 to support projects falling into one of the following three categories:
- Environment;
- Health and Wellbeing;
- Skills for Life.
- There are four funding levels:Up to £1,000 (400 awards)Up to £10,000 (44 awards)
There are four funding levels: Up to £1,000 (400 awards) Up to £5,000 (78 awards) Up to £10,000 (44 awards) Up to £25,000 (16 awards)
Applicants will need support from their community for their application in the form of votes and the most voted for applications will go through to the final to be judged. Every finalist in the £5,000, £10,000 or £25,000 funding levels that does not win an award will receive £500. All projects also have the chance to raise more money for their project through a crowdfunding campaign that will run in parallel with their Aviva Community Fund campaign.
The fund is open to individuals, schools and not-for-profit organisations meeting the Eligibility Criteria. Applicants under the age of 18 (but over 13 as at 14th August 2018) can submit an entry to the Awards but must provide the consent of an appropriate adult associated with the project they are entering.
Projects funded in the last round included:
Urmston Hockey Club – Health and wellbeing / up to £1,000 category: The funding will buy a new junior goalkeeping kit and equipment for the junior section
Balfour Primary School, Brighton – Skills for Life £1,001 – £5,000 category: Funding to improve the Foundation Stage Outdoor Learning Environment
The Lost Arc CIC, Rhyader – Community Support £5,001 – £10,000 category: Funding to build a pizza oven for this community performance venue, arts centre and cafe
Useful Links:
The Aviva Community Fund In Action (Video)
https://community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/campaign/getinvolved
UK Road Safety Week 2018
Applies to – All Schools
Status – Information
Educators are being encouraged to register for UK Road Safety Week 2018 (19-25 November) at www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk/educators. Coordinated by charity Brake, the Week is a great opportunity to engage children of all ages with road safety by using free resources (available from September) on this year’s theme Bike Safe. Click here to view leaflet
The Gruffalo’s Child
Applies to – All Schools
Status – Information
THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD presented by Tall Stories
The Brindley Theatre, Runcorn- Sunday 30 September & Monday 1 October |Sunday 1.30pm & 4.30pm, Monday 10.30am & 1.30pm £12
A magical, musical adaptation of the much-loved picture book, Songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups, in the hugely popular show that’s toured Britain and the world! Running time 55 minutes (no interval)
Tickets & Information: 0151 907 8360 www.thebrindley.org.uk
Schools Funding Bulletin – September 2018
Applies to – All Schools
Status – Information
If you have a project or an idea that you require advice and funding assistance with, please fill out an Enquiry Form.
Schools Bulletin – September 2018
Independent Travel Training
Applies to – All Schools
Status – Information
Please find attached Independent travel training document
Job Opportunity
School Crossing Operative
Applies to – All Schools
Status – Information
Working Pattern: Term Time/Part Time
Closing Date:16/09/2018 at 23:55 PM
We are looking for reliable and responsible people to help children to safely cross in Runcorn and Widnes, on their journey to and from school each day.
If you would like to find out more about this rewarding and worthwhile job please phone Ros Wong or Michelle Simpson for an informal chat on 0151 511 7630 or 07795 978 387.
International geography competition
Applies to – All Schools
Status – Information
International geography competition I led and encouraging Halton students to participate in the 2019 competition.
see attached for details