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February Newsletter for Safeguarding
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Maths Transition Project (EEF)
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School Governors
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SEND Information
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Ramadan & Muslims in Britain Training for your Primary Schools
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ICT / SIMS Update
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World Book Day
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After-school activity hub
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Funding and cost of Living Bulletins – Feb 2023
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New free welcome book for Ukrainian children
February Newsletter for Safeguarding
Please see attached February Safeguarding newletter.
Maths Transition Project (EEF)
The EEF are repeating their maths transition project. All schools in Halton are eligible to apply. Please see the attached flyer for more details.
School Governors
Below are links to opportunities for Volunteering as a school Governor.
https://reachvolunteering.org.uk/opp/school-governor-widnes
https://reachvolunteering.org.uk/opp/school-governor-runcorn
LA Governor Information request
https://forms.office.com/e/ZsQcXF6Ccf
EYFS Spring Workshop – Focus Transition – 8 March
@ DBCL Stadium
Three possible sessions:
Wednesday 8 March 0930-1130
Wednesday 8 March 1pm-3pm
Wednesday 8 March 3.30pm-5.30pm
The main focus of the event will be around transition with other items to be agreed in due course.
If you have any questions please contact:
Gail.Vaughan-Hodkinson@halton.gov.uk or Mike.stapleton-chambers@halton.gov.uk
Please book below:
https://forms.office.com/e/Sk4eL1Ck9k
Halton update on statutory assessment and moderation 2022/23
Tuesday 28th March 2023
@ The Bridge DCBL Stadium 9am
Outline
A comprehensive update on statutory assessment and moderation 2022/23, and clarification of the Halton model.
Description
This session will ensure that senior leaders with responsibility for assessment understand their statutory responsibilities and clarify national and local changes to assessment and moderation processes. There will be review of all Standards & Testing Agency (STA) materials and a reminder of assessment deadlines. There will also be a chance to reflect on wider aspects of school assessment, latest research and evidence, and share good practice.
Audience
Headteachers or senior leaders with a responsibility for assessment
Booking Information
https://forms.office.com/r/RCQrkAgAXZ
For further information please contact mike.stapleton-chambers@halton.gov.uk
Supporting Schools & Governing Bodies with Exclusions
Wednesday 19 April 2023 (This is a change of date)
@ The Bridge Suite
Two possible times
9-11.30am
1-3.30pm
Audience Headteacher & All Governors
This workshop is designed to support schools around exclusions. It will look at the support in place for children before exclusion and the mechanism of exclusion. The course will consist of two parts:
Dr Rhona Hobson Principal Educational Psychologist will explore the support and school culture around exclusions.
Debbie Houghton Principal Education Welfare Officer will look at the mechanism of exclusions.
To book: https://forms.office.com/e/SVdWjMbDTK
For further information contact: mike.stapleton-chambers@halton.gov.uk
SEND Services to School Part 2 – NHS Services
Wednesday 26 April 2023
@DCBL Stadium The Bridge Suite 9am-12pm
This meeting is aimed at giving both Headteachers, SENDCo’s and Governors an overview of various NHS teams that are available to schools to support SEND pupils. This has been requested by a number of schools after the first SEND services to schools in November 2022 and also after SEND Outcome meetings.
Each service will give an overview of what they do, support available and how referrals will be made. This is an opportunity to meet new members of the NHS teams and network within this area.
Please register below.
https://forms.office.com/e/8LCtvjiFrT
For further information contact: mike.stapleton-chambers@halton.gov.uk
Dear Colleagues,
After the huge success of the SEND Services to schools back in November, I am pleased to now offer the second part of this as requested by many settings:
SEND SERVICES TO SCHOOL PART 2 – NHS
Wednesday 26 April 9am-12pm
The Bridge DBCL Stadium
This will be a great opportunity to find out or refresh your knowledge of NHS services that are on offer to schools in Halton, how ro refer and what to expect from the service. There will be various teams represented from across areas that are available to you.
Booking Link: https://forms.office.com/e/8LCtvjiFrT
Governor Training Dates
Supporting Schools & Governing Bodies With Exclusions
Wednesday 19th April 2023 (This is a change of date)
@ The Bridge Suite
Two possible times
9-11.30am
1-3.30pm
https://forms.office.com/e/SVdWjMbDTK
Governor Training – Pupil Premium, Disadvantaged & SEND
Tuesday 25th April 2023
@DBCL Stadium
Two possible session
1pm-2.30pm
3.30pm-5pm
https://forms.office.com/e/ATzGtn93GF
Governors Briefing
Tuesday 2nd May 6pm-7pm
@DCBL Stadium The Bridge Suite
Audience: Governors
https://forms.office.com/e/Fw1UwrKZ1F
Ramadan & Muslims in Britain Training for your Primary Schools
external item
With Ramadan starting around 22nd March, Imran Kotwal will be running two webinars to support primary schools develop their subject knowledge and confidence in teaching about Ramadan/Eid & Muslims in Britain. The booking link is at the bottom of this email.
Webinar Title: Teaching and Learning about Ramadan & Eid
Trainer: Imran Kotwal
Content: Purpose and Rules of Fasting, Teachings from Qur’an & Hadeeth, key Ramadan vocabulary & pronunciation, how Eid is celebrated and Q&A session.
Audience: Primary Schools
Date: Wed 22nd March 2023
Time: 4.00-5.00 pm
Location: Online Zoom Webinar
Cost: FREE (One place per school) £45 for each additional place
Can’t attend the live session: Video Recording & Training materials: £45
Webinar Title: What does it mean to be a Muslim in Britain today?
Trainer: Imran Kotwal
Content: Census 2021, History of Muslims in Britain, 5 Pillars & challenges, diet, dress, funerals, Islamophobia and 30 minutes Q&A.
Audience: Primary Schools
Date: Mon 27th February 2023
Time: 4.00-5.30 pm
Location: Online Zoom Webinar
Cost: £45 per staff member / £200 for 5 or more staff
Training Materials: Full PPT & Resources included.
Can’t attend the live session: Video Recording & Training materials: £45
To book your place:
Complete the booking form HERE or
Copy & Paste this link https://zfrmz.com/5iRfoNFUbrEmHV56pRDw
or email CPD@Muslimlearnerservices.org
ICT / SIMS Update
Spring School Census – 19/01/2023
The deadline for upload of the School Census to COLLECT for LA Maintained Schools is Friday, 27 January. The DfE Deadline for Academy Schools is Wednesday, 15 February.
The new additions for the Spring Census are
- the inclusion of a new item Young Carer. Any pupil/student who is identified as a Young Carer by either the school or a parent/guardian, should be recorded as such in the SIMS database prior to completing the census return
- the inclusion of the School Time. This includes the total time each day from the official start of the compulsory school day (morning registration) to when the compulsory school day ends, (official home time). This figure will be inclusive of breaks, as these form part of the total compulsory school day, however it will not include optional activities either before or after school. The data entered should be representative for pupils aged 5 to 16 in the school. By September 2023 all schools should be providing a minimum of 32 and a half hours (32.5) in school for pupils/students.
As always, if schools have any concerns/queries regarding their census return please do not hesitate to contact the SIMS Team on 0151 511 7272 or sims.helpdesk@halton.gov.uk
World Book Day
Halton Libraries is offering the chance for primary schools to visit their local library to celebrate World Book Day
We have dates available at all our libraries in the lead up to and after World Book Day.
If you would like to book a visit, please fill in the bookings form and return it to Trudy Jones trudy.jones@halton.gov.uk
These visits are always very popular, so please book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Press Reader and First News
Halton Library Service has subscribed to Press Reader to allow library members to have full access from any computer. see attached for more information.
After-school activity hub
Positive Future Consultancy, are launching their new inclusive after-school activity hub from next Monday 6 February at their base in Waterloo Road Widnes. This will run from 3.30pm-6.30pm each weekday and aims to provide a safe and positive environment for young people aged 11-17.
Please see attached for more information
Funding and cost of Living Bulletins – Feb 2023
Please find attached the latest funding and cost of living bulletins.
New free welcome book for Ukrainian children
Dear Friends
We have a lovely welcome book for Ukrainian refugee children. The book is available for free (including delivery) for schools. The books is packed full of useful information, lovely messages of welcome from people like Bear Grylls, Tom Odell, Zoe Ball, Charlie Macksie and many others.
The book can be ordered for free in boxes of 26 here just use the following form while stocks last:
https://form.jotform.com/222621362316346
The books is called “Hello Привіт” and was written in consultation with Ukrainian refugees it aims to 
- Welcome Ukrainian children to the UK
- Convey lots of information about life in the UK
- Help Ukrainian children build bridges with their UK peers
- Help British children build bridges with their Ukrainian peers
- Offer support for those learning the English language
- Help Ukrainian children to keep safe in the UK
- Signpost Ukrainian children and parents to people who can help them
- Be a keepsake for Ukrainian children so they can make sense of their life story in the future
- Support Ukrainian children to reflect on their perceptions and experiences of life in the UK
- Empower Ukrainian children to feel comfortable raising questions and seeking answers
You can find out more about this project by watching this introductory video. https://youtu.be/7m_3Yr6dEaQ