LA/ Schools E-Circular Monday 9 October 2023

Elective Home Education de-registration of pupils – message from DfE
New innovative programme
Cost of Education in Halton
TALK Halton newsletter
Sleeping Beauty
SEND Outcomes CPD Training 23/24
Assessment and Moderation Yr2 & Yr6 CPD Training

Elective Home Education de-registration of pupils – message from DfE

Please see message from Jake Butterworth, Team Leader, Elective Home Education and Children Not In School | Non-school education, activities, and integration unit (jake.butterworth@education.gov.uk)

DfE are being made aware increasingly of schools waiting to de-register until a certain condition is met. This is not in line with the regulations. Schools are required to de-register pupils as soon as reasonably practical when they receive notification from a parent. Obviously as long as that child does not attend a special school as the parent would need consent from SEN before removal from roll.

If a school becomes aware that a parent is intending to withdraw their child then the school can invite the parent to a meeting and try to persuade them not to stop sending their child to the school if they so wish. However the Regulations do not provide for the school or the local authority to set additional conditions before deleting the name.

The relevant regulations confirm:

Section 434(3) of the Education Act 1996 says that the regulations about pupil registration:

“… shall prescribe the grounds on which names are to be deleted from a register kept under this section; and the name of a person entered in such a register as a pupil at a school—

shall, when any of the prescribed grounds is applicable, be deleted from the register on that ground…”

And regulation 8 of the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 says:

“(1) The following are prescribed as the grounds on which the name of a pupil of compulsory school age shall be deleted from the admission register—

(d) in a case not falling within sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, that he has ceased to attend the school and the proprietor has received written notification from the parent that the pupil is receiving education otherwise than at school…”

When the conditions set out in regulation 8(1)(d) are satisfied, the school must delete the pupil’s name as soon as reasonably practicable. The Regulations do not provide for the school or the local authority to set additional conditions before deleting the name.

New innovative programme

New innovative programme to help prevent suicides in high schools across C&M calls for schools to take part in research

A new innovative programme to help prevent suicides in high schools across Cheshire and Merseyside is calling for schools to take part in a randomised controlled trial.

The programme which aims to reduce suicide risk and increase help-seeking among young people is based on the Multi-Modal Approach to Preventing Suicide in Schools (MAPSS) which was originally developed in Australia.

Six schools across Cheshire and Merseyside are being sought to be involved in the programme, beginning in the spring term of 2024.

Read more and express your school interest here.

Cost of Education in Halton

Please see the latest report from CAB on the Cost of Education in Halton and specifically the cost of school uniforms.

https://haltoncab.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/School-Uniform-Report-2023-1.pdf

You may recall seeing media coverage in Autumn 2022 (on BBC North West, Politics Show, BBC Radio Merseyside, etc.) about the research we conducted about how the cost of school uniforms was driving families into poverty.

This report builds on that work and explores what, if anything, has changed. Unlike pieces of national research this report captures the voice of local people and this is what they told us;

18% of respondents had borrowed money to cover the cost of uniforms
● 12% of respondents had been unable to pay their priority bills such as rent and Council Tax.
● 13% had missed meals or were unable to afford the cost of food shopping.This year, our review found that many schools have relaxed their policies, however much more needs to be done to ensure parents are aware of what these new policies say.● 90% of our sample group told us that they knew what their schools’ policies were around school uniforms, however only 19% actually got it right. Most believed that they were required to buy far more branded items than the policy required.
● The price of uniforms targeted at those identifying as females remains significantly higher on average than that for their male peers.
● Where generic items are allowed parents still felt pressured to buy branded items. 33% of parents told us they feared their child would not fit in or be bullied if they had generic items of uniform.

The report makes seven recommendations for our local schools, the Council and our MPs which we think can make a big difference.

Please get in touch with Hitesh Patel, Chief Officer of Citizens Advice Halton, hitesh.patel@citizensadvicehalton.org.uk if you’d like to discuss this report.

TALK Halton newsletter

See attached September 2023 TALK Halton newsletter.

Sleeping Beauty

The Brindley Theatre, High St, Runcorn

Thursday 7th December 2023 to Sunday 7th January 2024

The fantastic Brindley festive pantomime is presented by NewPantomime Productions and and stars Scarlett from RuPaul’s Drag Race along with Brindley panto favourites Rebecca Lake, Andrew Curphey and Charlotte Dacia! It’s sure to have the usual spectacular scenery, dazzling costumes, hilarious jokes, singalong songs and fun for all the family. So don’t delay, book today. ASSISTED PERFORMANCES: There is a Signed Performance on Thursday 28 December @6.30pm and a Relaxed Performance on Friday 29 December @2.30pm.

PLEASE CONTACT THE BOX OFFICE ON 0151 907 8360 OR BRINDLEYBOXOFFICE@HALTON.GO.UK FOR GROUPS SCHOOLS.

For more Info: https://www.quaytickets.com/thebrindley/en-GB/shows/sleeping%20beauty/events/2

SEND Outcomes CPD Training 23/24

Please find below a range of forthcoming training for SEND outcome for the next academic year:

SEND and Wider Services to Schools – Part 3

@The Stadium 9am

Thursday 30th November 2023

After the success of the previous SEND services to schools we are now running a third event.

On the day various services with be showcased and how schools/setting can refer to them and the expectations that the service will provide our young people.

These will include: