Newsbites – Childcare, Excellence & Budget

Newsbites – Childcare, Excellence & Budget

News/guidance/policy

Click the headings for the full article/briefing document.

DfE news story: Tax-Free Childcare – 10 things parents should know (updated)

18 March, 2016

Top ten things to know about the new Tax-Free Childcare scheme. Updated to reflect change to who is eligible – parents of the youngest children will now Continue reading “Newsbites – Childcare, Excellence & Budget”

January 2016 HfL Chairs’ Briefing

Herts for Learning - AssessmentJanuary 2016 HfL Chairs’ Briefing

This briefing contains:

Chairs Service – 07580 884610/01438 843082

Helpdesk – 01438 843038

http://www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/team/governance

http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/edlearn/getinvolved/governors/

Chairs Networks

Venues and times:

1st February 2016 – Ramada Hotel, Hatfield, 6.30 networking and refreshments, for 7.00 p.m. start

11th February 2015 –- Theobalds Hotel, Cheshunt, 6.30 networking and refreshments, for 7.00 p.m. CANCELLED

David Kilgallon – Current Political Schools Landscape

Multi-Academy Trusts, Federations and Cooperatives

The meetings are free for up to 2 governors from schools which subscribe to the Chairs Service.  To book:  http://www.hertsdirect.org/actweb/WDC/sseo/template_001.cfm?pageID=28&template=courseDetails&courseID=CSM01

These networks are recommended for Chairs, Vice Chairs and Chairs of Committees particularly.  Those attending should feed back to their governing body. When you receive this briefing, you may like to forward it on to your Vice Chair and Chairs of Committees and also your Headteacher. If you have any queries about the Networks or topics you would like discussed, please contact kathy.dunnett@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk

News Reports

Independent: Head of Ofsted, Sir Michael Wilshaw, backs the banning of Muslim girls’ veils in schools to ensure ‘equality for women

The independent is reporting that during an appearance on BBC2’s Newsnight on Monday, Sir Michael Wilshaw, chief inspector of schools in England and head of Ofsted, was asked if he would back the banning of the coverings in schools, to which he answered: “Yes, I would.”

DfE press release: New drive to protect children from “spell of twisted ideologies”

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan announces package of measures to protect children from extremism

The Education Select Committee: Report the role of Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs)

The Education Committee’s report on the role of Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) finds that more work is needed to improve the transparency, accountability and working relationships of RSCs. Eight RSCs were appointed in 2014 with responsibility for approving and monitoring academies and free schools in their region.

Schools Week has published an article on The 24 recommendations in the Regional Schools Commissioner report – and what they really mean

DfE guidance: Schools financial efficiency: metric tool

A tool to provide schools in England with an indication of their efficiency compared with similar schools.

DfE guidance: Dealing with issues relating to parental responsibility

Departmental advice about dealing with issues relating to parental responsibility.

The following DfE timelines have been updated for spring 2016 :

Timeline for academies: mandatory

Information to help headteachers, principals and governors of academies plan for the academic year ahead.

Timeline for local-authority-maintained schools: mandatory

Information to help local-authority-maintained schools plan for the academic year ahead

Timeline for free schools, UTCs and studio schools: mandatory

Information to help free schools, university technical colleges (UTCs) and studio schools plan for the academic year ahead

Timeline for pupil referral units: mandatory

Information to help pupil referral units plan for the academic year ahead

Timeline for academies: useful

Useful information to help academies plan for the academic year ahead

Timeline for local-authority-maintained schools: useful

Useful information to help local-authority-maintained schools plan for the academic year ahead

Timeline for free schools, UTCs and studio schools: useful

Useful information to help free schools, university technical colleges (UTCs) and studio schools plan for the academic year ahead

Timeline for pupil referral units: useful

Useful information to help pupil referral units plan for the academic year ahead

BBC: Academy chain to scrap governing bodies

The BBC is reporting that an academy chain is scrapping the current form of governing bodies for its schools in England.

New NGA guidance: A Governors’ Guide to Sixth Forms

http://www.nga.org.uk/Home.aspx

Schools with sixth forms are going through a time of transition. Over the next few years governing boards will be faced with difficult decisions around the 16-19 curriculum offer, budgeting, collaborations and, in some cases, the future sustainability of a school’s sixth-form. NGA has responded by producing a new comprehensive guide to assist boards in making these decisions. Although aimed at those governing in schools where a sixth form provision already exists, the guidance will also help boards considering the viability of opening new provision in their school.  See website for details.

Resources for your governors and school leaders

Make sure your governing board and school leaders are informed about the free resources on the NCTL open access platform  There is a range of useful toolkits and guides.

Governor Recruitment – Inspiring the Future Website

Inspiring the Future has released two new videos to showcase how its free online matchmaking service works to connect prospective governors with schools and colleges nationwide. Volunteers sign up to become a governor or trustee, giving their location and listing the skills and experience they can bring to a board. Governing boards seeking new governors can view all the volunteers in their area or specify the skills they’re looking for, connect with volunteers directly and begin the process of recruiting.  http://www.inspiringthefuture.org/inspiring-governors/governors-sign-up-as-a-volunteer/   Click here to see the new videos

Do you know other chairs of governors who could be NLGs?

Our next designation round will open on Monday 22 February 2016. We’re looking for high quality, experienced chairs that have the capacity and expertise to support other chairs to improve their governing bodies. We’re particularly interested in chairs with experience of governance in multi-academy trusts. This round will be targeted geographically to ensure we have NLGs in the areas with the greatest need. Hertfordshire is a targeted area.

If you know any colleagues who meet the eligibility criteria, please encourage them to visit our web pages for potential applicants.

Local Opportunities and Information

Schools Financial Value Standard Return 2015-16

All maintained schools must submit a Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS) Return for the year ended 31 March 2016 to their local authority.  In Hertfordshire, returns must be emailed to the Shared Internal Audit Service (SIAS) at sias@nullhertfordshire.gov.uk by 15 April 2016.

Returns should be completed in excel using the 2015 template on the Grid at http://www.thegrid.org.uk/info/internal_audit/sfvs_guidance.shtml.  This allows SIAS to analyse and use the data contained in all returns and comply with the requirement that data in the forms is used to inform audit coverage.

The template contains the Department for Education’s current SFVS guidance for completion of the 2015-16 return.

In order to complete the return, governors must consider the financial controls operating in the school over the past twelve months.  Dependent on arrangements in an individual school, the completion of the return should be an agenda item for either the full governing body or the finance committee.  Once complete, the return should be emailed to sias@nullhertfordshire.gov.uk.  A paper copy signed by the Chair of Governors should be kept at the school.

Further guidance on the SFVS can be found at http://www.thegrid.org.uk/info/internal_audit/.

Details of ‘Completing your SFVS Return’ courses can be found  by e-mailing gov.courses@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk/

Individualised guidance can be purchased from SIAS at a cost of £350 per day should your school need personalised support.

If you have a query that can’t be answered from the information provided on the Grid, then please contact Sally-Anne Pearcey on 01438 845516 or email sally-anne.pearcey@nullhertfordshire.gov.uk.

Teach in Herts Teacher Recruitment Fair 2016

Following the success of the first Teach in Herts Teacher Recruitment Fair in 2015, the Board of Herts for Learning has committed to proactively help fund and support Hertfordshire schools once again, by running a second teacher recruitment fair on Saturday 19th March 2016 at Hertfordshire Development Centre, Stevenage.

All Hertfordshire shareholding schools are once again invited to attend and exhibit on a stand free of charge.

The event is restricted to HfL shareholding schools only and no third party agencies will be permitted to attend.

Stands at the event can be booked from Monday 18th January 2016. To book for your school/cluster of schools, please email teachinherts@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk.  Space is limited and stands will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.  Closing date for booking a stand is Monday 7th March 2016. Guidance on putting a stand together will be provided by the Herts for Learning Events team and will emailed to you once your stand booking has been confirmed.

The recruitment fair will be open between 10.00am and 3.30pm and attending schools should have staff available on their stand for the whole day. Many attendees that arrived mid-afternoon last year were disappointed to find a number of schools had left prior to the end of the event. Wherever possible, materials for your stand should be delivered to Hertfordshire Development Centre during the afternoon of Friday 18th March.

Further information and marketing materials to promote the recruitment fair through governor, staff and parent networks will be sent out to schools over the coming weeks. We would appreciate it if you could disseminate these widely to promote the event and help to make it a success for all.

The Exchange – January/February edition

The January/February edition of the paper is now in schools, with a spotlight on science including ideas for science week, how to take part in Safer Internet Day 2016 and also news from Hertfordshire schools’ and Herts for Learning.

This HfL monthly newspaper has something for all staff based in schools and school governors, whether looking for a little light reading on current educational news or for courses to further your professional development.

The link to the online version can be found here:  bit.ly/TE-JanFeb16

This edition also includes:

  • information on the 2016 Recruitment fair
  • discount rates for Encyclopaedia Britannica
  • how schools can benefit from a new budget toolkit
  • Hertfordshire school contacts British astronaut Major Tim Peake
  • P2P pilot launches in secondary school
  • and much more!

Do you have something you want us to cover? Get in touch! The Exchange Team – 01438 844331

If you or your chair of governors would like to receive extra copies for the governing body please get in touch. We welcome any feedback or content suggestions for future editions.

Training Opportunities

WRAP

Call Jessica Broadbent / email on 01438 844 331 / Jessica.broadbent@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk

They are running events on the following date and times:

10th March at Robertson House, Stevenage:
(Sessions are 1.5 hours)
10-11.30am
1.30-3.00pm
4.00-5.30pm
7.00-8.30pm

More Chairs Stuff

http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/edlearn/getinvolved/governors/infoforchairs/

Chairs Advanced Training

For all Chairs – new, experienced, Chairs of Governors, Vice Chairs and Chairs of Committees.

It is advised to undertake the whole course, as the skills are built up throughout the two terms that it runs, from January to July every year. Book now on the website. 

CRW1Advanced Chairs: Report Writing25/02/2016Thursday6.30-9pmWare Priory
CLS1Advanced Chairs: Leadership Skills09/03/2016Wednesday6.30-9pmHilton, Watford
CRP2Advanced Chairs: Reflective Practice19/04/2016Tuesday6.30-9pmHoliday Inn, Hemel
CDD2Advanced Chairs: Dealing with Difficult People04/05/2016Wednesday6.30-9pmBarnwell, Stevenage
COM3Advanced Chairs: Coaching & Mentoring17/05/2016Tuesday6.30-9pmHoliday Inn, Hemel
CMD3Advanced Chairs: Mediation07/06/2016Tuesday6.30-9pmBarnwell, Stevenage
CCH4Advanced Chairs: Change Management15/06/2016Wednesday6.30-9pmHilton, Watford
CNV1Advanced Chairs: Investigations30/06/2016Thursday6.30-9pmRamada, Hatfield

 Hertfordshire Association of School Governors

http://www.hertsgovernors.org/

 http://goo.gl/j2ycXz

 

 

January 2016 Exchange

January 2016 ExchangeJanuary 2016 Exchange

The January/February edition of the paper is now in schools, with a spotlight on science including ideas for science week, how to take part in Safer Internet Day 2016 and also news from Hertfordshire schools’ and Herts for Learning.

This HfL monthly newspaper has something for all staff based in schools and school governors, whether looking for a little light reading on current educational news or for courses to further your professional development.

The link to the online version can be found here: bit.ly/TE-JanFeb16

This edition also includes:

  • information on the 2016 Recruitment fair,
  • discount rates for Encyclopaedia Britannica,
  • how schools can benefit from a new budget toolkit,
  • Hertfordshire school contacts British astronaut Major Tim Peake,
  • P2P pilot launches in secondary school,
  • and much more!

Do you have something you want us to cover? Get in touch!

If you or your Chair of Governors would like to receive extra copies for the governing body please get in touch with Ryan Fisher at Ryan.Fisher@nullHertsforlearning.co.uk  who welcomes any feedback or content suggestions for future editions.

School Funding Consultation

Herts for Learning - AssessmentSchool Funding Consultation Closes 31st December

Herts for Learning are running a further school funding consultation concerning funding arrangements for the 2016/17 academic year. The consultation covers:

  1. A proposal to discontinue the sixth form funding factor within Hertfordshire’s local school funding formula and to recycle this resource through pre 16 funding:
    Secondary schools and academies with sixth forms receive sixth form funding allocations from the Education Funding Agency. These are determined by the national post 16 funding formula. Currently additional funding for sixth forms is provided through Hertfordshire’s local school funding formula. This totals £2.994m in 2015-16 for all Hertfordshire schools and academies with sixth forms, equating to £182.10 per sixth form pupil..
  2. Changes to the Scheme for Financing Schools from April 16:
    The Scheme for Financing Schools is the statutory document that governs the financial relationship between the local authority and the schools it maintains including ESCs. It does not apply to academies. Changes to the scheme are made with the agreement of the Hertfordshire Schools Forum following a consultation with schools. The Authority is consulting on three changes.

You can view the consultation document below:

Please follow the link below to the response form on SurveyMonkey:

Consultation on Term Dates

Consultation on Term Dates for 2017/18

HfL have issued a consultation document on Term Dates for the 2017/18 academic year and are inviting feedback and comment to be submitted by 25th November 2015.  The purpose of the consultation is stated as:

Herts for Learning - AssessmentThe County Council believes that there is benefit in a degree of commonality or co-ordination of school term and holiday dates across all Academy and Maintained schools. We are therefore seeking the view of all schools on these proposals, and not only community/ voluntary controlled schools.

Hertfordshire’s dates are set based on the recommendations of the Working Party on Term Dates, which includes representatives from the head teacher associations and teaching unions and is chaired by the Assistant Director (Education Provision and Access). The Working Party makes their recommendations based on a set of principles which have been agreed with head teacher associations and the County Union Secretaries.

In recent years, the freedom that foundation, voluntary aided and academy schools have in setting term dates has led to increasing variation in school dates between schools, both across phases in any geographical area and within and between areas. Whilst the Government is not now intending to allow all community and VC schools to set their own term dates, the proportion of schools with this
freedom continues to increase.

For understandable local reasons, often different schools do wish to adopt different patterns of school dates. Some schools also wish to explore the possible educational and other benefits of nontraditional holiday patterns. For these reasons, it no longer appears possible to set a calendar for Hertfordshire which fully takes into account difference between schools and which all schools will follow.

Consequently, the terms dates working party wishes to explore a move to a more flexible system, which provides a greater degree of local choice to schools to accommodate diverse needs, but also provides commonality as far as possible in areas where all or most schools seem comfortable to follow a single set of guidelines.

The consultation document is viewable at:

To take part in the consultation visit www.hertsdirect.org/termdates1718.

November 2015 Exchange

November 2015 Exchange

November 2015 Exchange

The latest edition of The Exchange is now available online at http://bit.ly/TE-November15.

This edition includes:

  • Allowing kids to make mistakes helps the brain grow,
  • Launch of new Teach in Herts website,
  • New school based app – MarvellousMe,
  • Two brand new services: Coaching and Office management,
  • Hertfordshire Healthy schools, healthy, happy children can achieve more,
  • Exchanging Excellence – benefits of summer school for a smooth transition,
  • What’s on – upcoming training courses.

…. and much more!

Do you have something you want HfL to cover? Get in touch!

Please contact our editorial team with queries: theexchange@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk If schools would like to receive extra copies please also get in touch. HfL welcome any feedback or content suggestions for future editions.

 

Exchanging Excellence ®

Exchanging Excellence ® Framework

Exchanging Excellence® is a framework for sharing best professional practice. It is the umbrella programme for all of the work Herts for Learning (HfL) are doing, and plan to do in the future, to find and share best practice and professional learning with our shareholders and customers on a range of current and relevant topics.

The Exchanging Excellence® framework is split into six themes for schools to easily identify different areas of good practice. Under each theme you will find case studies and resources to help identify interesting practice taking place in Hertfordshire schools and beyond.

Exchanging Excellence
The 6 themes of Exchanging Excellence®

Find out more at:

All Change for The Exchange

Training Times relaunches as The ExchangeTraining Times Relaunches as The Exchange

Following feedback from schools last term, Training Times has been rebranded over the summer, and is now The Exchange.   The September/October edition of the paper is now in schools, with a spotlight on radicalisation, and September Ofsted changes alongside Hertfordshire schools’ and HfL news.

As you will notice, the paper is now slightly smaller, and has been redesigned by HfL’s graphic designer, Niall Hargrave. There are more news stories, more Hertfordshire schools’ stories, and you will now receive the paper folded to make it easier to handle in the staffroom.

The link to the online version can be found here:

This HfL monthly newspaper has something for governors and staff based in schools, whether looking for a little light reading on current educational news or for courses to further your professional development.

This edition also includes:

  • Hertfordshire’s success in Stonewall Equality Index 2015
  • the right to be forgotten!
  • Exchanging Excellence –  Closing the gap and a Hemel schools’ Transition project
  • HfL’S maths fluency project
  • top ideas for use in the classroom

… and much more!

Do you have something you want us to cover? Get in touch!

Please contact our editorial team with queries: theexchange@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk

If you or your chair of governors would like to receive extra copies for the governing body please get in touch. We welcome any feedback or content suggestions for future editions.

Training Times – July 2015

Front page of July 2015 edition of Training TimesTraining Times – July 2015

The July 2015 edition of Training Times is now in schools, with a spotlight on mental health, Exchanging Excellence and our Vulnerable Groups Achievement team alongside the usual HfL and schools’ news.

The link to the online version can be found here: http://bit.ly/TT-July15.

This edition includes:

  • mental health – the pressures facing young people:
    ‘Homework ban to save pupils from depression’, read one headline in The Times last month; ‘Give children a good start in life’, pleaded top national mental health organisations to the new government in the wake of the general election.
  • new Head of School Recruitment Services has now joined HfL:
    Justine Hammond joined HfL on 1st July.
  • Exchanging Excellence – an impressive journey from RI to outstanding at Brockswood:
    The school is one of the first in the country to move straight from RI to outstanding between only two inspections under the current framework.
  • HfL’s first Investor in Parents award winners, Newberries Primary:
    Anna Traxon, Headteacher, commented “We are delighted to have been awarded with Investor in Parents status and to be the first school in Hertfordshire to receive the accolade.”
  • National Conference for school business managers:
    Organised by HfL last month, this national conference on the topic of being creative and inspirational during times of challenge & change, had three keynote speakers and 12 workshops.

…and much more!

Changes ahead

Following feedback from the recent Training Times survey, we are currently reviewing and refreshing the format, content and name of this publication for September.

If your chair of governors would like to receive extra copies for the governing body please get in touch. We welcome any feedback or content suggestions for future editions. Please contact our Journalist Jessica Broadbent at jessica.broadbent@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk with your feedback or if you would like your school to be included.

Training Times – Anniversary Competition

Training Times 1st Aniversary EditionTraining Times – Anniversary Competition

The first anniversary edition of Training Times published by Herts for Learning  arrives in Hertfordshire schools during w/c  20th April 2015 and can be viewed online through the following link http://bit.ly/TT-AprMay15 or clicking the picture.

To gauge how useful you have found the paper in its first year and to hear governors’ and teachers’ suggestions for improvement, HfL have created a short online survey suitable for all school staff to complete.

Anniversary-Competition-QR-CodeThe survey can be found by clicking the link http://bit.ly/TT-Survey2015, or scanning the QR code.

HfL is giving away a bumper hamper of goodies for one randomly selected entering school – the winner will be announced in June. No limitations on entries per school. Link to survey also found on front page of this edition.

This edition also includes:

  • teacher recruitment  – the HfL recruitment fair and what’s next,
  • new online resources added to subscription service,
  • Parent2Parent ® – how can you help your parents in supporting their child’s learning?
  • the Early Years reception baseline,
  • news from primary and secondary schools across the county.

Extra copies or feedback?

If your chair of governors would like to receive extra copies for the governing body please get in touch. We welcome any feedback or content suggestions for future editions.

Please contact our journalist Jessica Broadbent at jessica.broadbent@nullhertsforlearning.co.uk with your feedback or if you would like your school to be included.