UPDATE NO 333 04 January 2019

Regional Improvement Planning for 2019-20

Following on from the successful training day at the end of November (and the catch-up webinars for those who were unavailable) we are now fully engaged with reviewing self-assessments ahead of the Triad Peer Challenge days (and Ofsted annual conversation visits for some colleagues).

16 local authorities have asked for the SESLIP review of their draft self-assessments, and 4 reviews have already been completed and returned.

We have received a further 7 self-assessments which are currently being reviewed, with 5 more scheduled to arrive later this month. The reviews will all be completed in time for final self-assessments to be circulated to triad delegates ahead of the Triad Peer Challenge days – see opposite for details.

late Feb-to-early Mar – SESLIP team draft 2019-20 Regional Improvement Plan

22 March – Regional Improvement Summit with DCSs and Lead Members

For all enquiries, comments and feedback, please contact isabelle Gregory (details below). 

Triad 1 – East Sussex, Surrey and Wokingham on Thursday 28 February 2019

Triad 2 – Kent, Reading and Portsmouth on Monday 4 February 2019

Triad 3 – Hampshire and IoW, Milton Keynes and Slough on Friday 15 February 2019

Triad 4 – Medway, Oxfordshire and Windsor and Maidenhead also on Friday 15 February 2019

Triad 5 – Brighton and Hove, Buckinghamshire and West Berkshire on Tuesday 26 February 2019

Triad 6 – Bracknell Forest, Southampton and West Sussex on Wednesday 13 February 2019

Please contact Isabelle Gregory (details below) for detailed information for these events.

Get involved with ADCS in 2019

Katy Block of ADCS has written:

“As part of our forward planning for 2019 here at ADCS HQ we have recently taken a closer look at the membership of our six national policy committees with the aim of increasing participation and diversifying representation.  As a first step we’ve done a quick analysis of committee membership by region (NB the total number of active members on each of the committees is significantly lower than the numbers in the table – there are typically 10 – 25 attendees at a normal meeting, although joint meetings can have more).

“We are keen to strengthen links between what is happening in the regions with our national policy work – active committee members can play a crucial role in influencing the national agenda as this is where we regularly engage with multiple government departments, Ofsted and other stakeholders on the issues of the day. These meetings are also a great place to share good practice or escalate issues which local and regional areas are grappling with for national consideration/action. 

“We’ve pulled together a short one sider on the six committees: DCSs, ADs and heads of services are most welcome to join committees, there is no application process.

“Via the policy committees we’ve supported the development of social work MoUs, contributed to the development of four new CYPS apprenticeships, supported the Children Looked After Project (a data tool for virtual school heads), worked with Cafcass on the Social Work Evidence Template (SWET) and produced briefings on inspection, radicalisation and key family court matters too. We have also done surveys on home schooling, high needs pressures and home to school transport costs to assist with local budget discussions as well as government planning.”

Please contact Katy for more details. 

Public Law Outline Seminar 11 February 2018

Kent County Council have set up a seminar to explore research in relation to the use of the PLO. The event will include contributions by leading academics Professor Judith Masson University of Bristol and Professor Jonathan Dickens (UEA). The brief for the research can be found here.

The seminar will take place at a venue in Maidstone on 11 February 2019 with a nominal cost per delegate of £25. A flyer with more information is available here.

To book a place or find out more contact SafeguardingAdmin@kent.gov.uk 

AD Education Network – Dates for 2019

Alison Rendle (contact details below) has written

“We have now agreed dates for 2019.  I am in the process of booking our normal venue, and will confirm this in due course.

• 5 April 2019 – full day meeting, joint workshop with SEND network (please note change of date and timings for this meeting – previously scheduled for the morning of 15 March)
• 7 June 2019 – 10.30-12.30
• 13 September 2019 – 10.30-12.30
• 13 December 2019 – 10.30-12.30″

If you would like to find out more about the AD Education Network please contact Alison Rendle (details below).

The Network is co-sponsored by Lucy Butler (DCS Oxfordshire) and Cate Duffy (DCS Slough)

The contact list is on the AD Education Network Page