UPDATE NO 507 27 May 2022

Aspirant DCS Programme NOW BOOKING

The Staff College, Institute of Public Care, Skills for Care, and GatenbySanderson – supported by DfE – invite applications for the upon Aspirant Directors Programme. Applications close 13 June 2022

Starting in late September 2022 and running until March 2023, the upon Programme will welcome around 40 Aspirant Directors. The flyer is here or contact upon@thestaffcollege.uk or call 0161-826-9450.

Schooling for the Future: 1pm Monday 30 May

Over the past 10 years or so, The Staff College has been actively engaged in promoting international dialogue on addressing the question “What is the purpose of Schooling?”. We have developed a suite of online academic and practical resources themed as: Future Schooling; Inclusive Schooling; Community Schooling. There is a flyer here.

To celebrate the launch, three of our contributing authors, Professor Mel Ainscow, Professor Kathryn Riley and Valerie Hannon have agreed to join Jane Parfrement, the College CEO, and Anton Florek, the Series Editor, for an online panel discussion on Monday 30 May at 1pm during which they will provide an overview of their contribution to the series.
To join our discussion and find out more about the thinking behind the materials, please book a place by CLICKING HERE.

D2I Data Analyst Apprenticeships – LAST CALL for applications

D2I invites applications for the third cohort of Children’s Services Data Analyst apprenticeship : closing date 31 May 2022. There are two levels of the apprenticeship: a repeat of the L4 Data Analyst course, and a L3 Data Professional course. The L3 has had fewer applications to date, so Alistair Herbert is interested to hear from anyone who considered it and decided against it.

The application form is here on the D2I website, along with supporting materials, and we’re also running two final mop-up briefing sessions as follows: 

Wednesday 25^th May at 10am (Level 4 course); Thursday 26^th May at 11am (Level 3 course). To book onto a briefing session, ask for a separate chat, submit your completed application form, or ask about anything else, please email datatoinsight.enquiries@gmail.com

Data to Insight wins at British Data Awards

Congratulations to everyone connected with the Data to Insight team, who won Data for Good Initiative of the Year at the British Data Awards

The team beat national names like Sainsbury’s and Nectar to the prize, and were also shortlisted but unsuccessful in another category.

National Transfer Scheme – SE Regional Manager Martin Tuck started on 3 May

On 3 May Martin Tuck took up post as south east regional development manager for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

He will be joined by Emily Evans, placement officer, on 6 June. Please direct any questions or requests for assistance about the UASC national transfer scheme to Martin Tuck (contact details below).

Liberty Protection Safeguards – briefing May 2022

On 20 May Dr Camilla Parker briefed colleages on The Liberty Protection Safeguards and the Draft Code of Practice: Considerations for Consultation

For more information about regional and local contacts, visit our Liberty Proection Safeguards page 

New Ofqual guidance on making assessments more accessible for students

On 12 May, Ofqual published new guidance on making assessments more accessible for students following a 12-week consultation. A summary of the guidance has been published. Further information is available in this news story.

The new statutory guidance explains that, when designing and developing exams and assessments, awarding organisations should:

• use accessible and appropriate language   
• use clear and consistent layout  
• use source material, context, images and colour in ways that do not advantage or disadvantage students 
• consider how reasonable adjustments could be made to the exam or assessment to make sure disabled students are not disadvantaged 

Grants for senior mental health lead training in schools and colleges

On 12 May DfE published guidance on senior mental health lead training  for schools and colleges.

A senior member of school or college staff can apply for a £1,200 grant to access quality assured training, to commence up to 31 March 2023.  

See eligibility conditions here

Disrupting the Routes between Care and Custody for Girls and Women

On 4 May the Centre for Child and Family Justice Research (CFJ) published Disrupting the routes between care and custody for girls and women, a report on the over-representation of care-experienced girls and women in the criminal justice system. 

Interviews were conducted with 17 girls and young women who had been in care in England. Findings include: over-criminalisation in children’s homes; experiences of abuse, victimisation and exploitation whilst in the care system; and 12 participants discussed experiences that would fit under the government definition of child sexual exploitation or child criminal exploitation. Recommendations include: building a trauma-responsive care system and addressing the link between stigma and violence against care-experienced girls. 

The full report is here

Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner – Annual Report published

On 27 April the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner has published its annual report for 2021-2022 looking at modern slavery. 

The full report is here

The report highlights the increasing numbers of children being identified as potential victims of modern slavery and raises concerns about the safeguarding response to these children. The Commissioner also discusses national efforts to improve strategic responses.

Working together to improve school attendance

On 6 May DfE published Working together to improve school attendance, Guidance to help schools, academy trusts, governing bodies, and local authorities maintain high levels of school attendance including roles and responsibilities which apply from September 2022.

It includes expected standards for attendance support and the power for LAs to use proceeds from penalty notices towards service costs. Further statutory minimum standards for LAs’ attendance services will be published in due course.

The full guidance is here, a summary table of responsibilities for school attendance is here

Future dates for network meetings

Lead Members Group: Friday 22 July 10.00am.  More from Alison Michalska (contact details below)

Data Benchmarking: Tuesday 12 July 10:00am More from Alastair Lee (contact details below)

Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board: Wednesday 20 July 10.30am-12noon More from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

AD Education: Friday 1 July 10:00am. More from Chris Owen (contact details below)

AD Safeguarding: Friday 10 June 10:00am. More from Mark Evans (contact details below)

QA Network: Thursday 16 June 2:00pm – 5:00pm. More from Amanda Meadows (contact details below)

Fostering Network: Wednesday 13 July 10-11.30am More from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

SEND SE19: Wednesday 15 June 12 – 1.30 Strategic Conversation: LAs & DfE. More from Sheelagh Sullivan (contact details below)

Early Help: Monday 12 September 1.30pm. More from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

Family Hubs Community of Practice: SEND workshop via Teams Thursday 9 June 9.20 – 11.30. More from Carly Bain (contact details below)