January 2024 For all Kent and Medway Governors, Trustees, Clerks and School Leaders Please ensure this bulletin, also published on GovernorHub and The Education People website, is a standing agenda item for both your Full Governing Board, Trustee and Committee meetings.
Dear Governors, Trustees, Governance Professionals and Clerks Welcome to the first, 2024 edition of the Monthly Bulletin. We hope you had a peaceful Christmas break and that you are suitably rested and re-invigorated - ready to address all that 2024 has yet to offer!
Safeguarding - Making Informed Decisions about Filtering and Monitoring in Schools Recorded Webinar and Guidance A recent change to the Cantium Business Solutions broadband service offer may have cyber security and safeguarding implications for Kent schools. − Cantium Business Solutions will no longer be offering its Schools Broadband Service after March 31 2024 − 275 schools are affected by this change and have been notified − Some schools may not be receiving like-for-like quotations for alternative provision and are subsequently needing to purchase additional solutions to fulfil the statutory safeguarding requirements. Is your school affected by this change? Schools are strongly encouraged to ensure that any quotes for broadband services are comparable (e.g. they include filtering and/or monitoring approaches which are appropriate for your school community) and are considered from both a financial and safeguarding perspective. If you are affected by this change, it is recommend that Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and school leaders access the national guidance available below and/or contact the Education Safeguarding Team to explore what your school needs to consider from a safeguarding perspective when commissioning a new provider. − DfE - Filtering and monitoring standards for schools and colleges
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DfE - Cyber security standards for schools and colleges DfE - Broadband internet standards for schools and colleges
Schools' buying strategy, and specific advice on procurement UK Safer Internet Centre: Appropriate Filtering and Monitoring SWGfL: Appropriate Filtering and Monitoring Webinars, Checklist and FAQs
The Education Safeguarding Team have also produced an optional pre-recorded webinar and guidance document to help support headteachers and DSLs make informed decisions in relation to their filtering and monitoring approaches. − A pre-recorded webinar and supporting guidance document have also been added to Safeguarding Support Package for Schools 23/24 and are available for new and existing subscribers. You may also find Updates for Designated Safeguarding Leads helpful
Governor Briefings – dates for your diary and booking Medway Specific Governor Briefing - Wednesday 7 February 2024 − Paul Clarke - Strategic Head of Education: Planning & Access, Medway Council − Rebecca Smith - Lead (Education) Professional: Quality & Inclusion, Medway Council Kent Countywide Governor Briefing - Thursday 8 February 2024 − Siobhán Price – Kent County Council Education Officer, Mainstream Inclusion − Tony Breslin - Pathways for All initiative − John Greenwood - Cyber Protect Co-ordinator, Eastern Region Special Operations Unit, Bedfordshire Police Cyber Security
Governor Services Cyber Security Awareness for School Governors – Dates for Your Diary − Thursday 8 February – Countywide briefing – 6pm − Wednesday 8 May – 6-8pm (booking available from term 5) We have been very fortunate in securing Bedfordshire Police and the Cyber Security Team to attend our February Countywide Governor Briefing to provide a taster and highlights in advance of a full 2-hour session scheduled for 8 May 2024 - Cyber Security - asking questions and raising awareness. Be sure to book your place at County Governor Briefing We will advise when bookings open for May event
School Leadership Changes Headteacher Absence or Resignation LA Maintained School Governing Bodies are reminded that should their headteacher resign or be absent due to sickness for more than a week, the Chair of Governors as a priority, should liaise with the school’s Senior Improvement Advisor (SIA) and area Assistant Director of Education (ADE) Our guidance document can be found on GovernorHub
Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher Recruitment For LA Maintained School Governing Bodies, the recruitment of a Headteacher or Deputy Headteacher is governed by statutory requirements in the School Staffing Regulations − the first action is to information Local Authority – your area Assistant Director of Education (ADE) and Senior Improvement Advisor (SIA) − Strategic Options will be a key consideration, to be discussed with ADE and SIA − Primary and Secondary School Improvement Teams have guidance documents to support school leaders and governors − the core aspects of the Headteacher Recruitment process can be supported - support for Deputy Headteacher recruitment can be commissioned Academies are welcome to commission this offer
Attendance - The Missing Link: Restoring the Bond Between Schools and Families The Centre for Social Justice first revealed the crisis in school absence in 2021 and has since led the charge in understanding and offering solutions to getting children back to school. Working Together to Improve School Attendance - The KCC school attendance handbook, primarily designed for schools breaks down into greater detail the ‘Kent way’ of implementing the guidance, and what we are all expected to do in line with existing national guidance and legislation. Has your school and your governing board engaged with this essential, local guidance document?
Training Opportunities An Introduction to School Attendance - Thursday 25 January 2024 An Introduction to Supporting Refugees and Newly Arrived Pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL) in School - Monday 29 January 2024 Role of the Training and Development Governor - Tuesday 30 January 2024
Calling all secondary governors! Data for Secondary Governors - Tuesday 20 February 2024 Join us for an interactive zoom session to support your understanding of the data available to evaluate your school - book your place School Finance: The Role of the Governor in Maintained Schools - Wednesday 28 February 2024 Pupil Premium and other targeted funding - Thursday 29 February 2024 Page 2
Governor Services Free training GovernorHub training is a great way to ensure governors and trustees are getting the most out of their subscription; please join the free sessions listed below to find out more: − How to organise documents on GovernorHub - Weds 24 Jan 11:30am - 12:15pm
− GovernorHub Knowledge in 15 minutes (great for boards considering purchasing this service) - Fri 26 Jan 11:00am - 11:15am − How to manage your board membership on GovernorHub - Weds 7 Feb 11:30am - 12:15pm − How to manage declaration of interests and confirmations on GovernorHub – Weds 28 Feb 12:30pm - 1:15pm
− How to manage meetings on GovernorHub - Thurs 14 Mar 12:30pm -1:15pm
Free Trial Almost half of Kent schools now purchase full access to GovernorHub. If your board would like to trial the full functionality in February with no obligation to purchase further Please contact us for more governorservices@theeducationpeople.org
GovernorHub Knowledge Has your board considered subscribing? − more than a thousand practical articles − downloadable templates − model policies and policy examples − on demand knowledge bank. For more details, prices and for access: governorservices@theeducationpeople.org
Check out the FAQ and Resources tabs on GovernorHub Don’t forget to take full advantage of the information, guidance, model documents and Kent-specific procedures
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Governor Services Pupil Premium Statement, School Website Requirement All schools that are required to publish a strategy statement for the academic year 2023/24 should have done so by 31 December 2023 using the template available in the guidance page. The template is designed to help schools develop their pupil premium strategy and to demonstrate that their use of the funding meets the requirements of these conditions of grant. Has your board checked the school website, providing written evidence/reporting that the 2023/24 statement has been uploaded, using the correct template?
Declarations, GIAS and School Website Updates To ensure Clerks and Governance Professionals can deliver on their expected role as board information and membership managers, governors and trustees are politely reminded of the urgent need to ensure that legal and business declarations are completed without delay. It is essential that the board’s relevant legal frameworks and governance requirements are in place - business, financial and relationship interests, GIAS and Governance information on maintained school and academy website requirements
News from our Partners Primary Conferences 2024-2025 Were you aware that the primary and secondary school improvement team run a series of conferences throughout the year with renowned national and international speakers? Drawing together experts focussed on wide-ranging topical issues and driven by the latest research, in an increasingly online world the conferences provide an opportunity for school leaders and teachers to meet face to face, network with other delegates and listen to relevant, expert and inspiring presentations. Coming up this season: − Early Years Conference: Primed for Life − Curriculum Conference: Aligning Curriculum to Assessment − Primary Senior Leaders Conference - Let's Get the Children Back to School: Motivating Good Attendance for all Pupils Please follow this link for the full range of conferences and look out for more conferences coming up later in the year. Governor Actions: − As part of your monitoring, check whether leaders and staff routinely attend conferences or use external experts How are these chosen and how they relate to the school’s professional development cycle? Ask leaders about their impact on school improvement. − Consider which conferences might fit with your school priorities and highlight these to school leaders. − Governors are also welcome to attend Consider whether any would support the board’s ongoing development.
Kent County Council Survey - Early Years and Childcare Service The Education People’s Early Years and Childcare Service is conducting a survey on behalf of Kent County Council, of parents/carers and expectant parents to determine interest in the childcare entitlements that are being introduced this year, and their arrangements for wraparound care of any primary school aged children. The survey will also gather the views of parents/carers using or wanting to use more childcare in Kent. This combined information will help us assess where there are gaps in provision. We would be very grateful if you could support us with maximising the reach of this survey by sharing the QR code below with families in your schools, any other stakeholders you may have and if appropriate your own family and friends who access or want to access childcare in Kent.
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News from our Partners Accident reporting, Investigations and Monitoring your Accident Report Data - Are you doing what you need to do? Employers have a moral, legal, and economic responsibility to monitor their accident/incident trends and to use the data to analyse future health and safety improvements that may be required. − Monitoring accident data is a vital tool which should be used by all school senior management teams and the lessons learnt should be shared to continually improve health and safety culture. The KCC Health and Safety team have produced an article to help you understand why we must do this and how it helps with measuring your health and safety performance. For more information read - The importance of reporting and investigating accidents, incidents and near misses
Let’s Get Kent Children Digital! This is an initiative run by Digital Kent, supported by the Business Workstream within the Financial Hardship Programme to give primary schools in Kent (not private schools) the opportunity to apply for funding to support the creation of digital after school clubs with local external providers. At Digital Kent, we're passionate about inspiring children to explore career options at an early stage (especially those in STEM!). We are creating an opportunity for children to learn digital skills as an engaging and fun-filled experience. Here's why schools should apply: − Interactive and fun filled learning: We believe in hands-on learning through games, projects, and activities that spark creativity and innovation. Engage with an organisation of the school’s choice to deliver digital skills training in a digital after school club! − Future-ready skills: Equip pupils with skills such as coding, robotics, digital design, and more, preparing them for the digital age. − Social interaction and more: Nurture teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills through collaborative projects. Thanks to expert advice and access to technology, create a cross-curricular links for art, maths, science, geography and blend education with entertainment to keep young minds engaged and excited about learning. − Specialised curriculum: The curriculum aligns with national educational standards, ensuring a seamless integration into the school's program. − Convenient after-school timing: With sessions scheduled conveniently after school hours, participation is a breeze for both students and parents/carers. − Utilise school's funding: This is a golden opportunity for schools to make the most of allocated funds for external digital skills providers. − Increasing participation: This will provide families with an opportunity to participate and engage with this type of activity, which they may not afford to do so otherwise. We have enough funding to support up to 50 primary schools across the county - applications are open until 12pm on 12th February 2024.
Meeting Digital and Technology Standards in Schools and Colleges Digital leadership and governance standards and Laptop, desktop and tablet standards have been added to this guidance; you can find out what standards your school or college should meet on digital leadership and governance; cyber security and filtering and monitoring standards are also included in this link
Ofsted His Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI), Sir Martyn Oliver - Press Release The new HMCI begins with an immediate package of training for inspectors, a response to the Ruth Perry inquest and a Big Listen. School and further education inspections to begin from 22 January
Ofsted's handbooks and frameworks updates: January 2024 A temporary webpage has been set up whilst Ofsted updates frameworks and handbooks, the changes in each handbook are provided; some handbooks have been updated in full and where this has been done a link to the published handbook in the relevant section has been added.
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Department for Education Consultation Gender questioning children: draft schools and colleges guidance The DfE are seeking your views on their draft non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges about children questioning their gender. The consultation closes on 12 March 2024
Consultation The DfE is seeking views on the most appropriate approach for delivering minimum service levels in education services and evidence on the impact of strike action. This consultation closes on 30 January 2024
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in Schools A video link has been added to this guidance (p23); it demonstrates how to set your defibrillator’s availability on the national defibrillator network - The Circuit. The British Heart Foundation Classroom RevivR is a free, interactive tool to help students learn lifesaving skills in CPR and defibrillation in the classroom. How does your school engage with this? Is your school meeting the national curriculum objectives in statutory health education and PSHE?
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework 2 statutory framework documents have been updated to clarify providers’ responsibilities on paediatric first aid training.
National Governance Association (NGA) FREE Governance Leadership Forum - A debate: To Pay or Not to Pay for Governance? This was last debated fully by NGA and others in 2015, and at that time the governance community was clearly on the side of not paying school governors and academy trustees; a lot has changed since then, and NGA members are now divided on whether remuneration should be considered. Join the debate online, free of charge – 08 February, 16:30 - 17:45, Zoom FREE Browne Jacobson’s Education Conference 2024 NGA’s legal partners, Browne Jacobson are hosting a virtual conference – #EdCon2024: The Power of People Monday 29 January – Thursday 1 February 2024. The free to attend conference offers both live and on-demand content available online for four days only. Topics that will be covered include: − avoiding and de-escalating parental complaints − policy management − getting panels right.
Governor Services - General Enquiries 03301 651 100 Governor Services: governorservices@theeducationpeople.org The Clerking Service: clerkingservice@theeducationpeople.org Training: governorservicestraining@theeducationpeople.org
Service Lead - Governor Services Suzanne Mayes Email: suzanne.mayes@theeducationpeople.org
South Kent (Ashford, Dover, Folkestone and Hythe), North Kent and Medway (Dartford, Gravesham, Sevenoaks, Medway)
East Kent (Canterbury, Swale, Thanet) and West Kent
Tina Gimber Email: tina.gimber@theeducationpeople.org 03301 651 057
Lorraine Monkhouse Email: lorraine.monkhouse@theeducationpeople.org 03301 651 061
(Maidstone, Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells)