A new webinar from Portsmouth City Councils looks at apprenticeships for LA schools and nurseries

Updated: Upskill your staff with an LA apprenticeship

If you are looking at opportunities to upskill your staff, a local authority apprenticeship is a great option to consider. Government funding for new recruits has been extended until 31 January 2022 with funding of £1200 to support staff.

People's choice award

Local residents recognise top teachers in Teach Portsmouth Awards Live

A list of top teachers, support teams and leaders have been revealed in the people’s choice category for the Teach Portsmouth Awards Live.

Teach Portsmouth, part of Portsmouth City Council, promotes teacher recruitment and retention in the city. In January, local residents were asked to nominate a school or college team member who had gone above and beyond to support their community during the pandemic.

The category was created in response to the unique and challenging situation COVID-19 presented for those working in education settings. Inspirational stories of teachers calling home to check on children and head teachers delivering food parcels have featured in supporting statements submitted for the category.

Councillor Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council, said:

“Schools and colleges have done an amazing job supporting vulnerable families as well as making sure everyone remains connected in a safe and secure way. This has made a huge difference to local residents home-schooling children during each lockdown. It was only right that we allowed local residents to nominate a teacher, support team or head teacher in an all-new category.

“When looking online, it is clear that those who feature in the list have left a lasting impression on the local community.”

Parents and carers of children and young people in the city have shared their experiences of those who have gone above and beyond. Annaliese Campbell, learning mentor and wellbeing lead at Langstone Junior Academy has supported the whole school during the pandemic. One parent said:

“Langstone Junior Academy is always excellent at supporting their pupils but they have worked especially hard during the pandemic. Mrs Campbell works tirelessly to support pupils and parents alike and has consistently been available.  She sends out regular and carefully thought out wellbeing exercises, resources and advice.”

While many pupils were learning from home, schools never closed, with many teachers supporting keyworker children and young people in the classroom. Another parent said headteacher, Jackie Collins at Devonshire Infant School had made their child feel comforted:

“Since the start of the pandemic, parents were not allowed to bring their children into the school. Ms Collins personally greeted every child outside. She knows every name, deals with every query, every forgotten packed lunch and every tearful child. This daily undertaking is appreciated. Thank you for caring so much, Ms Collins.”

In previous years, the Teach Portsmouth Awards has only allowed headteachers in schools and colleges to take part in nominating their staff. For the first time, local residents could nominate a teacher, learning support assistant or headteacher in an education setting.

Mike Stoneman, deputy director for children, families and education at Portsmouth City Council, said:

“The last 18 months has been a challenging time for many of us, including teachers. The introduction of the people’s choice award category is a natural next step in recognising the amazing contributions from those who work in education.

“Each entry has a personal story attached to it with many instances of colleagues supporting families in profound ways. This new category provides Portsmouth with an opportunity to say a collective thank you to those who work in education.”

The Teach Portsmouth Awards have been held at iconic locations across the city including the Gaiety Bar on Southsea Pier. Due to social distancing, this year’s event will be streamed virtually through Zoom video conferencing.

The Teach Portsmouth Awards Live will take place on Thursday 8 July featuring celebrity host, Reverend Richard Coles. There are 9 award categories which showcase the talents and dedication of Portsmouth’s education community.

The awards are sponsored by local organisations including Portsmouth College, National Education Union (NEU), The University of Portsmouth, Caterlink, BAE Systems, Kier Construction, Thinking Schools Academy Trust (TSAT), Express FM and The News.

To view those recognised in the people’s choice award category, visit: teachportsmouth.co.uk/awards.

Armed Forces Day 2021

Armed Forces Day 2021

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. Portsmouth City Council are proud to uphold the Armed Forces Covenant and recognise that now more than ever, our armed forces community may need the support the Armed Forces Covenant provides. Information on how you can support, or be supported by the Covenant, is available on the Portsmouth City Council website.

For children growing up in military families, Armed Forces Day on Saturday 26 June and the week leading up to it is our opportunity to recognise and thank them for the unique sacrifices they and their families make and have made to support our security and wellbeing. In the past year military personnel across the country have supported us at home and abroad in the global fight against the pandemic, as well as continuing other humanitarian and peacekeeping activities around the world.

In Portsmouth and around the country, military veterans have also answered the call to action, providing much needed support to our vaccination centres and the local community. Veterans can be any age, and there are many with families that include school aged children. These children also need Armed Forces week as an opportunity to celebrate and share their experiences.

The pandemic has prevented large civic events but we will be celebrating Armed Forces Week with a flag raising ceremony to take place on Armed Forces Day.  There will also be guided walks around memorial sites and a small scale event at Gunwharf Quays.

There are lots of pre-existing educational resources available for schools and parents on the topic of the Armed Forces, past and present. These can be used during Armed Forces week to say thank you and find out more about the Armed Forces. Access the resources through the Armed Forces Day website.

If you share your school’s Armed Forces Day activities on social media, don’t forget to use the hashtag #SaluteOurForces and tag @ArmedForcesDay in your posts.

If you have any questions please email [email protected]

Portsmouth Clean Air Zone (CAZ)

Portsmouth Clean Air Zone (CAZ) launching November 2021

The Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is due to launch in November 2021 and some vehicles that travel through it would face a daily charge. These include non-compliant taxis, private hire vehicles (PHVs), buses, coaches, and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) that:

  •        Do not meet Euro 6 emissions standards (so are Euro 5 or older) if they are diesel
  •        Do not meet Euro 4 emissions standards (so are Euro 3 or older) if they are petrol

Since you might use coaches to make trips for your school, it’s important that you’re aware that older, more-polluting buses and coaches would have to pay a charge of £50 per day to travel through the zone.

You are encouraged to speak to the coach company you’d normally use to make them aware of this charge, as they may be able to use a cleaner, greener vehicle for your school. This will also ensure that children and young people are exposed to less air pollution.

Find out more at www.portsmouth.gov/cleanairzone.

Condition Improvement Fund – bids invited

The DFE has launched their latest round of Condition Improvement Fund for Academies, details of which can be found on the DFE website.  New applicants must register on the DFE portal by midday on Friday 29 November, and the deadline for completed bids is midday on Friday 13 December.

Portsmouth Ice Skating – School Group Offers

We are excited to confirm that Portsmouth Ice Skating is coming to the Guildhall this winter. To help spread some festive cheer, the Portsmouth Ice Skating team is offering a group booking discount for school groups of over 15 – the perfect end-of-term treat!

Open from Saturday 23 November 2019 through to Sunday 5 January 2020, the skate sessions are one hour long and start at 10am with last stake at 8pm (or 9:15pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays) – the perfect end-of-term treat.

New for this year, the ice rink includes a canopy to ensure skating sessions go ahead whatever the weather and in addition to being wheelchair accessible at all times, the team has scheduled dedicated SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) sessions. Skate aids are also available to hire for those wanting to build confidence on the ice.

Hot drinks will be available to purchase rink-side and visitors are encouraged to use Portsmouth’s surrounding outlets.

To book your school group session, and to receive the school booking discount, please call 0845 299 7991.

Follow us on social media to keep up to speed with the latest news and updates:

Facebook: PorsmouthIceSkating
Instagram: Portsmouth_Ice_Rink
Twitter: PortsmouthOnIce

For more information please visit: www.portmsouthiceskating.uk or call 0845 299 7991.

Publication of SEN Area Inspection Report

Message from Alison Jeffery, Director of Children, Families and Education – 24 September 2019

I am delighted to let you know that Portsmouth SEND local area inspection report has been published today following the Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspection visit which took place from 1st to 5th July 2019.

This report can be found here

This was a very wide-ranging inspection of the support for children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and disabilities and I am pleased that the hard work of a large number of services across education, health, social care and the voluntary sector, has been recognised in the report as contributing to improving outcomes for children, young people in the city and their families.

The report commends work across all services to implement the significant SEND reforms of recent years and celebrates the impact of partnership working in the city, something which we all value highly, of course the inspectors have specifically highlighted the following as strengths:

  • ‘Shaping Better Futures Together’ (parents coproduction group)
  • Dynamite (young people’s group)
  • School nursing, the specialist health visiting service and ECHO
  • Integrated therapy service
  • CAMHs and CAMHs-LD
  • Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs) in schools
  • Short break offer
  • Integrated adult learning disabilities service

Some innovative good practice has also been recognised, including:

  • Coproduction and person-centred annual reviews
  • Joint commissioning
  • Inclusive practice in schools
  • Use of Ordinarily Available Provision guidance and the Schools Therapy Pack
  • Quality and timeliness of EHCPs
  • Promotion of a ‘needs-led’ approach to accessing support
  • Collaboration via the Portsmouth Education Partnership
  • The work that has taken place to reduce school absence and fixed term exclusions, including use of restorative practice
  • Training and professional development e.g. via the SEN Support project and SENCo network

The report also helpfully confirms the areas that we want to improve, including:

  • Educational outcomes for those on SEN Support
  • Independence and employment for young people with SEND
  • Transition from children’s to adult services including paediatric to adult health servicesWe will of course continue to work to further improve services and outcomes for those in our city with SEND. Thank you so much to everyone for your important contribution to this.

The inspection report is both an important validation of the dedication and commitment from all those involved in supporting children and young people with SEND and their families and the difference this is making, as well confirmation of the steps we still need to take. Julia Katherine and colleagues across the partnership have already drawn up a post inspection action plan which will be going to the SEND Board for consideration next month. If anyone has any questions about the report or the action plan please do not hesitate to get in touch with Julia at [email protected].

 

Slides from Heads Breakfast 16/09/19

Please find attached the full set of slides from Monday’s Breakfast Briefing. Thank you to all those who were able to attend the briefing. It was an excellent turn out despite the fact we had to rearrange it for a Monday morning.

Mike Stoneman
Deputy Director, Education and Early Help

Portsmouth governor training – up and running!

We were delighted to welcome 12 new Portsmouth governors to an induction session on 17 September. The training was very well received, with governors valuing information about education in Portsmouth, an introduction to the role of governor, and the chance to network with other new governors.

Our October training offer for governors includes courses on finance (maintained schools only), governor responsibilities for Looked After Children, safeguarding, and inclusion. We will be repeating the induction session in January 2020. For more information or to book see the traded services website or email [email protected].

Welcome to the 2019/20 school year!

Please find attached a letter from Alison Jeffery, Director of Children’s Services, giving updates and information about developments for 2019/20 as well as reflecting on achievements during the 2018/19 school year.