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- Child protection correspondence: Revised procedures
- Commissioning Positive Activities for Young People programmes in 2009-10
- ContactPoint
- ContactPoint update for directors of children's services
- Early entry to the New Deal for Young People (NDYP) programme for 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET)
- LAC(0602090004) - Designated Teacher funding 2009-10 & 2010-11
- LAC(3112080001) - Youth Opportunity Fund and Youth Capital Funds: 2009-10 grants
- New guidance on improvement support for children's services
LA email - 12 February 2009
In this issue
Information, updates and announcements
- Children and Young People's Health Strategy
- Child Protection Correspondence-Revised Procedures
- ContactPoint update for Directors of Children's Services
- Early Entry to New Deal for 18-year-olds Not In Education, Employment or Training
- Parents' Complaints About School Issues: Outcome of Consultation
- Update on 14-19 Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) Activity
- Commissioning Positive Activities Programmes in 2009-10
- Revised School Admissions Code and School Admission Appeals
- Recruiting For a Number of Schools Adjudicators
- Health and Social Care Awards 2009
- Shine Festival: 6-10 July 2009
Funding
Publications, reports and guidance
- New Guidance on Improvement Support for Children's Services
- Getting to Grips with Assessing Pupils Progress (APP)
- Revised handbook for leading teachers for gifted and talented
- Classroom Quality Standards for Gifted and Talented Education
Events
Information, updates and announcements
REF: 1002090015Children and Young People's Health Strategy
Audience: Planning and commisioning managers, frontline staff in all children's and young people's settings and services.
Summary:
'Healthy lives, brighter futures' is the long-term strategy to support children and young people’s health. It aims to achieve world-class health outcomes and minimise health inequalities. This will be supported by services of the highest quality, providing an excellent experience for the young people and their families who use them. Central to our aim is to provide mothers and fathers with the support they need to give their children a healthy start in life and to help young people to make healthy choices.
The strategy makes a number of commitments for children in their early years, at school age, and in adolescence, for children with acute or additional needs, and for system-level changes that will support local delivery.
Action required and due date:
To note
- Sender:
- John Hubbard
- Tel:
- 020 7925 5309
- Email:
- john.hubbard@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 2901090001Child Protection Correspondence-Revised Procedures
Summary:
The attached letter from Jeanette Pugh, Director, Safeguarding Group outlines the revised procedures we are putting in place in relation to correspondence received in the Department which suggests that a particular child may be at risk of harm.
Action required and due date:
To note
- Sender:
- Colin Curtis
- Tel:
- 020 7273 4924
- Email:
- colin.curtis@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 0502090005ContactPoint update for Directors of Children's Services
Summary:
Please find attached a letter to Directors of Children’s Services from Christine Goodfellow, Improving Information Sharing and Management Programme Director.
The letter provides an update about ContactPoint, focusing on the following areas:
- Communicating with children, young people and parents and carers
- Initial shielding activity, including a specific action for Directors of Children’s Services (or nominated deputies)
For further information please contact your local ContactPoint project manager. A copy of this letter has been sent to them.
For further information please visit the Every Child Matters website.
Action required and due date:
Compulsory: Deadline and action for Directors of Children's Services is contained in the letter
- Sender:
- Patrick Agius
- Tel:
- 020 7273 5093
- Email:
- patrick.agius@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 1712080007Early Entry to New Deal for 18-year-olds Not In Education, Employment or Training
Audience: Connexions Providers and other youth support services.
Summary:
18-year-olds who make a claim for Jobseeker's Allowance and who have not been in education, employment or training (NEET) for 26 weeks will be mandated to the New Deal from April 2009. This is one of the measures announced in the 2007 NEET strategy.
This guidance describes the arrangements that Jobcentre Plus will follow, and explains the action that local authorities and Connexions providers should take to ensure that young people receive an integrated package of support from both Children’s Services and Jobcentre Plus to help them to benefit from New Deal and to re-engage in work or learning.
Action required and due date:
To note
- Sender:
- Gill Cowan
- Tel:
- 0114 2593117
- Email:
- gill.cowan@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 0402090002Parents' Complaints About School Issues: Outcome of Consultation
Summary:
The outcome of the consultation announces that the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) will host the new independent complaints service.
It also outlines next steps including: piloting the new service, statutory guidance to schools in complaint handling, and links between different complaints handling systems.
Action required and due date:
To note
- Sender:
- Jo Bewley
- Tel:
- 020 7273 5889
- Email:
- Jo.bewley@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 0601090003Update on 14-19 Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) Activity
Summary:
The DCSF have contracted with a company called igen ltd to offer 14 - 19 Diploma consortia free advice and consultancy around the delivery of Information, Advice and Guidance within the Diplomas. Igen consultants will offer an in depth independent assessment of current IAG arrangements, and clear recommendations for action required. This provides you with a golden opportunity to improve your IAG provision before you start delivering diplomas.
Further details can be found on the IAG Consultancy website.
This will be followed up by Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) IAG champions who will provide support to consortia to help them implement recommendations.
For further information please visit the Diploma Support website.
We want to ensure all consortia access this free, impartial support.
Action required and due date:
Please encourage consortia in your area to register for the free support here.
- Sender:
- Mohan Babu
- Tel:
- 0114 2593988
- Email:
- mohan.babu@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 0602090002Commissioning Positive Activities Programmes in 2009-10
Audience: Lead members for children's services
Summary:
Providing guidance to Directors of Children Services (DCSs) on the commissioning of Positive Activities for Young People programmes in 2009-10.
Action required and due date:
To note
- Sender:
- David Rawding
- Tel:
- 01142594365
- Email:
- david.rawding@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 0311080003Revised School Admissions Code and School Admission Appeals
Summary:
The revised School Admissions Code and School Admission Appeals Code came into force on 10 February 2009 and applies to all maintained schools in England.
The Codes can be viewed on the DCSF website.
Action required and due date:
To note
- Sender:
- Khalid Arshad
- Tel:
- 020 7340 8103
- Email:
- khalid.arshad@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 2601090003Recruiting For a Number of Schools Adjudicators
Summary:
We are recruiting for Schools Adjudicators to make legally binding decisions on objections to school admission arrangements, directions of pupils, school organisation proposals -which have not been resolved locally, competitions for new schools, acquisition of trusts, and disposals and transfers of land. You will need to have a proven track record at a senior level within the education sector, be impartial and independent with keenly developed analytical, presentational and oral and written communication skills.
For further details, and information on how to apply, please go to the Public Appointments website or email: this mailbox.
Action required and due date:
The closing date for applications is 20 February 2009.
- Sender:
- Johanna Partridge
- Tel:
- 020 7340 7147
- Email:
- johanna.partridge@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 0602090001Health and Social Care Awards 2009
Summary:
The Health and Social Care Awards have an established eight-year history and are an unparalleled opportunity to highlight and celebrate innovation and excellence in the provision of frontline health and social care.
The Awards are open to anyone working throughout the NHS, social services, the voluntary, charity and independent sectors in England, and are a fantastic way to showcase your project and reward your team.
This year we have a total of 14 categories such as:
- People’s Award for Dignity and Care
- Success in Partnership Award
- Transforming Services Award
Please visit our website to find out more and apply for an Award. The closing day for applications to be in is Friday, 6 March 2009.
Action required and due date:
Please be aware the closing date for completed applications to be submitted is 6 March 2009.
- Sender:
- Tom Richardson
- Tel:
- 020 7340 8258
- Email:
- tom.richardson@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 1501090002Shine Festival: 6-10 July 2009
Summary:
Thanks to the energy and imagination of teachers, students and partner organisations, the first Shine Festival week in July 2008 was an unprecedented success. Over 2,500 schools and organisations staging celebratory events all over England took part, many featuring in the broadcast and print media coverage which reached over 40% of the population.
Shine is an opportunity for young people and the schools and organisations who work with them to put the best of their good news in front of the wider public. It is a vehicle for the year's most positive stories about schools and young people and a chance to illustrate the talents of young carers, entrepreneurs, motivators, leaders, artists, musicians, scientists, cooks and more.
The clear message is that everyone has something to offer and the future prosperity of the country depends upon the talents young people are developing now. That there is exemplary innovative work going on all over the country in and out of schools led by highly motivated teachers and workers.
There is no cost implication and no significant additional workload for participants. For further information call 0207 973 5211 or email: this mailbox for more information. Additional information can also be found on the Shine website.
Action required and due date:
All schools and organisations working with young people encouraged to take part.
- Sender:
- Lucy Canning
- Tel:
- 0207 273 1145
- Email:
- lucy.canning@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Funding
REF: 0602090004Designated Teacher Funding: 2009-10 & 2010-11
Summary:
This circular sets out the Designated Teacher Funding allocations being made available to all local authorities in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
This funding will form part of the Area Based Grant from 2009-10. It is provided in recognition of the additional costs involved in arranging for designated teachers for looked after children to access appropriate training so that they can fulfil their role effectively.
- Sender:
- Jo O'Boyle
- Tel:
- 0207 340 7415
- Email:
- Jo.O'Boyle@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 3112080001Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds: 2009-10
Summary:
This circular sets out the details of the Youth Opportunity Fund and Youth Capital Fund for 2009-10, including grant conditions, allocations and payment arrangements.
Action required and due date:
To note
- Sender:
- Jo O'Boyle
- Tel:
- 020 7340 7415
- Email:
- Jo.O'Boyle@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Publications, reports and guidance
REF: 1410080007New Guidance on Improvement Support for Children's Services
Summary:
DCSF has published the following three guidance documents:
- Children’s Services: Joint Improvement Support Plans. Guidance on drawing up these plans including the standard format and timetable
- Children’s Services: Improvement Framework. A framework to help local authorities procure tailored packages of activity across children's services using their own funding
- Children’s Services: Improvement Support for Local Authorities and Children’s Trusts – National Prospectus 2009-10. This document sets out the range of DCSF funded improvement support that is available to local authorities for children’s services
These guidance documents follow-on from the Children’s Services Improvement Support Protocol (revised version published October 2008) which sets out the overall framework for coordinating support from the large number of improvement support bodies.
Copies can be downloaded or ordered free of charge from DCSF Publications on 0845 60 222 60 quoting the references below:
00921-2008BKT-EN Children's Services Improvement Framework
00194-2009DOM-EN Children's Services: Joint Improvement Support Plan
00193-2009DOM-EN Children's Services Improvement Support for local authorities and Children's Trusts: A National Prospectus
Action required and due date:
To note
- Sender:
- Beth Simpson
- Tel:
- 0114 259 3656
- Email:
- beth.simpson@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 2901090005Getting to Grips with Assessing Pupils Progress (APP)
Summary:
'Getting to Grips with Assessing Pupils' Progress' (APP) is a booklet designed to help users implement and manage APP.
It gives an overview of the processes, key points and hints on what helps. The document can be viewed on the National Strategies website and is available to download and order from the teachernet website.
Action required and due date:
To note
- Sender:
- Cheryl Shorter
- Tel:
- 020 7925 6558
- Email:
- cheryl.shorter@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 2001090001Revised handbook for leading teachers for gifted and talented
Audience: All school staff and relevant LA personnel
Summary:
The recently launched leading teacher handbook offers all educational professionals clear, practical guidance on leading gifted and talented provision in their school. It addresses the dual aspects of the role – how to support improvements in teaching and learning for gifted and talented pupils whilst ensuring focussed whole-school strategic planning to meet the needs of gifted and talented pupils.
Personalised learning is at the heart of this National Strategies’ cross-phase programme, and every school is expected to have access to a trained leading teacher.
The leader teaching handbook can be ordered from DCSF publications by calling 0845 60 222 60 or emailing: dcsf@prolog.uk.com and quoting ref: 00577-2008FLR-EN
The handbook is also available to download from the National Strategies website.
Action required and due date:
Order or download materials
- Sender:
- C. Higgs
- Tel:
- 0845 850 1444
- Email:
- Primary@nationalstrategies.co.uk
REF: 2001090002Classroom Quality Standards for Gifted and Talented Education
Audience: All school staff and relevant local authority (LA) personnel
Summary:
The Classroom Quality Standards (CQS) are generic self-evaluation tools to support teachers and other classroom practitioners in subject-based work. They have been developed to:
- promote a shared understanding and greater consistency in evaluating effective provision
- engage teachers and practitioners in classrooms and early years settings in review of their practice
- support identification and implementation of next steps for improvement.
The CQS DVD and booklet are available from local authorities.
Further copies can be ordered from DCSF publications by calling 0845 60 222 60 or emailing dcsf@prolog.uk.com and quoting ref: 00556-2008 DVD-EN. They can also be found on: National Strategies and Teachernet websites.
For further information contact your LA Gifted and Talented (G&T) lead or email: this mailbox
Action required and due date:
Order or download materials
- Sender:
- C. Higgs
- Tel:
- 0845 850 1444
- Email:
- Primary@nationalstrategies.co.uk
Events
REF: 0502090008Child Poverty Consultation Event
Audience: Key officials including children's services, economic regeneration, health, housing and welfare.
Summary:
We would like to invite Chief Executives and Directors of Children's Services to attend the Child Poverty Bill consultation event.
The purpose of the event is to ensure local authorities (LAs) input their vitally important views on the options presented for the Bill including whether and how a duty on local authorities could work in accelerating progress toward eradicating child poverty in all communities.
Register for the consultation event.
View the full consultation.
Action required and due date:
Register for the event by 19 February 2009
- Sender:
- Alison Culshaw
- Tel:
- 020 7925 6912
- Email:
- alison.culshaw@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 1501090008Spring Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP) Roadshows
Audience: Relevant practitioners/managers in youth and children's services, community safety and housing.
Summary:
The Youth Taskforce are hosting three roadshows to highlight the government’s vision for tackling youth crime and anti-social behaviour and to involve practitioners and managers in the broad multi-agency coalition for delivering the Youth Crime Action Plan.
The roadshows will be an opportunity for colleagues from youth/children’s services, police, community safety, families, housing, and the third sector to share good practice and explore how we can implement the Youth Crime Action Plan.
Conference schedule:
- 19 March 2009 Leeds
- 24 March 2009 Birmingham
- 26 March 2009 London
10:00 - 16:00pm - lunch is provided.
For information and to register for these free events visit the website.
For specific enquiries e-mail this mailbox or call 01772 767799
Action required and due date:
Voluntary: relevant staff to sign up to attend these free events
- Sender:
- Andy Fisher
- Tel:
- 020 7925 7350
- Email:
- andy.fisher@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 2710080004Federations Conference 2009
Summary:
The DCSF is hosting three regional conferences on small primary school federations between March - June 2009 in Newcastle, London and Birmingham.
The conferences, which are aimed at headteachers and governors who are interested in federating or who have already federated and local authority officials who have an interest in collaboration, will look at the unique challenges facing rural primary schools and how federation can help.
The conferences will be workshop focused and will offer delegates the opportunity to listen to the experiences of heads from existing federations, to learn more about the federation process and to hear from senior DCSF officials and National College for School Leadership (NCSL) about the role of federations and collaboration in today’s education system.
The dates for the conferences are as follows:
- Newcastle – 19 March
- London – 1 April
- Birmingham – 23 June
To register for the events please click here.
Action required and due date:
Please register for the event on the conference website.
- Sender:
- Denise Barker
- Tel:
- 020 7783 8459
- Email:
- denise.barker@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
REF: 0902090006Learning Visits - Spring Term 2009
Summary:
National College of School Leadership (NCSL) took on the management of the Learning Visits programme in January 2009, and this term’s visit dates and themes are now available. The main themes for visits this term are:
- Development of the 14-19 prospectus
- Employer engagement
- Information, Advice and Guidance
- Collaborative structures to deliver the entitlement
- Progression routes and Level 3 teaching
To view the full programme of events and see the relevant dates please visit the NCSL website.
Action required and due date:
Consider registering for the events.
- Sender:
- Sundy-lin Green
- Tel:
- 0114 2594516
- Email:
- learningvisits@ncsl.org.uk
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Last updated on 12/02/2009
