Thank you

I would like to say an enormous thank you to all school, college and early years leaders, teachers and staff for their amazing work since the lockdown began. I have been very impressed with the way solutions have been found to provide childcare, home learning and support for the children of key workers and the most vulnerable in our city.  The challenges are continuing and I applaud you all for the work that you are doing.  I would also like to thank the parents, children and young people of Brighton & Hove who have managed a massive change in their lives so positively. It’s great to see the creative ways they are learning and playing across the city.

Although this year’s Children’s Parade is sadly unable to go ahead as usual, organisers Brighton Festival and Same Sky are inviting everyone to come together this year in a different way to celebrate children, their creativity and incredible imaginations by holding mini parades at home. 

The 2020 Children’s Parade will take place virtually on Saturday 2 May at 10.30am for five minutes.  To help with this, Same Sky artists have created free and easy tutorials to make something fun from recycled materials found around the house such as a broom puppet, trumpets, masks and hats. Follow this link https://brightonfestival.org/childrens_parade_at_home_-_artist_tutorials/ for more information.

2019 Children’s Parade. Photo Xavier Clarke

Ramadan has started.  It will be a very different sort of Ramadan for those marking it. Mosques are closed and gatherings not permitted, but I would like to wish Ramadan Mubarak and Ramadan Kareem to those who are fasting. I recognise and understand that the marking of Ramadan may also mean changes in routine and create more challenges with home working and home schooling and hope this goes as smoothly as it can.  Here is the link to the Muslim Council of Britain’s guide on celebrating Ramadan at home http://ow.ly/ZCzw50zlrbu



Just a reminder of life in school before lockdown, in March schools in Brighton and Hove celebrated World Book Day. Activities included dressing up as a favourite book character, sharing a much loved book and more.  Here are what two of our Reading Recovery schools got up to. 

At Middle Street Primary School, activities were based around Julia Donaldson's 'Charlie Cook's Favourite Book' with staff dressing up as characters from the book.  This was followed by making their own whole school book about favourite books and a free book giveaway of some second-hand books.

Staff at Middle Street Primary School

Woodingdean Primary School pupils enjoyed the theme of ‘Sharing Our Own Stories’ and all children made a book of their complete autobiography or an autobiographical story to enter into a writing competition. Money was raised for Dementia Awareness in a pre-loved book sale and characters were put into their correct settings with use of a green screen.

Woodingdean Primary School pupils using the green screen

March also saw the launch of Young City Reads Annual Big Read.  I hope that you all had a great day enjoying a book or two.  So many more amazing things went on across the city for World Book Day, thank you to everyone for your contributions.  Happy reading!

I would like to thank those schools who are supporting their apprentices to continue learning.   In particular this support means that those following the Post Graduate Teacher Apprenticeship route will be able to complete their apprenticeship and gain their PGCE and QTS. 

The recruitment for next year’s teaching apprenticeships is continuing.  Thank you to schools who are participating and also the University of Brighton for looking at alternative ways of interviewing applicants.  BHCC is still recruiting apprenticeships across services and there are currently vacancies for 10 Apprentice Plumbers in the new Housing Repairs Service.

The Apprenticeship Team has produced a video including interviews with current apprentices, post graduate teachers, senior leaders and customer service apprentices.  Please follow this link to see what they have to say: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEnB_ZrwiXQ

For information regarding Apprenticeships please contact Gavin Graham in the Apprenticeship team 01273 293320 or apprenticeships@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Keeping in touch

It has been wonderful to see how our schools are keeping in touch with their children at this time.  I have really enjoyed seeing these videos and I look forward to hearing more about the different ways school communities are coming together at this time. 

These are just a few examples of some of the great things which have been happening:-

Benfield Primary School produced the following Moana mash-up which they sent to all families in the school.  https://benfield-brighton-hove.secure-dbprimary.com/brighton-hove/primary/benfield/site/pages/learning/homelearning/moanadance%21

Coldean Primary School put together this video to bring some cheer to the Coldean community https://youtu.be/HdCWXO1w30k

And Middle Street Primary School created the following video with inspirational messages for their pupils https://www.middlestreet.brighton-hove.sch.uk/for-parents/general-news

I’m not going to let a global pandemic stop me!



Wren with an example of his work

Wren, a young trans person who also has autism, is continuing to work on his Silver Arts Award - a national Level 2 qualification - despite the Coronavirus pandemic.  With his GCSE exams cancelled, completing the Award is particularly important to him.  The council’s Youth Participation Team has been working with Wren remotely via phone calls, emails and social media to complete the parts that are still unfinished.

“I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to do my arts leadership at all,” said Wren.  “But my organisational skills have actually improved, because I had to write a plan and refer to it in the sessions. Finding a balance between having fun and being professional is not always easy!”

For further information about the support available to young people in the city during the Coronavirus restrictions please see Facebook: brightonandhoveyouth or www.bhyap.org.uk (and click on the contact tab).

New ways of supporting learning in lockdown 

I am delighted that Brighton & Hove has been chosen as a pilot city for a new programme which is now supporting schools’ efforts to provide continuity of learning in these times.

The Cities of Learning programme, led by the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) and funded by Cities & Guilds Group and Ufi Charitable Trust, uses digital innovation to widen access to meaningful, connected learning.  By focusing on learning outside the classroom and employability/life skills, Cities of Learning bridges achievement and skills gaps to improve social mobility, working with young people, aged 14-24 as part of the funded pilot.

Brighton delivery partners are Future Creators and have been working with local learning providers including Varndean Secondary School and Brighton, Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College (BHASVIC), and employers to create a range of badges that can be issued to Year 11 students to recognise their work as they continue their studies independently from home. Patcham High School, and Blatchington Mill School are now on board, considering ways to recognise efforts of their young people in these challenging times.

For more information on the Cities of Learning programme, please contact Rachel Carter, who is the city lead Rachel.carter@brightondome.org or see https://www.youracclaim.com/organizations/our-future-city/badges



Lockdown food deliveries

The BACA and the Bevy team

It was so positive to hear that staff from the Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) and the Bevy community pub have been preparing hundreds of meals a week to feed some of the most vulnerable children and families in the community while the school is closed during lockdown.

BACA’s kitchen is used to prepare the meals from food delivered via the Bevy from FareShare Sussex, Brighton Food Factory and other local organisations.  The team then run a contact free delivery service of meals, tinned food and other essentials to families in need.

Bob Speight, Principal of BACA said: “There are many unknowns in the coming weeks and months but we are keen to do everything we can to support this project and help the community get through this challenging period.”

Well done to everyone involved on this fantastic scheme.  This is just one example of the great community work that schools are doing to support the most vulnerable during this challenging time.

 

Sussex Virtual School Games

On Monday 27 April, the ‘Virtual’ Opening Ceremony took place for the Specsavers ‘Virtual’ Sussex School Games, kicking off a term of sporting challenges giving children the chance to represent their schools and compete to be Sussex champions.

Medals will be awarded to the best scoring schools in each sport, with separate Primary and Secondary competitions. There will also be an Active Adults category so parents, teachers and carers can get involved and represent the school too.  Overall Sussex Champions will be crowned at the end of the summer term.

Every week a different sport will take place, made up of four personal sporting challenges which can be completed from home or at school.  Anybody can take part, and participants simply need to upload their training videos and pictures to the social media links below, including the hashtag #SussexSchGames. 

Twitter: @SussexSchGames
Facebook: Specsavers Sussex School Games
Instagram: @SussexSchGames
TikTok: @SussexSchGames
 
For more information, please contact Emma Greenough at Emma.Greenough@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Tarner Children’s Centre Food Bank

Higgidy pies ready for distribution

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, Children’s Centres set up a no contact Food Bank and emergency supplies delivery service for families with children aged under five operating from Tarner Children’s Centre in central Brighton.  The service is part of a city wide BHCC Covid -19 response for our most vulnerable residents. Children’s Centres are taking referrals from the main BHCC Food Hub, as well as from Health Visiting, Social Work, ITF and parenting, Family Information Service, and our council nurseries.

Food is being supplied by Fareshare and The Brighton and Hove Food Partnership alongside donations of food from Higgidy pies, the Salvation Army and Muirs fruit and veg.  400 food parcels have been delivered this month to families in need by the City Parks team, a volunteer from the Transport team, and Children’s Centre staff and managers. Housing, the Welfare Rights team and the Discretionary Support Fund team are also providing financial advice to these families if this needed.

This really has been a fantastic effort by everyone involved and from so many teams across the council. The staff have gone above and beyond to get food and emergency supplies to families who are self isolating, in financial crisis or unable to leave the home due to other health reasons.

Wellbeing during this time

The PSHE Service is working hard this term to continue to develop relevant and safe to use resources for this term and when schools reopen.  The following link provides a range of resources that schools can use with pupils and students in school and send home to families including weekly wellbeing materials http://www.beem.org.uk/Page/16930.  For more information, please email pshe@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Unfortunately families in our school communities will be experiencing bereavements as a result of COVID-19. An example bereavement policy is available on the BEEM page here http://www.beem.org.uk/Page/16160 along with template letters that can be sent home. For support in dealing with bereavement issues please contact BHISS.

The Ofsted inspections are now on hold due to Covid 19 (official link to information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ofsted-coronavirus-covid-19-rolling-update)

All routine inspections are suspended at this time and reports will not be published until schools are back properly.  This means that results for Hertford Junior School and Downs View Special School may take some time to be published.

Prior to the lockdown the following schools did receive their inspection reports in March and the beginning of April.

Congratulations to Hove Junior School on retention of their Good Ofsted judgement. The inspection report said: “Staff are utterly committed to the school and its pupils.”

Also congratulations to St Margaret’s Church of England Primary School who have also retained their Good Ofsted judgement. The inspection report said: “This is a school where every child is nurtured and cherished.”

Moulsecoomb Primary School had a successful monitoring visit and the inspector reported that the school are taking effective action to improve the quality of education at the school and that the plans and support in place are appropriate.

Balfour Primary School had an inspection and has been graded Requires Improvement. There were many positives to the report including this from the inspector: “Pupils enjoy coming to this school, where they are well cared for” and “children get off to a good start to their education in the early years.” 

Welcomes and Goodbyes

Mark Church, Headteacher at City Academy Whitehawk is moving into a different role with the Aurora Trust and we would like to thank him for all his work at the school and in partnership across the city.  Thomas McMorrin, the Deputy Head has been appointed as the new Headteacher.  Many people will have met Thomas at Headteacher meetings in the past and I am sure everyone will welcome him in his new role.

Mark Church

Thomas McMorrin

John Maxwell has started in his new role as Head of Saltdean Primary. I hope that we will all be able to meet John in person soon, but in the meantime please do say hello.  Our thanks go to Wendy King for her leadership as Interim Head of Saltdean.

John Maxwell

Wendy King



Best wishes,
Jo

Keep in touch and follow me on Twitter @JoMLyons
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