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
Find details here Twitter accounts across all council services.

World Book Day 2020

Another exciting World Book Day takes place on Thursday 5 March.  Last year, many fun filled activities took place across Brighton and Hove to emphasise the importance of reading.  Research has shown that children who participate in World Book Day activities are more engaged in reading and books than those who don’t participate.   We are looking forward to hearing all about this year’s events across the city.

Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network

Thomas Bald at the House of Commons

Lisa Mitchell (Project Officer, Employment and Skills) and Thomas Bald (Transport Accessibility Officer Apprentice) attended the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network third anniversary reception at the House of Commons during National Apprenticeship Week in February.

The Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network was launched to support the delivery of the Government target to increase representation in apprenticeships by 20% for individuals who are Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic (BAME), and from individuals who have learning difficulties and disabilities by 2020. The Network has grown significantly to over 85 members recruiting more passionate champions to promote and enhance social mobility through apprenticeships.

Thomas said “Being invited to the House of Commons to attend the Apprenticeship Diversity Champion Network to represent Brighton and Hove City Council was a great experience for me, it opened my eyes to the lives and experiences of not only other apprentices, but also all sorts of different authorities and businesses that are using apprentices as part of their work force."

"There were some motivational and interesting speeches including from Cumbria County Council, and individual apprentices talking about their own experiences, how such networks really do make a difference in helping all types of people get into work.”

Apprenticeship Away Day

Andrea Weller and John Young

The Apprenticeship Team recently put on an away day supported by local news presenter John Young to support our apprentices in gaining skills needed in the world of work and preparation for their end point assessment. 

The day was a fun, interactive event, not relying on PowerPoint charts and graphs, just how learning should be done!  The apprentices gained confidence in brisk decision making, resilience, speaking up in a meeting, communication, holding your own, listening to others, collaboration and writing clearly.

Here’s what our apprentices had to say:

"I will put myself into the ring even when I feel very scared. I will do more public speaking."

"I'll communicate and take a shot, prepare myself more before doing important things."

"I'll speak up! And have the courage to take the shot."

"I'll write more concise emails where face-to-face on phone conversations aren't possible."

"I'll take more time out to help motivate and encourage staff to challenge themselves. I'll trust myself to just do it, stand up and be strong."

"I'll have more confidence to do my EPA."

For more information on John Young’s workshops, please see www.johnyoungmedia.co.uk

Apprentices at the away day

Dorothy Stringer School Successes

Congratulations must go to several students at Dorothy Stringer School who have recently achieved some amazing sporting accolades.

Dylan Hicks in Year 11 has been selected to join the Great Britain Cycling Team as an apprentice for the 2020 season.  As one of 15 youth riders to be selected from across the UK for the road and track endurance programme, Dylan has set himself a goal to win a national title in 2020 and to continue to develop his cycling with the aim of maintaining his place within the GB Cycling Team environment in 2021.

Dan Thomson in Year 10 is a competitive table tennis player. He has recently been accepted onto the national Futures programme with the British Para Table Tennis Association.

Meanwhile, Noah Hoffmann in Year 8 has been signed for Charlton Athletic Academy Under 13 Team after being scouted by Charlton while playing for Russell Martin Academy. He was signed after impressing the coaches in a three month trial. He will be very busy with Charlton Athletic attending three afterschool sessions plus Saturday training and playing a match on Sundays.

 

Well done to Dylan and Dan and Noah on these fantastic accomplishments.  We look forward to hearing all about your future sporting successes!

Dan Thomson (photograph by © Michael Loveder)

Noah Hoffmann

PACE (Providing Access to Childcare and Employment) Project

Congratulations to Janet Cupidi, PACE keyworker at Roundabout Children’s Centre, who has recently received some very positive feedback from a family who have been helped back into employment by the PACE project.

PACE (Providing Access to Childcare and Employment) is a European funded project, assisting parents to return to work, training or volunteering by offering support for childcare needs throughout the journey.

The family said of Janet and the PACE project:-

“They covered everything and there is nothing else they could have helped with”

“My truly fabulous keyworker Janet Cupidi has been more than a keyworker to me. More a mentor and an amazing support”

“The support I have received throughout my journey has been outstanding”

“If anything everything has got better thanks to the continuous support of Janet and PACE”

“My PACE experience has made a tremendous difference to me and my family. It has not been an easy journey for many reasons but thanks to Janet and the team being there every step of the way.”

For more information about PACE please follow this link https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/children-and-education/childcare-and-family-support/take-first-step-work-training-or

National Careers Week

National Careers Week (NCW) is a celebration of careers guidance and free resources in education across the UK.  The week, which runs from 2nd to 7th March 2020, aims to provide a focus for careers guidance activity at an important stage in the academic calendar to help support young people leaving education.

We look forward to hearing more about activities across schools and colleges during the week.

For more information and resources please see the National Careers Week website www.nationalcareersweek.com where you can also view the official NCW2020 film, HOPE.

The Local Employment Scheme

Balfour Beatty is a major player in the construction industry and is currently building student accommodation on the University of Sussex campus.

Balfour has been extremely proactive in promoting careers in the industry, offering site visits and work experience opportunities to BACA, GBMET and Brighton University students.  In collaboration with the Local Employment Scheme, they have provided a number of in-depth site tours which have involved a pre-tour talk by the project director and then a walk through the project where they are shown methods used for modern construction, explanations about the various roles and equipment used on site as well as the potential career paths in the industry.

Balfour run a regular webinar (Construction Live Broadcast) and their Community and Education Liaison Manager, Fiona Gush has sent through a link to a webinar to be run on:

Tuesday 3 March at 10.30am from Embrook School in Wokingham.

Schools will need to register on: https://learnliveuk.com/construction-live-5/#teamscape

The broadcast will provide valuable information on the construction industry and the exciting career opportunities available and will be a timely opportunity during Careers Week.  The Balfour Beatty also contains information on apprenticeships with a section where interested students can apply www.balfourbeatty.com

Things have been busy in the city this month with inspections at Moulsecoomb Primary School, Hove Junior School, Balfour Primary School and Downs View Special School.  We are looking forward to all of these reports being finalised.

The Homewood College report has now been released and it is an RI judgement.  However, the improvements in the school are clearly recognised in the report.

BHCC’s Adult and Community Learning inspection has taken place this month and we have had our local authority focused Ofsted visit on children in need and those subject to a child protection plan to establish whether children receive the right help at the right time.  We have also had our visit from Ofsted for our annual conversation regarding all Family, Children and Learning services and outcomes.  We look forward to these reports being finalised.

Welcomes

I am delighted to inform you that following external recruitment and a competitive process Carla Butler has been appointed as the Head of Skills and Employment. We are looking forward to continued work with her to achieve further success in the service.

Tracie James will be starting her new role as Youth Work Coordinator on Monday 2 March working with Debbie Corbridge on the Youth Review and commissioning arrangements.  Tracie has a wealth of experience in youth work and has worked for the council for many years; we are pleased to welcome her to this service area.

We are also very pleased to welcome Becky Surman who will also be joining us on Monday 2 March.  Becky’s role will be the Prevention Programme Manager leading on Troubled Families and the Whole Family Working Strategy. 

Best wishes,

Jo

Keep in touch and follow me on Twitter @JoMLyons

Find details here Twitter accounts across all council services.

Happy Chinese New Year

Wishing a very happy Chinese new year to everyone across Brighton and Hove!

2020 is the Year of the Rat. It was great to hear about all the celebrations going on in schools and around the city highlighting the positive partnerships we have with our Chinese community.

Young Carers Awareness Day 2020



I was delighted to attend the #YoungCarersAwarenessDay event last night at the Brighthelm Centre to present awards to some amazing children and young people.  The evening, which was organised by the Council and the Carers Centre for Brighton and Hove, celebrated the achievements of Young Carers across the city. 

Young Carers Awareness Day is an annual event, led by Carers Trust, which aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by young carers and campaigns for greater support.   Every day across the UK thousands of young people help to look after someone in their family, or a friend, who is ill, disabled or misuses drugs or alcohol. 

Please watch and share this video arranged by and starring the Young Carers’ Family Coach Katie Shortt plus a Young Carer, promoting Young Carers Awareness Day  https://new.brighton-hove.gov.uk/news/2020/citys-young-carers-take-centre-stage

Well done to everyone involved in making the evening such a successful event.

Joint Career Leaders and Work Experience Co-ordinators Meeting

A recent meeting was held between secondary school and college Career Leaders and work experience co-ordinators to discuss how we can work proactively together to  support the achievement of the Gatsby Benchmark 6  - experiences of workplaces, which recommends that every student should have first-hand experience of the workplace:-

o By the age of 16, every student should have had at least one experience of a workplace, additional to any part-time jobs they may have.

o By the age of 18, every student should have had one further such experience, additional to any part-time jobs they may have.

The new Ofsted Framework  includes a new section on the judgment of ‘Personal Development’ which focuses on many dimensions of personal development and evaluates the education centre’s intent to provide for the personal development of all pupils and evaluates the quality with which the education centre implements this work.  At the meeting facilitated by the Employment and Skills Project Officer and the C2C Enterprise Co-ordinator, participants shared challenges and best practice around meaningful encounters with employers and the world of work, and discussed collaborative approaches to enhance current activity.

SEND/Inclusion Conference

This term’s School & College Leaders’ Meeting on 7 February at the University of Sussex will focus on Whole School Inclusion: working in partnership to ensure high impact interventions for SEND learners to reduce exclusions and increase engagement with the curriculum.

The aim of the meeting is to contribute intelligent analysis, knowledge and experience to promote the development of policy and practice in Brighton & Hove schools for the inclusion of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
This conference will focus on value of whole school SEND. The Keynote Speaker will David Bartram OBE, Director Prescient Education.  There will also be stimulating workshops delivered by local specialist leads running during the conference.

This is an important opportunity for Headteachers, Principals and Heads of School to benefit from participating in this event to help inform and discuss how best to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND.  SENCOs are also welcome to attend with their headteachers/ principals.

Please sign up via BEEM (login required), email schools.training@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call 01273 293511 by Friday 31 January 2020.

Holocaust Memorial Day 2020 #Stand Together

The Brighton & Hove Jewish Community's Holocaust Education Project together with the Rwandan Youth Information Community Organisation (rYico) and Brighton and Hove City Council commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day on Monday, 27 January.

Moving and powerful speeches were given by Bryan Huberman, the son of the late Alfred Huberman, a Brighton-based tailor by trade and one of a group of 732 orphaned child survivors of Nazi concentration camps who came to the UK in 1945 and Vivenie Mugunga; one of the original founders of rYico, a UK-based charity that supports vulnerable young people in Rwanda.

 

Many schools will have marked this important day, perhaps using materials sent out by the Equality & Anti-Bullying Service. 

Thinking about how all communities in Brighton & Hove can #StandTogether is an important message in the context of what appears to be an increase in prejudiced and hate incidents.

The Power of Reading

We are pleased to be supporting 12 schools in the city with the Centre For Literacy In Primary Education (CLPE) project ‘The Power of Reading’.

Day 1 of the four day training programme was held at Rudyard Kipling Primary School earlier this month.  I am delighted that Rudyard Kipling has been awarded ‘Associate School’ status for the Power of Reading.  Teachers were very happy to be given bags of high quality texts that they can use in their classrooms.  

Well done to all involved in this project.

Fairlight Primary School – Sharing Prayer Room Practice

Damien Jordan, Headteacher at Fairlight was approached by some Year 5 and 6 Muslim boys asking for a space to pray in school. Damien found a space and worked with the pupils, parents and EMAS staff to provide what was needed within the space, including washing facilities and to reflect on issues such as the age of the children and how the space can be used by girls and boys.

Imam Uthman from Al-Medinah Mosque also provided support to the school particularly to ensure the school was confident in its messaging to pupils.  Messages included for example the idea that it is up to individuals to choose if they want to pray and not for older siblings or peers to exert any pressure.  Damien feels that this has been very much pupil led with his role being to ask questions and from a careful distance monitor the use of the room.  Damien reports that this has further strengthened relationships with pupils and their families. 

One parent wrote to Damien saying;

“We do appreciate the effort from the headteacher, the staff and teachers…to embrace the beauty of different colours with your inclusive program. The fact that the school provides a room for prayer and even invited Imam of Al Medinah Mosque last week really touches us.”

Damien also commented that this could be extended to a ‘Multi-faith’ or ‘Reflection’ Room if a space is requested by pupils of different faiths.  Damien is happy for other schools to contact him to find out more (DamienJordan@fairlight.brighton-hove.sch.uk).

The Faith and Belief in Educational Settings Guidance is also available on www.BEEM.org.uk (log-in – protected groups – religion) to provide useful contextual information related to prayer rooms.

Congratulations Hove Park

I am delighted to confirm that following a recent visit by the awarding body assessor, Hove Park School has now been accredited with the Wellbeing Award for Schools.  The assessor was incredibly impressed with everything he heard and saw.  He commented on the very positive relationships between staff and students and the obvious care and support the school shows for each other and the whole school community.   Congratulations to Jim Roberts and all at Hove Park School.

The attached link sets out further information about the framework and the criteria needed for the award. https://www.awardplace.co.uk/award/was

Primary Headteachers Meeting

The Primary Headteachers meeting took place on 21 January at the University of Sussex.

The morning started with an update from George Roe from Public Health, BHCC about the Back on Track training which offers support to families where a parent is drinking too much.

For information on the support offered for parents, and to contact Francesca Carpenter, the Family Practitioner who works with parents please go to: https://new.brighton-hove.gov.uk/back-track-brighton-hove/support-parents-or-carers-who-would-drink-less

To find out more about the support for children and young people and to contact Youstina Brais, the Family Practitioner who works with children and young people please see: https://new.brighton-hove.gov.uk/back-track-brighton-hove/support-young-people-who-are-worried-about-parents-drinking

For more information on how to book on to training please go to: https://new.brighton-hove.gov.uk/back-track-brighton-hove/help-professionals-support-families or contact george.roe@brighton-hove.gov.uk to learn more about the bespoke, onsite training which can be offered.

Linsey McGill then provided an update about the specialist CAHMS service and supporting and referring families – for more information please contact linsey.mcgill@brighton-hove.gov.uk.

Gillian Hibbert, Safeguarding lead provided a presentation regarding Safeguarding, particularly around the requirements that have been highlighted by Ofsted in recent inspections.

Hilary Ferries, Senior Adviser: Education Partnerships then led a workshop for headteachers to discuss the Brighton & Hove Education Partnership Priorities of disadvantaged, inclusion and wellbeing and record what is already going well and what more could be done.  These will be collated and given to the groups leading on the priorities.  Headteachers are very welcome to join one of the groups and can contact Hilary Ferries for more details on 01273 293738 or email Hilary.Ferries@brighton-hove.gov.uk

An event is being planned to give Headteachers the opportunity to discuss the Ofsted process in more detail and to hear from a guest speaker.  The event will take place on 30 March 2020 from 1pm at the University of Sussex.  More details about this will be available on BEEM shortly.

It All Adds Up

At the Maths Project Meeting this week it was great to be with teachers talking about how best to teach maths and different strategies they could use. ‘It All Adds Up’ has been our maths project, in partnership with Sussex Coast Teaching School Alliance and two wonderful specialist maths teachers in the city, who are also part of the Sussex Maths Hub.



As part of our Miss School Miss Out attendance campaign, we’ve made a video of some of our secondary school pupils saying what they like best about going to school.

They told us all sorts of things that they enjoy – from seeing friends to football and netball, maths and art, film club, and study trips to London, Amsterdam and Harry Potter!

Every school in Brighton & Hove has staff trained to help families who are struggling with school attendance. Please contact your school for their support in the first instance.

The council's access to education team can also offer help and advice with school attendance. Email attendanceteam@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call 01273 291378.

The new Miss School Miss Out secondary age video is now on our website with an accompanying statement:
 https://new.brighton-hove.gov.uk/news/2020/miss-school-miss-out

Bevendean and Woodingdean Primary Schools have received the outcomes of their inspections which took place in December.  I am delighted to announce that they both retained their “Good” Ofsted judgements.

The inspector at Bevendean said “This school is indeed ‘a place for everyone to succeed and thrive Pupils are happy, proud of their learning, confident that they are doing well and ambitious for their futures.”

At Woodingdean the inspector stated: “Pupils enjoy coming to school. They speak confidently about their work. Pupils are attentive and respectful. They hold doors open for visitors. Pupils who have difficulty making the right choices about how to behave get a range of effective support.”

Congratulations to everyone at Bevendean Primary School and Woodingdean Primary School on these great outcomes.

Welcomes and Goodbyes

This term we welcome Paul Barber to Brighton & Hove.  Paul is the new headteacher at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School. Our thanks to Anita Philbrook for taking on the role of acting headteacher last term and all best wishes to Paul.



Paul Barber

We are putting some extra Head of Service resource into Education & Skills given the need for us to continue to have effective oversight and strategic ownership of work within the branch, which includes Home to School Transport.  This will be for a 3 month period on a part time basis.  Regan Delf will be joining us on 13 January 2020 to provide additional Head of Service capacity and will be the interim lead for Home to School Transport.  Rob Glaister is joining us on secondment from Housing on 20 January 2020 to be the team manager, with day to day responsibility for operational matters.  These arrangements will enable Richard Barker (Head of School Organisation) to work on the other priority areas within his service.

Regan Delf



Rob Glaister

Sad news

Hugh Baldry, who worked with us a school partnership adviser from 2014-2015, had an incredible fight with a range of health issues, but sadly passed away on December 27th.  His family were around him. His daughter Abi, who used to teach at St Mark’s said ‘a peaceful end for an incredible man’.

Hugh Baldry




Best wishes,
Jo

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