Message to Headteachers/Principals from Lucy Nutt, Head of School and Early Years Improvement
FAO: All Schools
MESSAGE TO HEADTEACHERS/PRINCIPALS – PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR CHAIR OF GOVERNORS
Dear Headteacher/Principal,
I hope that everyone is doing well, and that there is enough energy to see you all through to the end of term.
I have attached the latest local COVID dashboard which shows rising cases but fortunately low impact on the health service. We are very pleased that schools are supporting the roll out of the vaccination programme in Enfield.
i) Headteacher briefing – 13th July 1:30pm to 3pm – Mike Sheridan, the Ofsted Regional Lead for London, will be speaking and providing an update on current plans. We hope that as many of you as possible are able to attend. The dates for Ofsted updates for Headteachers and Governors are already planned and were advertised on the Hub last week. Gill Bal who will talk through the NPQ programmes next year. Anna Vaughan and Matthew Kleiner-Mann will provide information on the ECF. Suzy Francis will update on the range of mental health support opportunities.
ii) No more bubbles from 19th July - Children and young people will no longer have to isolate if a member of their class or year bubble tests positive for coronavirus after 19 July. This will be part of the different approach to the pandemic. The changes to schools guidance will take effect at the same time as the country eases restrictions and moves to stage four. This is expected to be on 19 July - with confirmation of this due next Monday. Following a statement from the Secretary of State for Education in the house, the DfE has published new operational guidance for schools and trusts.
- At Step 4 and after the end of the summer term, it will no longer be necessary to keep children in consistent groups (‘bubbles’). This means bubbles will not need to be used for any summer provision (for example, summer schools) or in schools from the autumn term. If your school is still open at Step 4, you may wish to continue with these measures until the end of your summer term.
- Schools and settings will only need to do contact tracing up to 18th July 2021. From 19th July 2021 (Step 4), close contacts will be identified via NHS Test and Trace.
- From 16 August 2021, children under the age of 18 years old will no longer be required to self-isolate if they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case.
- From step 4, face coverings will no longer be advised for pupils, students, staff and visitors either in classrooms or in communal areas. From Step 4, face coverings are also no longer recommended to be worn on dedicated transport to school or college.
iii) Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021 - the draft version of the new document has been published. Although there may be changes in final document, click here for a useful digest of the proposed changes.
iv) Finance Training for Schools, including HT, SBM and Governors – Enfield have launched a new finance training package for business managers which is also pertinent to Headteachers and Chairs of governors/Chairs of resources committees. Please review the sessions below:
This could be at no cost to some governors. Please check with Sujal Zaveri on sujal.zaveri@enfield.gov.uk as to whether your school has bought into the governor training package.
Peter’s email last week, signed off with reference to the Euros and Wimbledon. I can imagine that many, if not most of us, will be glued to the television for tomorrow’s match. Fingers crossed!
All the best,
Lucy
Lucy Nutt
Head of School and Early Years Improvement