Message from the Director of Education re' COVID19 and other matters
FAO: All Schools
THIS EMAIL HAS BEEN SENT TO ALL SCHOOLS. PLEASE FORWARD ONTO YOUR CHAIR OF GOVERNORS.
Dear Headteacher/Principal,
I hope this message finds you well and that you a good half-term and start to the last half-term of the academic year. As usual, half-term was not quiet with Kevan Collins resigning over funding to support pupils, discussion over vaccinating secondary age children and concerns over the Delta virus. I attach the latest COVID19 data which continues to show positive statistics in terms of cases, low hospital admissions and no recent COVID deaths. I have also attached the surge testing pack for schools and colleges being used in some North West local authorities – this is a “just in case” send out to you explaining what can happen in a local area – hopefully we won’t need it but just in case. Also relating to this, is the latest DfE COVID update bulletin (Tuesday) which also has information on this.
i) Headteacher briefing – 16th June at 1:30pm - just a reminder that this is taking place next week. The agenda will of course include an update from public health and also hopefully specific information for schools if the planned easing of measures on 21st June is to take place. Jo Fear will also talk through the changes to the Admissions Code in more detail and there will be an update on the ECT programme. There will be information on the summer reading programme and on a well-being offer to schools. Two primary schools will provide short inputs on good practice in their schools (Churchfields on pupil progress meetings & Lavender on maths mastery -verified by ex HMI).Finally, we have had a Section 8 inspection in the borough just before half-term and the headteacher of Capel Manor (Marianne) will feedback on this but obviously not the confidential outcome. I will confirm the agenda next week.
ii) COVID19 Risk Assessment updates – these are attached and have been provided by the Health & Safety team. They haven’t changed much since the previous iteration but include the latest changes needed to reflect new government guidance.
iii) ECT support and the Teaching School Hub – Enfield has now been allocated 120 places on the fully funded Ambition ECT training for ECTs but this is still likely to leave borough schools between 80 to 100 places short. We are lobbying the DfE with other London authorities to address this issue to try to ensure that there are enough places for all schools/ECTs that want to be a part of this programme.
iv) Inclusion Charter workshop on 16th June at 3:30pm - if you haven’t signed up for this already, there is still time to do so (contact is louise.gayle@enfield.gov.uk) . Dame Christine Lenehan from the Council for Disabled Children is opening the session and the focus is on further developing inclusive practice in the borough in terms of SEND with some good practice examples from schools as a part of the workshop.
v) Headteacher news - Sue Tripp headteacher of West Lea School is retiring at the end of term as is Maria Jay Headteacher of St Michael at Bowes. Both have had contributed immensely to their schools and to the children of the borough and will be sorely missed. Paul Quinn has been appointed as CEO of West Lea (now a co-operative foundation trust) and Jackie Johnstone has been appointed as the head of St Edmunds – congratulations to you both.
I hope you were able to get away for a few days at least. Fortunately, I didn’t go to Portugal at half-term but had very good weather at the Hotel de Paris in Cromer (not Monaco)! (just for a few days). As noted above, Ofsted have started visiting schools again and we are expecting a number of schools to be inspected before the end of term. If you have time, I have attached a report on the wider impact of COVID on children which makes an interesting read. I very much hope that you can enjoy the sunshine and have a good rest of the term.
Best wishes,
Peter Nathan
Director of Education
People Department
Enfield Council
Direct line: 020 83795492
Mob: 07813995030