Message from the Director of Education - 04/03/21
Dear Headteacher/Principal,
I hope you are well and that you are getting well planned for the return to school of all pupils next Monday. In many ways it is quite exciting to have all pupils back in school as part of the “road map” to society returning to a normality of sorts. I need to update you on a number of matters.
i) COVID data - Please see attached the latest COVID dashboard which continues to show a decline in COVID cases and a reduction in hospital admissions.
ii) LFT Home testing – as I am sure you are aware the government announced last Sunday the extension of LFT to parents/carers with children at school. Parents can now access these on line on this link - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rapid-lateral-flow-testing-for-households-and-bubbles-of-school-pupils-and-staff . I would be very grateful in your next communication to parents via your website and/or via letter you can provide this link to parents which will allow them to either order testing kits for home delivery or for collection. This may well also be of help to school staff. I have tried this out myself and it is relatively straightforward.
iii) Census March 21st – the census is taking place on Sunday 21st March and there will some information presented on this on Friday at the Heads briefing. I have attached the link to some teaching materials about the census which some Enfield schools have already accessed which you may wish to use. - census education resources programmes
iv) Teaching Hub - As you may know, Wembley High School in Brent has been awarded the Teaching Hub contract to cover Brent, Barnet and Enfield. Teaching Hubs are replacing teaching schools although schools and providers are likely to be commissioned to provide some programmes. Teaching Hubs will have responsibility for the Early Careers Framework, NPQs, some aspects of ITT and possibly other CPD and potentially aspects of school to school support. Further information on this will be provided.
v) SEND ARPs - a new process is being put in place to be agreed by the SEND partnership board on March 17th so there is greater transparency concerning the commissioning of new ARPs. An application process is to be put in place with the final decision on new ARPs to be agreed by the board.
vi) Heads Briefing – 5th March. – This meeting is taking place tomorrow at 1:30pm and the agenda will include a public heath update to include testing and vaccination updates: a short item on the upcoming census: information on the proposed SEND funding calculator and also on the core offer from school improvement to schools.
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. I will try to select some appropriate music to open the meeting to celebrate the return to full opening but suggestions of course are welcome.
Best wishes
Peter Nathan
Director of Education
People Department
Enfield Council