Message from Director of Education - 18.03.21
FAO: All Schools / All Phases, Chair of Governors
Dear Headteacher/Principal,
I hope this second week back of full schooling has gone well. It was really good to hear feedback from some schools at Friday’s briefing. Secondary colleagues will be moving towards the end of the 3 on site LFT tests by the end of the week. The good news from these tests is that less than 0.1% of children and staff have received positive tests. Our latest data shows that over the past two weeks there been 21 cases (4 in one school) in 14 schools which is well down on before Christmas. I have included with this message the latest data from the borough which continues to show a decline in cases. Of course, it is important to maintain the safe practices as recommended for the meantime to ensure that this trend continues.
i) Purdah guidance - this has been published on the Hub but I have included it here just in case. Please note the section relating to schools.
ii) DFE update email - I have included the email sent to me on 17th March from the DfE which you may have picked up. There is information on the re-ordering of LFT tests which you need to be aware of. It was good to see that the DfE have been criticised by the National Audit Office for previously updating guidance late at night, not highlighting changes in long advice documents and basically not doing a good job on communication. I know how confusing this was for all of us earlier in the year although recognising it has now improved.
iii) Reporting COVID incidents to the Local Authority Public Health team (variants) - we would ask that you continue to report cases to the coronavirus email address - Coronavirus Corona.Virus@Enfield.gov.uk – as the public health team are there to support schools particularly if there is a local outbreak or there is a need to cope with the need for “Surge” testing if there are a number of COVID variant cases which there have been in neighbouring boroughs (Brazilian or South African variants).
iv) Easter holiday FSM payments - Cheryl Headon has written to schools regarding these payments from the Winter Hardship Fund. Families with children on FSM will receive payments of £45 per child for the two week period over Easter which can obviously be used for food but also for items such as utility payments.
v) Headteacher Briefing including SEND – the last headteacher briefing of this term will take place on Monday 29th March from 1:30pm to 3pm. I will send out an agenda next week but there will be a focus on SEND in the second half of the meeting (at headteachers request). Barbara Thurogood will outline some of the changes taking places within SEND and Neil Best will outline the new SEND places being created within the borough.
vi) New SEND ARPs process – the SEND partnership board agreed yesterday that there should be a transparent process for agreeing any new ARP. At least 7 schools have expressed an interest in opening one of these specialised provisions which is really good news but of course there are funding implications from the DSG high needs budget as well as potential capital costs. In addition, any decisions need to based on need and the quality of provision that could be provided. A sub group of the partnership board including representatives from health, social care, education as well as parents groups will review information provided by potential providers before making a decision. The group will be chaired by myself or my nominee.
vii) School Admissions and School Place Planning panel – this group met last week and includes headteacher representatives and diocesan reps. Some of the initial positive messages from the applications for secondary places shows that more Enfield families are choosing Enfield schools and more families from outside Enfield are choosing Enfield schools (this could change however as parents accept or turn down offers). A key issue discussed were future projections on pupil numbers particularly the decline in numbers currently in the primary sector and its potential impact in the future for secondary schools. The next meeting will be in mid-May when there will be information on primary applications.
viii) Ofsted and inspections in the Summer term - Amanda Spielman announced yesterday that there would not be a full return to inspections in the summer term which is a different message to that from the DfE as previously reported. I will seek further guidance from the DfE and Ofsted as to what their actual intentions are as clearly this is important to all of us.
ix) School Visits - I am hoping to start visiting schools again in the summer term and indeed I have my first school visit for a while next week! I would really like to visit schools to listen to headteachers, to see schools and the school estate and discuss school specific and broader issues. Lucy Nutt also wishes to do the same particularly as she joined during COVID so has only been able to make a few visits!! Please contact Sharon Thurbon on SHARON THURBON Sharon.Thurbon@enfield.gov.uk to arrange a visit.
x) Local Authority/Headteacher reps meeting this Friday - this is taking place at 1pm this Friday. If you have any issues you wish raised, please let your reps know or contact myself. Lucy or Tony Theodoulou.
I really hope you are being able to ensure you are looking after your health and well being over these difficult times. For me, my allotment is looking lovely now with daffodils and some beautiful hyacinth and I am now preparing for the growing season seeding carrots, leeks, tomatoes and other vegetables. In terms of box sets, have just watched Camomile Lawn and on my 50th episode of Seinfeld! Again any recommendations welcome – I recommend Wallander if you haven’t seen it.
Best wishes and hope you have a good weekend when it comes,
Peter Nathan
Director of Education