SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND PUPIL REFERRAL UNITS
- The Partnership with Special Schools and PRUs
- Key Stage 2 Activities
- Key Stage 2 & 3 Activities
- Key Stage 3 & 4 Activities
The Partnership with Special Schools and PRUs enables EDS to provide specialist Adviser time (SEN and SI). This entitles Partnership Schools to:
- secure additional access to LSDA (SEN and Social Inclusion) to enable coherence and coordination of priority activities for school improvement - eg target setting, data analysis, self evaluation, national strategies
- secure additional access to LSDA (SEN and Social Inclusion) to inform and work with representative groups in priority developmental work - eg PRU Staff development, use of restraint policy, implementation of QCA Curriculum, etc
- organise networks as agreed with Special Schools to provide innovation in curriculum areas or for staff who work with pupils with specific needs - eg Inclusion Teachers/Facilitators, EBD (Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties) pupils, ASTs (Advanced Skills Teachers)
- additional activities as agreed with SAHSP on an annual basis and linking to the SAHSP development
- support, as required, to implement additional national agenda, eg School Achievement Awards, KS3 Strategy etc
- Pre and Post OFSTED support which could include sessions with Governors and staff
Membership of the Partnership entitles colleagues from Specialist Provision access to the Partnership activities for Primary Schools and Secondary Schools. They may be of value for some aspects of Partnership working across Federations in order to facilitate Partnership working towards social and educational inclusion and the sharing of expertise. In addition to the following activities, Special Schools are entitled to:
- take up places on EDS, SEN and Social Inclusion courses at a reduced rate, at least 35%
- purchase Adviser days at a significantly reduced rate - contact Rachael Cree on 01823 356105
In addition, membership of the Partnership entitles Special Schools to the following Partnership activities for Primary Schools for Key Stage 2 developments and Secondary Schools for Key Stage 3.
- Teacher Conference for Teachers who are in their second to fifth year of teaching
- Teacher Conference for Teachers who have been teaching for more than five years
- Annual Curriculum Conference for Teachers
- Subject Specific Updates
- Supported review of end of year assessments
- Senior Primary Teachers Annual Conference
- Primary Curriculum Focus
- Access to the Somerset Primary Toolkits
Teacher Conference for Teachers who are in their second to fifth year of teaching
This replaces the Teacher Seminars and will entitle subscribing schools to one place at no additional cost, a second place at a reduced rate, and priority for a third place if required. The conference will be linked to the Teacher Standards, the National Primary Strategy and career development. It will focus particularly on issues for Teachers at this early stage in their career. It is intended that this should lay the foundation for similar conferences in future years.
This conference is eligible for local delivery for collaboratives by negotiation; an additional charge may be necessary. For further details contact Lesley Sharp, (01823) 356623.
Teacher Conference for Teachers who have been teaching for more than five years
This takes the place of the Teacher Seminars and will entitle subscribing schools to one place at no additional cost, a second place at a reduced rate, and priority for a third place if required. The conference will be linked to the Teacher Standards, the National Primary Strategy and career development. It will focus particularly on issues for more experienced Teachers.
It is intended that this should lay the foundation for similar conferences in future years.
This conference is eligible for local delivery for collaboratives by negotiation; an additional charge may be necessary. For further details contact Lesley Sharp, (01823) 356623.
Annual Curriculum Conference for Teachers
A conference for Curriculum Leaders and other Senior Managers in Primary Schools that takes the place of Subject Area Groups. Subscribing schools will be entitled to one place at no additional cost, a second place at a reduced rate and priority for a third place if required. The conference will consist mainly of specialist curriculum workshops run through the day, with a keynote address at the beginning and the end of the day.
Newsletters or their equivalents will be produced at least twice a year for all the major subjects containing updates on the curriculum.
Supported review of end of year assessments
There will be area-based twilights in six areas to support schools in reviewing their end of year assessments during September and October. Schools will be encouraged to share results and make comparisons with others in order to identify strengths, weaknesses and best practice. Local LSDA teams will support these events.
Senior Primary Teachers Annual Conference
This is an annual conference for Senior Teachers, in small schools, Assistant and Deputy Headteachers, involving speakers and workshops looking specifically at issues involving senior colleagues in Primary Schools. Subscribers will be entitled to one place at no extra cost, a second place at a reduced cost, and a third place in priority if places are still available.
The Primary Curriculum Focus Group has earned a very good reputation for tackling current issues related to the curriculum. Following the work on the Primary Strategy learning and teaching 'box' of materials during 2004/5, this year the focus will be on innovation and collaboration.
We will develop the role of the school as a learning community, with a focus on personalised learning, distributed leadership, networks and partnerships.
We will return to the previous model of delivery: there will be three half day seminars a year, (Autumn, Spring and Summer terms) offered at 5 venues around the county.
For further details please contact Lesley Sharp (01823) 356623.
This activity is eligible for local delivery for all sizes of collaboratives for a negotiable additional charge, depending on the size of the collaborative. For further details contact Lesley Sharp, (01823) 356623.
Access to the Somerset Primary Toolkits
You will receive updates of existing ones. This was a joint EDS SAPHTO production providing guidance on policy development in key areas of school life. The current list of Toolkits is:
School Improvement Plans
Learning and Teaching Policy
SEN Policy
Literacy Policy
OFSTED Preparation Pack
Behaviour Policy
Staff Handbook
Assessment Policy
Self Evaluation Policy
Staff Development Policy
Transition
Subscribers can buy back numbers at discount prices - contact Linda Harris on (01823) 356150 for details.
- NQT Support
- Bristol Document Service
- Institution of Education's 2 Newsletters
- Somerset Partnerships Art Education Agency (SPAEDA)
Welcome pack and a free place at the 3 conferences for each NQT.
Bristol University provides a brief and easily understood summary service of key education documents issued by the DFES.
Institution of Education's 2 Newsletters
"NSINN (National School Improvement Network News)" and "NSIN Research Matters" - the National School Improvement Network's Bulletin that shares ideas from research and encourages discussion and reflection.
3 times a year, automatically sent to Partnership Schools.
EDS Subscribers can also purchase full membership of the NSIN at a reduced rate. The benefits of full membership include exclusive access to the new NSIN website, any documentation mailed directly and NSIN conference places at reduced cost (at time of writing from £100 to £50). Schools interested in purchasing full membership should contact NSIN on 0207 6126347.
Somerset Partnerships Art Education Agency (SPAEDA )
EDS are working in partnership with SPAEDA to give schools access to support for arts and creativity curriculum development. (Access to SPAEDA is also included in Theme 2 and Theme 5.)
Subscribing schools will benefit from
- Free access to a searchable database of artists who can work with education.
- A free termly newsletter for educators, artists and arts workers. It includes special features; funding and support information; opportunities, events and workshops for schools, teachers and children to get involved with local, regional and national arts and creativity projects.
- Free access to telephone information and advice.
- A free brokerage service.
- Free guides and handbooks for educators working with artists and art projects.
- 1 free place at a SPAEDA Artsmark surgery.
- Creative training and professional development opportunities for teachers and artists to help them develop the confidence and skills to inspire creativity and learning for young people and for each other.
- Mobile or in-house information and advice sessions which can be individually tailored to help your school, federation or partnership in action planning, creating and managing projects; workshops, art weeks and residencies.
For further details
telephone: SPAEDA 01458 440315 (Mon-Thurs 10am-5pm)
fax: 01458 841098
email: info@spaeda.org.uk
post: SPAEDA, The Elmhurst Centre, Elmhurst Lane, Street, Somerset BA16 0HH
- Developing the role of the Middle Manager
- Using Assessment to support learning
- Citizenship
- Heads of Department Conferences
- Generic support to schools in planning for and developing alternative programmes for the 14-19 Curriculum
- Briefings and meetings to promote 16-19 liaison
- Liaison with the Education Business Partnership
Developing the role of the Middle Manager
A three day programme with one place per school (additional places on this programme may be purchased at preferential Partnership rates).
This programme may be modified according to demand/the needs of schools (eg if a viable group of 8-10 History HODs were identified, then a sub-group with a History focus might be 'run').
EDS will undertake the task of designing flexible approaches to the middle management provision.
Using Assessment to support learning
Conference, with one place per school and the option of developing additional sub-groups for networked development.
Conference - and one place per school. Recent OFSTED inspections have shown that there is variation in practice and implementation in this area. One place per school and the option of networked development.
Heads of Department Conferences
Target Audience: Heads of Department, senior staff.
One free place at each conference. Additional places are available at the standard EDS course rate.
Generic support to schools in planning for and developing alternative programmes for the 14-19 Curriculum
Through Heads of Schools of Sixth Forms regular meetings.
Briefings and meetings to promote 16-19 liaison
Through Heads of Schools of Sixth Forms regular meetings.
Liaison with the Education Business Partnership
As well as the above activities, Special Schools are entitled to:
- take up places on EDS, SEN and Social Inclusion courses at a reduced rate, at least 35%
- purchase Adviser days at a significantly reduced rate - contact Rachael Cree on 01823 356105