10 February 2023 weekly update

Dear Colleagues,

Half term is here and I hope you are all looking forward to a well-deserved break.

The social, emotional and mental health of pupils (and of staff) is a hot topic and this week’s Children’s Mental Health week has focused attention on this issue. This week's Kelsi e-bulletin includes a link to the fourth State of the Nation report about the wellbeing of children and young people over the academic year September 2021 to July 2022, as well as a variety of other resources. I am pleased to let you know that this week I signed off the specification for guidance that our own SEMH special schools will be developing for mainstream schools, together with a resource that maps and signposts to the range of support available which we are aiming to have in place for the next academic year.

This week was also National Apprenticeship Week with a big event taking place at Northfleet Technical College on Wednesday. In Kent we are seeing an increase in uptake in all age ranges and the first positive increase in apprenticeships starts for 16 to 18 year olds since 2015/16. The number of starts for 16 to 24 increased from 3,710 in 2020/21 to 4,390 for 2021/22 and achievement rates are improving. There are a range of providers, but within the Council in addition to its levy-funded places, hundreds of local residents take an apprenticeship facilitated by the Community Learning and Skills Service. These are offered across a range of sectors, including Customer Services, Business Administration, Early Years and Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools and are available to anyone aged 16 and above. To find out more, visit the Kent Training and Apprenticeships website

We are delighted that Pathways for All implementation work is making good progress. To emphasise the partnership and the collaborative nature of the Strategic Board, we are running a competition for young people who are studying, working, or undertaking training or apprenticeships in Kent. This is an opportunity to create a new and dynamic brand for the Pathways for All work. The competition will give the winning entrant exposure, with their work being used widely across Kent in this sector, and the fantastic opportunity to win a work placement. Full details can be found on Kelsi.

Within KCC, County Council on Thursday agreed the budget, more information on the KCC Democracy website

You may be aware an announcement was made yesterday that Oasis Community Learning’s (OCL) Board of Trustees has agreed with the DfE to transfer Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey to another trust. I know that staff have worked very hard and there has been significant investment by the Trust, which unfortunately has not gained the traction needed to improve the quality of education. This is clearly a very difficult time for the whole school community and KCC will continue to work with colleagues on the Isle of Sheppey, supporting a smooth transition process to a new provider for the secondary school.

Three upcoming events to bring to your attention.

The Kent Schools SEND Conference is taking place on Thursday 23 March 2023 at the Detling Showground. Speakers for this fully funded event include David Bartram OBE, Department for Education’s SEND Review steering group, Amelie Thomson South East Regional Director NASEN, and Senior HMIs Lucy English (who leads on SEND in the region) and Lee Selby as well as a range of workshops. Places can be booked Kent CPD Online

There have only been four Kent entries so far for the 2023 Pearson National Teaching Awards. I am seeing some brilliant work going on right across the education sector in Kent from Early Years to post 16 and FE so why not take this opportunity to highlight what is happening in your setting by entering. There are lots of activities to take part in, and in addition to the ability to thank an individual member of a team there is a facility to thank a whole group of staff. The deadline is Friday 24 February so still some time to put in an entry.

I was delighted to be invited to join the judging panel for this year’s ‘If you were an engineer’ competition which is open to all pupils and students aged 3 to 19. The competition encourages children and young people to identify problems in the world around them and come up with creative solutions. More information and resources can be found on the Leaders Awards website

Finally, as the death toll continues to rise in Turkey and Syria, our condolences and thoughts are with those bereaved.

Best wishes

Christine McInnes
Director of Education