10 November 2015 weekly update

Early Help Three Year Plan

In May 2014 we set out our strategy and vision for Early Help and Preventative Services (EHPS) and a new way of working in Kent.  We have had a productive year since introducing the new model of working and we are pleased with the progress to date. The services which came together in April 2014 have been redesigned in order to deliver new ways of working and provide a firm foundation to improve the outcomes for children, young people and families in Kent. There is still more to be done, and we set out our priorities and targets in the new Plan.  

One year on from our initial prospectus, the priorities and vision remains the same; "providing early help for whole families in a timely and responsive way, so that they are safeguarded, their educational, social and emotional needs are met and they achieve good outcomes". 

This Three Year Plan sets out our vision, ways of working and direction of travel for Kent's Early Help and Preventative Services.  The plan outlines what we aim to achieve and the ways we will be working over the next three years. It describes how EHPS will work with children, young people and their families to help them overcome difficulties and reach their full potential. 

The Plan sets out in greater detail how the service is structured and organised across all elements of EHPS in Kent.

For more information please contact Florence.Kroll@kent.gov.uk, Director of Early Help and Preventative Services.

English Baccalaureate Consultation

This week the DfE issued a consultation on proposals relating to the EBacc (English Baccalaureate).

The government wants to see at least 90% of pupils in mainstream Secondary schools entered for the EBacc subjects at GCSE by 2020. However, the government recognises that taking the full EBacc will remain inappropriate for a small minority of pupils. The consultation sets out the details of these proposals, including the pupils and schools in scope of the policy and changes to school accountability measures.

Our evidence to date in Kent is that pupils who wish to follow vocational qualifications post 16, often to level 3, find it harder to achieve the best outcomes if there has been limited opportunity to follow a mixed vocational and academic pathway from age 14 as part of a balanced Key Stage 4 curriculum.   

This is an important consultation and I hope all Secondary schools in Kent will respond. The deadline for responding to the consultation is 29 January 2016. 

Coordinated Admissions and Admissions Arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools

The coordinated scheme and admission arrangements, for entry to Primary and Secondary schools in September 2017, are now out for consultation on the KCC website. The consultation will close on 21 December. 

Arrangements are remaining broadly the same as this year, however we are seeking to introduce a Pupil Premium priority to the oversubscription criteria for Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys.  We are also consulting on introducing priority catchment areas for some primary schools, where housing development means that local families are finding it more difficult to access school places. We are hoping to address this issue by the proposed changes.

Final arrangements must be determined by the 28^th February 2016. Please use this link to respond to the consultation, and for more information please contact Scott.Bagshaw@kent.gov.uk.

Patrick Leeson
Corporate Director of Education and Young People's Services