2 November 2018 weekly update

Dear colleagues

I hope you had a good half term break. In today's bulletin I would like to remind and update you on a number of key matters:

The new Front Door

Following the launch of the new Front Door on 1 October, I am pleased to confirm that the new Request for Support form is being used well by partner agencies. I would like to clarify that at the point of uploading the form you will be asked whether your request is an ‘immediate safeguarding concern.’ Please do not select ‘yes’ unless the child you are referring is at immediate risk as this prevents immediate attention being given to cases where urgent safeguarding action is required.

All Requests for Support are loaded onto the system and looked at within 24 hours. Thank you for your support with this.

Schools’ Local Funding Formula Consultation for 2019-20

A reminder of our School Funding Consultation. The Consultation will close on Friday, 16 November 2018. I would like to encourage all Kent maintained schools, academies and free schools to respond to the Consultation.

You can access the Consultation documentation online

This will comprise:

• A Word document that explains in detail, the proposals and why we believe they are necessary.
• An online Consultation Response Form.
• An Equality Impact Assessment.

If you have any questions about the Consultation, please email your enquiry to schoolfunding@kent.gov.uk.

Autumn Headteacher Briefings

Finally a reminder about my forthcoming briefings. As part of the agenda, I have managed to secure an HMI to present the proposed vision and changes to Ofsted’s new Education Framework which will be implemented from September 2019 - this will be a very important presentation in advance of Ofsted formal consultation which will begin in January 2019 and will give you the opportunity to hear the proposals direct.

I will also outline in these briefings the development of our SEND Action Plan and the changes that are being proposed; plus an update on our new integration programme, Change for Kent Children.

For this cycle of meetings, and because we have an external speaker from Ofsted, I have agreed to hold 2 large meetings in Maidstone which I hope will be convenient for you to attend.

The Headteacher Briefings will be held on:

Monday 26 November: 1pm for a 1:30pm start - 4pm - Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel

Tuesday 4 December: 1:30pm for a 2pm start - 4:30pm - Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel

To book a place at the briefing, please email EYPSSupportTeam@kent.gov.uk stating which meeting you wish to attend.

Matt Dunkley CBE
Corporate Director
Children, Young People and Education