For Information

There have been a number of thefts reported in local schools where IT equipment has been targeted. This is an extremely serious matter and all schools are urged to reinforce data security measures.

In addition to normal security measures, you should consider the following points urgently:

• Is your IT kit securely locked away each day?
• Do you have backup procedures in place so that you can continue to operate safely?
• If the worst happens and a laptop is stolen, are you sure that any data stored on that laptop is secure? If not, please contact your IT provider to check you have adequate encryption.

Rachel Williams
Customer Relations and Support Manager

For information

As you'll be aware, we have been working with heads to develop a programme of investment in permanent primary and secondary school places. Earlier this year heads were invited to express their interest in permanently expanding and we outlined the four criteria that we would be using to help decide which schools it might be best to expand - demand, site and value for money, parental choice, and vision and ambition of the school.

Please see the enclosures section for information on the primary schools we are proposing to permanently expand and our approach to planning to meet the demand for secondary school places.

There is much work to do to plan for the proposed expansions. These are fantastic opportunities for our school communities and we hope you are as excited about them as we are. We will continue to work with you to develop the proposals and will keep you updated about further developments.

Whilst the permanent expansion programme develops, we will need to continue to co-ordinate a very significant programme of temporary expansions. The number of pupils moving into the borough is not slowing down and we are now experiencing pressure in Reception, year 1, year 2 and more recently year 3.  So if your school can offer any help at all on this front for next September we would be very grateful.

Elaine Tuck,
Strategy and Planning Manager, Children's Service

For Information 

As the number of applications for this week's School Funding Conference is low we have decided to postpone it until a more appropriate time.  Please rest assured that we will continue to keep you informed about developments in School Funding via various other channels including the School Circular and our webpages www.barnet.gov.uk/school-funding.

New (and new-ish) Heads and Bursars may like to sign up for our 'Introduction to School Funding' course which takes place next week - Tuesday 15 November 2011.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if there are any specific areas on which you would like clarification. In the meantime I hope you will respond to the current consultation on the funding formula, details of which can be found on the website above.

Carol Beckman
School Funding Manager

For Information

This article clarifies the position of VA schools and the purchase of IT equipment.

Following the amendment to The Scheme for Financing Schools (Section 13 Responsibility for Repairs & Maintenance and Capital Work) which states “With regard to the purchase of Information Technology equipment (hardware and where part of a package software, cabling, installation etc but not training or support) the de minimis level to be eligible capital expenditure is £2,000, I have received queries about the position of VA schools Governing Bodies.

CIPFA Technical Information Services have issued detailed guidance on this referring to the relevant legislation, regulations and guidance issued by the DfE e.g. the 'Blue Book' which is too lengthy (and complex) to reproduce here but is available on request. However the definition of capital expenditure which a VA Governing Body is responsible for includes ICT infrastructure and equipment. The definition of LA responsibility (via the delegated budget) is the day to day running costs of the school e.g. costs of staff, training, consumables teaching resources utilities etc. there is a threshold below which any expenditure of £2,000 net value or less regardless of the use it is put to is deemed to be revenue.

The effect of this is that the Governing Body of a VA school is responsible for IT purchases above £2,000 whether funded from its own DFC or a contribution from the school and cannot recover VAT on the purchase.

Nick Adams
Schools Finance Services Manager

For Information and Action by 16 December 2011

At present 37.5% of schools in Barnet are now members of the Get Set network and are guaranteed to receive an allocation of the 125,000 free tickets to the Olympic and Paralympic Games for school children in London. We are determined that 100% of our schools should not miss out on the chance to attend the Games free of charge and we hope that we can rely on you to join the Get Set network if you have not done so already.

There are 2 steps in joining the Get Set network:

1. Register online at https://getset.london2012.com/en/join-us/register/teacher-registration and access the education resources available.
2. You will need to answer 3 questions about the work you are doing in your school about the Games.

Some of you have registered with the Get Set programme but are not yet part of the Get Set network, so please check and make sure you take the next step.

You will need to register by 16 December 2011 as the window to receive the free tickets on offer closes on this date.

Lauren Burbidge
School Business Officer

For Information

Please find in the enclosures section of this week's School Circular a letter and the timetable regarding the arrangements for the co-ordination of Reception class admissions for 2012-13. All community, foundation, voluntary aided, free schools and academies are required to comply with the dates specified, which were consulted upon and formally determined earlier this year.

Liz Ferrie
Admissions Team Manager

For Information - Primary MFL Coordinators/Teachers

Date: Tuesday 29 November 2011
Time: 4.30-6pm 
Venue: Deansbrook Junior School

Caroline Goodman and Ali De Jong, Barnet Primary ASTs for MFL invite Primary MFL Coordinators / Teachers to meet to discuss and share best practice, issues and solutions.

If you would like to attend, please confirm with Caroline Goodman at caroline.goodman@deansbrookjnr.barnetmail.net.

Please email Caroline Goodman (using the above address) or Ali de Jong at alisondejong@childshill.barnetmail.net with particular topics you would like to be included by Friday 18 November 2011.

John Paxton
Narrowing the Gap:Secondary Lead

For Information

Please find in this weeks enclosures section our revised procedure to follow when raising exceptions and escalations.
 
If you have any further queries please contact HR Connect on 020 8359 4444 or alternatively e-mail hr.connect@barnet.gov.uk.
 
Amber Raza
HR Supervisor

For Information

Children will Shine is a project run by the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) to offer specialist teaching for Dyslexic Children in London and Manchester. The BDA will work with teachers, teaching assistants and parents, to set up after school workshops to support dyslexic children.

These workshops will enable Dyslexic Children to:

• be included in a specialist teaching program to help them with learning
• access self-esteem support
• reach their potential as a dyslexic

With this project the British Dyslexia Association will be able to assist many children, not only during the workshops, but also in the school day, by training 50 teaching assistants. This will dramatically increase the capacity of skills of teaching staff, which in turn will assist about 45,000 dyslexic children within a 5 year period.
The BDA will offer teaching assistants, training in exchange for working within the project, which will benefit the local schools and communities.

Teaching Assistants (TAs)
The BDA is supporting this development by offering 50 free training places to teaching assistants accredited at level 3 (normally costing £950 each). In exchange TAs will reinvest their time in workshops and local groups.
In order to support the TAs the BDA will work with specialist qualified teachers (AMBDA) that will oversee assessments and specialist teaching programs.

If you would like to get involved, or request a place for your child on this project, please complete the form in this weeks enclosures section.

For more information contact Arran Smith at arrans@bdadyslexia.org.uk or visit the Parent Partnership events page.

Jean Waitt
Parent Partnership Caseworker

For Information

I am pleased to send you the Director of Children's Service Report to Governors Autumn 2011.

In line with the council's commitment to open local government, schools should make available certain information to the public. Therefore, a copy of the report should be in a place accessible to parents, school staff, pupils and visitors.

The report can be found electronically at: www.barnet.gov.uk/meetings-and-reports

Sarah Beaumont
Governor Services Manager

For Information

Parent Partnership will be running workshops for parents to give an in depth guide to applying for a Statutory Assessment and what to include in parental advice.

These sessions will be three hours long, the first workshop will be on Friday 9 November 2011 and will be repeated during the year.

If you know anyone that would be helped by these sessions please contact Karen Dempsey on 020 8359 7637 or karen.dempsey@barnet.gov.uk.

Margaret Regan
Parent Partnership Case Worker                                  

• Investing in permanent primary and secondary places
  All Schools

Further information on the proposed expansion of school places. Please click on the above link for further details.

• Guidance re: Revised procedure for Exceptions and Escalations
  All Schools 

The revised procedure to follow when raising exceptions and escalations. Please click on the above link for further details.

• Form re: Children will Shine
  Factsheet re: Children will Shine
  All Schools for attention of  SENCOs
  

  An application form and further information about Children will Shine, a project run by the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) to offer specialist teaching for Dyslexic Children. Please click on the above link for further details.

• Flyer re: SEN Exhibition
  All Schools

  A flyer for a Learning and Development Exhibition in Harrow for the 29 January 2012, at Nower Hill High School, Pinner Middlesex. The event will showcase local services and businesses who have an interest in children's education and development. Please click on the above link for further details.

• Flyer re: BASPCAN London Branch Seminar and AGM
  All Schools

  Information on the BASPCAN Greater London Branch evening seminar taking place on the 6 December from 5.30pm- 9pm. The evening includes the 30th BASPCAN AGM (members only) and this is followed by a wine and cheese reception and 2 keynote presentations from Prof. David Shemmings and Jackie Harrop from C4EO. Please click on the above link for further details.
   

• Letter re: Admission to Reception Classes 2012/13
  Presentation re: Starting School 2012
  Timetable re: Reception 2012-13
  All Schools with infants on roll

  A letter, presentation and the timetable regarding the arrangements for the co-ordination of Reception class admissions for 2012-13. Please click on the above link for further details.

Please click the relevant links below for all of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Flyers.

All CPD Flyers organised by Programme Strand

CPD Flyers organised by Issue Date

Early Years' Training & Development Guides