Reminder

Further to the item in last weeks circular regarding united strike action on 30 November 2011 I am circulating a reminder about data collection and notification deadlines.

The DfE has requested that Local Authorities participate in a voluntary data
collection exercise and require forecasts of school closure on 25 November 2011with an update by 29 November noon 2011.

Can you please contact Rachel Williams, on 020 8359 7615 or email rachel.williams@barnet.gov.uk:

by noon on Friday 25 November 2011 to provide the following information:
- the anticipated impact of the industrial action on the school, i.e. school open, closed or partially open
- if the school is partially open, the number of pupils likely to be affected - number of year groups that will /will not be taught
- numbers of staff likely to be on strike
- category of staff - i.e. teacher or support staff
- numbers on annual leave,
- numbers on authorised other absence

and by 28 November 2011 or noon on 29 November noon 2011 at the latest:
- the impact of the industrial action on the school, i.e. school open, closed or partially open
- if the schools is partially open, the number of pupils affected - year groups taught
- numbers of staff on strike
- category of staff - i.e. teacher or support staff
- numbers on special leave and other absence, authorised or otherwise

Absences for strike action need to be recorded on absence returns so pay can be stopped as soon as possible. All staff paid via LBB payroll services will receive salary on 23 December 2011 therefore the Payroll deadline for submission of all returns will be 5 December 2011.

Also, the school bag courier service due on Wednesday 30 November has been re-scheduled for Thursday 1 December 2011 because of potential school closures on 30 November.

Deborah Shaw
HR Business Partner

For information

It is a statutory requirement to renew your buildings Display Energy Certificate (DEC) annually.

A number of schools have been contacted by providers and this is a timely reminder that the Council has an appointed contractor, Energy Solutions (E.S) Consultancy who has already undertaken the initial DEC certification and Advisory Reports for a number of schools and will be providing information to you shortly in respect to annual DEC renewals. Please see the enclosures section for a letter that explains the process and pricing details.

Nigel Bell
Property Services

For information

The Family Focus Team has now been launched, the practitioners are in post and all schools can now refer families to this team. Family Focus has been built on the Parenting Support Service; the previous Parent Support Advisers have become part of the bigger Family Focus Team and are now called Family Support Practitioners. They will work alongside the whole family providing more holistic support.

The criteria for referring children and families are that they need support from more than one agency, are resistant to services and are below the threshold for Children's Social Care services. In order to identify the full needs of the children or families a CAF is necessary.

To make a referral to the Family Focus Team a CAF should be completed, with the agreement of the family. Any practitioner from any school or agency working with children and families in Barnet may complete a CAF and request a referral to the Family Focus Team.

The new re-designed CAF form is now available from www.barnet.gov.uk/caf-practitioner-info and information on using this process is in the enclosures section below.

Family Focus will continue to provide parenting programmes and will accept referrals via a CAF from professionals. Families who are receiving support from social care may be referred by the social worker for a parenting programme only.

Further information about Family Focus is available from: www.barnet.gov.uk/family-focus.

Karin Ridout
Family Focus Team Manager

Congratulations to JCoSS who have been accepted into the London 2012 Get Set Network

• Display Energy Certificate Renewal letter
  All Schools
  

  Letter explaining the process and pricing for DEC renewal with the council's appointed contractor. Please click on the above link for further details. 

• Details of Spellathon for secondary schools
• Details of Spellathon for primary schools
  All Schools

Spellathon is a groundbreaking, exciting and free, global, digital sponsored spelling competition to raise funds for learning disability charity Mencap and your school. Please click on the above link for further details  

• Music Festival 2012 invite
  All Primary Schools 
  
  Letter inviting you to join the 2012 Music Festival. Please click on the above link for further details.
  
  
• Family Focus Team referral guidance notes 
  Family Focus Team referral pathway
  All  Schools 

Further information and guidance on making a referral to the Family Focus Team. 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