Issue 5

Wednesday 5 October 2011
 
For more information
please contact:
school.circular@barnet.gov.uk
CONTENTS
  1. Narrowing the Gap

  2. New Starter Packs

  3. Ofsted Framework

  4. Proposal to expand The Orion Primary School

  5. Developments to the eProfile programme

  6. School Travel Plan Olympic relay competition- 'Welcome to my borough'

  7. Autumn Programme at Finchley Youth Theatre

  8. Free Performance At The Artsdepot For Primary Schools: Mad Spirits

  9. Celebrating Success
Enclosures
  • Headteachers
  • Professional Development
 
Narrowing the Gap

For Information

Please find in this week's enclosures section a brief document outlining the role of the Narrowing the Gap Team. Please share this with your Leadership Teams.

Mick Quigley
Assistant Director, Schools and Learning
 
New Starter Packs

For Information

Over the past few months, HR have received a considerable number of new starter packs that are incomplete, leading to delays in HR being able to process new starters. This has proved even more frustrating both for ourselves and the prospective new employees, when we are missing only one or two pieces of data.

Therefore, with effect from Monday 3 October 2011 HR will now be returning any incomplete packs that do not contain all of the information required to set up new employees on the Payroll system.

In order for HR to process a new starter pack, HR requires the following documentation:

  • Full instructions regarding the position - All of the below MUST be received
    • job title
    • start date
    • salary
    • number of hours
    • number of weeks worked per year
    • length of contract plus end date (if applicable) - All must be completed on a SAP New Starter Form. 
  • Proof of Right to Work in the UK - One of the below MUST be received
    • Passport - this must include Visa page where applicable 
    • UK Birth Certificate - copy of the full birth certificate
    • EU National Identity Card. 
  • Proof of National Insurance Number (NI) - One of the below
    • P45
    • P60
    • letter from the tax office or
    • letter from the job centre
    • please note that NI cards are NOT accepted as 'Proof of Right to Work in the UK'.
  • Bank Details - One of the below
    • Bank Account - Sort Code (six digits 00-00-00) and Bank Account Number (eight digits 00000000)
    • Building Society Account - Sort Code (six digits 00-00-00) and Bank Account Number (eight digits 00000000) Building Society Roll Number - If applicable.

Any packs that arrive in HR without all of the above documentation; HR will send the entire pack back to the school with a cover sheet detailing what is missing.

Please Note
Payment for new employees will only be processed once a complete new starter pack has been received in HR.
For further information on documents accepted for 'Proof of Right to Work in the UK' and 'Proof of NI' - Please see the 'Accepted Documents List' included in the new starter pack.

Amber Raza
HR Supervisor
 
Ofsted Framework

For Information

The new Ofsted framework was published in draft format on 30 September 2011. Please see this week's enclosures sections for links to the relevant documents.

Chris Skinner
Learning Network Inspector
 
Proposal to expand The Orion Primary School

For Information and Action by 7 November 2011

Consultation opens on proposed expansion of The Orion Primary School.

To help meet the increasing demand for primary school places in the Colindale and Burnt Oak area we are proposing to expand The Orion Primary School from two to four forms of entry (from 60 to 120 Reception places allocated each year). In order for this to take place the school would be relocated to larger specially-built premises on the current Mill Hill Sports Club site behind Grahame Park estate (NW7 2AL).

We are carrying out statutory consultation on this proposed expansion and would welcome your views. More information, including on how to respond, can be found in the enclosures section below. Responses should be sent to elaine.tuck@barnet.gov.uk by 7 November. The proposals will also be subject to planning consent.

Elaine Tuck
Strategy and Planning Manager
 
Developments to the eProfile programme

For Information

The updated version 3.3 of the eProfile software is now available to be download from the eProfile website www.eprofile.org.uk along with additional information and a guidance manual. All schools using eProfile must download the new version. Data held in versions 3.1 and 3.2 will be compatible with the new version 3.3 and will automatically upgrade the data which is held.

The main developments in version 3.3 of eProfile include:

  • Year 1 continuation mode - this enables the software to be used by year 1 teachers as a means of updating the assessment picture for children who continue to be assessed in relation to EYFS profile into year 1. Full details and guidance are provided in the guidance manual in section C11. 
  • Improvements to printouts, including choice of month in two printouts and an option to print the scale's item texts.
  • Updating of export file to CTF 11

Amelia Whitehouse
Narrowing Gap Early Years Lead
 
School Travel Plan Olympic relay competition- 'Welcome to my borough'

For Information 

With the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games coming ever closer, the London Boroughs are once again joining together this October, during International Walk to School month, to celebrate the progress of School Travel Plans in London in promoting more sustainable ways to travel to school and to look forward to us all becoming more active through the inspiration of the Olympics and Paralympics.

Like last year, the London boroughs will be organising a Pan-London, Big Wow walking relay, during which the Olympic Torches from 1948 and 1956 will be passed from borough to borough throughout October and the beginning of November. Barnet schools The Annunciation Infant School and Monkfrith School,  near the boundaries with Enfield and Harrow, will be taking part in the two torch passing events on 7 and 10 October 2011.

So that all schools can participate, Transport for London (TfL) are organising  a 'story' writing competition called 'Welcome to my Borough' which we hope that some or all of your pupils will be able to take part in. The children are asked to take a walk in their local area and identify a local landmark or place of interest that they can describe in their 'story' to welcome Olympic and Paralympic visitors to our borough.

It is hoped that your school will be able to take the classes for a walk in the local area in order to find inspiration for their writing. If this is not possible perhaps you could ask the children and their families to take a local walk as part of a homework and submit their description or perhaps they could describe something they see on their journey to school?

The competition will be open to nursery, primary and secondary pupils, as you deem appropriate. Further details from Transport for London are given in the attached documents in this week's enclosures section, which include some lesson plans.

Submission deadline
Please send your top three 'stories' to Alison Sharpe, Traffic and Development Section by 9 November 2011 via the school bag or post. Each entry must also have the completed permission form attached to it. We will then select the best five 'stories' from across the borough to be submitted to TfL. Certificates will be provided for all three pupils whose 'stories' you submit to us as well as a small prize for the best entry from each school. The winning entries selected by Transport for London will be displayed at City Hall and then hopefully in the Olympic Village during the games.

We look forward to receiving lots of lovely 'welcomes to Barnet',

Alison Sharpe
Travel Plan Coordinator, Traffic and Development
 
Autumn Programme at Finchley Youth Theatre

For Information

Please see this week's enclosures section for the new autumn programme at Finchley Youth Theatre - there is something for everyone, with dance, drama, GLEE, film and our new circus skills programme. 

The theatre is a friendly, inclusive and supportive space for young people to come to, and we have worked well with young people who have difficulties at school, or who are struggling to find a space for themselves in a working environment as well as other mainstream young people.

  • Circus Skills- new programme starts Thursday 2 November 2011
    Finchley Youth Theatre now offers circus skills! We have partnered up with Airborne Circus, a specialist company experienced in working with young people. Sessions include juggling, plate-spinning, tight-wire, Diabolo, clowning, gymnastics and more! Circus Skills are an exciting way for young people to develop physical, mental and social skills, including balance, concentration, flexibility and teamwork.
  • JIVE  - Tuesdays at 6pm- 7.30pm
    The sessions are run by Emilia Georgiou, an enthusiastic young dancer and choreographer, who specialises in contemporary dance and enjoys creating new dance pieces with her groups. Jive has an interesting history, originating in the US from black African-Americans who were denied entry to the white ballrooms- the dance style is a lively and uninhibited version of the Jitterbug!
  • Advanced Film Skills - Thursdays at 7.30pm - 9pm
    These sessions suit young people with good visual or musical skills offering opportunities to learn about film-making; create films, edit, and work with music backgrounds. The sessions are taught by Danny Hahn, an experienced film maker and youth worker who spent the summer months with his new film at the Cannes Film Festival!

Finchley Youth Theatre Location
We are right on the high street in East Finchley, five minutes walk up the hill from East Finchley tube station; the theatre is a white painted church building, just back from the main road. Young people travel from various different places in Barnet, and we have three bus routes here, so location need not be a problem.

Referrals
Whilst the theatre works well with the more vulnerable young person, we also provide an excellent skills base for young people who want to progress to study the creative arts at further education, or higher education level.
If you are considering referring, you can arrange to come for an introductory look around; either just yourself, or with a young person who wants to find out more. Please telephone to arrange a time on 020 8359 3542.

The youth theatre is a friendly, supportive environment - no auditions necessary- and we welcome all young people in Barnet who want to explore the creative arts. There is no need to have prior experience and we only ask that they call beforehand to book a place for one of the courses in dance, drama, film or circus. The weekly cost of one session is £4, and we are happy to offer reduced or free rates if needed - please just let us know.

Liz Sacre
Senior Arts Worker, Youth Support Service
 
Free Performance At The Artsdepot For Primary Schools: Mad Spirits

For Information

Free Performance At The Artsdepot For Primary Schools: Mad Spirits
Date: Wednesday 19 October 2011
Time: 2pm (finishes 2.50pm)
Venue: Pentland Theatre, Artsdepot

Hendon School and St Mary's High School  (mostly Year 7's) have been working with English Touring Opera to create their own work, 'Mad Spirits' based on Purcell's 'The Fairy Queen' which will be performed in the Pentland Theatre, Artsdepot, on Wednesday 19 October.

Working with a director, composer and photographer from English Touring Opera, and performing alongside some fabulous young professional artists, the students explore the magical world of Oberon's Midsummer Night's forest, and the nature of dreams.

The performance is suitable for Year 6 and Year 5 pupils.

Tickets are free and allocated on a first come, first served basis. Contact alexa.carey@englishtouringopera.org.uk or phone on 020 7833 2555 to book.

Debbie Goldman
Curriculum Advisor

 
Celebrating Success

For Information

Young Gardeners of 2011 Competition

Congratulations to St Mary's & St John's CE Primary School.

On Thursday 22 of September a number of schools carrying armfuls of produce and photos of their work gathered at Sunnyfields Primary School to find out who had won the 'Young Gardeners of 2011' competition.  The 'Young Gardeners of 2011' competition was set up by the school to replace 'Barnet in Bloom' which is no longer running. It is sponsored by Finchley nurseries and Hendon Horticultural Society.

Independent judges visited seven schools across the borough during July. All the judges were highly impressed by all the gardening projects that they saw and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the huge number of enthusiastic green fingered pupils in our boroughs schools.

Huge congratulations goes to St Mary's & St John's CE Primary School who won the competition! The hard work of the very knowledgeable and enthusiastic young gardeners at this school clearly brought a lot of enjoyment to the whole school community.  The group were gardening in an environmentally friendly manner and producing a fantastic array of vegetables as well as creating a lovely sensory garden with bright flowers for the whole school to enjoy.

Very well done to all who took part and watch out for news of next year's competition!

Verity Jones
Waste & Sustainability Team
 
 

   
Headteachers

 

  • Leaflet re: Sing Out 2011 Reccruitment
  • Press Release re: Marie Curie Sing Out
  • Hyperlink re: Marie Curie Sing Out
    All Primary and Nursery Schools

    Marie Curie Cancer Care would like your help to promote schools fundraising activities; Sing Out 2011 Recruitment.  Enclosed are more details of the event and some useful materials for your consideration. It's an interactive way for children to sing together on the winter months whilst making a positive difference to the lives of people with cancer.  More information is on the website. The deadline for registrations is the end of November. Please click on the above links for further details.

 

The new autumn programme for Finchley Youth Theatre. Please click on the above link for further details.

 

 

Consultation opens on proposed expansion of The Orion Primary School. We are carrying out statutory consultation on this proposed expansion and would welcome your views. Please click on the above link for further details.

 

A brief document outlining the role of the Narrowing the Gap Team. Please click on the above links for further details.
   
Professional Development

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