Welcome back! I hope that you have enjoyed the warm sunshine over the holiday and return refreshed. We are looking forward to working with you this term and particularly in preparing for the week in July when Barnet Celebrates Achievement.

Best wishes

Gillian Palmer
Director of Children's Service

For Information

8.15am  for an 8.30 start

This is to just to remind headteachers of the conference for Heads and Deputies taking place on the 26 April 2007 in the conference area of Building 5, North London Business Park. 

Deborah Metcalf
Headteacher
Danegrove School

For Action

You are invited to attend the conference Behind closed doors: the impact of domestic violence on children and young people.

This event is being organised by Barnet's Safeguarding Children Board and the Domestic Violence Forum on the 10 May 2007, at the Conference Suite, Building 5, North London Business Park.

The conference will be introduced by Gillian Palmer, Director of Children's Service and Steve Kavanagh the Borough Commander will chair the morning session.

This promises to be a stimulating and thought provoking day. There will be some excellent speakers, including George Hoskings, Chief Executive of the Worldwide Alternatives to Violence (WAVE) Trust and Laura Richards, Head of Homicide Prevention Unit, Metropolitan Police.

The aim is to attract a wide multi-agency audience. Places are free and should be booked via Natalie Vieira at natalie.vieira@barnet.gov.uk or on 020 8359 4233. Further details and the booking form can be found in the enclosures section of this week's School Circular.

Rachel Smith
Domestic Violence Prevention Coordinator
Safer Communities Team
Colindale Police Station

For Information

Private Fostering Workshop - 23 April 2007

This event is part of an ongoing programme of awareness raising events, and it is essential that all staff working with children are aware of their own responsibilities in relation to Private Fostering. Therefore, as many of you as possible are encouraged to attend the event.

Heeral Patel
Registers Officer
Partnerships, Performance & Planning
Children's Service

For Information

A conference on Supporting Parents
"Every agency's concern but no single agency's responsibility"
26 April 9.30-3.30pm at
The Emerald Suite, North London Business Park,
New Southgate N11 1NP

A conference to develop and promote a multi-agency approach to supporting parents, providing information on models of good practice, parenting programmes, resources and services within Barnet.

The conference is for all practitioners in the Children's Service, schools, children's centres, the health sector and the voluntary community sector who provide support to parents.

For more information and to book a place please complete the booking form in the enclosures section and email to karin.ridout@barnet.gov.uk.

Karin Ridout
Parent Education and Support
Development  Officer

For Information

Following consultation with Schools and Trade Unions I can now confirm the Term Dates for community schools for 2008 - 2009 will be as follows:

Autumn Term 2008:
First Half:	Tuesday 2 September 2008 - Friday 24 October 2008
Half Term:	Monday 27 October 2008 - Friday 31 October 2008
Second Half:	Monday 3 November 2008 - Friday 19 December 2008
Spring Term 2009:
First Half:	Monday 5 January 2009 - Friday 13 February 2009
Half Term:	Monday 16 February 2009 - Friday 20 February 2009
Second Half:	Monday 23 February 2009 - Friday 3 April 2009
NB:	Easter Bank Holiday w/e Friday 10 April 2009 -  Monday 13 April 2009
Summer Term 2009:
First Half:	Monday 20 April 2009 - Friday 22 May 2009
NB:	May Day 4 May 2009
Half Term:	Monday 25 May 2009 - Friday 29 May 2009
NB:	Spring Bank Holiday Monday 25 May 2009
Second Half:	Monday 1 June 2009 - Tuesday 21 July 2009

In the enclosures section of this week's Circular, please find a document which shows the day and week length of each term.

Rachel Williams
Communications Manager

For Information

Enclosed in this week's school bag is a hard copy of an information sheet showing your school's current Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (Grant 103) allocation for 2007-08 and how the Ethnicity and EAL scores, on which it is based, were calculated. An electronic version of the accompanying letter is included in the enclosures section of this week's Circular.

Simon Taylor
School Resources Officer

For Action - Response required by 4 May

Please find the London Borough of Barnet NQT claim form in the enclosures section of this week's School Circular. The completed claim form, showing any NQTs who commenced from April 2007, should be returned to Paula Hales by 4 May 2007. Failure to do this may affect the funding for the NQT(s).

If you have any queries please contact Paula at paula.hales@barnet.gov.uk or on 020 8359 6335.

Mike Horton
Workforce Development Co-ordinator

For Information

Walk to School Week 2007 will be on 21st to 25th May. The national theme is "Strider saves the Planet"- How can you reduce pollution by walking to school?

Lesson ideas, photocopiable diaries and activities will be sent to Primary schools with a completed school travel plan. If other schools would like the information please contact Seral Mustafa (School Travel Plan Administrative Assistant) on 8359 7594 or seral.mustafa@barnet.gov.uk.

Alison Sharpe
School Travel Plan Coordinator

For Information

Congratulations to Rosh Pinah Primary School and to Blessed Dominic RC School, both of whom have achieved National Healthy Schools status.

For Information

New Disciplinary Powers
Tough new powers giving teachers clear unequivocal authority to discipline badly behaved pupils became law in early April 2007. Further details can be found at:-
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2007_0061
See also Teachernet's guidance for schools
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/behaviour/
schooldisciplinepupilbehaviourpolicies/

Creative Partnerships
This is a Government programme that enables schools to work with other professionals (including architects, engineers, dancers, musicians, scientists and web designers) to develop an exciting and relevant curriculum. Further details can be found at:-
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/Creativity/

New Ofsted
A new Ofsted has been created: Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills has a mission to raise standards & improve lives. Further details can be found at:-
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.75d4ee5e2788f064728a
0d8308c08a0c/?vgnextoid=e94997ad44da1110VgnVCM1000003507640aRCRD
See also comments by Education and Skills Secretary Alan Johnson
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2007_0060

Dig for Victory
The Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms with The Royal Parks are running a dig for victory allotment project in St James' Park during the summer. Schools are invited to create their own allotment with the help of a free teachers' pack. Further details can be found at:-
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/news/?id=1295

Disability Equality Schemes
Primary and special schools and pupil referral units can sign up for free DfES workshops to be held during the summer term to help them develop their disability equality schemes. Places for each event are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, so register as soon as possible:-
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/news/?id=1293

Ofsted Report on PSHE
Ofsted has published a report about the quality of personal, social and health education (PSHE):-
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.75d4ee5e2788f064728a
0d8308c08a0c/?vgnextoid=4372b42a51cd1110VgnVCM1000003507640aRCRD

Pete Comley
Assistant Information & Communications Officer

• Letter and Return re: Environmental Action INSET for Secondary Schools 11 June
  All Secondary Schools
  Response required by: 18 May 2007
  

  A letter and return regarding an environmental action INSET run by Barnet Environmental Action for Real in Schools (BEARS) at Mill Hill High School on Monday 11 June 2007. The deadline for response is 18 May 2007. Please click on the above link for further details.

• Invitation to Supporting Parents Conference
• Booking Form re: Supporting Parents Conference
  All Schools
  URGENT - Response required by: 19 April 2007
  

  You are invited to attend a conference for all practitioners in Children's Service, Schools, Children's Centres, the Health Sector and the voluntary community sector who provide support to parents. The Supporting Parents Conference takes place on 26 April 2007 from 9.30 to 3.30 at the North London Business Park. The deadline for bookings is 19 April 2007. Please click on the above links further details.

• Flyer re: Behind Closed Doors Conference 10 May
• Behind Closed Doors Conference Booking Form
  All Schools
  URGENT - Response required by: 4 May 2007 
  

  A flyer and booking form for Behind Closed Doors, a conference on the impact of domestic violence on children and young people. The conference takes place at the North London Business Park on the 10 May 2007 from 9.30 to 3.30pm. The closing date for booking is the 4 May 2007. Please click on the above links for further details.

• Form re: NQT Claim Form 
  All Schools
  URGENT - Response required by: 4 May 2007
  

  The London Borough of Barnet NQT claim form. The completed claim form, showing any NQTs who commenced from April 2007, should be returned to Paula Hales by 4 May 2007. Failure to do this may affect the funding for the NQT(s). Please click on the above link further details.

• Flyer and Return re: Including Children with Down Syndrome in Barnet Schools Conference 21 May
  All Schools
  URGENT - Response required by: 7 May 2007 

A flyer and return for the Including Children with Down Syndrome in Barnet Schools conference. The conference takes place at the North London Business Park on the 21 May 2007 from 9.00 to 4.00pm. The closing date for booking is 7 May 2007. All workshops must be pre booked. Please click on the above link for further details.

• Flyer re: Private Fostering Workshop 23 April
• Private Fostering Workshop 23 April Booking Form
  All Schools

A flyer and booking form for the Private Fostering workshop taking place at the North London Business Park on 23 April 2007. This event is part of an ongoing programme of awareness raising events, and it is essential that all staff working with children are aware of their own responsibilities in relation to Private Fostering. Please click on the above links for further details.

• Document re: Term Dates 2008-09 
  All Schools 
  

  The Term Dates for community schools for 2008-09. The enclosed document shows details of term dates and day count for each term. Please click on the above link further details.

• Letter re: Calculation of 2007-08 Ethnicity and EAL scores and Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant
  All Schools
  

  A letter regarding the calculation of 2007-08 Ethnicity and EAL scores and Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant. The information sheet showing your school's current  allocation for 2007-08 and how the Ethnicity and EAL scores were calculated are in the school bag. Please click on the above link and see enclosure in the school bag  for further details.

• Transition to Secondary School 30 April
• Dealing with Your Child's Sleep Problems 14 May
• Relaxation Techniques 11 June
• Pampering Session 10 July 
  All Schools 
  

  Flyers for four free events taking place in the coming months at Avenue House, N3. Please pass these on to families and professionals who may be interested. Please click on the above links for further details.

• Flyer re: Hyperactive Children's Support Group Workshops Summer 2007
  All Schools
  

  A flyer detailing the Hyperactive Children's Support Group workshops taking place in June and July 2007. Please click on the above link for further details.

• Flyer re: Free Fabric for Schools
  All Schools
  

  A flyer detailing a free fabric offer to schools. There is a carriage charge. Please click on the above link for further details.

• Flyer re: MoDA Arts Club
  All Schools 

  A flyer for the MoDA Arts Club, for 8 to 14 year olds, taking place at the Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture (MoDA) on Saturdays during the Summer term from 21 April 2007. Please click on the above link for further details.

• Flyer re: An Author in Your School
  All Schools (Not on BGFL: Hard copy in School Bag) 

  A flyer detailing information about An Author in Your School initiative organised by the Children's Discovery Centre charity. Please see enclosure in the school bag for further details.

• Flyer re: MoDA Calligraphy workshop 9 June
  All Schools 

  A flyer for the MoDA Calligraphy workshop for adults taking place at the Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture (MoDA) on Saturday 9 June 2007. 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

Primary CPD Flyers organised by Issue Date

Secondary CPD Flyers organised by Issue Date