On behalf of my colleagues may I send our best wishes for a well earned summer break. Our thanks to everyone for promoting the achievement of all children and young people in Barnet and for your commitment and hard work.

Thanks also for the invitations to events, which are always brilliant.

Have a wonderful summer!

Gillian Palmer
Director of Children's Service

For Information

Things to do in Barnet

In this week's School Bag are copies of Things to do in Barnet. This directory provides information on the huge range of activities available for children and young people in the borough. It lists details of activities provided by Barnet Children's Service, voluntary and community groups, and local businesses. To let Barnet Children's Service know about changes or updates to activities, or if you require additional copies, please email: childrens.info@barnet.gov.uk (please title your email Activity Brochure Update) or call Barnet Children's Information Service on 0800 389 8312.

Emily Chaplin
Arts Development Officer

The Big Wild Read - Library Summer Reading Challenge

The Big Wild Read, this year's summer reading challenge, will be taking place in Barnet's libraries during the forthcoming school holidays. The aim of the scheme is to encourage children in Barnet to continue reading and enjoying books over the long summer holidays. Enclosed in the School Bag and the enclosures section are a Big Wild Read poster, leaflet, letter to headteachers and a letter that can be copied to parents. If you would like any further information about the Big Wild Read please contact Hannah Richens on 020 8359 7779.

Hannah Richens 
(Development Manager:  Children and Education)

For consultation - Response required by 3 October 2007

The enclosures section of this week's School Circular includes a new draft Barnet Home to School Transport Policy which is open to consultation until 3 October 2007.

The draft policy includes changes introduced by the Education and Inspections Act 2006 and covers some new areas of eligibility including choice of school for children from low income groups and right to transport for disabled parents.

If headteachers would like further information or to return comments on the draft policy contact Graham Durham on 020 8359 7702 or graham.durham@barnet.gov.uk

Graham Durham
Assistant Director - Inclusion

For Information

Ann Hull-McCracken has been seconded to the Children's Service to cover the Primary Standards Inspector vacancy. Sue Spriggs will be the Acting Headteacher at Deansbrook Infant School.

Stuart Gray
Principal Inspector
Challenge & Intervention

For Information

In Year Variation to increase the Published Admission Number at Summerside Primary School in September 2007

I write to advise schools that the council are writing to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator to request an In Year Variation for Summerside Community Primary School. The request is to increase the Admission Number for Reception in September 2007 by 15 from 45 to 60. The reason for this request is a shortfall of reception places in the Finchley (N12) area. This is due to a higher level of demand for places than in previous years.

For further information or comments on this proposal please contact me on 020 8359 7644, or by e-mail david.clark@barnet.gov.uk

David Clark
School Organisation and Admissions Manager

For Information - All schools with corporate cleaning contract

Following a meeting between the ESOL tutor and building cleaning contractors the need to engage with cleaners and encourage their enrolment on ESOL training was emphasised. Arising from this meeting it was agreed that communication/training sessions would be arranged for cleaners at or near their place of work. Please be advised that approaches will be made direct to identified schools for the provision of a venue for these sessions.  

It would be greatly appreciated if you are in receipt of such an approach that you can accommodate this request.

Michael Adu
Procurement & Contracts Manager
020 8359 7267

For Information

Congratulations to the following schools:

Bishop Douglass achieved Specialist Science College Status
Henrietta Barnett achieved Specialist Music College Status with English as a second subject
Oak Lodge achieved Specialist Schools status in Cognition and Learning.

Bell Lane Primary School's short film "Boring School" won the Cineclub Choice Award at the annual Cineclub Award Ceremony at the British Film Institute on Wednesday 12 July. The film, produced by pupils in Y6 at an after school club run by teacher Sarah Doust, came first out of 10 shortlisted from 30 clubs throughout the south east. The judges were particularly complimentary about the humour in the film. 

Barnet Hill School is the Middlesex County FA Charter Standard Primary School Winner for 2007. This award recognises the fantastic work Barnet Hill School has undergone this year in keeping the High Standards of the Charter Standard award and ensuring pupils receive good quality footballing activities on a regular basis.
 
The Ravenscroft School's Investor In People status has been renewed for a further three years until 2010 which acknowledges the importance placed on all people within the school and the recognition that everyone contributes to achievement and school improvement.

For Information

Central Government Organisation
The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has been split into two new departments: The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). Further details can be found at:-
http://www.csn.info/briefing-detail.jsp?&id=1532&md=0§ion=briefing

New Vision Unveiled
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls has outlined his standards-focused plans for the new Department:-
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2007_0126

New Secondary National Curriculum
The QCA has launched the new secondary national curriculum, designed to give teachers a more flexible framework for teaching and raise standards:-
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/educationoverview/briefing/currentstrategy/
secondarycurriculum/

Education Maintenance Allowance
The Learning and Skills Council is encouraging teachers to order EMA application packs before the end of the summer term to ensure eligible young people can apply for EMA:-
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/news/?id=1353

Child Development
The NSPCC has published The Developing World of the Child, a new child development resource pack for practioners working with children and their families:-
http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/NewsAndEvents/InformNews/
DevelopingWorld_ifna47424.html

Sport
The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced a campaign to give every child the chance of five hours of sport every week:-
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2007_0128

Protecting Children from the Modern Day Slave Trade
Cross-Government guidance has been published to help professionals and community groups that come into contact with young people vulnerable to the modern day slave trade:-
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2007_0129

Pete Comley
Assistant Information & Communications Officer

• Poster re The Big Wild Read 
• Flyer re: The Big Wild Read
• Letter re: The Big Wild Read - Headteacher
• Letter re: The Big Wild Read - Parent/Carer
  All Primary Schools (Flyer and letters on BGFL: Poster hard copy in School Bag)
  

  A flyer, poster and letters regarding The Big Wild Read, this year's summer reading challenge, which will be taking place in Barnet's libraries. A hard copy of the letter to parents and carers is also enclosed in the school bag for ease in copying . Please see enclosure in the school bag and click on the above links for further details.

• Home to School and College Transport Policy - draft
  All Schools
  Response required by: 3 October 2007

  The Home to School Transport Policy which is open to consultation until 3 October 2007. The draft  policy includes changes introduced by the Education and Inspections Act 2006 and covers some new areas of eligibility including choice of school for children from low income groups and right to transport for disabled parents. Please click on the above link for further details.

• Flyer re: MoDA Summer Workshops
  All Schools 
  

  A flyer from the Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture (MoDA) regarding their summer workshop programme. Please click on the above link for further details.

• Booklet re: Things to do in Barnet
  All Schools (Not on BGFL: Hard copy in School Bag) 

  The Things to do in Barnet directory provides information on the huge range of activities available for children and young people in the borough. It lists details of activities provided by Barnet Children's Service, voluntary and community groups, and local businesses. Please see enclosure in the school bag for further details.

• Booklet re: School Food Trust - Revised Guide
  All Schools (Not on BGFL: Hard copy in School Bag) 

  The School Food Trust revised guide to the Government's new interim food-based standards for school lunches. It highlights the amendments to these standards which come into effect in September 2007.  Please see enclosure in the school bag 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