Customer Newsletter Summer 2018

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

Welcome to the Summer term newsletter providing updates

and information to make sure you’re booked for courses

before the end of the year and to help you get ready for the

new academic year.

You will find within this newsletter a range of information on

the services and support available to you, as well as key

events and news.

If you would like more information, please email

SSE@somerset.gov.uk, call us on 01823 348266, or visit our

website www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk.

5 things you’ll read about...

1. Generating Income from External Funding Sources

2. Fundraising for Alzheimer’s Research UK

3. Mental Health Update

4. SEND April 2018 Newsletter

5. PIMS Guidance Documents

3 learning opportunities you’ll hear about...

1. Somerset Technology Conference

2. Multi-Cultural Britain Workshop

3. EYFSP Cluster Meetings

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS NEWSLETTER

EMAIL: SSE@SOMERSET.GOV.UK

We are proud to announce

that the partnership

between Support Services

for Education in Somerset

County Council and North

Somerset Council made it

to the final shortlist for the

Alternative Service Delivery

Model of the Year for the

Public Finance Innovation

Awards 2018.

To achieve this coveted

accolade, SSE was

successful in demonstrating

outstanding collaboration with

North Somerset Council to

provide an innovative

solution for the continued

delivery of statutory and non-

statutory education services

to North Somerset schools

and academies while facing

reductions in funding.

The award was given to

authorities responding to

financial challenges by

developing alternative

models of service delivery

and creating a dynamic

culture whilst effectively

managing risk.

Congratulations to everyone

involved!

Inside this Issue...

Article Page

About SSE 1

Somerset Technology Conference 2018 1

External Funding Service 2

Staff News 2

EMA/TES Professional Development Day 2

Education Financial Services Blog 2

100 Million Minutes Reading Challenge 2

Fundraising for Alzheimer’s Research 3

SENETAS Service 4

AMAP Declaration Deadline 4

Next SSE Conference 4

Mental Health Update 5

Schools Buying Club 5

Kilve Court Family Day 6

SEND Newsletter 7-10

PIMS Team Guidance Documents 11

Multi-Cultural Britain Workshop 11

EYFSP Cluster Meetings 12

Managing Critical Incidents 13

Principal Educational Psychologist Appointed 13

SEMH Toolkit 13

Accessing PIMST Guidance 13

Full List of SSE Services 14-16

Contact Details 17

About SSE

Somerset’s 2018 technology conference takes place on Tuesday 12

th June at Dillington House.

This is a day to inspire the imagination, while also giving you practical tips and resources to use with your learners. This year, our theme is Creatively Connected: providing joy in learning; making purposeful links; building capability and confidence.

Support Services for Education (SSE) is a

traded unit within Somerset County Council that

offers a wide variety of support services to all

education providers, including schools,

academies, Further Education colleges, Early

Years providers and Local Authorities.

As a public sector trading unit we provide the

right balance between public sector ethos and

commercial practice. We currently trade with

more than 300 schools and academies, and

more than 1,000 Early Years providers.

We offer a one-stop-shop of support services for

education providers, making it easy for

customers to procure our services and ensure

they get services tailored to their needs.

As a not-for-profit organisation, we reinvest any

surplus back into Support Services for

Education, which enables us to provide good

value, high quality support that settings need in

order to deliver educational excellence to all

children and young people.

Want to keep up-to-

date in between

newsletters?

Make sure you check

our website for news,

updates and events.

You will need to be

logged into the

website to access

these in full.

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Our keynote speakers are:

• Connecting learning: Miles Berry of Computing at Schools and the University of Roehampton will lead our keynote, exploring computing opportunities across the curriculum.

• Connecting through Design: Jane Waite (Computing at Schools) will share the outcomes of the Scratch Design Project in Somerset.

Other sessions include:

• Connecting with Industry: STEM challenge work with Somerset primary schools.

Connecting with other learners: reflections on Google Classroom experi-ences with Somerset learners

For more details and to book your place: http://www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk/Event/66772

*New* External Funding Service: ‘Generating income from external funding sources’

The External Funding Service has many years’ experience of supporting schools and academies to find additional funding though grants.

We can find and help access a variety of grants and funds that can make a real difference to your staff, pupils and your wider community. We have assisted schools to access funding for many projects including new playgrounds, improved school grounds, science and music projects, classroom resources and much more...

Your new service is called ‘Generating income from external funding sources’ and provides: · Unlimited funding search requests. · 4 hours of bespoke funding expertise to meet your needs.

More detail of the External Funding Service can be found on the SSE website, the link is: http://www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk/Services/4033

For more information please contact Kirsty Budge on 01823 356640 or funding@somerset.gov.uk

Education Financial Services Blog for Maintained

Schools

Because Finance Matters!

As part of our commitment to keeping our customers up-to-

date with relevant financial information we have launched a

blog for maintained schools. It has received positive feedback

and we will be rolling it out to academies from September.

You will automatically have access to the blog if you are a

subscriber to the EFS Base Package.

The blogs provide you with information on up-coming

deadlines, changes to processes, efficiency ideas and much

more! To give you an idea, so far blogs have included:

• Benchmarking

• Budgeting

• Consistent Financial Reporting

• School Population Forecast

We understand how busy it is working in a school, so you can

sign up to blog alerts which mean you will receive an email

each time the blog is updated.

If you work in a maintained school and haven’t yet looked,

please click on the link –EFS Blog for maintained schools

If you work in an Academy look out for your blog September.

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Staff news

Congratulations go to Claire Connolly our EAL Advisory Teacher who gave birth to a little girl in March. Both mother and daughter are doing well.

Laura Burt is covering Claire’s post during her maternity leave.

Suzy Howlett will be leaving her post as EAL Advisory Teacher for Mendip and Sedgemoor at the end of May.

We wish her well with her plans for the future.

EMA/TES Professional Development Day

Do take a look at our professional development day event that is taking place in Taunton on 22nd May 2018. This is for any school, college or LA staff and will be an opportunity to increase personal knowledge and understanding of Traveller culture and best practice when working with EAL pupils. There are a range of workshops to choose from. Lunch is provided.

Places can be booked via the SSE website http://www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk

Sign up for Achievement for All's 100 Million Minutes Reading Challenge

From Thursday 1st March 2018, children and young people will try to collectively read 100 million minutes in a week! If you're an early years setting, school, college, parent, carer, childminder or other community group across the UK you can register for the challenge and be in with a chance to win some amazing prizes!

Taking part in the challenge is completely free, so what are you waiting for? Sign up today and let the challenge

commence! https://millionminutes.afaeducation.org/#/

Charity Fundraising for Alzheimer’s Research UK

In July 2014, at the age of 65 my mum, Paula, was diagnosed with the early onset of

Alzheimer’s disease. My Mum worked for Somerset County Council for several years in the

County Personnel Department before pursuing a career in advertising, having worked in

Dillington Advertising and been instrumental in setting up Somerset Staffing. Anyone who knew

my Mum would remember her being a confident, strong and formidable character.

In April 2015, having not run since leaving school (well I didn’t really run then if I am honest!) I

made the decision that I would start training so that I could take part in the Taunton Half

Marathon the following year to raise funds and awareness to

find a cure for this truly awful disease. On 1st June 2015, I took

my first running steps, having downloaded the Couch to 5k app,

and successfully completed the Taunton Half Marathon in April

2016 along with other members of my family raising an amazing

£3,500 between us for The Alzheimer’s Society. Last year my

brother ran the London Full Marathon for Alzheimer’s Society

and raised a further staggering £5,000.

This year I was very fortunate and privileged to secure a charity

place, running for Alzheimer’s Research UK, in the inaugural

London Landmark Half Marathon which took place on Sunday

25th March. To secure my place, I had to commit to fund raising

a set amount and thanks to the kindness and generosity of

friends, family and colleagues this was exceeded following a charity quiz night held at The

Wyvern Club last month where £1,000 was raised.

The London Landmark Half Marathon was a wonderful experience with over 10,000 runners

and was truly humbling to be part of such a wonderful event. The last mile and a half was tough

but the pain I felt was insignificant compared to the pain and suffering that those living with this

cruel illness and their families have to endure. My family and I witness on a daily basis this

cruel illness stripping us of the person we love.

Sadly, 5 years on my Mum is in the final stages of the illness and while her ability to

communicate is limited, there are still the precious moments where I get the smile that melts

me or the glare that terrifies me and I know Mum is still in there somewhere. I know it is too late

for my Mum to benefit from the amazing work that Alzheimer’s Research

UK carry out, but if my small fundraising efforts can help prevent other

families from having to experience the devastating effects of this illness,

then it has all been so very worthwhile.

I am so overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity to date which has

contributed to raising over £2,500. Thank you to everyone who has

contributed and if you have been touched by my story and would like to

contribute to this very worthwhile cause, my Justgiving page is still open

and can be accessed at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Samantha-

simmons5

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Sam Simmons, HR Advisory Service

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SENETAS SERVICE

New Service Provider— Special Educational Needs Assistive Technology Advisory Service There are changes in the way this service will be delivered for 2018/19 and a number of traded packages are being developed. For further information please click on this link: http://www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk/senatas For further discussion please contact Rachel Garrett, email rgarrett@somerset.gov.uk

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The deadline for completing the Asbestos

Management Assurance Process is

May 31st.

Are you confident your asbestos survey is

accurate and up to date?

Somerset Scientific Services offer expert asbes-

tos surveying and testing to schools, enabling

them to be confident in their management of

asbestos.

Contact Sharon Larkman on 01823 355906 for

a quote or email SSSmailbox@somerset.gov.uk

Click here for the link to our service page -

Asbestos Services

AMAP declaration

Save the Date—8 March 2019 for the next SSE Conference

Following the success of our 2018 SSE

Conference we are pleased to announce our

next annual conference on Friday 8th

March

2019. Be sure to save the date now!

We are planning already and can confirm that

the venue will be the Westlands Conference

and Leisure Centre again. Feedback from the

Conference was very positive with comments

praising the location of the venue, its excellent

meeting rooms, comfortable break out areas

and superb catering.

The Conference attracted over 250 delegates

from Somerset and surrounding counties from

across the South West. The delegates enjoyed

browsing the stands from over 30 exhibitors

and we plan to offer a similar range in 2019.

We will be using the knowledge gained from

this event and will providing a new range of

subjects in the 2019 Conference that we are

confident you will find valuable and relevant.

Next year's event is shaping up to be even

better so be sure to block your diary for 8th

March 2019. Bookings will be opening in the

new academic year so keep an eye out for our

promotion soon.

Mental Health Update

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Wellbeing South Somerset launched!

SPARK have launched Wellbeing South Somerset, a brand new website dedicated to

promoting good health and wellbeing in South Somerset. It features a huge directory of

support groups, services, and activities in South Somerset, as well as health-boosting

self-management tools and tips. Visit wellbeingsouthsomerset.org to find out more.

Mind Your Language: How Men Talk About Mental Health

Male mental health is in trouble. Men account for three-quarters of suicides, yet make up just a

third of all referrals to NHS Talking Therapies. How can these services be made more relevant to

men? Is part of the problem the language they use? How do men really talk about mental health?

The Men's Health Forum have produced a report to try to begin answering these questions, and

take the first steps towards identifying good practice. You can read the report here .

Shared Reading Groups in Somerset

Shared Reading Groups are proven to improve wellbeing, build resilience , and help people to feel

more socially connected. At the groups, people come together weekly to hear a story or poem.

Members can choose to read aloud, or simply listen, and the Reader Leader will ensure it's a

safe and creative environment, where participants feel valued, encouraged, and listened to. The

Reading Groups take place in the libraries across Somerset, click here to find your nearest one.

Need Procurement Advice That You Don’t Have to Pay For?

Join hundreds of schools in the South West and register for the Schools’ Buying Hub South West. Funded by the Department for Education, the service is free of charge for schools and offers support, advice and guidance for all your buying requirements. It's now even easier to start making savings, discover the latest updates and new features available on the website to support your procurement. Visit our website to: • Schedule a 30-minute QuickStart Consultation, a unique opportunity to discuss your buying

needs with our experts. • Develop your own bespoke savings plan with the help of our procurement team. Access useful tools and guidance and download detailed buying guides for over 20 categories of spend. The Hub is here to provide FREE advice on ALL areas of school spend. Even if you need a new contract in place for September it’s not too late, get in contact with us now. We can provide support with complex purchases, including Facilities Management (cleaning, catering, building and grounds maintenance), ICT Managed Services and Professional Services. Contact the Schools’ Buying Hub South West by email, phone or live chat to discuss your buying needs today. http://www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk/Article/56432

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This is a reminder that the PIMS Team have created several guidance documents which can be downloaded for free. These are as follows:

Personal and Intimate Care - this is a good practice guide and includes a template for writing a toileting plan, as well as a sample plan Epilepsy Toolkit – contains detailed information on epilepsy and various templates, such as a seizure log

PEEPS (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans) – A guide to safe evacuation. Includes a sample PEEP and template

Trips and Visits – focuses on what to consider during the planning stages for external visits

Wheelchair Proficiency Skills Award Pack – a pack to use with manual and powered wheelchair users in order to improve their skills.

The link to access these documents (a login will be needed) can be found at: https://secure2.sla-online.co.uk/default.aspx?logo=49

Should further information be required, then please contact your PIMST Advisory Teacher or you can make contact through sse.sen@somerset.gov.uk

Physical Impairment and Medical Service (PIMS) Team

Guidance Documents

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This workshop aims to give children across the KS2 age range an understanding of how people

from minority ethnic groups came to this country and settled. Gloria will use the experiences of

herself and her family as a starting point. Through this approach children will gain insights into the

personal experiences of people who migrated to Britain, their hopes and motivations, developing a

foundation for positive responses to diversity. With Gloria’s vibrant story telling skills, and

accompanying music provided by Roger Cawsey, the workshop will provide children with an

unforgettable experience.

This workshop will help children to develop their knowledge and understanding of the diverse

nature of British society and will tie in with National Curriculum aims such as: 'promote the

spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils’ and ‘prepare pupils at the

school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life'.

Schools can contact Gloria direct to discuss workshops and possible dates. Her contact details

are: gloriababygiraffe@msn.com 07837 877456

Multi-Cultural Britain

A Workshop for KS2 led by Gloria Lawrence

Important Information

For Schools Not Being Moderated This Year

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Somerset LA support schools and settings through the moderation process in 2017 to 2018. We

aim to provide a reliable, valid and accurate assessment for EYFSP Moderation and data in 2018.

It is not too late to register for a Cluster Meeting which have been arranged for all Reception

Teachers NOT receiving a school moderation visit.

Focus for Moderation Cluster Meetings: Physical Development, The World and Expressive Arts.

We welcome Year 1 teachers at these events.

Teachers need to be prepared to engage in a professional dialogue about the judgements they

have made for the three children from across the three outcome bands (Emerging, Expected and

Exceeding), so that the group can evaluate the evidence and confirm the judgements or query the

decision in a constructive way. There will be Local Authority moderator at each table.

The aim of Somerset LA is to provide a supportive process over the course of the academic year

so that all schools and settings know and understand the statutory responsibilities as cascaded

yearly to the LA by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) and how the LA plan to carry out the

statutory requirements.

Booking Information

Schools can either become a member of the Somerset process for a £50 membership fee or

access events at full cost as non-members, please visit the following link to see details of the

membership package: http://www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk/Services/3110

Membership includes free access to all training events and clusters for first staff members and at a

reduced price to additional staff members (unless otherwise stated).

Moderation and Assessment - Statutory Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP).

EYSFP Cluster Meetings - Yeovil Area (15 May 2018 09:30 - 12:00)

EYSFP Cluster Meeting - Ilminster/Taunton area (15 May 2018 13:30 - 16:00)

EYSFP Cluster Meeting - Taunton Area (17 May 2018 09:30 - 12:00)

EYSFP Cluster Meeting - Bridgwater Area (17 May 2018

13:30 - 16:00)

Please click here for more information

Managing Critical Incidents Guidance for Somerset Schools and Colleges in Managing Critical Incidents is available on the SSE website. Written by the Educational Psychology Service with support from Public Health (Somerset) and The Samaritans the Guidance is updated every year and sent out to all head teachers. The document contains advice on:

• contingency planning for the possibility of a critical incident

• managing a critical incident

• accessing support to manage a critical incident

New head teachers are briefed every year on the guidance at their conference in the Autumn .

For further information click here

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Poor emotional and mental health affects a

significant number of children and young

people. One in ten has a clinically diagnosed

mental health disorder and around 25% have an

identifiable mental health need. Half of lifetime

mental illnesses start by age 14. In Somerset,

Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)

needs are the second most prevalent single

primary need recorded for all statutory

assessments (20.7% of assessments).

There is a substantial body of research evidence

to suggest that young people’s SEMH needs

have a significant impact on their learning and

progress through the curriculum. It follows then

that intervention to understand and address

pupils’ social and emotional needs helps to

support academic attainment.

An SEMH toolkit has been written by the

Educational Psychology Service which follows

the principles of Katherine Weare’s report, ‘What

works in promoting emotional-wellbeing and

mental health problems in schools’.

The document supports schools to adopt a

‘whole school’ approach to SEMH, signposting

through web links to whole school audit tools,

policies, CPD opportunities, evidence based

individual and small group interventions and

tools to measure impact.

To read the document please click here.

Somerset, Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) Toolkit

Principal Educational Psychologist Appointed

Following a rigorous interview process we have

appointed Jenny Pearce-Riddy as the Principal

Educational Psychologist (PEP) for Somerset,

this will include the North Somerset EPs when

they TUPE across to Somerset at the end of

August.

Jenny is currently the PEP in Devon and works

for Babcock. Jenny is a highly experienced PEP

and has been supporting the Senior EPs and

myself since September and therefore is aware

of the good things going on in Somerset as well

as some of the challenges we are facing.

Jenny will officially start on 31st July and I know

she will want to spend her early weeks getting

out to meet as many of you as possible.

~ Vicky Thomas, Strategic Manager, Support for

Vulnerable Learners and Commercial Development,

SES

Full List of SSE Services

• Acoustics Service

• Admissions and Appeals (North Somerset)

• Admissions and Appeals.

• Appeals Service - Admissions and Exclusions (NS)

• Arts Education Network - InspirED Somerset

• Asbestos Surveying and Testing (Somerset Scientific Services)

• Autism and Communication Service.

• Bath and Mendip Partnership Teaching School

• Care first

• Catering, Cleaning & Refuse Advisory Team.

• CLEAPSS

• Contract Management - Building Cleaning (NS)

• Contract Management - School Meals (NS)

• Crisis Communications Support

• Duke of Edinburgh's Award

• Early Years and School Places and Pupil Entitlements (Core)

• Early Years Area SENCOs.

• Early Years Improvement Team.

• Ecology Services

• Education Financial Services (EFS).

• Education Technology Team - eLIM.

• Education Welfare Service (EWS).

• Educational Psychology Service.

• Ethnic Minority Achievement & Traveller Education Service (EMA/TES).

• Exchequer Service (formerly Finance Shared Service)

• Exclusion Reviews

• External Funding Service.

• Financial Services (Core)

• Free School Meals Checking Service (NS)

• Free School Meals Eligibility Check.

• Futures for Somerset Ltd - (FfS) (Somerset Local Education Partnership)

• Governance Services.

• Headteacher Recruitment

• Health & Safety and Fire Safety Service (NS)

• Health and Safety Management Service.

For more information on any of these services, please telephone 01823 348266, email

SSE@somerset.gov.uk, or visit www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk.

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Full List of SSE Services

• Hearing Support Team.

• HR Admin and Payroll

• HR Advisory Service.

• ICT Services

• Inclusive Communication - Somerset Total Communication.

• Insurance (NS)

• Insurance Service

• Learning Support Service.

• Learning, Language and Communication Service.

• Legal Services

• Liberata Creditors Service (NS)

• Liberata HR Transactional Services (NS)

• Liberata Payroll Services (NS)

• Liberata Schools Finance Support Service (NS)

• Moderation and Assessment - Statutory Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP).

• Music (Somerset Music).

• Newly Qualified Teacher - School Improvement.

• North Somerset Council Property Services (NS)

• Occupational Health Service

• One West

• Physical Impairment and Medical Support Team (PIMST).

• Portage Home Visiting Service.

• Property - Corporate Property (Core)

• Property and Grounds Service.

• Resources for Learning (Schools Library Service).

• RSPB Avalon Marshes (RSPB Ham Wall & Natural England Shapwick Heath NNR)

• Safeguarding Early Years & Education.

• School Funding and Accountancy Team - SFAT (CORE)

• School Improvement.

• Scientific monitoring within School buildings (Somerset Scientific Services)

• SIMS Support Service - eLIM.

• Somerset Association of Primary Headteachers and Officers (SAPHTO)

• Somerset Centre for Integrated Learning (SCIL).

• Somerset Outdoor & Residential Learning Service (SORLS).

• Somerset Partnership Teaching School

For more information on any of these services, please telephone 01823 348266, email

SSE@somerset.gov.uk, or visit www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk.

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Full List of SSE Services

• Special Educational Needs Assistive Technology Advisory Service (SENATAS).

• Support Services for Education

• The Key for School Leaders

• Time Together.

• Trade Union Facilities Time Fund

• Tree Risk Management (NS)

• Vision Support Team

• Wessex Teaching School

For more information on any of these services, please telephone 01823 348266, email

SSE@somerset.gov.uk, or visit www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk.

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Contact Details

Contact details for each of our services can be found on the SSE website,

www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk.

Contact Phone

Number Email

SSE 01823 348266 SSE@somerset.gov.uk

For queries concerning our website, ordering and to provide feedback on our services, please contact our Customer Care Team:

You can also find us on Twitter @SSEsomerset

More upcoming courses, covering all

of our services, can be found at

www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk.

01823 356623

01823 357768

01823 357374

SWheatley@somerset.gov.uk

JABritton@somerset.gov.uk

MCowans@somerset.gov.uk

Sue Wheatley

James Britton

Megan Cowans

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