This week has started with further details emerging from the Education Secretary on the new regional improvement teams, known as RISE teams which will be focused on schools that need additional help to improve. Locally Jonathan Taylor, Chief Executive of Sapientia Education Trust has been named as one of the advisers. These advisers will work with civil servants and schools to develop improvements plans for those with continuing poor Ofsted inspection outcomes. In her speech yesterday, the Education Secretary said the government will make up to £100,000 available initially to each of these schools for specialist support. I'll keep you up to date as we get more information.
In other changing government policy, you will be aware that the role of education is being more closely recognised in local safeguarding arrangements. Locally, partnership work between a group of education leaders from across phases, the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) Business Unit and the Education Safeguarding Team has been happening to ensure the voice of education is represented in multi-agency safeguarding arrangements. There is now a dedicated section on the schools website on Education and Multi-agency Safeguarding Arrangements (MASA) where you can read updates.
As a county we're keen to help influence and support national policy, and last week met with policy officers from the DfE to discuss Children Missing Education. You can see more on this in the updates below.
Please don't forget to take part in and share our SEND survey. The more feedback we get, the more useful insight to influence how we deliver services for children and young people with SEND.
Finally, I'd like to draw your attention to the article on the Flourish survey, which I know many schools supported and offers valuable insight into the day-to-day experiences of our children and young people.
Thanks
Sara Tough OBE
Executive Director of Children's Services Norfolk County Council Chair of the Children and Young People Strategic Alliance
A welcome to the new look e-courier / Together blog. Including updates on Local Government Reorganisation, SEND Survey and Local First Inclusion including Element 3 funding guidance
Including an Introduction to Jane Hayman, Joint Targeted Area Inspection entering final week, Local First Inclusion update, Inclusion Summit, SEND Bulletin update and School and community teams - supporting inclusion
