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Cambridgeshire Schools Newsletter

Primary Offer 2025 - 2026 subscriptions

The Primary Offer for schools was distributed just before the Easter break. Many schools and settings have already responded detailing the support they would like to subscribe to next year from the local authority. For those who have not yet responded, the deadline for response is Friday 9 May 2025.

If you have any questions about any element of the Primary Offer, please contact the relevant service lead. We look forward to working with you next year.

Please complete this Primary Offer 2025–2026 Questionnaire to take advantage of the support we are offering.

Supporting the mental health and workplace wellbeing of CCC school leaders

The Primary Offer graphic shared in the last newsletter article included reference to the endeavour to offer Mental Health First Aid support from within the School Improvement Service if needed. But what does this mean?

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https://mhfaengland.org/ outlines that an MHFAider will be able to:

· Recognise those that may be experiencing poor mental health and provide them with first-level support and early intervention

· Encourage a person to identify and access sources of professional help and other supports

· Practise active listening and empathy

· Have a conversation with improved mental health literacy around language and stigma

To request this support, leaders in CCC maintained schools and other Primary Offer 1 schools/academies can make a request for this via contacting Emma.Fuller@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

The wider County Council has a whole team of MHFAiders who can be accessed via Mental Health First Aider profiles and contact details CCC.docx if you are in an LA maintained school.

I am one of the Mental Health and Suicide First Aiders in the School Improvement Service. I have also, as an Instructor, trained the other MHFAiders in the team. My role as Professional Development and Improvement Adviser, working with the School Improvement Service for over 20 years, has a strong focus on supporting leadership, including mental health and workplace wellbeing.

Juliet Adloune

School Admission Appeals Service - Independent presenting officers and information sharing

This document relates to the School Admission Appeals service that is available from the Council to academies who are their own admission authority.

When academies either present their own case or commission their own presenting officer in an Independent Appeals panel, it is the presenting officer’s responsibility to come prepared with all the information in preparation for the appeal presentation. They represent the academy and therefore should rely on them for all information that is pertinent to the case. Relevant government advice can be found in page 10 of the document below:

Advice for admission authorities on school admission appeals - GOV.UK

The academy should directly support their own presenting officers with any information the presenting officers may require.

Further advice can be found in the council Learn together pages:

Independent-presenting-officers-and-information-sharing.docx

If a presenting officer is not able to attend panel meetings, as per the above government guidance, the appeal will be heard in their absence. The onus is on the academy to ensure there is a backup plan in place so that panels do not need to be cancelled. If an academy is interested in accessing training for their member of staff to perform the duties of a presenting officer, they can contact Luthfur Rahman, Education Legal Manager, by email Luthfur.Rahman@cambridgeshire.gov.uk for further information.

Cambridgeshire Virtual School Summer (CVS) 2025 Update

Important dates:

Year 11 and Year 13 PEP submission deadline – Wednesday 14th May 2025

For all other year groups PEP Submission deadline - Wednesday 9th July 2025

Training:

Designated Teacher for Children in Care and Previously in Care (Induction Training) - Tuesday 24 June 2025 (Sunley House, Papworth)

This training is recommended for any designated teacher who is new to role or has not had training in the last three years. There is a duty to have a trained DT regardless of whether you currently have any children in care or previously in care in the school.

Supporting the Education of Children with FASD in schools - Tuesday 10 June 2025 (Sunley House, Papworth)

This training is recommended to deepen your understanding of FASD and how it can impact both learning and development for children and young people.

Please click this link for booking onto training https://forms.office.com/e/sp68S3zasC

Useful Resource:

Cambridgeshire Virtual School Padlet of Resources

For further advice and support - Click this link to find a wide range of useful resources. Cambridgeshire Virtual School Resources Padlet 

Examples include, model policies for children with a social worker and for children previously in care, training resources for staff and governors, pep exemplars and much more.

Linked Advisor from Cambridgeshire Virtual School

Where there is a child in care (CIC) from Cambridgeshire Virtual School attending your school, you will have an Education Advisor linked to your school who can be a point of contact for advice and support.

If you do not have a CIC from Cambridgeshire at your school, we can still offer advice and support as you may have previously in care and/or children with a social worker attending your school (our wider cohorts). Please do contact virtualschool@cambridgeshire.gov.uk for support and advice for our wider cohorts.

Pharmacy First - consultation and advice from trained community pharmacists

We have been asked by NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB to share the following letter with you, and ask you to share the information with parents:

Pharmacy First letter to schools and parents

Year 6 English Challenge Final 2025

The final of this year’s English Challenge final took place on Wednesday 2 April at Over Community Centre. It was a hard-fought competition involving school teams answering questions which tested their knowledge of books, grammar, spelling and even some anagram solving.

A huge congratulations to all the teams who took part but a special mention to our top three schools. In 3rd place Swavesey Primary School, in second place Somersham Primary School and our winning school which was Trumpington Park Primary.

All the teams who took part represented their schools brilliantly and it was great to see so many parents and teachers in the audience to support the children.

Could someone you know become a foster carer?

If your school can support Cambridgeshire County Council’s fostering recruitment by including the message below in your staff newsletter, or sharing it with parents via ParentMail, your school will receive a £1,000 award when someone you refer is fully approved as a foster carer.
(The payment is made once the person has completed the approval process.)

Do you know a parent, carer, colleague, friend or family member who could offer a safe, loving home to a child or young person?

Right now, there are children and young people across Cambridgeshire who need safe, nurturing homes. We welcome enquiries from anyone aged 21 or over who wants to make a positive difference in a child’s life. Our foster carers come from all walks of life - what matters most is the ability to provide stability, care, and understanding.

With Foster Care Fortnight coming up (12-25 May), there’s no better time to raise awareness and help us find more local foster carers. This national campaign celebrates the vital role foster carers play and highlights the urgent need for more people to come forward.

To make a referral, simply email the person’s name and contact details to

fostering@cambridgeshire.gov.uk; our friendly team will take it from there.

Primary Physical Education resources for teachers

The PE advisory Service has created some innovative e-resources to support PE teachers.

The Practical Guide to making children safe near water - a fantastic toolkit bringing key messages to life through 20 innovative lessons and activities that can be done on dry land or at the pool.

Making Cross Country Running Fun - a superb resource containing top tips, and 24 running games, relays and a range of sustained activities which will make running fun, and improve children's fitness levels.

These resources are available for purchase at our PE Market Place

Please contact Ian Roberts for further information.

CPD webinars from School Health Pulse

School Health Pulse is a local research and insights organisation who are delivering a number of CPD online training webinars for school staff across May.

6th May - Social Media and Screen Time: Navigating Mental Health in the digital age:

Explore the latest research on how excessive screen time and social media use impact youth mental health. Learn to implement evidence-based strategies to mitigate risks and promote healthy digital habits among young people.

15th May – Exploring School Avoidance and Emotional Barriers to Attendance:

What drives attendance issues, and how do absences affect achievement? Join us to confront the pressing challenges schools face today, and explore what the latest research can offer in terms of solutions.

22nd May – Managing exam anxiety: Techniques to boost wellbeing and enhance performance:

Equip yourself with practical techniques to reduce exam anxiety, boost performance, and cultivate a positive attitude towards education.

Book your slot now at Training and professional development — School Health Pulse

Celebrate Climate Education's first anniversary with a free taster membership

Climate Education – the UK’s newest sustainability hub for schools, developed by Peterborough-based charity PECT – has just turned one. To celebrate, it is offering schools and colleges free taster memberships.

Designed by teachers, Climate Education supports the development of Department for Education (DfE) Climate Action Plans. It provides schools with resources across five key sustainability themes: food, natural environment, travel and health, waste, and climate change – aligning closely with both DfE climate priorities and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Membership includes access to a wealth of teaching resources, an interactive Climate Action Plan tool, carbon footprint tracking, and an accreditation pathway. To date, over 19,000 pupils have benefited, with member schools making more than 200 environmental pledges.

The platform also offers optional extras such as outdoor learning sessions, teacher training, and nature-based site development plans.

Schools can find out more and sign up at: www.climateeducation.co.uk

Early Years Curriculum for Subject Leaders

Cambridgeshire Early Years, Childcare, and School Readiness Service are offering a series of webinars and guides created to support and strengthen school subject leaders’ understanding of the Early Years curriculum and how it connects to the subject that they lead. The webinars delve into how subject leaders can work collaboratively with their Early Years team to co-construct a sequential, progressive curriculum that links to future learning.

What is included:

➢ A webinar providing an overview of all aspects of teaching and learning in the Early Years. This can be viewed as a whole school, with reflection points throughout the presentation, serving as prompts for discussions on how your school monitors each subject in the Early Years.

➢ Seven subject-specific webinars offering insights on how subjects are taught in the Early Years. These encompass how subject leaders can support the co-construction of the curriculum and ensure effective monitoring in subjects.

➢ Subject leader guides providing information, resources and links for each Area of Learning.

Cost: £99 (LA maintained schools)

£118.80 including VAT (non-LA maintained).

Email EYA.schools@cambridgeshire.gov.uk for sign up details

New Core Offer letter Children's Occupational Therapy - for maintained schools

Our colleagues at Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust Children's Occupational Therapy Service have asked us to share the following letter with you about changes to the Children's Occupational Therapy Service:

Letter to education colleagues - New Core Offer April 2025

Have you signed up to receive sector updates from the DfE?

If you are not receiving regular emails from the Department for Education (DfE) to stay updated on key education issues, please use the link below to sign up:

DfE Sector Email subscription form

Schools Sustainability Showcase

Does your school want to showcase their sustainability projects?

Would your students like to get hands on with Climate Action?

If the answer is yes, then join us at our FREE schools showcase at ARU Peterborough 22nd May 2025 from 9am - 3pm.

The Schools Sustainability Showcase will kick off with a morning of hands-on workshops, run by PECT partners and other like-minded organisations. Then after lunch, it is time for the eco experts - aka the students - to take centre stage and show off their sustainability projects to our VIP guests. They will have a chance to win awards too - including the converted Eco-Factor!

Schools can also nominate students for our Eco Ambassador of the Year Award, recognising individuals who have gone the extra mile in bringing about sustainable change.

Book your place - Schools Sustainability Showcase - PECT

Could your school have hidden young carers?

The 2024 Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance highlights that all school and college staff should be alert to the need for early help—mentioning young carers. Many young carers remain hidden and may not be receiving the support they need to thrive. Schools can meet this duty more effectively by registering a Young Carers Champion. Champions receive access to a practical resource hub, training, networking opportunities, and ongoing support.

➡️ Find out more and register here: Young Carers Champions Online Referral Form - Centre 33

September Guarantee Monitoring 2025

Last year, with the support from schools and post 16 education providers, Cambridgeshire County Council achieved good results with the monitoring of young people who have an offer of learning for September. We are starting the process again for this year hoping for even better results. Schools and Post 16 providers will be contacted by Cambridgeshire County Council asking for information about who have been given offers of learning for September.

This is a statutory duty for the local authority. We appreciate all the support around sharing this information.

For more information, please contact Mark Cowdell – mark.cowdell@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Grafham Water Centre team building

This time of year can be challenging not only for the children, but for teachers too as the end of another term is looming. New beginnings and new classes can be quite daunting for some children when a new year starts. With this in mind, Grafham Water Centre offer a great Team Building day for children of all ages, whether this be Primary or Secondary school. Getting them to chat to their new classmates in a fun, safe environment, not even thinking about what they’re doing as they are having far too much on that activity session!

Or perhaps even challenge them further with an overnight stay, on their first residential visit.

Limited dates are available from September through to December; the team at the centre will welcome your call if you’d like more information.

Guidance on how to manage fussy eating at school mealtimes

We have been asked to share the following by Dr Ruby Bailey of Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust:

Fussy eating is common in children: over 50% of children will at some point display the behaviours.

Most children's growth or health are not negatively impacted, however it can understandably be a worrying time for parents/carers and stressful for Early-years / school staff to manage these behaviours at mealtimes.

To access the new information for parents and carers please visit :https://www.cambspborochildrenshealth.nhs.uk/feeding-and-eating/fussy-eating/

The following poster can be printed out for EY and school staff, with tips for staff to manage picky eating at mealtimes:

Picky eating tips for schools and settings

Preparing for Adulthood SEND Festival: My Life: My Future

Burgess Hall, St Ives (in person event)

Friday 11 July 10am–2pm

We are holding our second Preparing for Adulthood SEND Festival again this year!

Information stands, interactive activities, fun activities and information sessions for young people and parent carers.

We are also keen for school and colleges to attend in class groups, or young people can visit independently or with parent carers.

Audiences: Young people (14-25 years) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families Cambridgeshire schools and professionals
What to expect: Support, advice and fun activities as young people begin to think about their future.

The range of stallholders and activities include:

Employers: who will be joining us to find out more about being a Disability Confident Employer as well as talking to young people about career opportunities in their industry, groups.
Further education colleges: Providing information and guidance on courses, as well as any helpful information to support with becoming college ready.
Friendship and community groups: stall holders and activities to support young people with friendships; mental health, wellbeing
Building independence: Housing options; helpful apps and equipment available to young people
Adult services: Young people with high level of needs will have representatives from health and social care.
Information and guidance from Job Centre, Job Coaches, Career advisers, SENDIASS and others.
Fun Activities: including Bowling alley, Silent Disco, Ping Pong, Indoor Picnic, Photobooth and Red-Carpet entrance!!!!

Specialist Teaching Assistant Level 5 Apprenticeship

The CCC apprenticeships team are pleased to announce that we now have a contracted training provider to deliver the new Specialist Teaching Assistant Level 5 apprenticeship.

You can find out more about this apprenticeship, including eligibility requirements, at the following link:

Specialist Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship

The contract is available to use for all Cambridgeshire maintained schools where they make levy contributions. We politely request that only our contracted training provider is used for enrolments although you may be approached by others.

To find out more and how to enrol please contact: apprenticeships@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

We are also happy to support with or discuss any other apprenticeship requirements.

Evidence Bites `Extra' - `Primary Reading Simplified' - a meaningful approach to post-phonics reading lessons with Christoper Such

Thursday 22 May, 4.30 - 6pm at Westwood Primary School, Maple Grove, March

Led by Christopher Such, teacher, school leader and leading reading expert.

For primary and secondary reading and literacy leads, teachers, headteachers, senior leadership.

The East Cambs & Fenland Evidence Network for Schools invite you to join us for Evidence Bites ‘Extra’ - an ‘extra slice’ of Chris Such following his fantastic talk last October. Gain valuable insights and discover practical strategies to apply in your school settings.

Meet up with local colleagues for informal, professionally energising, evidence-informed CPD

Tickets only £12 each.

For more information, please contact: blayfield@robertarkenstall.co.uk

Could your school offer a `Get School Experience' opportunity?

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Teaching School Hub is encouraging schools across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to offer ‘Get School Experience’ opportunities through the DfE website.

What it is:

Anyone considering teacher training can visit schools to get unpaid experience in the classroom before they start initial teacher training (ITT).

It can help them to:

decide if they want to train to be a teacher
discover if they’d like to teach in a primary or secondary school
build a relationship with a school they might want to work for later

What the experience will look like:

Potential trainees will be looking to:

Observe lessons
See how teachers manage a classroom
Find out how specific subjects are taught
Speak to teachers and meet pupils
Learn more about teacher training - including the application and interview process

Experiences usually last one or 2 days, but some can last up to 3 weeks.

DfE system to find a school experience:

Those interested in training to be teachers can use the Get School Experience service to search for and request experience. The postcode search allows them to find opportunities close to where they live.

How to get involved:

There are currently very few schools in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough offering experience through the DfE site. We would encourage you to consider offering experiences if you don’t already.

The link to sign up and offer a ‘Get School Experience’ is: https://schoolexperience.education.gov.uk/schools

Training and Events

SIS - Leading English – Core Training Offer Tab

For English Subject Leaders – Tuesday 6 May – Hunts FA 09:30– 12:00, Wednesday 7 May – Trumpington Meadows Primary School 09:30 – 12:00 and Thursday 8 May - Online 09:30 – 12:00. Free to schools who have purchased the Core Training Package of the Primary Offer or £65 per person for Cambs LA schools & £75 per person for academies and out of county schools.

SIS - Leading Maths – Core Training Offer Tab

For Maths Subject Leaders – Tuesday 6 May – Hunts FA 13:30– 16:00, Wednesday 7 May – Trumpington Meadows Primary School 13:30 – 16:00 and Thursday 8 May - Online 13:30 – 16:00. Free to schools who have purchased the Core Training Package of the Primary Offer or £65 per person for Cambs LA schools & £75 per person for academies and out of county schools.

SIS – Assessing Writing in Non-Statutory Year Groups – Year 5 - English Tab

For Teachers in Y5 & English Subject Leaders – Thursday 15 May 2025 – Over Community Centre 13:30– 16:30. £75 per person for Cambs LA schools & £85 per person for academies and out of county schools.

PE & School Sport Conference

19th May 2025, 9.30am-4.30pm. Burgess Hall, St Ives. Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Schools (including Academies & Independent Schools): £125 each,

Out of County: £150 each. Significantly reduced cost for second attendee.

Audience: All people involved in delivery of PE & School Sport in Primary, Secondary and SEND schools and settings.

British Gymnastics Teachers Trampolining Award – Refresher

10th July 2025, 9am-3.30pm. St Ivo School, St Ives. £179

Audience: KS3/4 secondary PE staff

Digital Lifestyles for Primary Schools

6th May 2025, 9.30am-11.30am. Online. £40 subscribing schools, £50 for non-subscribing schools.

Audience: Primary Schools

PSHE Network Meetings for Primary & Special Schools

7th May 2025, 2.30-4.30pm at Cambs FA, Histon, OR 20th May 2025, 2.30-4.30pm at Armstrong House, Huntingdon. Network meetings, part of the Wellbeing Subscription, include national and local updates on PSHE and opportunities to share practice. Subscribing schools can attend free of charge. Non-subscribing schools or those from schools beyond Cambridgeshire including Peterborough are welcome to attend but there is a small charge of £45, but please note the content will be focussed around the Cambridgeshire materials and local support.

Audience: PSHE Leads

Exploring Gender

4th June 2025, 2pm-3.30pm. Online. £40 subscribing schools, £50 for non-subscribing schools.

Audience: All staff in primary, special and secondary schools

Developing an Enabling Environment in the Outside Area

For Teachers and Teaching Assistants working the in Reception and PVI staff. Wednesday, 23 April 2025, 13:15 – 16:15. Hemingford Pavilion. Early Years Members £27, Non Members £45.

A Package for Practitioners in EYFS Aiming for Excellence - Exploring a Progressive Curriculum and how the Provision Supports the Curriculum.

For Teachers and Teaching Assistants working the in Reception. Tuesday, 6 May 2025, 13:30 – 15:30. Teversham Primary School. Early Years Members £18, Non Members £30.

Reconnection with Nature

For Teachers and Teaching Assistants working the in Reception and PVI staff. Tuesday, 13 May 2025, 9:30-12:30. Stretham Primary School. Early Years Members £27, Non Members £45