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Cambridgeshire Schools Newsletter

Easter Holiday HAF Programme

The Easter HAF Programme is operating between 7–17 April. Eligible pupils can attend a registered holiday scheme for up to 16 hours, fully funded. A daily meal and participation in enriching experiences are on offer. Eligibility vouchers were issued to parents/carers on 3.3.25 by email and text. Please use this poster to publicise the scheme.

Additional eligibility criteria details - Click here to request a booking code

Any questions please email: HAF@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

The 2025 Year 5 Maths Challenge

We are pleased to announce that teams can now be booked onto the heats for the 2025 Year 5 Maths Challenge. This annual event, which has been held for over 20 years, sees teams of four Year 5 pupils compete against other schools across 4 challenging rounds. The rounds will test pupils on their mathematical knowledge, their estimation skills and their skills to co-operate and communicate mathematically in the fiendish memory round.Heats are held after school across the county and the final will be held on 1 July. To book a team onto a heat please use the link below and click on the Year 5 Maths Challenge tab. School Improvement Service online calendar

Encourage your pupils to get active and join Street Tag

Street Tag is a free smart phone app that turns your community into a virtual playground. It is a great way to get fit and healthy while exploring your local area.

You can collect tags throughout the year but at certain times, called seasons, your points can earn prizes! Encourage your school communities to get involved and earn points on their active journeys to school.CCC Active Travel team is promoting this new season of Street Tag running from Monday 3 March to Tuesday 6 May.

More information can be found at https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/street-tag

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 that will make running fun, and improve children's fitness levels.

These resources are available to purchase here: Cambridgeshire PE Market Place

Please contact Ian Roberts for further information.

FREE conference on Attendance for Secondary Schools

Breaking Down Barriers to Education: Transforming Attendance - East of England Regional Conference hosted by the Department for Education

Cambridgeshire secondary schools are invited to this free, in-person conference which will be held on Monday 17 March at JobServe Community Stadium United Way Colchester CO4 from 9.30 to 3.30, and is open to school leaders or senior attendance champions in secondary schools.

A full agenda will be shared with delegates ahead of the conference, but will include:

a keynote speech from Stephen Morgan MP, Minister for Early Education and Moira Wallace, Visiting Professor at LSE
5 facts every school should know about school attendance
how heads and attendance champions can use attendance data effectively
panel and Q&A session
plenary and key messages

There will also be breakout sessions where delegates will hear from the East of England’s Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence advisers, local attendance hubs, and other leading practitioners on:

transition into KS3 and engaging with families effectively
implementing rigorous systems and processes
having strong attendance messages and communication

Other confirmed guests include:

Scott Walker DfE attendance adviser
Speakers from Chiltern Learning Trust will be present as part of their role in the Attendance Hub
Throughout the day there will be opportunities to network with colleagues and officials from the East of England. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Please book your places here: EventBrite – Breaking down the barriers to opportunity: East of England

DfE Identify and Support young people at risk of being NEET guidance

The Department for Education have recently published their new guidance regarding how to identify and support young people who are at risk of becoming NEET when they leave school. In Cambridgeshire, we are aware many schools use a form of RONI to identify young people who may require targeted support from a Senior Transitions Adviser. Here is a link to the published guidance - Identifying and supporting young people at risk of NEET - GOV.UK

For queries, please contact Mark Cowdell mark.cowdell@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Year 11 Destinations Booklet

The annual Destinations report for Year 11 leavers has been completed and will be shared with schools in the next week. Also again this year, we have produced individual reports for each school and these will also be shared. Some of the highlight figures are that the number of young people moving into full time education is 91.89% which is up from last year. Also the number who are Not in education, employment or training (NEET) has reduced to 2.71%. Please look out for this report coming out soon.

For queries, please contact Mark Cowdell

Training and Events

Safer Recruitment in Schools

For Governors and senior leaders in schools across all phases in Cambridgeshire and those involved in staff/Headteacher recruitment.

Friday 14 March, 9.30am to 4.30pm, Sunley House, Papworth Everard, CB22 3AB

£175 for academies who do not subscribe to the Service Level Agreement for governor training 2024/25. For schools that do the session is free to governors and headteachers only. There will be a charge of £175 for other school staff.

To book contact governor.training@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

SIS – Assessing Writing in Non-Statutory Year Groups (Y1 & Y2) – English Tab

For Teachers in Y1 and Y2, in person training – Tuesday 11 March 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.

SIS – Assessing Writing in Non-Statutory Year Groups (Y3 & Y4) – English Tab

For Teachers in Y1 and Y2, in person training – Thursday 13 March 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.

SIS – Assessing Writing in Non-Statutory Year Groups (Y5) – English Tab

For Teachers in Y1 and Y2, in person training – Tuesday 18 March 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.

Teaching RSE in Primary & Special Schools

30th April 2025, 3.30pm-5.30pm. Online. £40 subscribing schools, £50 for non-subscribing schools.

Audience: PSHE Leads and teachers in primary and special schools.

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. Non-subscribing schools or those from schools beyond Cambridgeshire 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

A Package for Practitioners in EYFS Aiming for Excellence - The power of play and the importance of interactions in the EYFS.

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

Every Child is an Artist

For teachers, Art subject leaders, PVI practitioners, and teaching assistants. Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 13:30 – 15:30. St Ives Library. Early Years Members £18, Non Members £30.

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.

Primary PE Subject Leader Network meeting

18th March 2025, 3.45pm-5pm. Online. Free for Cambridgeshire maintained Schools & Academies with a membership SLA. £25 for Cambridgeshire Academies

and all Non-Cambs Schools

Audience: Primary phase pe coordinators.

Physical Activity in EYFS & KS1

28th April 2025, 9.30am-4.30pm. Papworth Village Hall, Ermine Street, Papworth Everard. £140 for Cambridgeshire maintained schools and £162 for Academies & non-Cambridgeshire maintained schools incl Peterborough.

Audience: This workshop is aimed at any teacher, coach or assistant in Key stage 1 and 2.

Small Pool Operators Courses

Two day course (£302) and One day update courses (£171) available in March and April.

Venues: The Grove Primary, Cambridge, and/or Bassingbourn Primary, Bassingbourn

Audience: All staff who monitor small pools in school.

Electricity Fundamentals (KS3 Physics Subject Knowledge Enhancement)

For Secondary Teachers. Tuesday 11th March, 16.00 – 17.15. Online webinar. £20

Energy and Waves Fundamentals (KS3 Physics Subject Knowledge Enhancement)

For Secondary Teachers. Tuesday 18th March, 16.00 – 17.15. Online webinar. £20

Engaging science in year 4

For Primary Teachers. Thursday 20th March, 15.30 – 17.30. Online webinar. £40

Moderating Year 2 Teacher Assessment