Coronavirus - UPDATED Friday 16/10/2020

Public Health and HCC regularly update their advice and information for schools on Coronavirus.
Go to: Coronavirus home page

Coronavirus (Covid-19) latest update from HCC - 16/10/2020 (under updates)

Coronavirus (Covid-19) latest update from HCC - 13/10/2020 (under updates)

Halloween resources - 12/10/2020 (under resources for school communications)

Risk assessment for schools - 09/10/2020 (under key documents)

Articles on remote education from The Key - 08/10/2020 (under resources)

Just Talk Week – 16-20 November 2020

Just Talk Week is all about positive mental health - an upbeat campaign, designed in collaboration with young people and with over 30 partner agencies from across Hertfordshire. The focus is on sharing ideas and information on self-help and coping strategies, as well as making sure every young person knows where they can access more information or support should they need it. In light of Covid-19 this is more important than ever. Find out more

Friday 16th October 2020

Primary headteachers' seminars: autumn 2020 Live webinars

Delivered by the Education Services Director for primary, and a range of specialist advisers from Herts for Learning, these half-day sessions will provide updates on current topics in primary education. Headteachers are invited to book themselves and another member of their senior leadership team to support school discussion. The full agenda will be available closer to the event.
22nd October 2020 at 9.30am - Code: MAN/20/811/P
5th November 2020 at 9.30am - Code: MAN/20/813/P

Thursday 15th October 2020

2020/2021 Hertfordshire headteacher update

Save the dates: provisional dates have been set for the Heads Updates. Once these have been finalised, they will be communicated along with further details and agenda items in a future bulletin. Hertfordshire headteacher updates

Tuesday 13th October 2020

RM Finance import to the Control Form not working

Following a recent software update to RM Finance the import fails to work. Financial Services have been advised by RM that a fix has been created and that the import should work on Wednesday 14th October. If you have any queries in the meantime please contact the Helpline who have guidance on completing the Control Form.

Tuesday 13th October 2020

Bletchley Park’s award-winning learning offer is available free for eligible schools

During World War 2 Bletchley Park’s codebreakers faced adverse conditions and battled against the clock to get results. Sound familiar? In the current challenging circumstances, we are proud to be able to offer opportunities for students to continue learning about Bletchley Park’s inspiring story. Learn more

Monday 5th October 2020

Wellbeing for Education return – Covid-19 DfE funded support for schools

This national project provides funding and resources requiring local authorities to train and support schools and colleges on responding to the wellbeing and mental health needs of children and young people, staff and parents as a result of coronavirus. There are two elements to this vital project: A new national training package, developed by MindEd and Anna Freud Centre, will be delivered in Hertfordshire by Herts for Learning’s Wellbeing Advisers during Autumn Term 2020. The course is designed to enable participants to cascade training and to provide guidance and resources for staff on responding to the impact of coronavirus on the wellbeing of their students and staff. This training will be tailored for Hertfordshire’s local context and signpost to local data and services. Follow up consultancy, advice and support will be available to schools, until March 2021. Wellbeing for Education

Friday 2nd October 2020

DfE free remote education webinars

The Department for Education (DfE) is offering several school-led webinars on remote education to help share good practice. This is to support schools that are looking for help to improve the quality of their remote provision. Webinars include Edtech demonstrations; and webinars for school leaders, middle leaders and teachers. More information

Friday 2nd October 2020

Nominations now open! HfL primary and special phase non-executive directors

HfL invite all shareholding primary and special phase schools to nominate non-executive directors to represent their phase on the HfL Board. Nominations close at 5pm on Friday 23 October 2020. For further information about the non-executive director election process please visit the shareholders information page on the HfL website.

Thursday 1st October 2020

The 2019/20 Executive Primary Headteachers of Tomorrow 

Twelve Hertfordshire Primary headteachers completed the HfL/University of Hertfordshire 2019/20 Executive Leadership programme. Find out more

Wednesday 30th September 2020

What do you think about climate change and sustainability in Hertfordshire?

Hertfordshire County Council has launched a survey to gather input from Hertfordshire’s school students and educators about climate change and the ambitions outlined in the county council’s Sustainable Hertfordshire Strategy. Climate change is the world’s greatest challenge and will require bold action from future generations over the coming decades. Climate change survey
Monday 28th September 2020

VAT change - income from school meals purchased by adults

The purpose of this note is to explain the limited way in which the Chancellor’s temporary VAT change to catering impacts on income from school meals purchased by adults. More information
Thursday 24th September 2020

HfL to deliver fully funded “Wellbeing for Education Return” training to all Hertfordshire schools this autumn

The Herts for Learning Wellbeing team have been identified by Hertfordshire County Council as the ‘local experts’ best placed to deliver the “Wellbeing for Education Return” government funded statutory training to all Hertfordshire schools and colleges in October and November 2020. Schools will be contacted shortly with final course and booking details. More information

Thursday 17th September 2020

Families First news

Our September edition of the Families First News has now been published. The newsletter brings together news, service updates and training opportunities from across the Families First Partnership. If you have not already received a copy, please subscribe.

Tuesday 15th September 2020

Winter is coming – apply for your free salt now

Hertfordshire County Council Highways has a limited amount of free salt to give to schools for you to grit public roads and pavements (highways) outside your school grounds. Applications are opened from 1 September and will run to 31 October 2020. To find out more, including how to apply, please visit our winter self-help page.

Monday 14th September 2020

Calling all Key Stage 2 pupils in Hertfordshire!

Hertfordshire Heroes is launching their annual Christmas Art Competition. This year, we invite students to share their artwork with armed forces personnel working away from their families at Christmas, while highlighting the many different roles of the military. Read more (pdf)

Friday 11th September 2020

Flu vaccination in schools

Flu Vaccination programme will start again in the autumn term. This year it is more important than ever to help protect against flu. A Public Health England briefing for  Head Teachers about this year’s seasonal flu vaccination programme in schools is available. Read more

Tuesday 8th September 2020

Primary assessment updates September 2020

The recent letter to all Primary phase headteachers detailing the latest updates regarding assessment in Key Stages 1, 2 and Early Years Foundation Stage from the HfL Assessment team is now available. Primary Assessment Updates

Tuesday 8th September 2020

RM Unify - planned change to the look and feel

The functionality of RM Unify will remain the same but it will change to match the style of RM Finance. This will happen by 15 September 2020, if not earlier.

Monday 7th September 2020

Keeping Children Safe in Education - September 2020

The September 2020 version of the keeping children safe in education guidance is now in force and replaces previous versions. The DfE has made changes in 3 circumstances: where legislation has required it e.g. reflecting mandatory Relationship Education, Relationship and Sex Education and Health Education from September 2020; helpful additional information that will support schools and colleges protect their children e.g. mental health, domestic abuse, child criminal and sexual exploitation and county lines; and important clarifications which will help the sector better understand and/or follow our guidance. A table of changes is included at Annex H. Keeping children safe in education

Tuesday 1st September 2020

Online safety newsletters - Autumn 2020

The HfL autumn online safety newsletters for School Staff and the Parents and Carers edition both feature a range of guidance, news, links and updates about online safety for all phases, with particular reference to the current situation, recent developments and concerns. Please share them with your personal and professional networks as well as your school’s parent body and staff where relevant. More information

Friday 28th August 2020

Attendance expectations for the new term

Communicating clear and consistent expectations about school attendance to families is important. Lack of regular attendance can contribute to both disengagement and adverse experiences for children. However, we do not envisage the use of penalty notices to enforce attendance where absence is related to Covid-19 will be appropriate in the majority of cases in the autumn term; and ask you identify pupils who are reluctant or anxious about returning. Develop plans for those pupils who have been persistently absent before or not engaged in education during the pandemic. Read more

Friday 28th August 2020

School based complaints

Hertfordshire County Council has produced a new Complaints Policy and Procedure template for all maintained schools within the County.  The new suggested template replaces Issue 8 of HCC’s Model Procedures for Dealing with School-Based Complaints that was published in September 2017.  The new template continues to be supported by a Stage 2 Complaints Toolkit to assist Staff and Governors through the complaints process.  This includes a Checklist of Actions and suggested template letters. Read more

Wednesday 26th August 2020

Child Protection Policy 2020-21

This document replaces the previous version(s) and is operational from the 1st September 2020. Changes have been highlighted and it takes into consideration the changes/updates in statutory guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education (2019) and Working Together to Safeguarding Children (2018). Additional information provided: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance for Full School Opening, DfE, Publish August 2020, Safeguarding in Schools, Colleges and Other Settings as well as interim DfE Safeguarding Guidance. Please note there are sections that require the school to input their own details/school arrangements. More details

Monday 24th August 2020

Annual travel scheme insurance - exclusion

With effect from 1st September 2020 there is no cover for losses under the cancellation, curtailment, travel disruption, replacement, travel delay and missed departure section of cover arising from trips which are cancelled, cut short or altered as the result of, or related to a pandemic, epidemic or any event declared by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency of international concern issued by the World Health Organization. This exclusion also applies to the additional costs of travel and accommodation which are not recoverable or refundable elsewhere and are necessarily incurred to enable an insured person to continue the trip or return to the United Kingdom. More details

Friday 14th August 2020

Writing competition - what does family mean to you?

A unique competition to mark Hertfordshire’s Year of Culture and Herts Pride is asking people to describe their family – and the winner will see their words literally come to life. Competition details

Tuesday 4th August 2020

Hertfordshire Pride Playlist

Hertfordshire Year of Culture, in partnership with HCC and Herts Pride, understands that music is a big part of LGBTQ+ culture. It reaches out to people whose sexuality might leave them feeling isolated from their own families or communities and helps them feel a part of something much bigger. To help us stay connected this #HertsPride, we’ve put together this playlist of some of our top Pride songs – but we need your help! . Add a song to the Pride playlist

Tuesday 4th August 2020

Herts for Learning launches Back on Track

A suite of subject specific CPD, resources and guidance packages and training courses for Primary phase schools, supporting schools to get pupils back on track in assessment, English, mathematics, EYFS, science, languages and wellbeing. Back on Track

Thursday 23rd July 2020

Teaching about mental wellbeing (DfE)

Practical materials for primary and secondary schools to use to train staff about teaching mental wellbeing. Teaching about mental wellbeing (DfE)

Tuesday 21st July 2020

Microsoft 365 phishing emails

We have been informed by several schools that they have received Microsoft 365 phishing emails. We ask that you remain alert to any emails you receive and do not freely give out your Microsoft 365 passwords. Read more (.docx)

Monday 20th July 2020

The Herts for Learning autumn 2020 training and events programme

Herts for Learning is pleased to announce that our autumn 2020 training programme for staff working in primary, including Early Years, and secondary phases is now available on our CPD Hub and full details of our new suite of Primary and Early Years Back on Track packages of training, resources and consultancy support can also be reviewed. Read more

Thursday 16th July 2020

Information for all parents of reception and year 6 pupils about healthy weight support and 19/20 NCMP

Every year in England, children in Reception and Year 6 have their height and weight measured as part of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). This year however, due to Covid-19, it was not possible to continue with the measurement programme and it was therefore stopped. Once it was halted, no further children were measured, and no further feedback letters were sent to parents or carers. This decision was made nationally by Public Health England, but was also in line with our local view that families, schools and our health partners had other urgent priorities and challenges to think about at this time. Read more

Friday 10th July 2020

#iSchoolation

As we approach the end of summer term for Hertfordshire schools, let's celebrate our hardworking teachers, school support staff and pupils for stepping up during these challenging times. Please share your end of term thank you messages for your teachers, support staff or pupils who have been beavering away from home or at school throughout COVID-19. Share artwork, videos or even virtual group shout-outs to our #iSchoolation hashtag via Twitter (@hertscc), Facebook and your school!

Thursday 9th July 2020

DfE Communication to schools on the implementation of Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex and Health Education

Please see the recent notification from the DfE about the increased flexibility on implementation of RSHE. This has been sent to all schools but we don’t want you to miss seeing the exact terms. Relationships and Sex Education

Friday 3rd July 2020

Online Safety Model Policy 2020

The model online safety policy has been updated by Herts For Learning. Schools are recommended to personalise this policy and ensure it meets the needs of the school. Schools may wish to adopt all or parts of this policy and in both of these instances, a  school level risk assessment should be carried out. The green font in the document is just to help identify the changes/ additions to this version .  An appendix of resource documents has been added for guidance to help schools develop a remote education section to their policy if this is applicable to their practice and setting. Online Safety Model Policy

Friday 3rd July 2020

Top-up High Needs Funding (HNF) and Local High Needs Funding (LHNF) in mainstream schools

The SEND Funding in Mainstream Schools Banding Tool is now available.  This sets out Hertfordshire’s approach to funding the special educational provision expected for children and young people in a mainstream school or early years setting. There is a guide in the tool that will explain how the different sections and tabs (worksheets) within the Excel tool operate and what information is required to ensure it works as expected. Read more

Thursday 2nd July 2020