2019 Phonics Screening Threshold score
The STA has announced 32 as the 2019 Phonics Screening Threshold score. For details on how to use this information in SIMS, please read on to view the documentation.  Read more
Monday 24th June 2019 |
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Insurance Recharge form not working
The insurance team recently advised you of a new way of submitting your Annual Travel Scheme, Third Party Hirers and Computer Declarations using the Insurance Recharge form. The Insurance Recharge form is currently not working, and we are working to get this fixed as soon as possible. We asked you to submit the information at the beginning of July. If you submitted the information early, due to the form not working we have not received your information and we will need you to provide this information again. We will provide further updates as to when we would like you to use the Insurance Recharge form to submit your information.
Friday 21st June 2019 |
Over 200 Hertfordshire school teams took part in Herts for Learning 2019 maths challenge
Over 200 primary and secondary school teams across Hertfordshire have taken part in the 2019 Herts for Learning maths challenge for pupils in Year 5, Year 7 and Year 8. Regional heats were hosted in locations across the county throughout the spring term before three separate finals, one for each year group, were held at the Hertfordshire Development Centre, Stevenage. Herts for Lerning maths challenge
Friday 21st June 2019 |
Families First survey
Hertfordshire County Council have launched a short survey and are looking for families to help understand which services for children and young people they use and how they find their information. The results of the survey will be used to help make sure that the right information and advice is available to support families, and that it’s easy for parents, grandparents and carers to find what they need. The survey will close on the 14th July. Families First survey
Wednesday 19th June 2019 |
The Exchange e-bulletin (18th June 2019)
This week’s edition of The Exchange e-bulletin, HfL’s roundup of the latest news from local and national media sources, includes… Strengthen the link between the Pupil Premium and teaching, says new EEF guide, Increase working relationships and teamwork with Herts for Learning and Insights Discovery®, and Sixty-five schools and nurseries take part in Early Years annual programme. Read the latest edition here or subscribe to get the weekly e-bulletin straight to your inbox.
Wednesday 19th June 2019 |
Brake’s Kids Walk with Shaun the Sheep
On Wednesday 26th June, Brake’s Kids Walk will be taking place with Shaun the Sheep. Shaun is supporting Brake to call on grown ups to make their streets safer and healthier for everyone. The walk, co-ordinated by Brake, the road safety charity and sponsored by Ocado Foundation, promotes road safety and the health and planet-saving benefits of walking whilst getting the children to raise awareness of important road safety messages in their community. Kids Walk with Shaun the Sheep
Tuesday 18th June 2019 |
Survey of ‘front door’ arrangements within Children’s Services
A survey is currently being completed regarding potential changes to the 'front door' arrangements when you contact Children's Services. Please could we ask you complete the survey, if you have the opportunity to. The survey closes at the end of June. Take the survey
Tuesday 18th June 2019 |
Win your class a trip to Aldenham Country Park
Win an access-all-areas pass for up to 30 of your pupils or pre-schoolers. Meet, feed and learn about the animals on our 100 Aker farm, explore the woodlands, search for Pooh Bear in 100 Aker Woods and observe wonderful wildlife in and around the lake at Aldenham Country Park, Hertfordshire. To be in with a chance of winning a self-led trip worth OVER £200 Apply here
Monday 17th June 2019 |
Space Chase – summer reading challenge in libraries
Space Chase is an out-of-this-world adventure inspired by the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. This summer children will help our super space family track down books nabbed by mischievous aliens! As they read library books, they will solve clues and collect special stickers to complete their mission folder. Space Chase
Monday 17th June 2019 |
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New HfL Primary Research Projects and programmes announced for autumn 2019
Autumn launch dates for Herts for Learmimg Primary and Early Years Research Projects and extended CPD programmes to help improve reading, writing, spelling and maths have been announced. Read more
Friday 14th June 2019 |
Increase working relationships and teamwork with Herts for Learning and Insights Discovery®
Herts for Learning HR Services team have launched a new service – Insights Discovery® – to schools that helps people in understanding themselves and understanding others. The service can improve personal and team effectiveness and make the most of the relationships that affect the workplace. The Insights Discovery® methodology uses a simple and memorable four-colour model to help people understand their style, their strengths and the value they bring to the team. Insights Discovery
Friday 14th June 2019 |
The Exchange e-bulletin (11th June 2019)
This week’s edition of The Exchange e-bulletin, HfL’s roundup of the latest news from local and national media sources, includes… Improving behaviour in schools: six recommendations in new EEF report, HfL Blog post: The place of assessment in the new Ofsted Framework, and find out how one Hertfordshire school participated in Walk to School Week. Read the latest edition here or subscribe to get the weekly e-bulletin straight to your inbox.
Friday 14th June 2019 |
Sixth successful year for Herts for Learning’s Early Years annual programme
65 Hertfordshire schools and nurseries have taken part in the 2018/19
Herts for Learning Early Years annual programme. The bespoke CPD annual programme, consisting of three one-day events and an inspirational twilight session, enables practitioners to support and improve outcomes for young children. Read more
Thursday 13th June 2019 |
Hertfordshire Minibus Conference - 3rd July 2019, 9:30am - 4pm
Book now to attend to the Hertfordshire Minibus Conference taking place on Wednesday 3rd of July 2019, 9:30am - 4pm at the Fielder Centre, Hatfield. Covering aspects of law, good practice, safe operation of minibuses, and new training services from Hertfordshire County Council; this conference is aimed at anyone who owns, operates or drives a minibus for non-commercial purposes. Hertfordshire Minibus Conference (pdf)
Tuesday 11th June 2019 |
HfL shortlisted for the School Recruitment Award at the 2019 Education Business Awards
Herts for Learning has once again been shortlisted for the School Recruitment Award at this year’s Education Business Awards. This year’s entry showcased how HfL has worked with local schools to develop a new and extended format for the Teach in Herts Teacher Recruitment Fairs, creating more localised events around Hertfordshire and highlighted the new ‘Get into teaching’ events. Education Business Awards
Monday 10th June 2019 |
New anti-knife crime school lessons ahead of summer
The Home Office has been working with the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Association and teachers to create new and improved school curriculum materials on knife crime ahead of the summer holidays. New anti-knife crime school lessons
Monday 10th June 2019 |
Herts for Learning Training Programme Autumn 2019
Herts for Learning (HfL) is pleased to announce that our autumn 19 training programme for staff working in primary, including Early Years, and secondary phaseshas now been published on our new CPD Hub: cpd.hertsforlearning.co.uk. Autumn training programme
Monday 10th June 2019 |
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Science Curriculum Conference – Summer 19
Herts for Learning (HfL) is pleased to announce this cross-phase science curriculum conference taking place on Wednesday 10th July. What is at the heart of a great science curriculum? How can we inspire all pupils to engage with science as future citizens of a technological world? This conference will support subject leaders to answer these questions and more! Key speakers for this conference include Louise Archer, UCL Institute of Education, Marc Neesam, International Primary curriculum and Naomi Hiscock, Primary Science Education Consultancy. Science Curriculum Conference
Friday 7th June 2019 |
Christmas Art Competition: Who is your Hertfordshire Hero? (Deadline 9th December)
An opportunity for Key Stage 2 pupils to win a “day of adventure” at a Hertfordshire Military base. Hertfordshire Heroes is the name we use to promote the work of the Hertfordshire Armed Forces Covenant Board. Our Hertfordshire Heroes are members of the armed forces community who work hard to protect our nation and are often working away from their families at Christmas. Help send our military heroes some “Christmas cheer” by entering our annual, county-wide Hertfordshire Heroes Christmas Art Competition by drawing your own Hertfordshire Hero. For more information see here. Read more (pdf)
Thursday 6th June 2019 |
Beyond Words: Designing a Primary Languages Curriculum for the 21st Century – Summer 19
This conference will reflect on what constitutes a principled and considered approach to curriculum planning and design for primary languages and will help to identify practical solutions to the issues and challenges faced by schools. Curriculum intent, implementation and impact will be examined in turn to identify how schools can create a primary languages curriculum that will engage, support, challenge and inspire learners. Our keynote speakers will be Bernardette Holmes MBE and Florence Myles, Professor of Second Language Acquisition at the University of Essex and Catherine Cheater, on behalf of the Institut Français. Read more
Thursday 6th June 2019 |
The Exchange e-bulletin (4th June 2019)
This week’s edition of The Exchange e-bulletin, HfL’s roundup of the latest news from local and national media sources, includes… It’s Volunteers week, HfL Blog: Oh, what a journey, and two athletes from Lions Watford school selected to represent Team England at World Championships. Read the latest edition here or subscribe to get the weekly e-bulletin straight to your inbox.
Wednesday 5th June 2019 |
Anti-Bullying Week 2019
Anti-Bullying Week 2019 will be Monday 11th November - Friday 15th November. The theme: “Change Starts With Us”.
This will be a wonderful opportunity to emphasise that anti-bullying in schools is fundamentally about the choices that individual pupils make when they are upset, distressed, worried or have relationship difficulties. Let us know about your activities by following @HfLWellbeing and posting information and photos when the time comes.
Wednesday 5th June 2019 |
DfE MFL Hubs CPD Event: Understanding, Improving and Promoting Language Learning – Summer 19
Herts for Learning (HfL) is excited to host this free CPD event. It promises to be an inspirational day that will share the work of the National Centre for Excellence in Language Pedagogy (NCELP) and Hertfordshire Lead Schools from the first year of the Department for Education (DfE) Modern Foreign Language (MFL) Hubs project. The keynote speaker for the day is David Shanks, MFL Consultant and Lead Practitioner across the Harris Federation. David will be supported by Victoria Hobson, research subject specialist, from the NCELP team. Read more
Wednesday 5th June 2019 |
Delegate car park - Hertfordshire Development Centre
Please note the surface of the Hertfordshire Development Centre Delegate car park is in poor condition so please take care when using it.
Tuesday 4th June 2019 |
LGBTQ+ Pack - Transgender Trend
The Herts LGBTQ+ Partnership Children and Young People’s Working Group have recently reviewed the Transgender Trend resource pack for schools called “Supporting gender diverse and trans-identified students in schools”. As a group we agree with the concerns raised by Stonewall UK. Consequently, we continue to recommend that Hertfordshire schools use the Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit produced by Brighton and Hove City Council, which is available on the Grid. Other local authorities such as Warwickshire and Portsmouth also provide similar guidance which we would also recommend. Read more about Transgender Trend
Monday 3rd June 2019 |
Cycle to Work Scheme - June 2019 
The cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme will be running throughout June 2019, to help with the cost of new bicycles and cycling equipment up to £2,000. The scheme will be open from 1st – 30th June 2019. Cycle to Work Scheme
Monday 3rd June 2019 |
New starter process guide
HCC/Serco have produced a guide to the new starter process for school staff which covers the process from the offer letter to contract of employment. The guide can be found in the HR policies section of the Grid. There is also a link to it under the HR/payroll forms page on the Grid.
Friday 31st May 2019 |
The Grid website survey
The Grid website survey has now closed and we received 274 responses. Thank you for taking the time to respond. We will be reviewing your feedback as we plan the redevelopment of a new website.
Friday 31st May 2019 |
Insurance recharge form not working
The insurance team recently advised you of a new way of submitting your Annual Travel Scheme, Third Party Hirers and Computer declarations using the Insurance recharge form. The Insurance recharge form is currently not working, and we are working to get this fixed as soon as possible. We asked you to submit the information at the beginning of July. If you submitted the information early, due to the form not working we did not receive your information and we will need you to provide this information again. We will provide further updates as to when we would like you to use the Insurance recharge form to submit your information.
Thursday 30th May 2019 |
IMPORTANT: Partner agencies briefing: new child protection contact form - 28th May 2019
Hertfordshire has developed a new online form which will revolutionise how professionals make contacts about children. Learn more
Thursday 23rd May 2019 |
The National Award for SEN Coordination for Hertfordshire SENCOs
All SENCOs new-to-role since 2009 must successfully complete the National Award for SEN Coordination within three years of coming into post. Learn more
Wednesday 22nd May 2019 |
The Exchange e-bulletin (21st May)
This week’s edition of The Exchange e-bulletin, HfL’s roundup of the latest news from local and national media sources, includes… New support for trainee teachers, HfL Blog: Celebrating 50 years since humans first walked on the moon, and Science day a success at Royston school. Read the latest edition here or subscribe to get the weekly e-bulletin straight to your inbox.
Wednesday 22nd May 2019 |
Conference: Assessment 2.0: Rebooting School Assessment for a New Era – Autumn 19 - 23rd September
In the new Education Inspection Framework, Ofsted’s focus on assessment is shifting away from looking at data, towards exploring how schools use assessment to check pupils’ understanding, inform future teaching and help pupils embed and use their learning across the curriculum. This conference will hear from Matthew Purves, Ofsted’s Deputy Director for Schools, about the rationale for and expectations of this new approach. The conference will also feature a keynote presentation from Professor Guy Claxton, author of the highly acclaimed The Learning Power Approach (2018) and much more, to bring us up to date on his latest research into approaches to developing confident and capable learners. Read more
Tuesday 21st May 2019 |
Herts Public health have launched a Suicide Prevention Network website
The aim of the website is to provide a forum for those working together as a network across Herts to prevent suicide within Hertfordshire. It will be used as a place to publish documents, share
news items, update the network, and share our views (via the twitter feed). Suicide Prevention Network website
Friday 17th May 2019 |
Armed Forces Day assembly toolkits
This year, Armed Forces Day is 29 June and is a chance to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community. The Armed Forces Day website has a lot of helpful information and provides toolkits for assemblies for both Key stage 2 and Key stage 3. Planning an assembly? Let The Hertfordshire Armed Forces Covenant Board know at hertfordshire.heroes@hertfordshire.gov.uk. Read more
Thursday 16th May 2019 |
New Ofsted Inspection Framework from September 2019 now published
The new Ofsted Inspection Framework has now been published and can be viewed at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/education-inspection-framework. Read the Ofsted press release Read more
Wednesday 15th May 2019 |
Curriculum Matters: A Leadership Conference for Deputy and Assistant Headteachers – Summer 19
This conference provides a timely opportunity for deputy and assistant headteachers to hear from national experts regarding the most recent educational research on curriculum design and implementation, reflect on the practice in their schools and strengthen collaboration on a local level. Christine Counsell, curriculum expert and member of Ofsted's curriculum advisory group, will lead senior leaders through the thinking around ‘taking the curriculum seriously.’ Laura McInerney, the education journalist, public speaker, and co-founder of Teacher Tapp, will offer delegates the inside track on the key education trends for 2019. Read more
Wednesday 15th May 2019 |
The Exchange e-bulletin (14th May)
This week’s edition of The Exchange e-bulletin, HfL’s roundup of the latest news from local and national media sources, includes… Ofsted’s new inspection arrangements to focus on curriculum, behaviour and development, HfL Shareholder Satisfaction Survey 2019 now open! and Second national schools' title for Stevenage's Ethan Walsh. Read the latest edition here or subscribe to get the weekly e-bulletin straight to your inbox.
Wednesday 15th May 2019 |
Statutory guidance for KS2 writing moderation
Schools that are due to receive a Key Stage 2 writing moderation visit this year will be notified on Friday 17th May by email. Moderation visits will take place between June 3rd and June 21st. Teacher assessments must be submitted on NCA Tools by June 27th. Statutory guidance for KS2 writing moderation
Tuesday 14th May 2019 |
Timpson Review on school exclusions published
This week, former Government Children's Minister Edward Timpson CBE published a review into school exclusions. Schools will be made accountable for the pupils they exclude and there will be a clampdown on off-rolling, as part of Government measures taken in response to the Timpson Review of school exclusion. Read more
Thursday 9th May 2019 |
The Exchange e-bulletin (7th May)
This week’s edition of The Exchange e-bulletin, HfL’s roundup of the latest news from local and national media sources, includes… Online memory games can boost maths scores by three months, says EEF, New requirements for Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), and Early Years settings explain their Early Years Quality Standards journey and how they achieved Gold status. Read the latest edition here or subscribe to get the weekly e-bulletin straight to your inbox.
Wednesday 8th May 2019 |
Herts for Learning launches new management and leadership training course for PVIs in Bedfordshire
Herts for Learning has today launched a new training course, specifically designed for PVI managers in and around Bedford. The new course, A year in the life of an Early Years manager, allows PVI managers to forensically evaluate their own practice and provision and provides participants with personalised toolkits to support a smarter approach to leading and managing their settings across the year. New training course for PVIs
Tuesday 7th May 2019 |
The Exchange e-bulletin (30th April)
This week’s edition of The Exchange e-bulletin, HfL’s roundup of the latest news from local and national media sources, includes…DfE: Calls for more men to work in the Early Years, Herts for Learning Early Years blog: School Dogs and find out which Hertfordshire schools have received a TES award nomination. Read the latest edition here or subscribe to get the weekly e-bulletin straight to your inbox.
Friday 3rd May 2019 |
Measles outbreak - May 2019
Director of Public Health, Jim McManus, asks if you would please note this letter from Public Health England about measles advice to schools and parents. Letter to headteachers (pdf)
Thursday 2nd May 2019 |
Health and Safety newsletter - April 2019 
The latest health and safety updates for schools, including new legislation, guidance and legal cases. April 2019 newsletter
Wednesday 1st May 2019 |
New requirements for Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education
The new regulations for teaching Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education in England’s primary and secondary schools have passed through the House of Lords and will come in to force from September 2020. Find out how HfL can help your school start making the transition with our range of specially devised training courses and consultancy services starting this term. Find out more
Wednesday 1st May 2019 |
REMINDER: Important information - insurance renewals 2019
The Insurance Team now have a new way of asking you for your Annual Travel Scheme, Third Party Hirers and Computer declarations. We will require you to complete and submit an online Insurance Recharge form. The Insurance Recharge form can be found in your list of forms when you log in to The Schools On Line Electronic Returns and Outputs (SOLERO). At the beginning of July we will ask you to submit your declarations using the form. We will keep you updated by putting updates on The Grid and in School Bulletins. If you require further information please contact insurance@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
Wednesday 1st May 2019 |
Penalty notices
HCC have updated the education penalty notices code of conduct, guidance and application pack and new guidance for parents is now available. Attendance
Tuesday 30th Aprill 2019 |
Budgeting software
Financial Services are aware that schools are receiving emails from Access Education Product Management requesting that they enter the school URN number into the budget planning software. These are genuine emails and relate to the new interface to the budgeting software that is being rolled out called Workspace. Currently there is no date set for its roll out to Hertfordshire schools. Financial Services will keep you informed of it’s progress.
Tuesday 30th Aprill 2019 |
The HfL 2019/20 Early Years Assessment Project
Strengthen and improve the Good Level of Development (GLD) for your school and support your team to close attainment gaps, by taking part in the 2019/20 Herts for Learning Early Years Assessment project. Over the last two years, this project has enabled participating schools to raise their GLD by on average 11 percentage points. Find out more
Monday 29th April 2019 |
The Exchange e-bulletin (23rd April)
This week’s edition of The Exchange e-bulletin, HfL’s roundup of the latest news from local and national media sources, includes… Half of schools 'not fully compliant with GDPR', how to achieve Grade 4 in GCSE mathematics with new HfL resource and find out how one Hertfordshire headteacher is getting his pupils to learn outside. Read the latest edition here or subscribe to get the weekly e-bulletin straight to your inbox.
Wednesday 24th April 2019 |
The Herts for Learning Roadmap to September 2020 mandatory Relationships and Sex Education
In response to the new mandatory changes in delivering Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) coming into force from 2020, the Herts for Learning Wellbeing team are offering schools, academies and MATs a series of training opportunities and consultancy services this term aimed to equip their staff with the knowledge and teaching strategies to start delivering the new curriculum from September 2019. Find out more
Tuesday 23rd April 2019 |
Achieving Grade 4 in GCSE mathematics with new HfL resource
Herts for Learning’s newest mathematics resource designed to help students achieve a Grade 4 in mathematics is now available. Revising for Grade 4 in Mathematics provides students with useful and easy-to-understand revision exercises from the curriculum to help students achieve a Grade 4 in mathematics. Achieving Grade 4 in GCSE mathematics
Wednesday 17th April 2019 |
EU exit: no deal preparations for schools in England
The Government has issued some guidance for schools in the event of a no deal Brexit. Further information from the DfE
Wednesday 10th April 2019 |
Conference Announcement: Literacy: the Gateway to Lifelong Learning - Exploring Reading and Writing Opportunities for Young Children – Autumn 2019
Herts for Learning is delighted to announce our early literacy conference taking place on Tuesday 19th November 2019 is now available to book. During the conference we will lead delegates into a wonderful world of literacy. As the day unfurls, practitioners will be inspired to reflect on how they nurture reading and writing with young children. This event has been designed around captivating speakers including Julie Cigman, Early Years Consultant, trainer and writer, who has had a number of articles published along with her latest book, Becoming a Writer in Leaps and Bounds – supporting boys’ writing in the EYFS. Other inspiring speakers include Pippa Goodhart, author of such wonderful picture books as You Choose and Just Imagine to name but a few. Kevin Graal, a highly skilled children’s storyteller and well-respected presenter, will also be joining us and sharing his passion for developing language through storytelling . Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. the Gateway to Lifelong Learning
Tuesday 9th April 2019 |
Employment status and IR35
Are you responsible for engaging workers who provide a service but who are not on your school’s payroll? It is the engaging person’s responsibility to determine the correct employment status of anyone they contract with to undertake any work and pay them accordingly. Read more
Friday 5th April 2019 |
Learn 2 Live 2019
The Learn 2 Live road safety education programme for students in Years 12, and 13, is running in venues all around Hertfordshire through September 2019. The programme is open free of charge to all schools and colleges within Hertfordshire. The event educates and informs young drivers and passengers on the dangers out and about on the road and how to avoid them. Learn 2 Live
Thursday 4th April 2019 |
Herts for Learning celebrates success in Early Years Strategic School Improvement Fund project: ‘Communicate to Succeed’
Herts for Learning, working in partnership with three teaching school alliances (TSAs): Acorns Teaching School Alliance, The Wroxham Transformative Learning Alliance and West Hertfordshire Teaching Schools Partnership, celebrated the culmination of a successful project to improve outcomes for children in the Early Years in Hertfordshire. Communicate to Succeed
Thursday 4th April 2019 |
Conference Announcement: Education: The Way Out of Disadvantage - Summer 2019
On Monday 1st July Herts for Learning are delighted to be holding our annual conference, focusing on addressing the needs of our disadvantaged pupils. The aim of the conference is to raise the profile of these pupils who need us most by hearing from respected keynote speakers, sharing experiences and participating in a series of workshops. Education: The Way Out of Disadvantage
Thursday 4th April 2019 |
The Exchange e-bulletin (2nd April)
This week’s edition of The Exchange e-bulletin, HfL’s roundup of the latest news from local and national media sources, includes… Schools to trial new multiplication tables check, Herts for Learning winner in the Education Resources Awards 2019, and St Albans schools teach science lesson to more than 2,500 pupils. Read the latest edition here or subscribe to get the weekly e-bulletin straight to your inbox.
Thursday 4th April 2019 |
VAT issue on March year end Biscuit
The BISCUIT report is showing VAT reimbursements. We have been made aware that some of the reimbursements may have been made for the wrong amount. As usual, do not accrue VAT on this document in Period 12.
Once in Period 1, please post all the report as actuals. Please post the VAT even though it may be incorrect otherwise the bank will not reconcile. Adjustments will be made in May.
Tuesday 2nd April 2019 |
Bookings now open: Business Management Conference 2019: Inspiring Futures – Tuesday 26th November 2019
Herts for Learning are delighted to announce our annual business management is now available to book. This year’s conference is focussing on inspiring SBMs in their role and their influence on shaping the future of their school. The conference is the perfect way to step away from the day-to-day pressures, stay up to date on all the latest educational and professional developments and network with other SBMs. Speakers to be announced shortly. Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. Business Management Conference 2019
Monday 1st April 2019 |
