A-Z Listing
C
Capability of staff
Applies to Maintained Schools Background New arrangements for teacher appraisal and new teaching standards came into force 1 September 2012. Approval Governing boards free to delegate to a committee of the governing board or an individual governor. Review frequency Governing board free to determine. Local guidance Model policies and toolkits for both teaching and non-teaching staff can be accessed via SchoolsWeb HR Zone, Managing Performance . DfE gu…
Case Study Writing Workshop
March Marc Rowland led a workshop on Case Study Writing for Headteachers. Resources Watch the Case Study Writing Conference (YouTube) Case Study Writing Presentation (Download) Case Study Writing Template (Download) Case Study from the London Borough of Bromley (Download)
Catering
Schools that do not currently offer a hot meal service should start to consider how and when they may be able to introduce such a service. Not every school will be able to set up a financially viable service offering a choice of hot meals so a variety of solutions will need to be developed to meet local needs. Below is a list of suggestions for schools to consider but this list is not exhaustive. Where catering organisations are mentioned, they may not be the sole supplier of these types of…
Central record of recruitment and vetting checks
Applies to Maintained Schools, Academies, Free Schools, Sixth Form College, Pupil Referral Units, Independent Schools, Non Maintained Special Schools. Background It is a statutory requirement (Keeping Children Safe in Education, Paragraph 112) for all schools and academies to keep and maintain a single central record (SCR) of recruitment and vetting checks for their whole workforce (including volunteers, supply staff and teacher trainees on salaried routes). Academies will also need to…
Certificates which contain information
A positive DBS Check is one which contains criminal information as notified by the DBS. When a 'positive' check is received You will receive an automated email from the Employment check system advising that you should wait to view the original certificate prior to making an employment decision. You will receive a further email from the HR Safeguarding in Employment (HR SiE) Team containing guidance on the next steps. Buckinghamshire Council (BC) strongly recommends that you follow t…
Champions
Side by Side Pupil Champions (SSPCs) SSPCs are expert practitioners recruited from all Buckinghamshire Schools with proven expertise in a particular area. SSPCs are selected to work closely with schools identified as requiring Intervention or Prevention support, referred to as Supported Schools. SSPCs have at least two years’ experience and a first-class knowledge in at least one specialism including: A curriculum subject SEN Phonics Vulnerable groups/pupil premium and d…
Charging and remissions
Applies to Maintained schools, academies, and free schools. Background Governing boards are required to have a policy on charging for additional educational activities (eg music tuition), and on remissions of charges. Approval Governing board free to delegate to a committee of the governing body, an individual governor or the head teacher (local recommendation is delegation to the Finance Committee). Review frequency - governing board free to determine (recommended annually).…
Child protection
Applies to Maintained Schools Academies Free Schools Sixth Form Colleges Pupil Referral Units Independent Schools Non-Maintained Special Schools Further Education Background Governing boards have a responsibility to safeguard children and promote their welfare. Governing boards also have a responsibility to work together with other agencies to ensure adequate arrangements within our schools to identify, assess, and support those children who are suffering har…
Child protection case conference
A Child and Family Assessment commences after a Strategy discussion decides to initiate S.47 enquiries, or when new information on an open case indicates a further assessment should be undertaken. Social Care must initiate a Child and Family Assessment under S.47 (Children Act 1989) in every case where the child is at risk of significant harm . A Child and Family Assessment is an in-depth assessment which addresses the central or important aspects of the needs of a child and the capacity of…
Children in Kinship Care
In September 2024 the role of Virtual School Heads will expand further to specifically include championing the educational attendance, attainment and progress of children in kinship care. This will bring greater focus to the distinct needs of children in kinship care, within Virtual School Heads’ existing responsibilities. The Virtual School Head strategic role will include: 1. Raising the visibility of the distinct needs of children in different types of kinship care arrangements and the…
Children with a Disability
Disabled children require additional safeguarding action. This is because they experience greater and created vulnerability as a result of negative attitudes about disabled children and unequal access to services and resources and because they may have additional needs relating to physical, sensory, cognitive, and/ or communication impairments. The Children's Society practice guidance. Resources Guidance on protecting deaf and disabled children and young people from abuse (via learning.ns…
Chiltern and South Bucks
The Buckinghamshire Integrated SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Service is a dedicated group of professionals that provide support and services to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, their families and educational settings.
Chiltern and South Bucks SENDCo Network Liaison Meetings
The network sessions provide an opportunity for SENDCos to come together and work collaboratively with other schools in their area to: Discuss and explore areas of interest Solution-focused approach to supporting individual pupils To build connections Learn about local authority initiatives, updates and policies Upcoming dates Group Date Time Location Group 1 (Chesham) Wednesday 21 February Wednesday 5 June 2pm Brushwood Junior School…
Chiltern and South Bucks Specialist Teacher Support
Specialist Teacher SEND Request Form updated February 2024 SEND Support Request Parental and Pupil Consent Form updated February 2024 SEND Request As part of our Tiered Approach to supporting schools, Specialist Teachers can provide advice for early intervention for pupils on SEND Support and those with EHC plans. To access Specialist Teacher Support please email the following documents securely to sts@buckinghamshire.gov.uk: the completed SEND Request Form as a Word document…
Chiltern and South Bucks team
The Buckinghamshire iSEND team consists of teams of professionals including Educational Psychologists, Specialist Teachers, Education, Health and Care Coordinators (EHCCos), SEND Inclusion Advisors and other specialised professionals. These individuals work collaboratively to assess, plan, implement and review, personalized support for children and young people with SEND. The primary role of the iSEND Service is to ensure that children and young people with SEND, at a SEN Support level or th…
Cognition and Learning
Qualified Specialist Teachers provide cognition and Learning support across Buckinghamshire with expert knowledge of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in the classroom. The Specialist Cognition and Learning Teachers work with SENDCOs, class teachers and teaching assistants (TAs) to help them meet the needs of their pupils with specific and general learning difficulties. Buckinghamshire Council's Cognition and Learning Teachers provide traded, high-quality cognition and learni…
Cognition and Learning Team
Cognition and Learning support across Buckinghamshire is provided by qualified Specialist Teachers who have expert knowledge of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in the classroom. The Specialist Cognition and Learning Teachers work with SENCOs, class teachers and teaching assistants (TAs) to help them meet the needs of their pupils with specific and general learning difficulties. Buckinghamshire Council’s Cognition and Learning Teachers provide traded, high-quality cogniti…
Committees
All schools must have a committee that considers pay, and academy trusts must have an audit committee. Beyond this, there are no set requirements as to committee structures that governing boards must set up. Many governing boards establish committees to assist in carrying out their work and may delegate some governing board functions to those committees. However a growing number of governing boards are choosing to work without committees, reporting a reduction in repetition and every governor h…
Common Transfer File (CTF)
All schools, including PRUs, should be using the Common Transfer File or CTF to transfer pupil data electronically whenever a pupil changes schools at any time during the year. This could be at the end of an academic year or phase of education and involve a whole cohort of pupils or it could be mid-phase or mid-year for a single pupil. CTFs provide schools with valuable information about new pupils which can be automatically uploaded into their management information systems (MIS). The law r…
Communication and interaction
Communication and interaction difficulties are often considered under the following two areas: Speech, language and communication Social interaction Although a child or young person may experience both difficulties at the same time, this section of the toolkit has been divided into these two main areas for ease of use.
Community Paediatrics
Schools can refer children and young people to their local Community Paediatrician if they have a Buckinghamshire GP. Information on making a referral can be found on the Bucks Healthcare children and young people's website . If the child’s GP is from another county, then they'll see the paediatrician in that county. The Community Paediatric Team provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment, support and monitoring for children with a range of complex needs and disabilities such as cerebral pa…
Computer and e-safety policies
Background Schools should take appropriate steps to help staff, helpers and pupils maintain a safe and responsible level of conduct in their use of online technology. Review Computer Resources Policy including Internet Code of Practice - three yearly review recommended for Schools Financial Value Standard. Local guidance Please refer to the Safeguarding Toolkit for further information . DfE guidance Child internet safety Cyber Safety training courses for individual Gover…
Computing courses for primary teachers
Did you know . . . The first teacher from your school who completes a course in Computing will get a bursary of £220 that goes to the school that employs you as a teacher. Here is how . . . Register today at: teachcomputing.org Apply to attend one of the many remote courses that are available. (See below) Complete all the sessions and gap tasks on the course. (Usually about 5 hours work split into 1-hour sessions over a couple of weeks) Complete the questionnaire sent to yo…
Computing courses for secondary teachers
Did you know . . . You can complete a course in Computing and get a bursary of up to £920 that goes to your School? Here is how . . . Register today at: teachcomputing.org Enrol on the Computer Science Accelerator (CSA): teachcomputing.org/cs-accelerator Take a short diagnostic test Decide which pathway suits your skills best Sign up for at least 1 online course and 1 Remote course. (10 hours of training). All the training is fully funded (FREE!) and you can do more than…
Concerns about the safety and well-being of a child
If you have concerns about the safety and wellbeing of a child, please contact First Response on 01296 383962 (or 0800 999 7677 out of hours). Call the Police on 999 if there is an immediate risk. You can report your concerns using the online report a concern form . You may benefit from discussing the matter with your school link worker first. You can find out more about safeguarding young people from the Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership.
Conflicts of interest
Conflicts of interests may arise where an individual’s personal or family interests and/or loyalties conflict with those of the governing board. Such conflicts may create problems because they can: Inhibit free discussion; Result in decisions or actions that are not in the interests of the school; and Risk the impression that the Governing board has acted improperly. It is important that governors and staff not only act impartially, but are also seen to act impartially. You…
Contact ICT Schools
If you need to contact us or need to find out how to get to a training venue, help is available below
Contextual Safeguarding School Assessment Framework
This guidance outlines the process of carrying out a school assessment and how to use the school assessment framework. The school assessment toolkit consists of two parts – the school assessment framework and the assessment tools . The assessment framework can be used to collate information relating to the school. The assessment methods are tools to gather that information, examples of which can be found as part of the school assessment toolkit on the Contextual Safeguarding Network. Cont…
Corporate Director Briefings
Briefings for Chairs of Governors, Headteachers and Governor Clerks occur at the beginning of each term and are led by senior officers of Buckinghamshire Council with a focus on national and local updates across all areas of Children's Services. Details of these sessions are sent directly to Chairs, Clerks, and Heads each term. Items will also be posted in Governor Times (Schools Web) and Governor Hub. Meetings Scheduled 2023-24 Wed 6th September 2023 at 7:00pm on Teams Friday 8th S…
Countywide
The Buckinghamshire Integrated SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Service is a dedicated group of professionals that provide support and services to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, their families and educational settings.
CRB checks (now DBS)
Buckinghamshire Council’s (BC) Safeguarding in Employment Team is responsible for implementing and applying the latest developments in government legislation and reviewing guidance and providing advice and support in all areas of safer employment practice, including the processing of DBS Checks. Please use these pages to find out all about DBS checks for employees, volunteers, and contractors in schools as well as additional safer recruitment vetting checks. Safeguarding concerns or al…
Criminal record checks
Buckinghamshire Council’s (BC) Safeguarding in Employment Team is responsible for implementing and applying the latest developments in government legislation and reviewing guidance and providing advice and support in all areas of safer employment practice, including the processing of DBS Checks. Please use these pages to find out all about DBS checks for employees, volunteers, and contractors in schools as well as additional safer recruitment vetting checks. Safeguarding concerns or al…
Curricula
By the end of primary school, pupils should know: What constitutes a healthy diet (including understanding calories and other nutritional content). The principles of planning and preparing a range of healthy meals. The characteristics of a poor diet and risks associated with unhealthy eating (including for example, obesity and tooth decay) and other behaviours (e.g. the impact of alcohol on diet or health). By the end of secondary school, pupils should know: How to maint…
Curriculum and Learning
These pages contain resources and information for each key stage, along with information on PHSE and Swimming. Click here for PHSE Information Public Health in Schools information including resources and training information The Equalities pages contain information and classroom resources to help schools tackle sensitive topics such as racism, radicalisation, bullying, gender and sexual orientation.
Curriculum KS 3 & 4
There are a range of resources available to Buckinghamshire schools to support aspects of the PSHE curriculum, and sign posts to trusted services for children and families promoting the vital Public Health, Safeguarding and Equalities agendas. Part of providing good quality PHSE is to ensure young people know where to go to access support and enable them to support their own wellbeing and development both now and in the future. Please see links below. Public Health in Schools (Schoolsweb)…
Curriculum KS1 & 2
There are a range of resources available to Buckinghamshire schools to support aspects of the PSHE curriculum, and sign posts to trusted services for children and families promoting the vital Public Health, Safeguarding and Equalities agendas. Please see links below. As part of good quality PSHE provision it is important that children know where to access help both now and in the future. Please see links below. Public Health in Schools (Schoolsweb) BC Safeguarding page BC Equalities…
Curriculum KS5
Healthy Lifestyles Public Health (Schoolsweb) Relationships The Sex Educational Forum is a well-respected organisation. They offer free resources for schools linked to a range of themes including recognising positive relationships, risky behaviours, advice and guidance on SRE and a particularly useful checklist for SRE in schools. They continue to work with the PSHE Association and Brook. Sex Educational Forum Online safety Think you know/COEP Thinkuknow.co.uk/ Living in…
Curriculum, Recovery and Assessment Conference
This free conference set out to explore current and considered approaches to assessment and recovery learning in the light of lessons learned throughout the pandemic. Speakers with national, regional, and relatable individualised perspectives presented their thoughts on the future of assessment and curriculum design in schools. The conference offered a positive and proactive response to the unique circumstances that have engulfed the sector since March 2020, seeking to reflect upon challenges a…
Cycle training for schools
Bikeability Training Bikeability is the leading cycle training programme in England. Courses are available throughout the year in most local authorities in England. Children and adults can be trained individually or in groups, through school, clubs, or private tuition. Bikeability terms and conditions Buckinghamshire Council has been awarded funding for Bikeability training to take place at your school. Schools need to bid for funding the term before their training course is due…