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Welcome to the YorOK newsletter for November 2011!
We are pleased to announce that following an annual review of children's services in York, Ofsted have confirmed that we continue to perform excellently. This is thanks to all the fantastic partnership work which goes on within the city to provide high quality childcare, schools, children's homes etc.
This news follows an Ofsted Survey Visit looking at support provided to social workers on the frontline at which the inspectors were very impressed. And comes as we are waiting for a two-week Safeguarding/Looked After Children inspection.
Once again, thank you for all your hard work and if you have anything to share please get in touch.
Pete Dwyer
Director of Adults, Children and Education
City of York Council |
In this issue:
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Date for your diary- next years No Wrong Door Conference is 3rd July 2012.
York's top 5 for school attendance!
DfE have recently released figures showing that our children are amongst the best attendees nationally. In primary schools, out of 150 Local Authorities, only 4 had better attendance whilst in our secondary schools we had the lowest rate of persistent absence since we started collecting the figures.
Do you know anybody with absence of 15% or more is now regarded as a persistent absentee? This can be for any reason such as illness, medical appointments, holidays in term time.
Did you know that in our primary schools almost one fifth of the authorised absence is due to children being taken out of school for holidays in term time?
If you would like to know how you can support the good attendance of children in our schools contact Mark Smith on mark.smith@york.gov.uk or 07748 182897. |
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Free Taster Sessions at Out of School Clubs for Disabled Children
The Childcare Strategy & Business Management Service have been exploring ways of helping parents and settings to work together and assist in removing some barriers which parents of disabled children sometimes find when trying to access childcare.
Through the Government initiative Disabled Children’s Access to Childcare (DCATCH), a small amount of funding has been secured to offer the following to disabled children and their families:
- A free taster session at an Out of School Club of their choice
- Supply cover to allow the Inclusion Coordinator or designated person to visit the child’s school or familiar setting.
- One free session for the child
Download more information. |
Diploma Level 3 in Playwork
Playscape Training are offering an affordable opportunity for playworkers to complete the Level 3 Diploma in Playwork. This is a distance learning course which also incorporates visits from an assessor to assess and develop work based skills.
Download more information |
Ofsted Inspections
Survey Visit – Support for Frontline Social Workers
The Authority hosted an Ofsted Survey Visit during August 2011 to look at support provided to social workers on the frontline. The two inspectors were very impressed with our work here in York and will be including four York case studies in their final report, which will be published in January 2012. Many thanks to all those colleagues who took part in this survey visit.
Ofsted Safeguarding/Looked After Children Inspection
We are due a two-week Safeguarding/Looked After Children inspection before the end of July 2012, with just two weeks notice. Recent inspection outcomes, the Safeguarding Peer Review and the Annual Performance assessment ratings all confirm that work in this area is very strong however some big challenges remain and there is no complacency. The inspection will include a children and young people’s survey, case file auditing, staff interviews, visits to settings and a partner exhibition.
Preparations for this inspection will involve all of our partners, and will be coordinated by the Inspection Reference Group, chaired by Pete Dwyer. If you have any queries, please contact Carolyn Ford on 01904 554209. |
Are you interested in becoming a Primary School Teacher?
You are invited to a briefing session which will provide details on the PGCE Part-time Primary Programme, March 2012 entry. You will be guided through the benefits of the course and the application process. You will also have the opportunity to hear from graduates who have completed a PGCE.
8th December 2011, 5pm – 6.30pm at York St John University, Skell 221
To book a place in advance please email k.simpson@yorksj.ac.uk or telephone 01904 876255.
Cancer Awareness Factsheet
NHS North Yorkshire and York have published their most recent Improving Health Together Public Health Factsheet and related WebPages, focusing on Cancer Awareness. Please see the North Yorkshire and York NHS website.
If you would like to receive the Public Health Improving Health Together Factsheets when they are published electronically, please contact Jacqui Fox, Public Health Information Specialist on 01756 701765.
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Get to grips with funding and fundraising
Courses to help voluntary and community organisations get to grips with funding and fundraising have been created by York & North Yorkshire Funding Advice Network with support from City of York Council.
Prices and booking information can be found on the York CVS website. |
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