The Key Coronavirus: what to monitor while your school is closed

Keep monitoring to a minimum
These are really exceptional circumstances for your school, and most normal school operations will have ceased.
That doesn’t mean that your role in monitoring the school has disappeared completely – it just means that your monitoring priorities (and how you actually carry out the monitoring) will change quite a bit.

While schools are partially closed, you’ll want to monitor:

  • Safeguarding
  • Health and safety
  • Headteacher and staff wellbeing

To a lesser extent, you’ll also want to monitor how your school is continuing to provide an education for pupils.

Your school leaders will get a lot of support on how to manage the school during closure from the Department for Education (DfE) and your local authority (LA). Your governing board will probably take a bit of a back seat, and that’s as it should be.

You don’t need the same level of detail about your provision (even the parts of it you’re still monitoring) as you’d expect to get in normal circumstances. You should, however, talk to your headteacher regularly about the areas listed above, as well as more general developments.

You should expect to discuss the full implications of school closure once things have returned to normal.

What will monitoring look like?

In line with the government’s guidance on social distancing and self-isolation, don’t monitor your school in person, or arrange in-person meetings with staff, unless it is absolutely necessary.

In reality, you’re not likely to do any monitoring that can’t be carried out remotely.

How to monitor safeguarding

Who should do it?

The chair, or the link governor for safeguarding, SEND or the pupil premium.
Choose 1 person to do this, and other governors can feed in as necessary.
How to do it
Arrange a call with the headteacher, designated safeguarding lead (DSL) or special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO).

Talk about:

  • How the school is making sure vulnerable pupils are kept safe (including those who are at home, rather than in school), and whether these plans are working well
  • How the school is working with the LA to safeguard vulnerable pupils
  • How the school is checking in on all pupils who are staying at home
  • How pupils, especially vulnerable pupils, who are still coming in to school are coping
  • Whether staff have concerns about any pupils who aren’t technically categorised as ‘vulnerable’ by the DfE, and what the school is doing for these pupils
  • How the school is supporting pupils who are eligible for free school meals, and whether pupils are accessing this provision
  • If your school is delivering remote lessons, what safeguarding arrangements are in place to keep pupils safe
    Any plans the LA may have to create ‘hub’ schools, and what impact that might have on safeguarding arrangements
  • Any support that staff need from you

Key things to consider

Vulnerable children means children who are supported by social care and those with safeguarding and welfare needs, including children:

  • Who have a social worker, including:
  • Children in need
    Children with a child protection plan
  • Children looked after by the local authority
  • With education, health and care (EHC) plans

Your school can also offer spaces to those on the edges of receiving social care support.

For children with EHC plans, your school will make case-by-case assessments on whether they should attend.

School leaders will work closely with social workers and parents to decide on arrangements for specific pupils.

If your LA creates ‘hub’ schools (so that not every school in your LA needs to remain open), school leaders will work closely with the LA to set reasonable safeguarding procedures (for instance, around ID checks for parents they don’t know).

How to monitor health and safety

Who should do it?

The chair, or your health and safety link governor (if you have one).

Arrange a call with the headteacher or school business manager.

Talk about:

  • The arrangements the school has in place to maintain social distancing for staff and pupils on site
  • Wider health and safety arrangements (such as having a first aider on site, an increased cleaning rota or locking down certain parts of the school building)
  • The continued safety of the school building, including any previously raised premises issues
  • Any support that staff need from you

How to monitor headteacher and staff wellbeing

Who should do it?

The chair

How to do it

Talk to the headteacher about:

  • Any support they, or their staff, need
  • How staff are adapting to working remotely, or working on skeleton staff
  • Whether all staff have the resources they need to work from home
  • Any illness among staff.

Key things to consider:

In these exceptional circumstances, your headteacher will be on the receiving end of a lot of information and demands (from the LA, the DfE, unions and anxious parents – to name a few!). The most important thing is to be their ally.

Staff who are working remotely, especially if they have their own children at home, are probably going to take some time to adjust. It’s important that the school doesn’t overburden remote staff with a heavy workload in an effort to compensate for not being in school.

How to monitor continuing education

Who should do it?

The chair. Even if you have link governors who are responsible for certain areas of the curriculum, it’s important for the governing board to limit the number of governors the headteacher needs to keep in touch with.

Chairs should lean on link governors to feed in to any conversations they have about remote learning.

How to do it

Talk to your headteacher about:

  • The school’s approach to remote learning, for instance:
  • Is the school sending resource packs home? Are teachers recording video lessons?
  • How much work do they expect pupils to do?
  • Any guidance or support the school has given to parents about supporting their child’s learning at home
  • The balance of learning activities for pupils who are still coming in to school

Key things to consider

School leaders will need to navigate a lot of challenges around remote learning, including:

  • Access to technology at home
  • The fact that pupils may not be in a very effective learning environment (for instance, if they’re sharing small spaces with siblings, or have parents balancing childcare with working from home)
  • How capable parents are of supporting their child’s learning (many school leaders are emphasising embedding existing learning, because teaching pupils new things remotely can be difficult)
  • How equipped the school is to take on more tech-led types of remote teaching

The DfE doesn’t have any expectations about what your school’s approach to remote teaching should look like.

Even if pupils are still coming in to school, the DfE doesn’t expect them to receive a full curriculum. That’s because pupils who are eligible to come in to school aren’t required to do so, or to do so every day. All the DfE wants is for schools to plan engaging activities that encourage children to attend.

Share your findings with the whole governing board

Chairs, or whoever carries out the monitoring activities above, should report back to the full governing board regularly. You can do this via email.

This will make sure all governors are up-to-date, or can step in to help monitor the school or support the headteacher if the chair or another governor isn’t available.

Regular updates will also help the board start to think about the impact of the closure on issues related to their link role or committee.

For instance, if the school can’t run after-school clubs, this may impact the school’s budget.

Child Protection Policy Exemplar

CP Policy Annexe – Covid-19 FINAL HF[27141]

Sent on behalf of Joanna Cassey, Service Director for Education, Children’s Services Directorate

Dear Colleagues

Please find attached the annex for the Buckinghamshire Council Model Child Protection Policy which has been co-produced between staff from Education, Social Care and headteacher reps; this annex addresses recent guidance set out by the DfE for schools operating under the current restrictions.

It is intended that the policy will need to be personalised by each school and is designed to complement – not replace – the latest versions of Keeping Children Safe in Education, Working Together and your current Child Protection Policy.

Please be aware that this document is designed to work with the model policy issued by Buckinghamshire in September 2019; if you have written your Child Protection Policy using different sources then you will need to ensure that this annex reflects your main policy.

With very best wishes
Jo

Joanna Cassey
Service Director for Education
Children’s Services Directorate
Buckinghamshire Council

01296 382081
joanna.cassey@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Room G37, Council Offices, Walton Street, Aylesbury HP20 1UA

MESSAGE FROM DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Sent on behalf of Tolis Vouyioukas, Corporate Director, Children’s Services Directorate

Dear Colleague,

A brief note to wish you all happy Easter. I realise that for many of you, if not all, this is not quite what you had planned for this Easter. I do hope that you have a restful bank holiday weekend with your family and loved ones.

Thank you for all your hard work again this week. Your continued contribution, courage and determination to do the best that we all can to keep our vulnerable children and young people safe as well as provide the children of our key workers with a place at school and/or an early years setting is inspiring. As always, I am grateful to you all.

I am including a link to a video from Italy which grabbed my attention earlier this week for you to have a look at. I am sure it will boost your sense of hope during this time: https://youtu.be/MZWmikiJVIQ

‘Nothing but uncertainty is certain. Circumstances come together, only to fall apart moments or months later. And then, in a flash, we must rise up and regain our footing. In the rear view mirror, I now see clearly what escaped me then; it’s not that the ground underneath me was suddenly shifting; it’s that it is never still.’
– Alicia Keys, More Myself: My Journey

Take every good care.
Tolis Vouyioukas
Corporate Director
Children’s Services Directorate
Buckinghamshire Council

01296 383 104
tolis.vouyioukas@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury HP19 8FF

Coronavirus a book for children by Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson and Nia Roberts Illustrated by Axel Scheffler

A useful book for children on Coronavirus.

Coronavirus-ABookForChildren[25633]

Webinar Microsoft Teams for schools and governing boards (presented with Microsoft)

A recording of Governors for Schools webinar is now available on their website at:

https://www.governorsforschools.org.uk/resources/webinars/

This link will also take you to previous webinars that they have held.

 

 

 




 

 

NGA – Updated information on Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy Annex

Safeguarding information for governing boards sheet April 2020

NGA Coronavirus Guide Issue 4 2 April 2020

Template annex to the child protection policy (Browne Jacobson)

BrowneJ-Annex-to-Child-Protection-Policy

 

 

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Sent on behalf of Tolis Vouyioukas, Corporate Director, Children’s Services Directorate

Dear Colleague,

It is the end of another week of everyone working incredibly hard to keep our children and young people safe during these very challenging times. The extraordinary efforts of our schools and teams across children’s services to take responsibility and act in a measured and calm way are exemplary. Managing to put on a brave face for our kids and dealing with our own fears in the background is not easy, but I am confident everyone has worked out by now that we are far more resilient than we thought we were. Every single day at the school leaders virtual meeting and with my own leadership team, we hear of examples of schools and children’s services staff going the extra mile and being brave. It is both inspiring and moving to hear about these acts of kindness and generosity. Like everyone else, I clapped last night for all key workers and especially for our NHS but I also clapped for every single one of you for being the exceptional school and local authority staff that you are.

Thank you for all that you do and please take good care.

👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

‘It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.’
• Irish proverb

Tolis Vouyioukas
Corporate Director
Children’s Services Directorate
Buckinghamshire Council

01296 383 104
tolis.vouyioukas@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Guidance for School Closures Website

 

SchoolsWeb closures instructions (Covid 19)

Sent on behalf of Gareth Drawmer, Head of Service, Achievement & Learning

Dear Colleagues,

As you are aware, the school closures system is there to support parents during times when emergency arrangements have to be put in place. The current situation has meant that many of you have used the notification system, and we are grateful that you have done so, however there is not a consistency of use across schools in the area and this may be confusing to parents viewing the site. We have therefore developed the following guidelines around reporting your school status.

I would be grateful if you could take a minute to read this and then refresh your school status accordingly.

Guidance for school closures website

If you are delivering vulnerable children and key worker support please select:
Partially closed – specific circumstances

Use the following (or similar) wording:
Following Government guidelines during Coronavirus we are open for pupils of Key Workers, pupils with and EHCP and vulnerable pupils. For pupils eligible for Free School Meals our arrangements during this time can be found at <insert link here>

Set the period of closure to the end of the month and set a reminder to yourself to review it the day before.

If you are unable to open due to staffing please select:
Closed
Please explain the reason for closure and any anticipated date for reopening. Also include information regarding Free School Meals
For pupils eligible for Free School Meals our arrangements during this time can be found at <insert link here>

Set the period of closure for the shortest possible time considering your circumstances.

If you are temporarily closing for a period of time because you have no children attending your setting, please select:
Closed

Please use the following (or similar) wording:
The school is currently closed as there has not been sufficient demand for us to remain open. If you are a key worker, or your child has and EHCP, or is defined as vulnerable by the current guidance, and you wish us to support you then please contact <insert details here>. The school will re-open if there is a need communicated to us by parents. For pupils eligible for Free School Meals our arrangements during this time can be found at <insert link here>
Set the period of closure for two days and review daily.

Gareth Drawmer
Head of Service

Achievement & Learning
Children’s Services
Buckinghamshire County Council
County Hall, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1UZ

Gareth.Drawmer@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

BASG Governance update 1st April 2020

Governance

What are the expectations on Governing Board meetings at the moment?
The National Governance Association have provided the following advice regarding this:

Business priorities
Governing boards are acutely aware of the enormous task that schools and their staff have in ensuring continuity of education and making the reduced provision work on the ground. It is therefore appropriate for all non-urgent business to be delayed and governing board meetings to be restricted to the following:

1. Business critical decisions (e.g. budget approval, ratifying school leadership appointments etc.)
2. Monitoring how the school is continuing to provide care for children who are vulnerable,
children with ECHP plans the children of key workers, associated risks, issues etc.
3. Any issues arising from how the building is currently being used and remote working for staff
4. Support being given to parents and carers to help them educate their children at home
5. Monitoring the wellbeing and welfare of pupils, staff and stakeholders

More information can be found on the NGA website, where details on business continuity and holding virtual meetings, this link will also take to a webinar recently held on ‘virtual governance’
https://www.nga.org.uk/Knowledge-Centre/Executive-leaders-and-the-governing-boards/The-Coronavirus-Information-for-governing-boards-M.aspx

It would be sensible that if you have planned a normal agenda for your next Governing Board meeting that you consider deferring all normal governance matters until a later date, with suggested wording for your meetings being, ‘Deferral of usual Spring Term Agenda, approval of minutes and matters arising original FGB spring term to later into the academic year.’ Then move onto the above items as your agenda, listed 1 to 5. Please remember to ensure you still allow for declaration of interests and any other business as part of your agendas and pay particular attention to point 5 Monitoring the wellbeing and welfare of pupils, staff and stakeholders

How do we conduct virtual meetings?
There is a lot on information out there now on how to do this and ensure you are meeting regulations, The Key has just updated their information page on this, this informs you on ensuring you have a virtual governance policy and has examples of policies if you do not have one already. It also provides details on how to run the meetings and ensuring they run as smoothly as possible.
https://schoolgovernors.thekeysupport.com/the-governing-body/meetings/meeting-procedures/governor-meetings-virtual-remote-attendance/?marker=module-top5-popular_role

Where can Governing Boards find updated information to support them?
The Buckinghamshire Governors Association has set up its own information page, pulling together relevant details from various sources so the information is in one place. We will continue to signpost Governors to relevant webinars and supporting information. Updates will be added when they become available.
http://www.bucksgovernors.org/category/coronavirus-update/

We would recommend that all Governing Boards are aware of the information being provide by Buckinghamshire County Council and to also check back regularly to this link as information is updated whenever there is new advice.
https://schoolsweb.buckscc.gov.uk/covid-19-corona-virus-latest-advice/

National Governance Association (NGA)
The NGA has made its GOLD line Advice Service available to all governing boards that have questions about maintaining their business in the current circumstance. You can contact GOLDline by emailing them gold@nga.org.uk or by calling 0121 237 3782. NGA GOLD members are asked to make a request through the usual route.
https://www.nga.org.uk/Membership/GOLDline-The-NGA-Advice-service.aspx

The NGA also has an area dedicated to support Governance
https://www.nga.org.uk/Knowledge-Centre/Executive-leaders-and-the-governing-boards/The-Coronavirus-Information-for-governing-boards-M.aspx

The Key
For school governors and Senior leaders is an up to date information service summarising the most important DFE and governor information and providing policy advice
This is an easily accessible service which in the current situation has its COVID pages accessible to all Governors (currently without payment)
Any additional information available on the Key site can be accessed by signing up for a 30 day free trial – (follow their links)
https://schoolgovernors.thekeysupport.com/

BEP – Bucks Education Partnership
Have dedicated an area on their website to support Governance on Covid 19
https://buckseducationpartnership.co.uk/elementor-377/

Paul Randall
Chair of Buckinghamshire Association of School Governors
pauljrandall@btinternet.com

07818453741

 

 

FROM DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES RE: MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19

Sent on behalf of Tolis Vouyioukas, Corporate Director, Children’s Services Directorate

Dear Colleagues,

Support for the individual well-being and mental health of teaching staff is part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Information shared during our daily conference call with headteacher representatives has highlighted that whilst schools’ internal support networks for teaching staff have remained strong, there would be value in providing a specific service to support school leaders.

We are pleased to share that we have established a School Leaders’ Well-being Support and Advice Line, which will begin operating from today.

Contact Number: 01296 383 219

How does it work?
The Well-being Support and Advice Line is a confidential helpline staffed by Buckinghamshire’s Educational Psychology Team. The helpline is intended to provide school leaders with a safe and confidential space in which they can talk through the challenges, stresses and frustrations of operating schools and settings during this unprecedented situation. The Educational Psychologists are professionally trained in listening to and supporting individuals through pressurised and emotionally-fraught situations. There is no time limit for calls, and there will be no formal notes recorded from discussions unless requested and agreed in advance by both parties. The value in making use of the Well-being Support and Advice Line may be in having the opportunity simply to talk through circumstances and concerns, and equally the Educational Psychologists can also provide information or resources should individuals have specific well-being questions and issues that they wish to raise.

Although many conversations through the helpline will stand alone, more regular contact can be established if both parties feel this would be appropriate and beneficial. Furthermore, where necessary the Educational Psychologists can provide guidance in terms of accessing more intensive medium- and long-term support.

Who is it for?
The helpline is intended for senior staff working in Buckinghamshire schools and educational settings, including headteachers, deputy and assistant headteachers, SENCOs and other members of each senior leadership team.

When will it operate?
The Well-Being Support and Advice Line will be open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
It will be in operation throughout the school holidays (excluding public holidays) as well as during term-time.
Conversations outside of the usual operating hours are possible by arrangement – please use the email address eps@buckinghamshire.gov.uk to contact the Educational Psychology Team.

Are there alternative ways to seek support and advice?
If individuals would prefer to make contact via electronic means, or if the operating times are not convenient, then please send a message to eps@buckinghamshire.gov.uk, which will be picked up and responded to by members of the Educational Psychology Team. Arrangements for further contact can then be made, whether that is an out of hours telephone call, video call or an email-only exchange.

Alternatively, questions can be raised directly with the Educational Psychology Management Team:

Tim Jones.     Principal Educational Psychologist                    Tim.Jones@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Jenny Feeney. Senior Educational Psychologist – Aylesbury  Jenny.Feeney@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Shami Rait. Senior Educational Psychologist – Chiltern and South Bucks Shami.Rait@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Keith Willsher.  Senior Educational Psychologist – Wycombe Keith.Willsher@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

In addition, Buckinghamshire Council’s SchoolsWeb pages offer the latest advice for educational settings: https://schoolsweb.buckscc.gov.uk/covid-19-corona-virus-latest-advice/

Public Health England have also published general guidance regarding the mental health and well-being aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-public-on-mental-health-and-wellbeing/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-mental-health-and-wellbeing-aspects-of-coronavirus-covid-19

We hope that the School Leaders’ Well-being Support and Advice Line will be a helpful resource during this unusual and unsettled period of school operation. If you have any questions or would like further information then please do contact the educational psychology management team as per the details given above.

Please take good care.

Tolis Vouyioukas
Corporate Director
Children’s Services Directorate
Buckinghamshire Council

01296 383 104
tolis.vouyioukas@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury HP19 8FF