Newsletters

Dear colleague,

In this month's newsletter, there is some key information we want to share with you which you may require as we move into the summer term or as you begin looking ahead to the Autumn of 2024.

This includes information about our NPQSENCO which commences in the Autumn 2024 and the new lead provider we are partnering with to provide this qualification to schools across our region.

 

National Professional Qualifications

At the end of March, the DfE published guidance about scholarship funding for NPQ's from the Autumn of 2024. If you are considering accessing an NPQ from Autumn 2024, it is vital that you read the information in our NPQ section this month.

 

Initial Teacher Training (ITT)

Have you considered the benefits of ITT? Do you want to be involved with placements or grow your own through a teacher apprenticeship route or assessment only route? If so, there are more details in this months ITT section.

 

ECF

Have you got a member of staff who is an April starter on our ECF programme? In this month's newsletter you will find information and links to help you ensure that these ECT's are registered for both ECF and our Appropriate Body (AB). We also celebrated our mentors and ECT's who have come to the end of their 2-year cycle with some cake!

 

Finally.....

In this month's coffee break, we have information about the EEF's updated schools guide to implementation. 

The Maternity Teacher Paternity Teacher Project is holding a return to work workshop. More details about this can be found in the spotlight section. 

Kind regards,

Alan and the Potentia Team

 

Keep in touch

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Would your school like to be involved with initial teacher training (ITT)?

There are many benefits to engagement in ITT:

• Schools can ensure that they are developing skilled and passionate educators who are well-equipped to meet the diverse needs of their students. 
• Leaders taking an active role in ITT can cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within their school community.
• Schools can contribute to the broader education sector by sharing best practice and collaborating with other schools and settings.

As your local TSH, our role is to support schools in our region to engage in ITT. Here are three ways in which your school can become involved:

1. Complete the  Initial Teacher Training School Engagement National Survey if you have not already done so. This supports us to fulfil our strategic ITT role to:

• Understand the local ITT market, context and challenges
• Facilitate school engagement in ITT

This is also an opportunity for you to express an interest in supporting school placements in 2024-25. The survey will only take between 5-8 minutes to complete. Your contributions will enable us to gain an accurate and complete picture of ITT provision in our region.

 

2. Explore postgraduate routes into teaching for current members of staff with a degree who do not yet have QTS (qualified teacher status) but who are keen progress in their career as teachers. We are working with partners to offer three possible routes for 2024-25. These include:

• Postgraduate teaching apprenticeships with Best Practice Network
• Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with the University of Derby
• Assessment Only route with the University of Derby.

For further information about these pathways, click here. This link also includes information about other initial teacher training providers who provide placements in Derbyshire schools.

 

3. Consider whether your school would benefit from employing a postgraduate teacher apprentice. This pathway enables schools to access the Apprenticeship levy whilst training an apprentice in a salaried teacher position. Best Practice Network can support with recruitment. For further information, click here.

 

Funding for autumn 2024 will target those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities. 

Scholarship funding to cover the full NPQ course cost will be available to teachers and leaders from: 

The 50% of schools with the highest proportion of students who attract pupil premium funding 

16 to 19 educational settings identified as having high disadvantage 

For the early years leadership NPQ, highly disadvantaged early years settings will also be eligible.    

Scholarships will continue to be available to all teachers and leaders from publicly funded schools and 16 to 19 educational organisations for the following NPQs: 

Leading primary maths  

SENCO  

Headship  

For the early headship coaching offer, funding to cover the course fees will be available if you are in your first 5 years of headship in England in a state-funded school or state-funded 16 to 19 organisation. You should also be doing or have done the headship NPQ.  

Checking Eligibility 

You should check the course eligibility criteria before you register. You may meet the funding criteria but not the course eligibility. 

You can find out how to check the eligibility of your workplace for autumn 2024 when registration opens later this year. 

Update on the NPQ Replacing the NASENCO Award

In September 2009, it became a statutory requirement for every new SENCO in a state mainstream school to gain the Master’s level national award for special educational needs co-ordinator (NASENCO) within 3 years of starting the job. The Department for Education announced in the SEND and alternative provision improvement plan that a new leadership level national professional qualification (NPQ) for SENCOs will replace the existing qualification. SENCOs who have successfully completed the NASENCO will not be required to complete the new national professional qualification.

The NPQ for SENCOs content framework sets out what participants should know and be able to do after completing the qualification.

The requirement to complete training within 3 years of appointment will continue to apply. Schools and SENCOs need to ensure that they are enroled on training that will allow them to meet this requirement.

Further guidance has been given for the transition depending on your current situation:

SENCOs can continue to sign up for the NASENCO qualification until the end of the academic year 2023 to 2024. SENCOs enroled on a NASENCO course commencing in the 2023 to 2024 academic year will be recognised as fulfilling the mandatory training requirement so long as this is completed within 3 years of taking up a SENCO post.

Where a SENCO starts in post during the 2023 to 2024 academic year and has not begun the NASENCO before September 2024, they will need to enrol on an NPQ course starting no later than Spring 2025 to meet the statutory requirements for the role.

Where an aspiring SENCO wishes to complete the NASENCO to meet the statutory requirements for the role, they must have started the NASENCO course before September 2024.

From September 2024, all SENCOs or aspiring SENCOs, that have not completed or started the NASENCO will be required to take the NPQ.

NPQSENCO Lead Provider

If you have any questions related to NPQs, then please contact Jan Pierce on npq@potentiatsh.co.uk

Early Career Framework

Early Career Teachers

Welcome to all of our new April starters and to those, part way through their induction, who have joined us in Derbyshire this term. 

Please ensure that all ECTs new to you (whether they are new starters or ECTs who are at any point in their induction) are registered with both the AB and ECF – please see further details below.  

School funding for mentors on the Early Career Framework Programme  

Please can schools support mentors to engage with their online learning through their EDT login. Engagement is reported to the DfE via the EDT tracker, which in turn affects the funding that school will receive.  

April Starters

Early Career Framework  

1. Ensure your school and Induction Tutor details are correct on the DfE Manage My Early Career Teacher site Here.? Once you are granted access, you will be able to register your ECTs and Mentors.  

2. Complete the Education Development Trust Expression of Interest form Here. (if you’re not already working with EDT and Potentia) 

(ECTs and Mentors will need to register)  
 
Appropriate Body  

3. Register your ECTs for their Induction via the Appropriate Body Services on ECT Manager for Potentia TSH Here.  

(if your school isn’t yet registered you will need to register the school and then add the ECTs and Induction Tutors).

Here is an overview document of the AB and ECF 

Download the schedule of delivery and see below for dates of live events for new April ECTs and Mentors.  

Full time ECT April 2024 starter  

Part time ECT April 2024 starter  

ECF (live training) Upcoming Events

All events below are bookable via the EDT platform, click to download the Summer events schedule for ECTs and Mentors 

 

Academic Year 22-23 

• September ECT 11 & 12  /  Mentor 11 & 12 
• January ECT 9 & 10 
• April ECT 7 & 8  

Academic Year 23-24 

• September  ECT Local 5 & 6 event, Mentor 6 touch point  
• January ECT 3 & 4, Mentor Blocks 3-6 

 

Well done to those entering their final term of the ECT or Mentor programme!  

We’ve begun celebrating at our live events – here’s our Chesterfield and Buxton groups: 

AB Upcoming events

All information will be sent out via ECT Manager 

Progress Reviews and Assessments will be due this term – look out for those reminders, which will go to the registered induction lead via ECT Manager. If the Induction Lead or Headteacher details need changing please do this directly on ECT Manager. If you have any issues please contact Jane Straw who can support you.  

Further Opportunities and Resources for ECTs

Early Years Teachers  

Early Years Practitioners in all settings now have access to the newly appointed Early Years Stronger Practice Hub based in Alfreton, Derbyshire! Please visit their website to find out what support your ECTs can get from them https://www.alfreton.derbyshire.sch.uk/stronger-practice-hub  

Useful Links:  

Appropriate Body Services Potentia  

Appropriate Body and ECF Overview Webinar for Induction Tutors 

Appropriate Body Induction Training 1 for Induction Tutors  

Appropriate Body Induction Training 1 for ECTs 
Writing Reviews and Assessments 
 

Early Career Framework with EDT and Potentia 

Early Career Framework welcome for Mentors and ECTs 

 

Updated Schools Guide to Implementation - EEF

You can access the full guidance report and additional documents below.

Updated EEF School Implementation Guidance   

Maternity Teacher Paternity Teacher - Returning to Work Workshop

Returning to work following a period of maternity leave can be a nerve-wracking experience, exacerbated by the emotions surrounding leaving a small baby for the first time.

But with our 90 minute workshop, we'll get you feeling confident and prepared for your return!

As well as detailing key legal information and sharing expectations of best practice, you'll benefit from a coaching-style approach giving you the headspace to consider what you need now, the boundaries you can set, what you want your life to look like as a parent-teacher, and the chance to share tips to get organised at home and at school.

Y?ou'll have the chance to meet other parent-teachers in the same position as you, and share support and encouragement.

You can access the upcoming workshop via Eventbrite below.

MTTP Return to Work - Workshop May 20th