Customer Newsletter

April 2019

Welcome to the Support Services for Education

Newsletter

Welcome to our Spring newsletter. We hope you had a great

Easter break and managed to enjoy the exceptional weather.

It was fantastic to see so many of you at our recent SSE annual

conference at Westlands in March and we hope you found the

day interesting and useful. Please do feedback any comments to

us, including any thoughts on future topics and speakers so we

can continue to improve this event and ensure it provides as

much value to you as possible.

This newsletter provides information on some upcoming events

such as our Education Technology Conference on 19 June 2019,

which I’m sure will be invaluable in supporting schools to use

technology to improve the outcomes for children and young

people. It also includes details of changes in staffing and contact

numbers as well as developments in a number of support

services, which may be of interest to you.

Our website provides further details, where you can currently

order a wide range of support services through SSE website at a

discounted ‘early bird’ price in preparation of 2019/20 academic

year delivery.

Please do contact us to explore how we can best support you

and your staff in delivering educational excellence to the

children and young people within your settings.

Ian Rowswell

SSE Leadership Team

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

Inside this Issue...

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

Article Page

Summer Events

Somerset Education Technology Conference 2019 1

Introduction to Mindful Emotional Coaching 1

Success at the SSE Conference 2019 2

New Mainline Numbers 3

Inclusion and SEN Services

Boost for special education with new school 3

Autism Education Trust Training 4

Traveller Education Service 4

Support for Educational Improvement

School Improvement Team Update 5

Duke of Edinburgh Presentation Evening 6

Kilve Court Family Day 7

School Holiday Camps 2019 8

National Citizen Service (NCS) 9

Youth Equipment Store (YES) 10

Governance Service Update 10

Dillington House 11 - 12

Business Support Services

SCIL moving to Dillington House 13

Full List of Services and Contacts 14 - 16

Somerset Education Technology Conference 2019

Taking place on the 19th June 2019 at

Dillington House in Ilminster, this all-

day conference is planned to build

understanding of the contribution of

data science to children's learning

across the curriculum; and to develop

teachers' confidence to use BIG DATA

actively, creatively and responsibly in

the classroom.

Somerset's SSE Educational Technology team provides professional development

programmes to support teachers and schools to improve and evaluate pupil outcomes.

Their experience and expertise, supported by robust evidence and challenge, will help

you provide excellent educational opportunities.

For more information and to book a place, please visit here.

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

Introduction to Mindful Emotional Coaching

Bringing together the neuroscience behind children’s

emotions and evidence based strategies to support

them and build resilience, this one day course , taking

place on the 21st of May at Somerset Centre for

Integrated Learning in Taunton, will look closely at the

work of Dan Siegel and John Gottman and focus on

the ‘how to’ of developing emotion resilience.

Mindful Emotion Coaching is about building

emotional resilience and mental wellbeing by

enabling conversations about emotions behind

behaviours and building understanding of the

neuroscience of brain development, human

interactions and mindful awareness.

To book a place on this training course, please

visit here.

Summer Events

1

The Westlands Conference Centre in Yeovil was a hive of activity on Friday 8th of

March. School leaders, teachers and governors from various educational settings

across Somerset and beyond were there to attend the annual Support Services for

Education (SSE) Conference 2019.

This year’s conference focused on Health and Wellbeing for staff and students and

was officially opened by inspiring and enthusiastic keynote speaker, Andrew

Whitehouse. Andrew is a SEN consultant and experienced educator, who delivered a

speech about mental health and the effect on learning.

Throughout the day delegates attended a variety of thought-provoking workshops

covering a variety of subjects such as ‘Resilience and Coping’, ‘Wellbeing online’,

‘Teaching and Learning in a safe environment’, ‘How to ensure the effective

safeguarding of pupils and managing risk’ and ‘Supporting the Health and Wellbeing

Agenda through Outdoor Learning and Residentials’.

There were also opportunities to have a look around the diverse exhibition hall, which

included stalls from CS Healthcare, who carried out free health checks, The Key,

Schools’ Buying Hub, Inspired Playgrounds, as well as exhibitors from SSE and

Somerset County Council services. To end the successful day, TV presenter, bestselling

author, life coach and mental health advocate, Anna Williamson, closed the

conference with an inspiring speech about how mental health has personally affected

her and the coping techniques that can be used.

We have made the presentations available to attendees through the SSE website,

where you can also find further information on the education support services

available from SSE.

Thank you to all who attended, and we hope you’ll be back again next year for

SSE Conference 2020! We are keen to know if you would be interested in any

particular themes and ask that you complete this quick poll.

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

Success at the SSE Conference 2019

2

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

New Mainline Numbers

3

In readiness for moving to a more ‘smart’ way of

working and due to an accommodation move,

the mainline numbers for Support Services for

Education, Somerset Music and Education

Welfare Service advice line have been changed.

Please note the new numbers are as

follows:

• Support Services for Education (SSE) Mainline - 0300 123 7365.

• Education Welfare Service (EWS) Advice Line - 0300 123 7336.

• Somerset Music Line - 0300 123 7364.

Boost for special education with new school

A new special school in Bridgwater has moved a

step closer after Somerset County Council’s

cabinet agreed to appoint a contractor for the

project in Bower Lane, Bridgwater.

Children, parents and teachers have been able to

influence the design of the 160-space, purpose-

built school at Bower Lane which will be kitted out

with the very latest specialist equipment.

It will replace the existing school buildings at Elmwood and Penrose and cater for children

with the most complex needs, including those with significant mobility difficulties.

The three-wing school will have a warm water pool for physiotherapy, a sports hall and

fully accessible classrooms with latest teaching technology.

It will also have a café to help post-16 students to develop vocational skills and encourage

engagement with parents and the wider community.

For more information about the latest special school developments, please visit here.

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

Traveller Education Service

4

In February of this year, the Local Authority was successful in a rigorous application to

become an Autism Education Trust (AET) Hub for North Somerset.

Autism and Communication Service Manager, Angela Williams, Deputy Service Manager, Jo

Dennis-Minns, and North Somerset Autism and Communication Advisory Teacher, Claire

Adams, put in an application for a School Age programme and have been successful.

By becoming a North Somerset LA AET Hub, they can embed a consistent schools age

approach.

The AET materials will enable professionals to work together and share information and ideas

about the strengths and differences of children and young people with autism in an

accessible way.

There are three tiers to the training; tier one is hoped to go into every school and is for every

member of the school, tier two is more for SENCOs, teachers and tier three is aimed for

management at a strategic level.

Inconsistencies in the knowledge and understanding of the impacts of autism can lead to

needs being unmet and potential unfilled. AET supports these areas and now want to be able

to deliver this across Somerset.

To find out more, please contact Jo Dennis-Minns on JDennisMinns@somerset.gov.uk

or Claire Adams on CZAdams@somerset.gov.uk.

Traveller Education Services have been

supporting many pupils to access, engage and

achieve in education in Somerset.

As a national statistic, there are still low numbers

(around 50%) of Traveller pupils that make it to

Year 11 in school and the transition from primary

to secondary education is often the most

vulnerable time for Traveller pupils.

Traveller Education run a boys’ and girls’ group

specifically aimed to encourage the retention of

Traveller pupils in Somerset schools, as this provides an opportunity to discuss cultural

barriers to learning and is a supportive group that enables pupils to meet others that

share their culture from different schools.

This exciting termly trip is to Kilve Court and will be aimed at 11-16 year old pupils to

encourage retention in school, the next summer term boys’ and girls’ groups will be

aimed at transition year 6 pupils as part of their support to access secondary schools.

For more information about the Traveller Education Service, please visit here.

Autism Education Trust Training

The School Improvement Team is investing and expanding. They are delighted to

inform you that an additional Primary Adviser has been appointed. Stephanie

(Steph) Cartmel will be joining the team in early May. Steph is currently a primary

headteacher in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, but for the past two years, has been

seconded to the Advisory Service as part of the GwE School Improvement Consortia.

Steph will be bringing a wide range of considerable experience and expertise, as well

as a passion and commitment for educational research.

This is a much-needed new post which has been established to support the work of

the Primary School Improvement Team and have been fortunate to recruit, Claire

Price, to the role who took up her substantive appointment in February.

For the last 8 years Claire has managed one of the Family Support Worker teams in

South Somerset, as part of Action for Children, and latterly the getset Service.

The role is evolving and Claire is becoming more involved in many aspects of school

improvement and supporting schools to enable all children to achieve the best

outcomes. A key aspect of Claire’s role will be supporting the Primary Advisors by

triaging queries and requests that come into to the team, and, by building

relationships, will be able to signpost and resolve issues as they arise.

Claire Price can be contacted at czprice@somerset.gov.uk.

The Primary School Improvement Team, through SSE, continue to offer a range of

traded services, accessed through the SSE website, including:

• Support for governors with the

appointment of headteachers and other

senior staff;

• Headteachers’ Performance Reviews;

• Reviews of teaching, learning and

leadership;

• CPD for schools and governing bodies;

• Bespoke packages of support and advice.

For more information on the traded services

available, please see the School Improvement Leaflet here.

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

School Improvement Team Update

5

Primary Adviser

School Improvement Officer

Traded Services

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

More than 200 young people were invited to receive their

Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award certificates on Tuesday

19th March 2019.

The annual awards evening at the Westlands Conference

Centre in Yeovil was organised by the South Somerset

DofE Committee and supported by the Somerset County

Council DofE team and South Somerset District Council.

Over 2,650 young people participated in the Duke of

Edinburgh Award this year (April 2018 to March 2019)

through Somerset County Council, which supports over 60

schools and youth organisations to deliver this life

changing scheme across the county - an increase of over

20%. The Duke of Edinburgh Award provides a rewarding and challenging programme

of activities for 13 – 25 year-olds. There are three levels of the Award; Bronze, Silver

and Gold and they all involve the young person regularly undertaking:

• Volunteering

• Physical activity

• Development of a skill

• An expedition

The main difference between the different levels is

the length of time young people participate in

these activities (ranging from 3 to 18 months).

Employers identify the scheme, founded by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1956, as

the most recognised and valued extra-curricular award for young people. The award

has many benefits for young people with 74% of young people saying it boosted their

self-esteem.

The presentation evening also included guest speaker, Ed Pratt, who reminisced about

his three and a half year unicycle journey around the world.

Somerset County Council DofE Manager, Daniel Moncrieff, said: “Listening to the

stories young people told at the Award ceremony, you realise the memorable, and

often life changing experiences they have had because of the Duke of Edinburgh

Award. Not only is a great scheme to develop employability skills and resilience, but it

also connects people with their communities through regular volunteering and

participation in local clubs and activities.”

Not only does Somerset County Council support Special schools, secondary schools,

colleges and youth clubs to run the Award, but this year they have offered the

programme to over 100 of its apprentices.

For more information about the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, please visit here.

Duke of Edinburgh Presentation Evening

6

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

Kilve Court Family Day

7

Kilve Court will be hosting a Family Day on Saturday 25th May from 10am to 4pm,

please see below for more information.

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

Kilve Court School Holiday Camps

8

Holiday Camp name Date Audience

Kings of Space (Science, Space) 28th – 31st May 10 – 13 year olds

From Page to Stage (Drama, Writing) 28th – 31st May 8 – 12 year olds

Plundering Pirates (Drama, Writing, Art) 5th – 7th August 8 - 10 year olds

Formula 1 Scientist (Science) 5th – 9th August 11 – 14 year olds

Build a Musical (Musical Theatre) 11th – 16th August 10 – 17 year olds

Doctor Who (Writing and Drama) 19th – 23rd August 9 - 14 year olds

Great Art Adventure (Art) 19th – 23rd August 10 - 12 year olds

Game Maker (IT) 27th – 29th August 10 - 11 year olds

A Bigger Picture of Somerset (Art) 25th – 27th October 12 – 14 year olds

Astronomy Course (Science, Space) 25th – 27th October 13 - 16 year olds

Rocket Scientist (Science) 25th – 27th October 10 - 13 year olds

Activity Camps and Day Visits

We have activity residential camps and day visits jam packed with activities from beach

exploration to the high ropes and racing around on wheels. These are running during

May half term, Summer holidays and 25th – 27th October.

We also offer extended day provision, you can drop your child off early for breakfast

and pick them up later with us offering dinner.

You can pay via childcare vouchers, or apply for funding via our bursary.

For more information on all camps visit www.kilvecourt.co.uk

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

National Citizen Service (NCS) is a government-backed

programme for 16 - 17 year olds, which is supported by

Somerset County Council.

It takes part in four phases over four weeks (excluding

weekends): Adventure, Discovery, Action and

Celebration.

Young people build skills for work and life, take on new

challenges and adventures, make new friends, and give

back to their local community.

NCS helps young people meet new people, get their voice heard, boost their CV or UCAS

statement and have a lot of fun. After NCS, there are opportunities to access apprenticeships,

work placements, training, volunteering projects and workshops.

There are 16 programme waves running in Somerset this summer, starting weekly from 24th

June through to 5th August.

Government backing means that the whole programme, including accommodation, activities,

travel and food costs no more than £50 for the whole four weeks. It is important to us that

every young person who wants to can take part, so we offer bursaries and payment plans on

a case by case basis.

There’s no catch - just give us a call to discuss your young person’s situation.

For more information, please visit www.ncsyes.co.uk or call the NCS team on 0800 197

8010.

9

National Citizen Service (NCS)

Somerset places available on the fantastic NCS summer programme

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

Governance Services Update

10

The Youth Equipment Store (YES) transferred into SSE on 1st April 2019. Equipment is

available to hire at extremely affordable rates, from its base in Taunton. The store also

delivers to recognised groups across Somerset.

There is a wide range of equipment available to

rent including;

• camping and hiking equipment needed to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's award

• mountain bikes;

• stage lighting;

• a range of equipment and toys for children and young people with disabilities and

additional needs. These include everything from sensory toys to mobility aids;

• a minibus or people carrier available for voluntary groups to hire.

If you would like to use the Youth Equipment Store in future, please download,

complete and return the Customer Registration form or contact the team via email at

yes@somerset.gov.uk or phone 01823 289387.

SSE Governance Services will be expanding the capacity in the team this year to support

both existing and new customers.

Good and effective governance is essential to all schools and in order to achieve this, it is

crucial that governing boards have access to quality advice and guidance, as well as the

ability to access training opportunities and feel supported in their role.

For further information on SSE Governance Services, please visit the SSE website or

contact the team via email at sgs@somerset.gov.uk or phone 01823 355757.

Youth Equipment Store (YES)

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities 11

Getaway at Dillington

Dillington House is the perfect place to unwind and get away from the

pressures of everyday life. So why not treat yourself to a relaxing stay?

Dillington House, who were awarded the prestigious Five Star rating

by VisitEngland’s National Quality Assurance Standard Campus

Scheme is known for its historical setting, delicious cuisine,

friendly staff and a diverse programme of courses and events.

Dillington boasts up to 40 bedrooms and three separate buildings, each with its own unique

character, so there is plenty of choice for those looking to stay somewhere special.

Prices start from £64 per person per night (Standard Single room including breakfast) or from

£91 per room per night (Superior Double room including breakfast).

Conference Facilities

As a conference venue in Somerset, Dillington House is hard to beat.

Set in parkland, it combines first-rate meeting facilities with beautiful

surroundings making business a real pleasure. Historic architecture

sits beautifully alongside the award-wining contemporary Hyde building,

to give the best of both worlds. Dillington offers 12 meeting rooms varying

in size to meet most requirements. Add to this a welcoming ambience, delicious food and

exceptional service, it makes the ideal conference venue.

Adult Education Courses

Please see below a selection of adult education courses available at Dillington

House:

Philosophy: But is it Art?

Friday 10 May – Sunday 12 May 2019 Fees (£): from £220

What is art? What is the difference between Tracey Emin’s My Bed and Botticelli’s Primavera?

Have we reached a stage where almost anything can be called art? This course will explore some

of the theories used to help us define art, including idealist theory, significant form and the

institutional theory. Includes accommodation, meals and refreshments.

Tutor: Darren Harper

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities 12

Adult Education Courses

Temples of Ancient

Monday 20 May – Wednesday 22 May 2019 Fees (£): from £220

Two of the most spectacular and visited of the temples to survive from Ancient Egypt are the

temples of Dendera and Edfu. In this course we will take a guided tour of these iconic

monuments. We will explore not only the architecture, but the extensive reliefs carved on the

walls and ceilings. We will explore each temple complex to find the connection between these two

particular temples. By exploring the mythology of two of the most important deities in the

Egyptian pantheon, we will appreciate the significance of Horus of Edfu and Hathor of Dendera.

Includes accommodation, meals and refreshments.

Tutor: Lucia Gahlin

Using the Internet for Family and Local History Research

Friday 21 June 2019 Fee: £55

Looking at various ways of using the Internet for your research, how to get the most out of the

main websites. How to widen your search, look at the bigger picture and keep a record of where

you have searched and when. Plenty of time for discussion about the websites you use. update on

what is new on the net. Not suitable for beginners. Includes coffee and a three-course meal.

Tutor: Jane Ferentzi-Sheppard

Capturing Water with Watercolour

Sunday 23 June – Wednesday 26 June 2019 Fees (£): from £330

A wonderful creative opportunity to focus on the magic of capturing water with watercolours. We

will explore a range of techniques including the use of masking fluid, wax resist, fine sand paper,

glycerine, salt and cling film. This course is most suitable for those with some previous

watercolour experience who would like to develop their skills and explore different techniques.

Includes accommodation, meals and refreshments.

Tutor: Shari Hills

For more information on the adult education course programme, please visit www.dillington.com.

Dillington House

Ilminster

Somerset

TA19 9DT

Tel: 01460 258648

Email: dillington@somerset.gov.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities 13

WE ARE

MOVING

From September 2019

Somerset Centre for Integrated Learning (SCIL) is pleased to announce that from

September 2019 the training centre will be located at Dillington House. Dating back from

the sixteenth century Dillington House has served the South West as a conference centre for

adult education, conferences and business meetings and will be a fantastic venue for SCIL.

SCIL will continue to deliver their full offer of training from CPD courses, nationally

recognised accredited training, Foundation Degrees, BA Honours in Professional Practice,

Initial Teacher Training and Masters as well as a variety of apprenticeships.

Dillington House

Ilminster, TA19 9DT

SAT NAV use TA19 9DX

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

Business Support Services

· Crisis Communications Support

. Education Financial Services (EFS)

· Education Technology Team - eLIM

· Exchequer Service (formerly Finance Shared Service)

· HR Admin and Payroll

· HR Advisory Service

· ICT Services

· Insurance Service

· Insurance (NS)

· Legal Services

. North Somerset - Contract Management - School Meals

· North Somerset - Creditors Service (Liberata)

· North Somerset - HR Transactional Services (Liberata)

· North Somerset - Payroll Services (Liberata)

· North Somerset - Schools Finance Support Service (Liberata)

· One West

· SIMS Support Service - eLIM

· Support Services for Education

· Trade Union Facilities Time Fund

Education and School Improvement Services

· Admissions and Appeals

. Care first

· CLEAPSS

· Early Years Improvement Team

· Education Welfare Service (EWS)

· Ethnic Minority Achievement & Traveller Education Service (EMA/TES)

· Exclusion Reviews

. Free School Meals Eligibility Check

· Governance Services

· Headteacher Recruitment

· Moderation and Assessment - Statutory Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP)

· Moderation and Assessment: KS1 and KS2

. Music (Somerset Music)

Full list of Services available from SSE

14

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

. North Somerset - Admissions and Appeals

. North Somerset - Appeals Service - Admissions and Exclusions

. North Somerset - Free School Meals Checking Service

. Occupational Health Service

· Resources for Learning (Schools Library Service)

· Safeguarding Early Years & Education

· School Improvement

SEND and Inclusion Support

· Autism and Communication Service

· Early Years Area SENCOs

· Educational Psychology Service

· Hearing Support Team

· Inclusive Communication - Somerset Total Communication.

· Learning, Language and Communication Service

· Learning Support Service

· Physical Impairment and Medical Support Team (PIMST)

· Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)

· Special Educational Needs Assistive Technology Advisory Service (SENATAS)

· Vision Support Team

Professional Development

· Bath and Mendip Partnership Teaching School

· E-Learning Packages

· Futures for Somerset Ltd - (FfS) (Somerset Local Education Partnership)

· Newly Qualified Teacher - School Improvement

· SAPHTO (Somerset Association of Primary Headteachers and Officers)

· Somerset Centre for Integrated Learning (SCIL)

· Somerset Partnership Teaching School

· Somerset Virtual School

· The Key for School Leaders

· Wessex Teaching School

Enrichment and Outdoor Education

· Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Full list of Services available from SSE

15

www.SupportServicesforEducation.co.uk

Working Together - Providing Opportunities

· National Citizen Service (NCS)

· RSPB Avalon Marshes (RSPB Ham Wall & Natural England Shapwick Heath NNR)

· Somerset Outdoor & Residential Learning Service (SORLS)

· Youth Equipment Store (YES)

Environmental and Premises

· Acoustics Service

· Asbestos Surveying and Testing (Somerset Scientific Services)

· Catering, Cleaning and Refuse Advisory Team

· Ecology Services

· Health and Safety Management Service

. North Somerset - Council Property Services

. North Somerset - Health & Safety and Fire Safety Service

. North Somerset - Tree Risk Management

· Property and Grounds Service

· Scientific monitoring within School buildings (Somerset Scientific Services)

Full list of Services available from SSE

16

You can also find us on Twitter @SSEsomerset

Contact details for each of our services can be found on the SSE

website, www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk.

Contact Phone Email

SSE 0300 123 7365 SSE@somerset.gov.uk

For queries concerning our website, ordering and to provide feedback on our services, please contact our Customer Care Team:

Sue Wheatley

James Britton

SWheatley@somerset.gov.uk

JABritton@somerset.gov.uk

01823 356623

01823 357768

Contact Details