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   Latest Staff & Governor Confederation Newsletter (July 2010) has been issued and

   Summer 2010 Edition of Teaching Assistant News is available below - a good read for ALL support

   staff....

*Do check out STAFF NEWS & EVENTS below - and the News & Events on our Home Page

DID YOU KNOW:  THERE ARE MANY HELPFUL LINKS, WHICH CAN SUPPORT STAFF, PARENTS AND CHILDREN, TO BE FOUND ON THESE WEBPAGES, E.G. CHECK OUT THE 'CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE' PAGE, THE 'SUPPORT FOR PARENTS' PAGE,THE 'SWIFT & EASY REFERRAL TO SPECIALIST SERVICES' PAGE.

LATEST STAFF & GOVERNOR NEWSLETTER (JULY 2010) ISSUED

Our latest newsletter, keeping  staff up to date with what the Confederation and our schools have been doing, has been delivered to schools.  Look out for it!   You can also see it by clicking here.

Schools have received guidance from Surrey recently about Becta's new Home Access scheme.  This is a programme funded by the Governement which aims to provide practical and financial support to low-income families with children in Years 3 -9 who may not be able to afford a computer or the internet.

To qualify:

• families must have a child in school years 3 - 9, who attends a state-maintained school in England full time, who has not already had a computer from a Home Access grant or similar programme (such as Computers for Pupils)

and receive at least one of the following:

• Free School Meals, income based Job Seeker's Allowance, Income Support, Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit and an income of less than £16,040, Guaranteed Pension Credit (not Savings Credit), income based Employment Support Allowance, support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Looked After Children who are in foster care may also be eligible for a grant and their local authority can apply for them.

Depending on what is needed, the grant allows eligible applicants to buy one of the following packages:

     1.   Full package (a computer, one year's internet access, service and support)
     2.   A computer with service and support only
     3.   One year's internet access only

Families that do not qualify for a grant are still able to buy a Home Access package from a range of well known high street retailers, as well as other suppliers approved by the programme.

If you know someone who might qualify for a Home Access Grant, please inform them and help them make the right contacts.  School have been given the contact information for any interested parents.  You can read more about the programme by visiting www.homeaccess.org.uk

SUPPORTING YOUR GIFTED & TALENTED PUPILS

The following was recently sent to Confederation Managers:

The Government is committed to ensuring that every child progresses well, and that they receive an education that is personalised to their individual needs, including those with a particular gift or talent.

We appreciate and value the work you are doing to unlock the potential of all your pupils. We also know that there is more that we can do to better support you in identifying and providing for your gifted and talented pupils, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

To find out what we are doing to support you and your gifted and talented pupils, see the Gifted and Talented area of the TeacherNet website  (Click to view).

There are useful links too on the 'Swift & Easy Referral to Specialist Services' page of this site.)

CONFEDERATION HOME/SCHOOL LINK WORKERS (HSLWs)

We now have 3 cross–school Confederation funded HSLWs, appointed to work with families and children where needed., in our schools.

  SARAH DUTTON is working with Green Oak,

  Moss Lane, Chandler, Milford Infant and

  Witley Infant.                   

KAREN SUTTON is working with

Broadwater (Year 7), Godalming Junior,

St James and Farncombe Infant. 

RACHEL JONES is working with Broadwater School, Busbridge Junior and Busbridge

 Infant Schools and St Mary’s Infant School, Shackleford.

In total, there are now 7 HSLWs working across the 16 confederation schools and

 now 3 Children’s Centres, the other 4 being partly funded by the Confederation:

 Dani Cole (our lead HSLW) and Debbie Loveland at Loseley Fields, 

 Sue Hannah at St Edmunds,  Lea Newbery at Rodborough,

 Sarah Dutton at Green Oak, Moss Lane, Milford and Witley,

Karen Sutton at Broadwater (Year 7), St James Elstead, Godalming Junior, Farncombe Infants and Rachel Jones at Broadwater, Busbridge Junior, Busbridge Infants and St Mary’s Infants, Shackleford. 

Our HSLWs will help parents coping with challenging children, giving individual parenting guidance and support, with advice on how to develop and maintain positive discipline.  They will listen and offer support on problems and issues using counselling skills and give the child with difficulties a forum to talk about concerns in a confidential and non-judgemental environment. They will help families/the child/the school access grants and information.  They will make home visits to support families and children.

HSLWs are an important part of our drive for swift and easy access to specialist help in Godalming, both to bridge any gaps between schools and parents/carers and to ensure that any support works in a truly joined up way across our families.                  

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR HSLW THROUGH YOUR SCHOOL OFFICE, WHERE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU CONTACT NUMBERS OR ARRANGE FOR THEM TO CALL YOU.