Clerks briefing sessions - briefing notes, documents and presentation

Please find attached the briefing notes from the spring term Clerks' briefings, attended by 128 clerks. The ECA has also published two new briefing papers, No 15 on the new Ofsted Inspection Framework and, hot off the press, No 16 on the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty 2011. We hope that you will find these helpful to inform your own practice and to support your governors and schools.

A huge number of documents were referred to at the sessions, plus the Ofsted presentation and the summary of the evaluations. These can all be found on the website - simply follow the links below:

Education Act 2011

Model standing orders - changes highlighted

Statutory policy list from the DfE - January 2012 (Hurrah!)

Link to the DfE timeline

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/toolsandinitiatives/cuttingburdens/a...

Ofsted documents

Powerpoint presentation to clerks

Getting them reading early - phonics information for inspectors

The framework for school inspection from January 2012

The evaluation schedule for the inspection of maintained schools and academies January 2012

Conducting school inspections from January 2012

Subsidiary guidance for Ofsted inspections January 2012 (includes guide to how governors will be inspected)

Evidence form for Ofsted inspections from January 2012

Ofsted report template January 2012

Pre-inspection briefing January 2012

Guidance on the use of evidence forms Jan 2012

School inspection framework FAQs January 2012

DfE documents:

Use of Reasonable Force - advice

Screening, Searching and Confiscation

Dealing with Allegations of Abuse against teachers and other staff

Preventing and Tackling Bullying

Equalities Act 2010 - DfE guidance

Equality Duty workbook

Equality Act - setting objectives

Equality Act - information the school can use to show it has due regard for equalities

LA documents:

Finance Review consultation proposals (these were approved by the Schools Forum on 11 January for recommendation - and are now being considered by Cllr Stephen Castle who will make the final decisions.)

Dates for your diary:

ECA Annual General Meeting Thursday 29 March 2012, Chelmsford City Football Club

Summer term 2012 Clerk briefings:

Great Baddow Centre        Tuesday 17 April       10.00 am - 12 noon

Colchester Centre             Wednesday 18 April   2.00 pm - 4.00 pm

Harlow Centre                   Thursday 19 April       2.00 pm - 4.00 pm

Wickford Centre                Tuesday 24 April        2.00 pm - 4.00 pm

Colchester Centre              Wednesday 25 April   7.00 pm - 9.00 pm

Clerks' Annual Conference 2012 Wednesday 27 June Colchester United Stadium

Programme and invitation will go out early in the summer term.