As we move closer towards the October half term, this week’s Whistle continues to focus on supporting the health and wellbeing of staff across the Trust.  The articles below provide some helpful and useful resources for reference. Most importantly, we  encourage all colleagues to rest and recuperate while children are off-site. We recognise how incredibly hard all of you have been working throughout this challenging time and therefore really do want to promote the need for staff to ‘down tools’ during half term.  Linking to the subject of Covid-19, I am pleased to report that we continue to have minimal positive cases within WeST schools. Despite the Government’s need to impose greater restrictions nationally, the number of children who have needed to self-isolate across our 22 schools has been kept to an absolute minimum and is testament to our robust approach taken in dealing with the pandemic. [RL1] 

Turning to our Strategic Plan 2020-25, I would like to highlight the final strand this week “Standards & Outcomes”. In the short term a key deliverable for this thread includes reducing student mobility where outcomes include reducing exclusions and promoting attendance. Richard Woodland will be a key contributor to our work in this area through the lens of inclusion and disadvantage. [RL1

 

 

 

As we develop the action plans that underpin each of the strands we have highlighted over recent weeks, we will continue to share headline activities with you and report on progress over coming months.

Take care & best wishes,

Rob Haring – CEO

Interested in Mindfulness?

I am exploring the possibility of connecting those of us across the trust with an interest in mindfulness (both for personal practice and for use with our pupils).

To register your interest please could you complete the very short MS Form available here

I will then consider some possible mechanisms to promote mindfulness as a way of supporting wellbeing across the Trust at all levels, based on the responses I receive.

Many thanks

Richard Woodland – Director of Inclusion

Recruitment update:

We are delighted to inform you that there are a number of exciting career opportunities within our Trust as follows:-

Dunstone Primary School require a KS2, full time Temporary Class Teacher, Grade MPS 1 – 5, from January 2021.  Please see the school website for more information: www.dunstoneprimary.co.uk
 
At Hele's School they are looking for an Exam Invigilator. For more information please visit the School's website as follows: 
https://www.heles.plymouth.sch.uk/category/vacancies 
 
Oreston Community Academy have the following vacancies:
  • Catering Assistant and Play Worker - Catering Assistant 15 hours per week (Grade B) and Play Worker 11.25 hours per week (Grade A) Hours: Monday – Friday 12pm – 5.30pm, Term Time Only Grade B £18,562-£18,933 (actual salary £6,279- 6,404) Grade A £17,842-£18,198 (actual salary £4,526-£4,617)
  • Teaching Assistant and Play Worker - Teaching Assistant 31.72 hours per week (Grade C) and Play Worker 5 hours per week (Grade A) Hours: Monday - Friday 7.45am – 3.30pm Term Time Only Grade C £19,312-£20,092 (actual salary £13,816-£14,374) Grade A £17,842-£18,198 (actual salary £2,011-£2,052)

For more information regarding these vacancies please visit: https://www.orestonacademy.com/current-vacancies/

Callington Community College are looking to appoint an experienced Assistant Principal to lead on Behaviour, Attendance and Welfare across the College. The closing date for this position is 3pm, Monday 19 October 2020. To view the full advert, please click here or visit the School's website:

 https://www.callingtoncc.net/news/?pid=3&nid=3&storyid=260

Have Your Say….

A whole staff survey on shaping next steps is now available.

Your views matter to us and we want your help to build improvements to our working environment as we move through the remainder of the autumn and into the spring term.  Therefore WeST has developed a specific staff survey for all colleagues to gather feedback and input. The survey opens 14th October and will be available until Friday 23rd October.

The short survey has 12 questions to share your perspective. You can access this link on any internet enabled device or use the QR code below. Results will be anonymous and reviewed centrally by the Executive Team. A summary of the results will be published in future editions of the Wednesday Whistle.

To complete the short survey please click here

Alternatively, you can scan the QR code below:

Thank you!

Working from Home

For some WeST colleagues their role continues to adapt with working from home. We have previously shared some top tips for your wellbeing and working from home, but have you completed the Occasional Homeworking Risk Assessment? And have you stuck to the adjustments and workstation set up?! Now is a great time to step back and check your work area set up to ensure it meets your needs.

The Occasional Homeworking Risk Assessment provided guidance and a check-list to complete in liaison with your line manager to ensure your wellbeing and arrangements. Copies of the template materials are available on the staff portal for further information.

Should you have any specific queries please contact HR on: hr@westst.org.uk.

Thinking about Training to Teach?

Teach South West are running Train to Teach online events on 4 November 2020 and 27 January 2021.

Further information and how to register can be found on our flyer. Please share this with friends and family.

Coming soon...... Erasmus+ training:

Invitation to join the Erasmus+ Pilot:

This programme has been designed as part of an Erasmus+ funded project aiming to improve inter-professional working to help reduce children's toxic stress. This innovative programme has two parts with a further extension element. 

Part 1: An online pre-task session of around 2 hours. 

Part 2: A full day online facilitated session with other professionals in your own organisation or ideally in a multi-agency group.

Part 3: A tutor supported evaluative element. Part 3 is not part of the Erasmus+ pilot but it is designed as an extension, which deepens the impact of the programme. For more information please click here for the full invitation and further details.