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Welcome to the first edition of the ‘Whistle’ for the new academic year.

I am extremely excited about the year ahead. Whilst I know we will face challenges and obstacles, we have the strength of last year’s many successes to give us confidence to stride forward with purpose and belief.

Our trust value of aspiration indicates our collective belief in a better future; that we are constantly able to improve and do better.

Together, we form a vibrant group of professionals bound by a common desire to ensure the children in our care thrive and succeed.

We are the backbone of our Trust, a professional network built on the solid foundation of shared values and a collective vision for excellence in education.

Collaboration, our first cornerstone, is the heartbeat of our Trust. It's in the spirited exchange of ideas, the pooling of talents, and the mutual support we offer to one another. In every classroom, in every meeting, and in every endeavour we undertake, we are united in the pursuit of a common goal – to provide our children with the very best opportunities for personal growth, learning, and success. Our collective strength is far greater than the sum of our individual parts.

This year, I encourage each of you to seek out and engage in the many opportunities for collaboration and to champion the spirit of teamwork. Through our combined efforts, we will create an environment where every child thrives, and where every colleague finds inspiration and support. Our WeST Learning Institute professional development booklet will soon be distributed.

Aspiration, our second guiding principle, is the force that propels us forward. It is the unwavering belief in the potential of every child and the steadfast determination to nurture their dreams. Together, we stand as beacons of possibility, illuminating the path to success and self-discovery for each child entrusted to our care.

Let us ignite the spark of curiosity, kindle the flames of creativity, and fan the embers of ambition within our children.

This year we are agreeing audacious goals.  As we embark on the journey of the year ahead, let us do so with a sense of purpose, a spirit of unity, and a boundless enthusiasm for the possibilities that lie ahead. Together we are architects of a brighter future for all.

Good luck!

Best wishes 

Rob Haring, CEO 

WeST HAB Structure 

A Multi Academy Trust is where a number of schools join together and form a single entity with a Board of Trustees answerable to the Trust's Members. At Westcountry Schools Trust the local tier of governance is represented by Hub Advisory Boards (HABs). From 1 January 2023 schools in WeST belong to one of four governance Hubs. Each Hub is supported by a HAB. The HAB serves to provide a connection between the Trustees, schools and their communities. HABs meet three times a year to consider reports from executive leaders and matters arising from HAB members’ visits to school. After each HAB meeting the Chair and Vice-Chair of the HAB meet with CEO and Chair of Trust, ensuring a flow of local knowledge and oversight from the HAB to the trust board.

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Brand new directory of services for Devon & Cornwall 

This document can be found on the staff portal under safeguarding. This is a useful directory for anyone who works in WeST to support families or for colleagues who may be wanting to find support for themselves, family or friends. 

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New MASH Consultation line for professionals: 01752 304339

In response to requests from our partner agencies and to support the statutory services provided within Children’s Social Care, we have opened a new Consultation Line.

This new phone line provides an opportunity for agencies to speak to the MASH to ensure that the right help at the right level is being provided to the children and families we work with. You can call for advice and guidance around situations where you’re unclear or unsure about the appropriate support, or if a referral into children’s social care is needed.

The phone line will be open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) and will not be available during hours that are covered by the Out of Hours Team.

We would encourage you to use this service as it means we will be able to provide more clarification in situations where a referrer is unclear whether the correct level for referral has been reached or if the needs of the family can be met by universal services or Early Help. This will then help to shape our future services and enable us to understand how we can best work together to support our children and their families.

Parental Consent and Generic Advice

Please note that you can speak to the MASH Consultation Line about a range of hypothetical issues or concerns, however in order to speak about a specific child you should have consent from the parents or carers providing it is safe to do so. It is important that we seek consent from families when working with them or sharing information about them, unless there is a safeguarding concern that would escalate the concern. The only time this isn’t applicable is when seeking consent might place a child at risk of further harm. The consultation line does not replace the right of partner agencies to make a referral directly into Children’s Social Care when the concerns may constitute significant harm.  

When you have a safeguarding concern about a child, please make contact with the MASH in the usual way. 

What is an Employee Assistance Programme?

There are times when we all need some extra support to balance the demands of everyday life. Care first are independent and confidential.

How can I access this?

This service is free of charge for WeST employees to access, you don’t need to inform your line manager (unless you wish to). Just quote that you are an employee of ‘Westcountry Schools Trust’.

You can call 0800 174 319 to speak to a professional counsellor or information specialist in confidence 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

You can visit the Care first lifestyle website which offers additional resources and online services at:

Website: www.carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk

User Name: Westcountst

Password: Wellbeing1234

Self Care September

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The Erasmus+ Natural Schooling project (led by WeST Learning Institute) has successfully concluded, innovating curriculum delivery through outdoor learning with schools in the UK, Sweden, Spain and Italy.

Intellectual Outputs for the projects are now freely available to download: 

  • Intellectual Output 1:  the project handbook available here: https://naturalschooling.eu/erasmus-natural-schooling-curriculum-innovation-handbook-io1-english-language-version/
  • Intellectual Output 6: the project evaluation report written by TLI Academic Professional Josie Cuffe and advised by Sue Waite (honorary Associate Professor in Outdoor Learning at Plymouth Institute of Education & Jönköping University in Sweden who also evaluated the Wildlife Trust Nature Friendly Schools initiative) available here: https://naturalschooling.eu/erasmus-natural-schooling-evaluation-report-2023/
  • Intellectual Output 7: a Natural Schooling training program for teachers or those wishing to develop a Natural Schooling approach in their own settings, written by project lead and TLI Academic Professional Deborah Lambert, advised by Sue Waite available here: https://naturalschooling.eu/natural-schooling-training-program/

A limited number of handbooks are also available for WeST schools wishing to have their own hard copy.

For further details about the project and outdoor learning training provided by Arena Wild Tribe Outdoor Learning (part of WeST) please contact debbie.lambert@learninginstitute.co.uk 

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Recruitment update:

We are delighted to inform you of the following exciting career opportunities within our Trust:- 

Coombe Dean School are seeking to appoint a Teacher of Geography (maternity cover). The successful candidate will be an excellent classroom practitioner and passionate about working with students. The ability to engage, enthuse and inspire young people and colleagues to achieve success is key. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 18 September 2023. 

Eggbuckland Community College are seeking to appoint Casual Exam Invigilators. Successful candidates will support the exams administrators with the day-to-day operation of examination venues. Duties may include reading and/or scribing for students with special needs. For more information, please click here. 

Ivybridge Community College are looking to fill the following vacancies: 

Community Sports Receptionist - The post holder must have good communication skills, be able to covey a friendly and approachable outlook to others. They should also be flexible and pro-active towards changes in day-to-day working arrangements. Closing date: 18 September 2023. 

Sports Coach for the Sports Academy (Casual) - The Community Sports Centre staff are the public face of Ivybridge Community College. They are often the first person a visitor sees, the first voice they hear over the telephone or the first message they receive via email.  It is important that the post holder therefore conducts themselves in a professional and knowledgeable manner to give visitors to the Community Sports Centre a good first impression and that all enquiries are dealt with effectively. Closing date: 18 September 2023. 

For more information on the above vacancies, please click here. 

Plymstock School are looking to fill the following vacancies: 

Attendance Manager - To manage and track student attendance data across the whole school. To work with other agencies and within school to ensure the academic success of all students related to their attendance. Closing date: 27 September 2023. 

Behaviour Manager - The post holder is responsible for the effective day-to-day organisation, coordination, supervision of students and support of the Reset and Internal Reflection rooms (CORE rooms). Closing date: 27 September 2023. 

For more information on the above vacancies, please click here. 

South Dartmoor Community College are looking to fill the following vacancies: 

Cover Supervisor (PE) - More details can be found on the SDCC website. Closing date: 2 October 2023.

Teacher of Computing - You will join a passionate and dedicated team, and a Trust who is committed to providing professional development and opportunities for all colleagues. Closing date: 2 October 2023.

Teacher of English - The successful candidate must be able to deliver the curriculum to a high level, across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5, working closely with the English team. The successful candidate will be a hard-working individual; a teacher with high expectations and an unwavering determination to get the best outcomes for students. Closing date: 2 October 2023.

For more information on the above vacancies, please click here. 

Yealmpton Primary School are seeking to appoint two skilled Teaching Assistants to be part of our very supportive, hardworking and successful team. Work may be carried out in the classroom or may regularly take place outside the main teaching area. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 18 September 2023. 

Westcountry Schools Trust is seeking to recruit a Senior Procurement and Contracts Officer with significant and demonstrable experience of procurement and contract management across a broad range of environments: technology, finance, estates and human resources. For more information, please click here. Closing date: 22 September 2023.