Change for the better

“In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or ​step back into safety.” Abraham Maslow

The air in schools during the summer term is one filled with excitement and ​apprehension around transitions and change. All stakeholders in our ​schools will be preparing for things coming to a close and making plans for ​new beginnings.

Here at Moss Lane Infant School we are facing a transition of our own; ​becoming a fully-fledged member of Learning Partners. Planning and ​preparation for this has been going on behind the scenes for some time and ​like many children who are transitioning to new things, we are filled with ​excitement but also a little apprehension of what’s to come.

At Moss Lane we view every child’s journey as being unique and we are ​here to guide them every step of the way. This couldn’t be truer at times of ​transitions. Staff here are forward thinking; discreetly preparing their current ​classes for moving on within, and beyond Moss Lane. Effective ​communication between teachers and schools is an essential element in ​ensuring new beginnings work well. Conversations around the social ​emotional welfare, as well as academic success of children are frequent at ​this time of year. Our school vision of ‘Safe, happy, aiming high’ is the driver ​for these conversations.

New beginnings provide an abundance of fresh opportunities. For many, this ​is exciting and something to look forward to. For some, times of change can ​be daunting and overwhelming.

Putting the right support in place for our most vulnerable pupils during ​transitions can ensure the continuity of learning, and development remains. ​The top of our transitions ‘job to do list’ is keeping well-being high, through ​effective emotional support. This will allow relationships old and new, to ​build and strengthen.

We know children, and their families thrive when they feel safe, secure and ​have a strong sense of belonging. Fostering open and effective relationships ​from the start allows us to build the foundations of our community.

We are always sad when children and families move on as they have been ​part of our Moss Lane family, and we have spent years building and ​developing these relationships. However, we are always able to ‘hand ​children over’ with a sense of pride knowing they will be ready for the next ​part in their learning journey.

When children, and adults, experience success through transition they will ​inevitably grow in confidence and handle changes in life well. Getting this ​right for our community has an ever lasting impact on their life’s trajectories.

As our academic year ends with a sense of achievement and closure, we ​take with us into the summer a sense of anticipation and excitement of all ​that the new academic year will have to offer. We would like to wish our ​Learning Partners schools all the best as they transition over the summer ​period and look forward to starting our new and exciting start journey in ​becoming part of the trust.

Victoria Abbott, Headteacher, Moss Lane Infants

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT continued

George Abbot SCITT partners with South Farnham

It is often said that the only constant in ​education is change and that is certainly true ​for the SCITT team at the end of this term. ​Based at George Abbot, our SCITT has been ​training teachers for over 20 years. During this ​time we have trained almost 1000 teachers. ​Countless Mentors and Professional Tutors will ​have supported these trainees developing their ​own professional skills alongside those of the ​trainees they nurture. Many of these trainees ​have gone on to have successful careers in ​our trust schools and beyond, making the ​SCITT a key strategic partner for local teacher ​recruitment. We are outward facing working ​with schools beyond our trust in Surrey, West ​Sussex and Hampshire. We were one of the ​first providers to offer initiatives such as ​‘Researchers in Schools’ in partnership with ​The Brilliant Club and our team have ​presented at national conferences on ITT. We ​have been an ‘outstanding’ provider of ITT for ​many years.

However, this summer we face some strategic ​changes. Being outward facing, we saw the ​recent ITT Market Review as an opportunity to ​build capacity within our organisation and ​continue to provide well-trained teachers for ​our trust schools. This led us to forging a ​partnership with South Farnham SCITT who ​specialise in Primary, while we continue to ​focus on Secondary. With South Farnham now ​having some secondary schools in their trust, ​they were keen to learn from us and ​collectively shape this offer. So, from ​September the SCITT team will be moving ​across to South Farnham so we can be one ​big team developing and delivering ITT from ​early years through to post-16 on a large ​scale.

Recruitment to our Secondary programme for ​September has been buoyant despite the ​national picture being poor. We have a record ​number of trainees and for the first time will be ​hosting two cohorts, one in Guildford and one ​in Basingstoke.

So, whilst we won’t officially be working ‘FOR’ ​Learning Partners from September, we are still ​very committed to working ‘WITH’ your ​schools. We have worked hard to forge ​partnerships over a long period of time, and ​this will continue into the future. Emails will ​start to come from an ‘SFET’ email but it will ​still be Richard and Jo on the end of the emails ​and us who will be visiting your schools.

The programme we deliver will be our ​programme and many study sessions will be ​run by colleagues from LPAT. Our hope is that ​next year will feel no different for schools or ​trainees.

However, we do need your help. Our research ​tells us that most candidates choose our ​provision through word of mouth. If friends, ​family, colleagues or neighbours are interested ​in training to teach in future, the message is ​that training in LPAT schools is still possible, ​future candidates can access local training and ​join our well-respected programme. We are ​still very much here.

Last week we signed off the ‘Class of 2024’ ​and the overwhelming feedback is that this ​‘has been an amazing course’. This cohort ​were supportive of each other and forged ​wonderful friendships alongside training. As we ​pack up our office, we have been reading the ​messages we have received over the years ​and reflected on where trainees are now. We ​know that many are now mentoring and ​engaged in supporting trainees which is ​wonderful to see. We look back with pride, ​confident in the knowledge that the SCITT has ​made a difference to schools and the pupils ​within them. We are proud of all we have ​achieved and of what is still to come.

Thank you for your support over the last 22 ​years! The education landscape was very ​different back then and whilst we have ​embraced change as a profession the core ​purpose of our jobs remains forever the same; ​to make a difference. We can all head to the ​summer knowing we have done just that and ​look forward to the changes that we will ​embrace in the Autumn term. We look forward ​to visiting your schools soon.

Signing off, Jo and Richard

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT continued

George Abbot SCITT over the years

Governance Conference

Thank you very much to everyone who ​participated in and attended our annual ​governance conference on 27 June. Thank ​you to those who facilitated a session, we ​appreciate that you were allocated to an ​area that was not your expertise and this ​was to enable all participants to do the ​talking and to stimulate discussion.

Our intended outcome from the conference ​was to inspire conversations within LGBs ​around what governor roles should look like ​and to question how our wider governance ​framework can be improved. Clearly, this ​is very much an early stage of this review ​process and you will hear more about our ​proposals in the new academic year.

Thank you very much to those who have ​completed the survey. We are still collating ​the feedback and would appreciate your ​response if you have not yet done so. This ​will allow us to gain further input to our ​governance review and better prepare and ​formulate next year’s conference and ​training programme.

The feedback received so far has been very ​informative and is very much appreciated, ​some good, some less so and both ​understandable. We will share the good ​stuff and work to improve on the bad!

If you have not yet ​managed to complete ​the survey, please click ​here

Engaging, helpful and I ​learned a lot. Good to ​do small group ​discussions with ​governors and heads ​from different school. ​Well run.

Thank you for ​organising - these ​events are a very ​valuable opportunity to ​help Govs to feel ​involved and to develop ​understanding of trust.

Last week members of staff who have worked within Surrey schools for 25 years came ​together on Thursday June 28 to celebrate this fabulous milestone.

They met at Harbour Hotel in Guildford and were treated to afternoon tea in the ​company of Jack, our CEO and Andrew Isherwood, Chair of Trustees. Jack and ​Andrew thoroughly enjoyed their company and listening to the many stories and ​experiences that have been met along the way during their 25 year careers.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate those members of staff who ​attended on this amazing achievement. We are sure you have witnessed many ​changes in education along the way and there are not enough words to express our ​thanks for your commitment, resilience and humour - essential characteristics for the ​world of education. Thank you for everything that you have done, and continue to do, ​for the young people of Surrey. You are absolutely amazing!

HR Update

We are pleased to share with you that the ​popular mental health app “headspace” is ​offering a free subscription to those who ​work in education.

Please click here for ​more information about ​the app.

Click here to sign up ​for the free ​subscription

Please note you will need to upload proof that ​you work in education for your application to ​be approved; more infomation is available on ​the site.

For staff members who pay into the LGPS, ​we have had notification from the Surrey ​Pensions team that the 2024 Annual Benefit ​Statement will be available to view on the ​‘My Pension’ portal by 31st August 2024, ​for staff who were active members by 31st ​March 2024. To view the statement, you will ​need to log on using the link below. Once ​logged on, you will be able to select “Annual ​Benefit Statements” from the dashboard. ​The statement can then be printed or ​downloaded and saved.

Interesting Reading

Pearson School Report 2024

Pearson commissioned a nationally ​representative external survey of primary ​and secondary educators between 20/03/24 ​and 13/04/24 to capture their views. ​Between, 6,932 and 10,015 responded to ​the questions. Responses were collected by ​the polling organisation Teacher Tapp and ​weighted to reflect national teacher and ​school demographics. Click below to read.

Follow us

Cycle To Work Scheme

A 12-month direct debit membership of £50 per ​month (instead of £72) and can be cancelled ​within the 12-month commitment period (with a ​calendar months’ notice) if there is a change in ​circumstances that falls within the terms and ​conditions. This includes a health issue or ​injury, redundancy, pregnancy, relocation, etc.

Additionally, there is a 20% partner discount ​available for anyone who joins alongside ​Learning Partners members providing they link ​their membership payments together.

This operates as a “salary sacrifice” employee benefit, in this instance the benefit is a bike and/or accessories). The salary sacrifice is taken from your gross salary, therefore you will make savings on income tax and national insurance. The bike can also be used for general use, so you don’t actually have to use it to cycle to work!

Click here for further information and to sign up

Access to Wisdom a health and mental wellbeing app

Click here for further information

This app is linked to our employee assistance programme,Health Assured, and gives you access to a dedicated wellbeing counsellor using live messaging and vido calls. The health hub can track your mood, help you set health plans, give mini health checks and support with breathing techniques.

Octopus Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme

Supporting the UK government’s push towards an electric vehicle revolution, we are operating the Learning Partners Academy Trust Electric Car Scheme, in partnership with Octopus Electric Vehicles (OEV).

You can drive a brand-new electric car* using part of your gross salary, making savings on income tax and national insurance. You will pay some company car tax (Benefit in Kind) but the rates for electric cars are extremely low until 2025.

*Subject to eligibility and you signing the Learning Partners Academy Trust Driver Handbook.

You can save up to 40% on driving a brand-new electric car with maintenance, tyres and more included, plus insurance. There are some added extras too, including a home charger, funded with a standard installation, and 4,000 miles of free home charge or 4,000 miles public charge on the Electroverse + £50 home credit, if you switch to Octopus Energy at home. T&Cs can be found here.

Click here for further information and our unique code to sign up

Nuffield Health Discounted Membership

Learning Partners Academy Trust and Nuffield Health have teamed up to offer a 30% discount to all Learning Partner employees at Guildford Nuffield.

There are two membership options available with the 30% discount. The pricing for these options is as follows:

1. A monthly rolling membership of £61 per month (instead of £87) and can be cancelled with a calendar months’ notice at any time during the membership.

Click here for further information

LEARNING PARTNERS Staff Benefits

Free Will Writing Service

Discounts for Teachers

& Ode Cashback Card

Learning Partners Academy Trust and Estate Planning and Will Writing specialists Dunham McCarthy are able to offer you a free will writing service to help you plan for your future, protecting your family and loved ones. The free service is provided remotely, either by telephone or video call, at a time to suit you. You will have an adviser to help you complete each step from start to finish.

All Learning Partners staff, in any role (not just teachers), can access exclusive discounts, cashback and vouchers when they join the scheme. There are over 1200 of the biggest brands on their website and thousands of deals. Save on holidays, fashion, homeware, days out, mobiles, finance, insurance, TV and broadband and more. It’s free to join and free to use, it only takes a couple of minutes to register, and you can start saving on your purchases right away.

Click here to watch a short webinar with advice on what can be included in a will

For more information and to book your initial appointment, click here

Freedom leisure - discounted membership

Freedom Leisure and Learning Partners Academy Trust can offer you discounted membership at Freedom Leisure sites in and around Surrey. There are three different packages to choose from offering various entitlements.

• Classic Corporate Plus (Peak) - £46 per month on direct debit or £460 annually (discount of 2 months free)
  
• Classic Corporate (Off Peak) - £37 per month on direct debit or £407 annually (discount of 1 month free)
• Connected Corporate - £51 per month or £510 annually (discount of 2 months free)
  

Employee Assistance Programme

The EAP is a confidential employee benefit designed to help you deal with personal and professional problems that could be affecting your home life or work life, health and general wellbeing. The helpline is available 24/7, 365 days a year.

Click here for further information

Headspace for Educators

Click here to sign up for discounted membership

Headspace offers free access to its service ​to anyone who works in education, all ​teachers and support staff.

Click here to sign up

Click here for further information

Horizon Guildford

Surrey Sports Park

Horizon Guildford (in Merrow), part of Horizon Leisure, is a newly refurbished state-of-the-art not-for-profit charitable trust with over 25 years of experience in the health and fitness industry. With established locations in Havant and Waterlooville, Horizon Guildford marks the exciting expansion into the Guildford community. The mission is simple: to inspire more people to live healthier, happier lives. Alongside the gym, swimming facilities and classes, Horizon are passionate about promoting overall health and wellness. By becoming a corporate member, you will gain access to exceptional facilities, including a gym equipped with high-specification equipment, public swimming, sauna and steam room and over 100 weekly classes, including Les Mills experiences.

Surrey Sports Park, continued

• Member Journey
• An initial appointment to find out about your goals and what you're looking to achieve
  
• The fitness team will then provide you with a 3-day programme and go through this with you
  
• Your next meeting they will go through day 2 of the programme
  
• After 4 weeks, you will be booked in again to find out how you're finding your membership and make any adjustments to your programme
  
• This is repeated once more after
  
• They will then check in with you after 4, 8 and 12 weeks to see how you're progressing and here you'll be offered programme reviews.
  

Octopus Referral Scheme

Octopus have also just launched a referral scheme where staff who sign up for an electric vehicle receive a referral code which they can pass on to any colleague(s) ordering car. When the car arrives both parties receive £50 credit to their account. There is no limit to how many times someone can share their code.

If you are interested in this membership option or are just looking to have a tour around the amazing facilities, then please visit the sales team between 10am and 5pm Monday – Friday. You just need to provide proof of your workplace.

Click here for further information

Octopus EV

Salary sacrifice and pension impact

01483 682662

While salary sacrifice schemes can be really beneficial and help you save money, it's important to understand the potential impact they can have on your pension, especially if you’re part of a defined benefit pension scheme like the Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS) or Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).

sales@surreysportspark.co.uk

www.surreysportspark.co.uk

Sports Massage and Injury Rehabilitation at Kings

Click here to find out how

an EV salary sacrifice

can affect your pension

A sports therapist who rents a room at Kings College is offering all Learning Partners staff a discount for various services including:

• Sports massage
  
• Injury assessment and rehab
• Postural correction
• Corrective exercise

Click here for further information