www.boarding.org.uk No images? Click here Dear Members,As this is the final BSA Weekly Newsletter before both the end of term and the year, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for all your support over the past 12 months. I think it's fair to say that, when we began 2020, no one could have anticipated the kind of year that was going to be in store for all of us. But despite the ongoing fight against coronavirus, and other challenges we've faced in 2020, we can definitely say that our responses as a sector, and as a whole global boarding community, have shown the best of us. The news this week of the first patients receiving vaccinations against COVID-19 does at least offer hope that a return to some semblance of normality is on the horizon. The BSA weekly newsletter will now be taking a break, with the next edition due to be published on Friday, January 8, 2021. In the meantime, on behalf of everyone at BSA Group, I'd like to wish you a very Happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year. Revised national minimum standards for boarding schools in England - consultationThe DfE has launched the consultation on the revised standards which closes on February 23, 2021. BSA and ISC will be submitting separate but coordinated responses, and schools are also welcome to respond individually. If you have any comments on the DfE’s proposals please contact Dale Wilkins (Dale@boarding.org.uk) and Simon Nathan (simon.nathan@isc.co.uk) by the end of January. Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance for 2021 - consultationThis week, the DfE has also launched a consultation into the proposed Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance for 2021, and that on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment in Schools and Colleges, which links to Part 5 of KCSIE. As with the NMS consultation, BSA will be coordinating responses on behalf of the sector, but schools are encouraged to make their own responses should they wish to. The consultation closes on March 4, 2021. Revised national guidance for child protection in Scotland - consultationA reminder that the Scottish Government has launched a consultation into the revised National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland which runs until January 17, 2021. The guidance references independent schools, boarding, and both SCIS and BSA. For the latest COVID-19 updates, please see the next section of the newsletter. Events and trainingWe're constantly updating our programme of CPD, events and training and we've already got a packed schedule lined up for 2021. As mentioned in last week's newsletter, all of our residential conferences scheduled for the remainder of this academic year will be online only. This includes our two-day BSA Boarding Conference, which takes place on February 2-3, and our BSA Annual Conference for Heads 2020-21 on May 4-5, both of which are already open for bookings. Early in 2021, we'll also be delivering Induction training for GAP assistants, which takes place across various dates in January and February, while Sacpa will be holding its first Safer Recruitment Training session of the year on January 7. You can book places or find out more about these sessions, along with other events scheduled for early 2021, in the BSA Academy section below. You can also see our full 2020/21 training calendar for an up-to-date list of all our events. Boarding School Magazine, Spring 2021 - send us your newsThank you to everyone who has sent in contributions for the spring 2021 edition of Boarding School magazine, due for publication in February 2021. If you would like to submit an article for the next edition, please email bsa@boarding.org.uk with your contributions by Friday January 8, 2021. New BSA websiteWe're currently building a new BSA website which will be going live in Spring 2021. As part of this project, please be aware that you may be contacted on our behalf by our colleagues at Inner Media, who are helping us to develop the new site. They will be in touch to check that your existing school profile information is up-to-date, ahead of it being transferred over to our new site. A big thank you to all member schools which have sent in photos for the project. Best wishes,
COVID-19 updateTesting updateFrom December 8, 2020, the Chinese Government requires that, for entry into China from the UK, reports of both nucleic acid (COVID-19) and IgM (antibody) tests must come from the same service provider. This does not mean the provider must carry out both tests, but that the provider must guarantee both test reports. We also know that some member schools have been using BioGrad Clinic as a supplier of COVID-19 PCR and IgM tests and would like to draw your attention to the fact that, from December 4, 2020 until January 3, 2021, the Chinese Embassy in the UK has suspended recognition of their test results. Please be aware of these two changes if you still have Chinese pupils at your school who intend to return home for the Christmas holidays. DfE update: Term dates and contact tracingWe're grateful to our colleagues at ISC for sending us the following update from the DfE: End of term planning: We know that school and further education leaders, teachers and staff, as well as nurseries and childminders, have worked tirelessly over the last term. This has included their important role in contact tracing, to help in the national effort to limit the spread of the virus. We are aware that this has led to additional work over weekends and holidays and we are incredibly grateful for this. We recognise the challenges of this responsibility at the end of term. Public Health England has agreed a six day window after the final day of teaching in which schools and further education providers are asked to remain contactable so they can assist with contact tracing where necessary. This will allow enough time for positive coronavirus (COVID-19) cases to be identified and confirmed by a test and for relevant contacts in the education setting to be traced. We are clear that beyond six days after the final day of teaching, school and further education staff are not asked to play a role in any contact tracing. It is also likely that the need to support the tracing process will reduce dramatically over the course of the six days as the majority of cases should be identified earlier in the week. End of term – advice for schools: To ensure that staff get the time off they need and deserve, schools may wish to use an INSET day, making Friday, December 18, a non-teaching day and using the day for staff training, which could be delivered online. Where term would normally finish in the week commencing December 21, schools may wish to consider adjusting term dates to make Friday, December 18, the last day of term (which could be an INSET day), and bringing forward the start of term in January by the same number of days. In all circumstances, teaching time must be made up at another point in the academic year. You should not limit attendance at school before Friday, December 18. It remains vital for all children to be in school up to the last day of teaching. We recognise this communication has arrived with schools late in the term but would ask schools to be as helpful to parents as they can by sharing any changes to end of term arrangements as soon as possible, particularly where schools choose to make Friday 18 December a non-teaching day. Your support with this is appreciated. We recommend all schools ensure staff, parents and carers are aware of the following information and relevant arrangements regarding positive cases in the holidays:
For the first six days after the end of term, schools are not asked to be on-call at all times. Staff responsible for contact tracing may designate a limited period in the day to receive notification of positive cases and advise close contacts to self-isolate (this can be done by text or email). The Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline and PHE advice service are available to support with any queries you have about positive cases in your school. Where pupils are required to self-isolate due to contact with a positive case after the first six days following the end of term, schools do not need to be informed about their absence until the first day of the new term. BSA COVID-19 supplier listBSA has a list of suppliers of vital equipment on our website, and the list continues to grow. BSA does not officially endorse any of the products listed. Schools are urged to perform their own due diligence checks on any company they plan to approach:
For more detail on each of the suppliers, please visit the BSA COVID supplier page here. INDEXINDEX Toolkit Last week, we launched INDEX (Inclusion and Diversity Excellence), a programme of support to help members in this area. We've now also created an INDEX Toolkit, which provides structure and guidance to promote the values of equality, diversity and inclusion. It also aims to assist schools to be more effective and provide a better service as both an educational establishment and an employer. The INDEX Toolkit and full BSA INDEX Framework can be accessed in our members' area under Guidance (BSA website username and password required). Other newsIndependent School Management Plus is looking for schools who would be interested in submitting profiles of themselves for one of its regular features. If you are interested in submitting a profile piece for your school, please email Irena Barker, the magazine's Content Manager. Examples of previous profile pieces can also be viewed by clicking on the links below: Certified Guardian and Agent schemesThe BSA Certified Guardian and Agent Schemes continue to grow, providing reassurance for schools and families. The schemes' training and certification programmes assure BSA boarding schools that they are dealing with educational guardians and agents who have the highest standards in the safeguarding of children, safer recruitment and training of staff and host families, and careful liaison with parents and schools. The schemes are a clear demonstration to BSA boarding schools of the quality and intention of the educational guardians and agents who reach certified status. BSA Certified AgentsWe are delighted to announce that i-Learner and Sarah Jochums Internatsberatung have joined the BSA Certified Agent scheme. Welcome to the BSA family!
For more information on the BSA Certified Agent scheme, please visit our website. BSA Certified GuardiansWe are delighted to announce that Gabbitas has joined the BSA Certified Guardian scheme. Welcome to the BSA family!
For more information on the BSA Certified Guardian scheme, please visit our website. We have also had a number of requests from schools for our BSA Certified Guardian logo to use on admissions information or school websites - you can access a copy of the logo by clicking here. BSA AcademyAccredited TrainingThe BSA's programme of Professional Development and training is the most comprehensive CPD package offered to staff in boarding schools. It includes a series of professional practice Certificate courses specifically designed to meet the practical needs of boarding staff and provide an internationally-recognised qualification in Boarding Education. For more details on our Certificate courses, please click here. Listed below are a selection of our upcoming courses - to find out more, or to book your place, please click on the course title. If you need any further information about our Accredited Training programme, please contact Liz McDonald, Senior Training Manager, at liz@boarding.org.uk. COURSES
Virtual conferences
Virtual day seminars
Induction training for GAP Assistants: January is traditionally a changeover point for many GAP and Graduate Assistant roles in schools. Although the numbers coming to the UK in January 2021 are reduced compared to normal years, there will still be a group of enthusiastic and committed new staff joining our schools when term begins. BSA will be running our traditional training events for GAPS (please see dates and links below) and is also delighted to be supporting LetzLive with training its GAPS and Grads before they go on to schools. Both LetzLive and BSA are taking all appropriate measures to ensure COVID-Safe procedures for all concerned. Dates (please note all sessions run from 10:30 - 15:30): January 19; January 20; January 26; January 29 and February 05. Sacpa Safer Recruitment Training: This training will enable you to meet statutory responsibilities referenced in Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children, and required by OFSTED. The course is suitable for staff in the role of designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and deputy designated safeguarding lead (DDSL) as well as members of management teams with recruitment responsibilities, including HR and Governors/Trustees. Dates: January 07 and May 13. Sacpa DSL Training: This training will enable you to meet statutory responsibilities referenced in Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children. The course is suitable for staff in the role of designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and deputy designated safeguarding lead (DDSL). It is delivered by an NSPCC-accredited trainer and qualified social work manager of 20 years. Webinars
To see the entire 2020-21 training programme, click here.Become a BSA Accredited Boarding PractitionerBSA Accredited Boarding Practitioner status is an individual recognition of those boarding staff who are making a personal, professional commitment to best boarding practice. To be considered, all applicants are expected to meet the following core commitments: • Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children Find out more here. Keep in touchPlease note the BSA office is now closed and the team is working remotely. If you would like further advice from the BSA, please email bsa@boarding.org.uk or contact the team directly:
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