Please share our bulletin with your whole staff team in your school and encourage your colleagues to subscribe to our mailing list

We welcome contributions to all our communications channels: blog, newsletter, bulletins and social media. Please share your news and successes with us communications@cscjes.org.uk 

Dysg Newsletter: Make sure you receive Welsh Government's weekly updates and developments on education and training sectors in Wales. Sign up to Dysg here 

To Action
Professional Learning
For Information 
 

Help Us Spread CSC's Messages as Far and Wide as Possible
Use our #CSCKeepWalesLearning  #CCDDaliDdysgu hashtag.
Please follow us on our following strategic twitter accounts for the latest updates:
@CSCJES
@CSC_TALP
@CSC_FP
@CSC_PL 
@CSC_Cymraeg
@CSC_DigiLearn 
@CSC_Literacy 
@CSC_Leadership 
@CSC_SciTech 
@SiarterIaithCCD   
@CSC_ExpArts 
@CSCHumanities 
@CSC_NQT
@CSC_Wellbeing

REMINDER: CSC Direct Teaching Resources
Our Direct Teaching Resources continues to grow and is live on our website, categorised by subject area.
It is a useful source of direct teaching resources for schools to help plan distance learning activities for your pupils. This resource is a fantastic example of teachers helping teachers across the region, please do share any resources that you have produced to help other teachers. ‘By schools, for schools’.

Our Improvement partners and strategic advisors are here to support you over the coming weeks, please do talk to us if you have any comments, concerns or queries.

Please refer to our website for guidance and resources:

• Blended and Remote/Distance Learning including guidance on continuity learning
• Direct Teaching Resources.  Repository of shared resources ‘by schools for schools’.
• Direct Teaching for Distance Learning poster -  links to supporting video tutorials can be accessed from the poster 

• Best evidence on supporting students to learn remotely.  Rapid evidence assessment
• Support resources for schools and parents to help support home learning and maximise the impact of work set.

Statement from Qualifications Wales About Centre Determined Grades for Summer 2021 
Following the Minister for Education’s announcement yesterday, 20 January, please see  statement confirming centre determined grades for summer 2021.

A letter has been shared with learners  and more information can be found on Qualifications Wales' website.
 

Consultation on Approach to Designated Vocational Qualifications:
https://qualificationswales.org/english/awarding-2021/statements/consultation-on-approach-to-designated-vocational-qualifications-have-your-say/?fbclid=IwAR3pftAnJLPgkrNu44CsvB27JXbNrJGDdGJe6-LDajClFolZiyC49oLo9yA

Welsh Across the Curriculum Community
In order to support pupils to develop the necessary Welsh language skills, to aid their work in the different AOLEs and to support Target 9 in Cymraeg Campus Siarter Iaith, there is a Welsh across the Curriculum community on the www.cscjes.org.uk website. This community comprises of planning, language mats, flashcards, templates, PowerPoints and pupils’ work for the following areas of Learning:

• Humanities
• Health and Well-being/Expressive Arts
• Mathematics and Numeracy

Here is the link to access these: https://www.cscjes-cronfa.co.uk/go/gtuddm

We are now looking for practitioner created teaching resources of quality for English medium Primary schools, as well as good examples of pupils’ work, to support the use of Welsh across the curriculum. This will highlight the best practice, which is undertaken in schools across the regions. If you would like to contribute to this community, please email: amanda.mathias@cscjes.org.uk  or sian.walters@cscjes.org.uk

Welsh Professional e-Learning -
Welsh Language Development Programme: Part 3 is now LIVE.
"The programme consists of fifteen bite-sized narrated PowerPoints which enable practitioners to listen to and practise a range of useful language patterns to use with pupils in many different contexts. The programmes covers a range of themes and will support practitioners to teach a broad range of language patterns, verb forms and tenses."
https://www.cscjes.org.uk/repository/tree?sort=created&language=en&tags=Professional%20Learning%20Offer&nodeId=c2afd68e-66f7-49ef-a314-e09d7c99a582
For further information or support, please contact your designated Welsh in Education Officer or Chris Newcombe, Strategic Lead for Welsh – christopher.newcombe@cscjes.org.uk  Mobile: 07385 401909. 

S4C Education Resources
S4C has launched a new service in partnership with the Welsh Government. From this week, 80 hours of S4C programmes have been uploaded to the educational HWB platform and will be broadcasting BBC Bitesize programmes on S4C throughout the week. There will be content to support all ages up to A Level.

S4C is trying to ensure as many teachers, schools and parents as possible are aware of this homeschooling support and resource during lockdown. Further details in the press release here.

BBC Wales Education: helping children learn from home
The BBC offers a wealth of fun, engaging and educational content for children from primary and secondary school age through to post-16 education.
This time, there will be additional provision for pupils learning through English and Welsh on television on BBC2 and Welsh language provision on S4C. Parents can already find tips on how to keep their children occupied and learning during this time, as well as a list of all of the content available to Welsh schoolchildren at every level. Broadcast schedules are available here

Research Bites: Online Motivation
Maintaining learner motivation online can be a challenge. Boekaerts ‘8 Principles of Motivation’ cited in a research paper from the OECD can support us to think about this. .CSC has developed a summary of recent research about learner motivation to support schools to consider strategies they can use through remote learning.  You can find the document here.

Update on the Additional Learning Needs system
Welsh Government has now published non-statutory guidance for the three new ALN co-ordinating officer roles that came into force on 4 January ahead of the planned introduction of the ALN system in September of this year.

The three guides can be found online at the following links;

• Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator (ALNCO)

• Designated Education Clinical Lead Officer (DECLO)

          https://gov.wales/role-designated-education-clinical-lead-officer

• Early Years Additional Learning Needs Lead Officer (Early Years ALNLO)

          https://gov.wales/role-early-years-additional-learning-needs-lead-officer

REMINDER: Spotlight on Central South Consortium Welsh Team
Remember that there is a wide range of resources, communities, networks and professional learning opportunities available to support the learning of Welsh.
Communities: 
Siarter Iaith CCD  [Cyfrwng Cymraeg] 
Cymraeg Campus [Cyfrwng Saesneg] 
Cymraeg ar Draws y Cwricwlwm  [Cyfrwng Saesneg] 

Networks: 
Crochan Cymraeg Cynradd CCD [Welsh Medium] 
Y Pair – Adnoddau Cymraeg Uwchradd [Welsh Medium] 
Y Gist – Adnoddau Ail iaith Uwchradd [English Medium] 
Cymraeg for Secondary School Staff  [English Medium]  

Resources: 
CSC Knowledge Bank
Cross-consortia blended learning resources
Direct Learning Resources [Cyfrwng Cymraeg] 
If you would like to share any direct learning resources, you can complete this form.; Before submitting a resource, the copyright guides must be considered

e Professional Learning:
CSC Non-concurrent Welsh Language Development programmes [English Medium] 
Cyrsiau Blasu ar lein learnwelsh.cymru 

Twitter:  
@SiarterIaithCCD  
@CSC_Cymraeg  

Please also remember that you are welcome to contact a member of the CSC Welsh team for help or more information along with Chris Newcombe, Welsh Language Strategic Leader on christopher.newcombe@cscjes.org.uk

Remote Asynchronous Learning Design
Do you want to know more about the theory and practice of learning design to support remote learning? Three playlists (Click here) have been commissioned by Welsh Government and designed by CDSM Interactive Solutions Ltd. They are freely available on HWB and provide an extensive and comprehensive training programme for practitioners interested in becoming experts in learning design. These resources will definitely be useful to you as you plan and deliver remote learning. We know how busy everyone is at the moment with the move to online learning so this short taster video (Click here) provides an overview of the first resource, drawing attention to some of the most impactful aspects. If you are interested in funded opportunities to deepen your knowledge of learning design using these resources, please contact your regional Professional Learning Lead.

REMINDER: Post-16 Statistical Publications - Comments Required by 22 January 2021
Please see link below to the latest statistical blog which provides details on the planned statistical publications on post-16 education during 2019/20. The impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and disruption to learning, affects our reporting and your feedback on the proposed approach is important  so we can meet as many of your needs as we can:https://digitalanddata.blog.gov.wales/2021/01/06/cross-cutting-and-post-16-education-statistics-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/

If you have any comments or suggestions, please get in touch with post16ed.stats@gov.wales by 22 January 2021 to give us enough time to consider them as we prepare the statistical article.

Covid 19 Education, Childcare & Work Based Learning Update
Click on the links below for further information
Written Statement: Update on General Qualifications in 2021
Letter to secondary school headteachers and colleges
Video from the Minister 
Letter to the Minister from the Design and Delivery group 
Statement from Qualifications Wales
Assessment arrangements for GCSE, AS and A level grades in summer 2021

Letter to learners
Statement from WJEC
Education Minister, Kirsty Williams confirms approach for Summer 2021 assessments
Children's Commissioner for Wales: Coronavirus and Me – Nation-wide survey for children and young people in Wales – January 2021
The survey will be posted here before the end of the day on Wednesday 20 January.

FAQs
Schools: coronavirus guidance
Further education: coronavirus
Childcare and play: alert level 4 frequently asked questions
Higher education and student support: coronavirus
Coronavirus regulations: frequently asked questions
Student Space, the online mental health platform for students
Family Lives, a helpline service supporting families in Wales
Jobs, skills and financial support
Test, Trace, Protect: to keep Wales safe
What do you need to do?

Latest advice on Coronavirus from Welsh Government: https://gov.wales/coronavirus

REMINDER: The Open University offers two part time routes into teaching
The Open University offers two part time routes into teaching. These replace all other employment based routes into teaching. If you have someone in your school community who you know would make an excellent teacher, now is the time to apply to start to train in September 2021. Closing dates for the application to the alternative routes are below and with the programmes filling up quickly, early application is advised. For further information, please visit: http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/choose/wales/pgce or contact Sharne Watkins at sharne.watkins@cscjes.org.uk 

Applications dates for 2020/2021 are shown below: 

*may close sooner if courses are full 

Remote and Blended Learning Professional Learning Opportunities for January and February 2021
Forthcoming professional learning opportunities to support practitioner in planning online lessons, with live sessions facilitated by the CSC team or Teach Like a Champion as well as links to access pre-recorded sessions.
Click here for full details and contact bev.blackburn@cscjes.org.uk for further information.


Equity and Well-being - Children Looked After
Psychological First Aid for Children - Supporting Children with Emotional and Behavioural Distress  - This is a training day to offer a model that is also useful to children who are more broadly experiencing emotional distress.

Event Code: 20/1209
Date:08/03/2021
Click  here

Expressive Arts free professional learning workshops –
Please click here to view the series of workshops and book your place. Workshops available for Art, Dance, Drama, Media, Music across all key stages.

Curriculum for Wales Professional Learning Programme: Vision Workshops for Headteachers & Senior Leaders
What will the Vision Workshop cover?
As the Curriculum for Wales reform journey continues, it is essential that all schools develop a vision for curriculum and the learning and teaching that supports it. This part of the programme will link the visioning process to the educational practices in schools to support the implementation of reform.
 
Event Dates and Information 
National CfW PL programme - Establishing Shared Vision session for HTs and Senior Leaders:
25/01/2021 – 11.30 – 13.30 WELSH MEDIUM
https://www.cscjes-cronfa.co.uk/repository/resource/cf40c885-03f0-463e-9e7f-076d29cec6ce/en
 25/01/2021 – 15.30 – 17.30
https://www.cscjes-cronfa.co.uk/repository/resource/83753534-aa7d-4c3e-8a41-3c6f335508b8/en

National CfW PL programme - Leading Change Workshops for Headteachers & Senior Leaders
03/02/2021 - 09:30 - 11:30
here: https://www.cscjes-cronfa.co.uk/events/view/3f6b3697-b4cd-4731-b816-57568a4777c7

Curriculum for Wales(CfW)
Autumn 2020 CfW network meetings – meeting recordings, presentations and other materials can be accessed per AoLE here:  https://www.cscjes.org.uk/curriculum-for-wales  

Curriculum for Wales Poster Pack
Please find link to the CfW poster pack https://www.cscjes-cronfa.co.uk/repository/resource/5a60f80b-cb46-435a-af00-4858c2eda2e9/en – to support schools in engaging with the framework guidance and knowing where to find important information within it:  Latest information on the Curriculum for Wales can be found on our website  here.

Children’s Mental Health Week 2021 Express Yourself
Free resources for schools and youth groups.

From 1-7 February 2021 schools, youth groups, organisations and individuals across the UK will take part in Children’s Mental Health Week.

Promoting Children’s Mental Health has never been more important. This year’s theme is “Express Yourself” and we have developed resources for primary and secondary school age children and young people. These include activity sheets, resource lists, top tips and fundraising packs; everything you need to shine a light on children’s mental health with the children and young people you work with. These ideas can be adapted for use in school, for home-schooling, online lessons or independent learning.

 Children's Mental Health Week is run by children's mental health charity Place2Be to focus on the importance of looking after our emotional wellbeing from an early age.

Expressing yourself is about finding ways to share feelings, thoughts, or ideas, through creativity. This could be through art, music, writing and poetry, dance and drama, photography and film, and doing activities that make you feel good.

For Children's Mental Health Week 2021 we will be encouraging children (and adults) to explore the different ways we can express ourselves, and the creative ways that we can share our feelings, our thoughts and our ideas.

Spread the word

We'd love your support to help us spread the word and raise awareness of the importance of children's mental health. Resources are available in English and Welsh.

If you are tweeting and posting about the week, be sure to tag Place2Be in your posts and use #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek or #Place2BeCymru @Place2Be

• Learn more about Children's Mental Health Week >>
• Download resources for schools and youth groups >>
• Find out more about Place2Be >>

The Fruitful Orchards Project
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is currently asking schools in South Wales to sign up to receive free fruit trees to create their own orchard. The Fruitful Orchards Project aims to support teachers throughout establishment, management and long-term use of their orchard as a teaching resource, whilst improving children’s connection with nature and increasing biodiversity in urban areas.
 
Schools within the Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr and Bridgend local authority areas are invited to apply for up to five fruit trees (each tree requires approx. 1.5m²) by visiting https://ymgynghori.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/south-central-wales/fruitful-orchards-project/, where they can also find a webinar video introducing NRW’s Trees and Woodlands learning resources, available on our website. More information can be found here.
Closing date is 29^th January 2021:
 
How Young People in Wales Feel About Returning To School
Message sent on behalf of Meic helpline.
A new report produced by the Meic helpline, features the voices, experiences and feelings of children and young people about being back at school in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Meic is the information, advice and advocacy helpline for children and young people up to 25 years old in Wales, funded by the Welsh Government. 

Following an increase of contacts to the helpline from young people experiencing heightened anxiety and mental health issues as a result of the pandemic, we decided to get a clearer picture of their feelings and emotions about Covid-19 and being back at school. This would allow us to be better prepared and tailor advice given out through our helpline, website and social media channels. 

In October 2020, a month after they had returned to school (which gave them enough time to settle into a routine), we ran a snapshot survey for a week on our social media channels. We had a great response in such a short timeframe, gathering the views of 321 children and young people from across Wales. They answered 10 questions and gave full and frank replies in this confidential survey. 

The results show that they have mixed emotions about Covid-19 and being back at school. While they felt happy with certain aspects, such as seeing friends again, they were also very worried about the risks of being back at school. We also asked how they felt about learning from home, safety measures at their school and exams amongst other things. 

We felt that the insight we gained from this survey was invaluable to us and wanted to share this with other professionals providing a service for children and young people. We have produced a report and accompanying video that has just been published in the Reports section of the Resources for Professionals pages of the Meic website. Please feel free to download and share with other professionals who may be interested. 

If you would like further information please contact tania@promo.cymru 

REMINDER: Show Racism the Red Card Creative Competition
Show Racism the Red Card Creative Competition is now open and the deadline for entries is 12^th March 2021. 
The Competition is an extremely useful way of encouraging young peoples’ interest in anti-racism and provides
an opportunity for pupils to express their feelings about racism by showcasing their work. Prizes include kindles,
Amazon vouchers, trophies and a framed certificate. 

The competition is funded by the National Education Union Cymru.
 Guidelines for the competition can be found here.

Further details can be found at this link https://www.theredcard.org/competitions


REMINDER: Free Spanish Cinema Event 
Screening the Child is a series of virtual film screenings & educational talks on the child in Ibero-american cinema 1/02/21 - 12/03/21
In partnership with Pragda Spanish Film Club and the Modern Languages departments of Cardiff University and the University of Exeter, we are delighted to share with you this series of educational film screenings and discussions titled ‘Screening the Child: the Child’s Gaze in Spanish Language Cinema.’ 

A great opportunity for Spanish pupils and teachers and would also be helpful for teachers to use as part of their blended learning.
More information can be found here