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The Term is flying by and so many “things” are happening in our space as you try to manage the COVID world for your school community. We hope you are coping well and feel supported.
COVID guideline changes have been a nightmare for us all. To receive a 16 page document on Sunday night for implementation on the Wednesday was a huge ask. To include the demand on parents for a negative test result has just put so much strain on schools and caused much angst for our SASS staff particularly. We had absolutely no say in this and the Department of Health provided that advice.
The Disability Strategy entered a new phase with the release this week of the Inclusive Education Statement for further consultation. I’ve attached some further information later in the Newsletter, but it re-affirms that our system offers a variety of settings to meet the needs of our students as opposed to some of the advocacy groups out there that want to close them all down.
Also this week was the release of the Draft Behaviour Policy which again has been coming for some time. It’s a consultation draft & I urge you to read the documents ( I emailed the K-6 guidelines out last night to you all) and give the DoE feedback. The Student Well-Being RG has included further information later in the Newsletter.
On Thursday night I sent you information on an initiative to find a permanent home for our Association. I’ve elaborated upon the need, the searches, costs, the savings, financial risk and the benefits for us. I’ll be conducting zooms for Presidents & Delegates on Monday (an 8.15 am option and a 4.00 pm option) to further elaborate & answer questions. I expect them to discuss with you the initiative and for you to determine your PPC position for the vote at State Council on Thursday next week.
And something else …….The Code of Conduct is also being reviewed and Legal Services Chairperson Greg McLaren needs your feedback. See the article below and attachments.
In terms of contracts for principals the only positive indication we have seen was in the Government’s response to the “Latham Manifesto”
Recommendation 25. That the Government place school principals on performance based contracts with significantly increased salaries. Performance measures should be based on the effective use of evidence and data, and achievement of high-level school results (measured primarily by value adding). Successful principals would receive performance bonuses; failing principals the termination of their contracts. The new system should also be used to meet Minister Mitchell’s goal of “giving incentives to our best principals to take up jobs in our most challenging schools”
Response: Noted. “This would represent a significant departure from historical and statutory employment practices and would require extensive consultation with stakeholders and further consideration by NSW Government. The NSW Government is working to improve principal performance. The School Leadership Institute has developed a draft Principal Leadership Framework to support the professional growth of principals. The Principal Leadership Framework sets out the leadership actions and behaviours that research indicates have a positive impact on teacher and student learning.”
Our two-day conference will be livestreamed to you on Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th of October. It is FREE this year to all NSWPPA members and for just $100, you can have a goodie box delivered to your school before conference with:
When you register there is the option to choose: Conference pack. Shirt orders will close on Wednesday 23 September so we can order your shirt size.
If you want to order a pack and have already registered, contact Daryl.Mckay@det.nsw.edu.au
The conference team has worked hard to bring you an exciting program. The speakers this year include:
Dr Julia Baird
Mike Munro
Rabia Siddique
Stan Grant
Ronni Kahn (Oz Harvest)
Prof. Pasi Sahlberg
with Shane Fitzsimmons (TBC).
We will also have the PPA Awards presented, the AGM and a farewell presentation for President Phil Seymour. We look forward to you joining us.
Kylie Donovan. Annual Conference SC Chair
Assessment Planning and Accountability Reference Group
The Assessment, Planning and Accountability Reference Group met last week via Zoom with a number of DoE guests. Discussion and feedback focused on the following areas:
- NSW Curriculum Review and implementation – especially around implementation support.
- Early Action for Success – Instructional Leader extension and future planning
- Phonics Check
- Check In Assessments
- SCOUT – new and planned features
- School Excellence in Action
- Annual Reports
- CESE and Leadership and High Performance and Leadership re-alignments
- NESA Registration – primary curriculum monitoring
Scott Sanford. Chairperson - Assessment, Planning & Accountability Reference Group
At the meeting with the Minister the PPA Executive raised the severe impact of the COVID updates on principals and staff. The Minister acknowledged the impact and has agreed to a meeting with her chief of staff to discuss future strategies to minimise the impact of future changes.
Thanks to the Shellharbour PPC executive who coordinated a survey to inform the discussion. And thanks to colleagues who gave such detailed feedback.
Bob Willetts Vice President, NSW Primary Principals’ Association
Student Wellbeing Reference Group
The long-awaited Student Behaviour Strategy is ready for your feedback.
Check for the email from the Dep Sec team sent on Thursday morning. Your Student Wellbeing Reference Group, chaired by Helen Craigie, has been attending meetings, forums and workshops and providing input to this review since 2017.
Why a new strategy? In 2017, a NSW Ombudsman’s Inquiry and the NSW DoE’s Ed Services Review provided information to strengthen support for student behaviour to NSW public schools. The Ombudsman’s proposals for behaviour management reform focussed on enhancing responses to students requiring targeted or individualised intervention and strengthening system-level processes to identify and respond to behaviour concerns. It also proposed schools adopt a tiered or whole-school, prevention-focussed approach to address the full spectrum of student behaviour needs including prevention, early intervention for ‘at risk’ students and individual targeted intervention for students with complex and challenging behaviour needs.
It also proposed actions to support the implementation of these reforms including access to capacity building expertise for principals, and data systems for identifying and tracking student progress and outcomes.
The report, Strengthening school and system capacity to implement effective interventions to support student behaviour and wellbeing in NSW public schools: An evidence review; undertaken by esteemed Australian academic, Professor Donna Cross provides the foundation for the consultation draft.
The Student Behaviour Strategy document attached to the DoE email outlines the broad principles and highlight some key changes including changes to suspension and the employment of specialist staff with behaviour expertise to support us to manage complex and challenging behaviours as well as whole of school approaches.
- Key Reform Direction 1 - outlines the proposed changes to suspensions and the inclusion of an approved in-school suspension option.
- Key Reform Direction 2 - outlines the proposal for the support for complex behaviours from specialist staff
- Key Reform Direction 3 - focuses on capacity building and PL
Points of agreement with Secondary Principals Council include:
- Many of the draft documents are too wordy and are difficult to navigate easily.
- Too many lengthy checklists and student support documents creating an admin burden
- Instructional Leaders – Wellbeing could support schools with high needs and complex behaviours.
- All support units in mainstream schools should have a non-teaching DP with 7 or more classes.
- Student support person requirements in the draft strategy are unworkable and impractical.
- A Health and Safety approach to managing suspensions where staff and student safety is at risk must be incorporated into policy.
We encourage you all to participate in the consultation period, which is open until 25 September 2020. Provide feedback at Behaviour.Strategy@det.nsw.edu.au
Helen Craigie – Chair Student Wellbeing Reference Group Trish Peters – SWRG Exec Liaison
The Code of Conduct is being reviewed.
The Legal Issues Standing Committee is seeking professional feedback with the Department's Code of Conduct currently being reviewed for changes. Feedback is needed on what is working, what is valued, what needs improving or what needs to be removed. NSWPPA members may individually or through their PPC submit recommendations to Greg McLaren, Chair of Legal Issues SC via email: greg.mclaren@det.nsw.edu.au (please place in the email's subject heading: Code of Conduct Review. Attached is the current Code of Conduct and a support resource to be used for changes.
Release of Inclusive Education Statement
The Department of Education has released an Inclusive Education Statement for students with disability to further its commitment to improve learning and wellbeing for students with disability in every public school. This marks the next stage of the ongoing Disability Strategy work to further embed inclusive practice for students with disability in NSW public schools.
What we mean by inclusive education
Inclusive education means that all students, regardless of disability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, nationality, language, gender, sexual orientation or faith, can access and fully participate in learning, alongside their similar aged peers, supported by reasonable adjustments and teaching strategies tailored to meet their individual needs.
The statement is a further commitment to strengthening inclusive education for all students with disability in mainstream schools and their support classes, and schools for specific purposes.
There are many excellent examples of inclusive education in NSW schools. This next step is about building on this and sharing effective practice across schools. The Disability Strategy team will hold a number of engagement sessions with school communities in term 3, 2020, to hear feedback on the support that is needed. This will inform the development of an Inclusive Education Policy and practice resources.
A package of materials and information about engagement sessions will be available for staff on this Inclusive Education intranet page. If you would like to find out how you can be involved in this work or share feedback please email disability.strategy@det.nsw.edu.au.
The case for change
The DoE wants to ensure that every child and young person in our school system is realising their full potential. This means that we need to address a range of factors that are affecting the education outcomes of children and young people with disability. From rising demand to increasingly complex student needs, these factors have contributed to a wide variation in experiences. Between 2013 and 2017:
- Places in schools for specific purposes – up 2%
- Places in support classes in mainstream schools – up 4%
- Students in mainstream classes accessing only integration funding support – up 5%
During the 2016 Parliamentary Inquiry, some families spoke of low expectations, social exclusion and inadequate education outcomes. Conversely, other families reported amazing experiences and noted that their children were flourishing, academically and socially, in mainstream and specialist settings alike. We want to replicate these positive experiences in all our schools.
Mark Pritchard, our Returning Officer, has asked that the following information be included in today's newsletter about our elections. The terms of office for all of our current Executive will expire at the conclusion of our Annual Conference in Week 3, Term 4. All positions will be vacant so elections are called for. As an aside, having completed two terms (4 years) as President I will not be re-contesting the position.
Executive Election Timeline:
- Week 5 Monday 17th August Nominations will open.
- Week 7 Monday 31 August Nominations will close.
- Week 8 Wednesday 9th September Ballot opens.
- Week 10 Wednesday 23rd September Ballot closes.
- Week 10 Thursday 24th September Election declared and results distributed to all members.
The election is open to all financial members of NSWPPA.
There is a significant time commitment away from school or your normal workplace.
Any member considering nomination is advised to discuss this with Phil or Mark.
Any member who is nominated will be advised by the Returning Officer to discuss with those who have nominated or seconded him or her before identifying them in their Policy Statement or any campaigning material.
Good luck to everyone.
State Council for Term 3 will again be an online version using Zoom with chairpersons and delegates zooming in on Thursday August 3 and Friday August 4. Over the weekend you should receive reports & information.
Students with Anxious Behaviours - Update
We have designed a pilot of this program that I elaborated upon in our last Newsletter. The pilot is based on Michael’s popular “No Scaredy Cats” Parent Program, but modified to ensure it gives leaders & teachers practical methods of dealing with anxious behaviours.
We have held a meeting with the Chiefs of Staff meeting for our Minister and the Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women Bronnie Taylor seeking support as well. We are awaiting a response.
And finally…..
As we move towards the end of term we hope you continue to provide extraordinary learning opportunities and a feeling of warmth, security and safety for your students and staff. We are here to support you. Look after yourselves.
Best wishes
Phil Seymour
On behalf of the NSWPPA Executive, Robyn Evans, Ian Reeson, Lyn Davis, Bob Willetts, Michael Burgess, Jude Hayman, Michael Trist, Stuart Wylie, Trish Peters, Rob Walker and Mark Pritchard.