essential trainingbrochure

Terms 3 & 4January - March 2016 www.the-sps.co.uk

Schools’ Personnel ServiceSpecialist advice and support

for schools and academies

Hello, my name is Summer Macer and I am the HR andTraining Consultant for Schools’ Personnel Service (SPS). Welcome to the second edition of our training brochure, showcasing our training offer for Terms 3 and 4. We have a wide range of high-quality training opportunities for the whole school body that are designed to support and aid the drive for continuous school improvement. With the pace of change in education showing little sign of slowing, we have tailored our courses to provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to create the right conditions for high performance in your school. Our courses offer valuable insights into the proactive management of staffing issues, which, if unmanaged, could detract from the focus on teaching and learning. We also provide training opportunities that will assist you in the day-to-day management of your school, ensuring you are up to date with the latest procedures and legislation. In 2016, we will be launching a new way to access training courses from SPS, with the introduction of our new e-learning portal. This will give the whole school body access to online training courses 24/7, and provide a wide range of personal and professional CPD modules. You can find out more about the e-learning portal on the SPS website, or in our up-coming launch event. Hopefully you will find a course to suit you, however if there are any topics for which we can provide training and assistance that are not featured in this brochure, then we are happy to provide bespoke training sessions for you and your school. For further details, please see the bespoke training section.

HR & Training Consultant

Welcome

2 Back to Menu

New Head Teachers and Governors Unite

Power Hour SeriesA collection of workshops specifically designed for Business Managers, Bursars and HR Advisers alike.

Session 1 - An Introduction to HR Administration Session 2 - A Focus on Workforce Planning and Recruitment Session 3 - HR in Practice: A Focus on Sickness Absence and Managing UnderperformanceSession 4 - HR in Practice: Key Personnel Procedures Explored

Management EssentialsA programme of courses specifically designed for School Leaders, Governors and Managers.

Driving High Performance through Appraisal Managing Performance: Proactive responses toCapability and Conduct IssuesPromoting Well-being and Managing AbsenceManagement Investigations: Fair, Fearless and Fit for Purpose Preventing and Managing ConflictSafer Recruitment

Insights SeriesA series of special events providing valuable and expert insights.

Employment Law UpdatePresentation Skills Master Class

More events will be booked throughout the year, so please keep an eye on our website.

Bespoke Training

E-learning

What our delegates have said about us in the last 12 months

Our Venues

Frequently Asked Questions

4

5

667

7

8

910

11121314

16

1617

18

21

23

24

25

ContentsSchools’ Personnel ServiceSpecialist advice and support

for schools and academies

This fully interactive brochure is designed so that you can explore our range, find courses of interest and confirm your booking easily and quickly with just a couple of clicks. Our contents page is

interactive; simply click on the relevant course title. You can click on any course date to book your place through CPD Online, or click ‘Back to menu’ to return to the main course list.

3

4 Back to Menu

This year, Schools’ Personnel Service in partnership with Leadership and Governance held a special event for those taking up September headships, focused on planning a leadership strategy for day one and beyond.

Attending with their Chairs of Governors, new Headteachers had an opportunity to consider together what needs to happen to ensure a true, joined-up approach to leadership. There was time to get to know each other and enjoy facilitated discussion about their school’s priorities and those all-important first steps en route to realising their shared vision. The day also served as a chance to reflect on the experience, insights and challenges encountered by other schools and hear solutions from new found Headship colleagues.

Inspirational speakers sharing valuable insights from their experience as Headteachers, Governors and National School Leaders. The day addressed key leadership themes from leading learning to bringing people with you and a focus on strategic leadership. We also benefited from a wonderfully candid and witty talk from a new Headteacher, sharing the alumni perspective.

When asked if the event supported their preparations for headship the delegates gave a resounding YES! And Governors also found the day supportive, welcoming the opportunity to share ideas with their new leaders as a starting point for planning together, away from the hurly burly of the first weeks in post.

In fact one Governor, a national leader of governance, suggested including deputies and other senior leaders, those aspiring to Headship in future sessions, to support and aid their career development. This would provide valuable feedback to inform the growth and development of this programme through the coming months and years.

All events take place at Chilston Park Hotel, Lenham near Maidstone and include insights and input from SPS, Leadership and Governance and esteemed external speakers.

For more details please visit Kent CPD Online or email Summer Macer, HR & Training Consultant on summer.macer@kent.gov.uk

New Headteachers and Governors Unite!

New for 2015-16

We are holding further events throughout 2015-16 and look forward to sharing in these schools’ journeys…

September 15 Headship

20th January 2016

Driving Standards and a Culture of High Performance

27th April 2016

Building Leadership Capacity and Dealing with Difficult Issues

January 16 Headship

4th May 2016

Driving Standards and a Culture of High Performance

April 16 Headship

17th March 2016

Planning a Leadership Strategy for Day 1 and beyond

September 16 Headship

23rd June 2016

Planning a Leadership Strategy for Day 1 and Beyond

Power Hour SeriesA New Training Programme from Schools’ Personnel Service

A series of workshops for new and experienced Business Managers, Bursars, HR Advisers and wider administrative staff alike.

Starting with an introduction to HR administration and progressing through to workforce planning and key personnel procedures, each session is delivered as a series of hour-long workshops developing knowledge and skills in line with the chosen theme.

Power Hour Session 1An Introduction to HR Administration

25th January - Chilston Park

Power Hour Session 2A Focus on Workforce Planning & Recruitment

5th February - St Augustine’s10th February - Chilston Park25th February - Brandshatch Place

Power Hour Session 3HR in Practice: A Focus on Sickness Absence and Managing Underperformance

2nd March - Chilston Park4th March - St Augustine’s9th March - Brandshatch Place

Power Hour Session 4HR in Practice: Key Personnel Procedures Explored

9th March - Chilston Park17th March - Brandshatch Place18th March - St Augustine’sPlease book these

courses via CPD online

5Back to Menu

Session 1An Introduction to HR Administration

This introductory session will help you to develop your understanding of the terms and conditions for support staff and for teachers, as well as the administration of the most common HR activities - new appointments, variations and terminations with sickness monitoring and maternity provision.

What’s covered?

• A detailed overview of staff terms and conditions for both support staff and teachers

• Administration of new appointments, contract variations and managing terminations

• Salary calculations, sickness entitlement and maternity provision, ensuring the differing provisions for support staff and teachers are appropriately applied

• How to navigate the SPS website and access the wealth of content and features that will support you on a daily basis, including E-Forms.

Benefits of attending

• Improved understanding of school staff terms and conditions of employment

• Increased confidence in administering the most common HR activities

• Knowledge of services and tools available to support you in your role.

Session 2A Focus on Workforce Planning & Recruitment

Recruitment is all about getting the right person, in the right place, at the right time and it is crucial to organisational performance. This, the second of our Power Hour Series, explores the differing employment contracts; permanent, temporary, fixed-term contract and annualised hours and how you can make best use of each type to meet the immediate and long-term recruitment needs of your school. The session also focuses on recruitment itself, exploring compliance issues such as prevention of illegal working, qualification and health checks as well as general good practice.

What’s covered?

• An outline of the legal framework and best practice including safeguarding and equality

• An overview of workforce planning and the recruitment cycle from identifying vacancies to induction

• A detailed overview of the different employment contracts and how each can be applied to address recruitment needs

• Hints and tips on planning and preparation for interviews.

Benefits of attending

• Improved understanding of employment law and best practice recruitment

• Increased confidence in administering recruitment activities including interviews

• An overview of the single central record

6 Back to Menu

Session 3HR in Practice: A Focus on Sickness Absence and Managing Underperformance

This session will help you develop and hone techniques and strategies to manage absence and performance issues, confidently and effectively, to a speedy and satisfactory resolution.

In another power-packed course, we focus on appropriate strategies for monitoring absence, receiving valuable management advice from occupational health, and effective strategies for supporting staff back to work.

The session also covers an exploration of the causes of underperformance and how to develop sound practical action plans with effective manager-staff communication to emove issues towards an appropriate conclusion.

What’s covered?

• A detailed overview of absence and performance management and effective administration of your school’s policy

• Absence reporting, including return to work interviews, fit notes and regular monitoring

• Understanding the difference between ill health (both short- and long-term), capability and conduct issues

• An awareness of the link between appraisal and performance management

• The roles and responsibilities of key parties - the staff member, line manager, union and Occupational Health

• How to avoid common pitfalls and respond positively to absence and performance concerns.

Benefits of attending

• Improved understanding of best practice in relation to sickness absence and performance management cases

• Valuable insight enabling you to undertake a HR health check back at school, developing and honing school practice

• Greater confidence in administering these processes

Session 4HR in Practice: Key Personnel Procedures Explored

Following on from Power Hour 3, this session gives an overview of the other key personnel procedures – Disciplinary, Fairness at Work or Grievance, Flexible Working and Redundancy and Restructures - developing your understanding of these key policies.

We explore key issues and common pitfalls enabling you to take the respective first steps confidently and safely.

What’s covered?

• An overview of the following key personnel procedures:

• Disciplinary• Fairness at Work (Grievance, Bullying and

Harassment and Whistleblowing)• Flexible Working• Redundancy and Restructures - as well as

contract variations

• An outline of the legal framework and principles of fairness

• Clarity about rights and responsibilities of key parties in each process

• How to avoid common pitfalls and take initial first steps positively, confidently and effectively, in response to queries and issues.

Benefits of attending

• Improved understanding of key personnel procedures

• Increased confidence in the initial steps to be taken under each of the respective procedures

• Awareness of common pitfalls and how these can be avoided.

7Back to Menu

managementessentials

A programme of courses specifically designed for School Leaders and Managers. These sessions serve to develop knowledge and hone skills to manage staffing issues

confidently and effectively, towards a speedy and satisfactory resolution.

Discussion will also include legal issues, union position and potential pitfalls making use of meaningful examples within a school context. You are also invited to bring

cases from your own school to add to the confidential discussion.

Schools’ Personnel ServiceSpecialist advice and support

for schools and academies

DRIVING HIGH PERFORMANCE THROUGH APPRAISALMANAGING PERFORMANCE – PROACTIVE RESPONSES TO CAPABILITY

AND CONDUCT ISSUESMANAGEMENT INVESTIGATIONS – FAIR, FEARLESS AND FIT FOR PURPOSE

PROMOTING WELLBEING AND MANAGING ABSENCEPREVENTING AND MANAGING CONFLICT

SAFER RECRUITMENTMANAGING CHANGE – VISION INTO ACTION

8 Back to Menu

DRIVING HIGH PERFORMANCE THROUGH APPRAISALMANAGING PERFORMANCE – PROACTIVE RESPONSES TO CAPABILITY

AND CONDUCT ISSUESMANAGEMENT INVESTIGATIONS – FAIR, FEARLESS AND FIT FOR PURPOSE

PROMOTING WELLBEING AND MANAGING ABSENCEPREVENTING AND MANAGING CONFLICT

SAFER RECRUITMENTMANAGING CHANGE – VISION INTO ACTION

DRIVING HIGH PERFORMANCETHROUGH APPRAISAL

These full-day courses are aimed at School Leaders and Managers with appraisal responsibility for support and/or teaching staff and the skills needed to ensure a meaningful, focused and fair appraisal that drives high performance in school.

Sessions address the knowledge and skills needed to fulfil both strategic and operational responsibilities including ...

• At a strategic level communicating policy, providing direction and ensuring a streamlined process linked to school improvement and focusing on impacting standards

• Operationally, providing good, effective management with clearly defined objectives and expectations, coupled with appropriate monitoring and support.

Development of these skills will go a long way towards addressing weaknesses in performance with a view to avoiding the need for formal procedures.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

• Increased confidence in fulfilling your role as an appraiser

• Improved knowledge of the process and skills to effectively drive high performance from target setting to developmental feedback

• An understanding of the link between appraisal and pay progression

BOOK NOW

APPRAISERS OF TEACHERS27TH JANUARYCHILSTON PARK9TH FEBRUARYBRANDSHATCH PLACE16TH MARCHCHILSTON PARK

APPRAISERS OF SUPPORT STAFF14TH JANUARYCHILSTON PARK3RD FEBRUARYCHILSTON PARK11TH MARCHST AUGUSTINE’S

COURSES FOR APPRAISERS OF SUPPORT STAFF AND TEACHERS

WHAT’S COVERED?

• A detailed overview of the appraisal cycle and how it can support the drive for school improvement and high performance

• The link between appraisal and pay and understanding pay progression for teachers and support staff

• Performance standards ... “what does outstanding look like in our school?”

• SMART objectives – an overview and how to set SMART objectives

• Conducting effective performance reviews – planning and approach

• Providing developmental feedback as well as addressing performance concerns

• Roles and responsibilities of the appraiser and appraisee and how the school and appraisers can support staff to achieve their full potential.

9Back to Menu

MANAGING PERFORMANCE:PROACTIVE RESPONSES TO CAPABILITY AND CONDUCT ISSUES

This full-day interactive course explores the causes of underperformance and how a proactive response, sound practical action plans and effective manager-staff communication can expedite issues to a positive or at the very least an appropriate conclusion.

The issue of underperformance (capability) in schools and academies is a critical one given the very real impact on pupil progress and continual drive for school improvement.

This combined with pressures from OFSTED, the Government, and the Local Authority to raise standards means issues of poor performance and conduct need to be addressed as soon as they arise.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

• Improved knowledge of the capability process and strategies to address performance concerns

• Increased confidence in handling difficult conversations

• Learn practical skills to effectively manage performance concerns including standard setting

WHAT’S COVERED?

• How to distinguish between capability and conduct issues so as to take effective action under the right procedure

• A detailed overview of the Performance Management (capability) and Disciplinary (conduct) processes

• Effective strategies for dealing with difficult conversations around performance and low level conduct concerns

• SMART objective/standard setting

• The importance of record keeping

• How to manage cases where the individual becomes unwell

• The responsibilities of key parties and avenues for additional support

BOOK NOW

13TH JANUARYCHILSTON PARK

10 Back to Menu

Managers have an important role to play in creating a healthy workplace and promoting wellbeing, and responding positively, confidently and effectively to absence, both for the benefit of the individual employee and the team as a whole.

This full-day course explores what can lead to a healthy workplace – culture, systems and practices which serve to promote well-being.

It also provides appropriate strategies for monitoring and addressing absence concerns, including use of absence data.

How to source effective management advice from Occupational Health is also covered, as well as effective strategies for supporting staff back to work.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

• Ensure you have a fair and consistent process for managing absence in school

• Learn effective techniques to promote wellbeing and identify and manage absence

• Gain confidence in facilitating return to work interviews and absence review meetings and learn proactive approaches to reduce absence.

WHAT’S COVERED?

• How to distinguish between conduct, capability and ill health issues so as to take effective action under the right procedure

• The roles and responsibilities of key parties including Occupational Health and how to get the best from the referral

• An overview of the absence procedure (short- and long-term), ensuring fairness and consistency of approach

• The value of the return to work interview and absence review meetings – planning, approach and follow-up

• How to plan a phased return to work

• Monitoring and record-keeping

• Understanding next steps if the ongoing absence is unsustainable.

BOOK NOW

24TH FEBRUARYCHILSTON PARK

PROMOTING WELL-BEING AND MANAGING ABSENCE

11Back to Menu

MANAGEMENT INVESTIGATIONS: FAIR, FEARLESS AND FIT FOR PURPOSE

When management is faced with a breach of discipline or conduct, a grievance allegation or claim of bullying or harassment, it is essential that a thorough investigation is carried out before any action is taken against an employee.

This full-day course is aimed at School Managers and Governors who may be required to undertake a formal management investigation under the respective procedures, e.g. Disciplinary and Fairness at Work.

The course will cover the role of the investigating officer and how to undertake a fair and thorough investigation, fearless in the knowledge it has been conducted in line with policy and procedure, and ultimately that the report is fit for purpose.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

• Gain confidence in fulfilling the role of investigating officer

• Improve the quality of investigations through effective planning and preparation

• Learn practical skills working methodically through a ‘live’ investigation

WHAT’S COVERED?

• The role of the investigating officer and other key parties

• Principle of natural justice (fairness)

• Planning and investigation

• Conducting an investigation

• Questioning skills

• Drafting the investigation report – hints and tips to ensure the report is fit for purpose

• How to navigate potential pitfalls.

BOOK NOW

7TH MARCHCHILSTON PARK

12 Back to Menu

BOOK NOW

22ND JANUARYST AUGUSTINE’S

PREVENTING AND MANAGING CONFLICT

Managers often spend a disproportionate amount of their time on formal procedures to deal with situations which could have been resolved more effectively at an earlier, less formal stage.

This full-day course will focus on the causes of staff conflict, and identify the early warning signs – signals which are often missed, enabling positions to become entrenched, requiring all the more energy to support even the smallest shift.

Drawing on the power of a variety of skills and techniques (including mediation skills), this session will explore how to prevent and manage simple conflicts and stop them from escalating.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

• Gain confidence to deal with conflict at an early stage

• Learn valuable skills to prevent and manage simple conflicts and prevent them from escalating

• Understand different procedures, routes and tools that can be used in managing conflict.

WHAT’S COVERED?

• The causes of conflict and signs and symptoms enabling early identification and response

• The stages of conflict and barriers to effective communication

• Communication skills to prevent and effectively manage conflict

• The key skills used by mediators and how managers can make effective use of these when responding to low level conflict

• Understanding the difference between mediation, informal resolution and grievance.

13Back to Menu

SAFER RECRUITMENT

Making the right recruitment decisions is one of the most important choices made in an organisation. Ensuring the person is capable, available and will be a good fit are only a few of the factors to be taken into consideration.

But when that organisation is a school or academy, and staff and volunteers are working with children and young people, the notion of the right person has added significance and it is vital that schools create a culture of safe practice, and this includes making the right recruitment decisions.

Safer recruitment is an important strand of child protection and safeguarding, and this full-day course explores safer recruitment practices (as outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education) which help to deter or reject people unsuitable to work with children, be it because of a lack of skills, the right attitude, or at worst questionable motives.

It also examines the need for ongoing awareness and vigilance and how you can develop and maintain an environment that challenges inappropriate behaviour, developing and fostering

14 Back to Menu

a culture of safe practice, and responding positively and swiftly to any causes for concern.

Certified by the Safer Recruitment Consortium – the national partnership between NSPCC, Lucy Faithfull Foundation, NASS and CAPE – this course and our registered trainers will present the very latest in best practice.

As delegates, on completion of a short assessment (reflecting the session outline and group discussion) you will receive a nationally recognised certificate.

This certificate and the Safer Recruitment Consortium logo serves to assure the quality of the course.

Remember it is a requirement for all Headteachers and at least one member of a recruitment panel to be appropriately trained in safer recruitment and it is considered good practice that this is renewed to stay abreast of statutory updates and developments in procedure.

15Back to Menu

BOOK NOW

11TH JANUARYCHILSTON PARK12TH FEBRUARYST AUGUSTINE’S12TH FEBRUARYWEALD OF KENT GRAMMAR SCHOOL14TH MARCHCHILSTON PARK

WHAT’S COVERED?

Based on an understanding of offender behaviour:

• The key features of a safer recruitment culture

• Policies and practices that minimise opportunities for abuse and ensure its prompt reporting

• Help with reviewing own policies and practices in recruitment with a view to making them safer

• The procedural steps and responsibilities of managers in these issues

• Potential pitfalls and practical, appropriate solutions as well as imaginative, proactive strategies.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

• Course accredited by the Safer Recruitment Consortium, resulting in nationally recognised certificate

• A chance to gain clear understanding of the legal framework – Keeping Children Safe in Education 2015 and related best practice

• Opportunity to review recruitment practices through the lens of safeguarding, ensuring procedures serve to deter, reject and prevent.

A Series of Special Events ProvidingValuable and Expert Insights

BOOK NOW

11th MayChilston Park

12th MayBrandshatch Place

13th MaySt Augustine’s

16

Insight Series

Back to Menu

EMPLOYMENT LAW Update Session

This is an exciting NEW addition to our training calendar, full of pragmatic and commercially focused HR and Employment Law advice that will help senior leadership teams (Headteachers, Principals and deputies, Business Managers, Bursars and HR personnel), keep up to date with the ever-changing complexities of employment law.

Brought to you in partnership with education and employment law specialists from Kent Legal Services and a prestigious Barristers’ Chambers, this event will outline recent legislative developments as well as giving advanced notice of changes on the horizon, along with a detailed exploration of several hot topics affecting the education sector.

Early Bird Discount – Book before 31st January 2016 and confirm your place for just £99 (£149 thereafter).

Employment law update

• Recent legislative developments and changes on the horizon

• Key recent cases in the education sector• Top tips for avoiding the employment

tribunal• Tactics for winning if a tribunal can’t be

avoided

Managing long-term sickness absence

• What to do when an employee is off sick• When absence becomes a problem• Claims a sick employee may bring

TUPE for School and Academy leaders

• Outsourcing, insourcing and re-tendering in the education sector

• Common pitfalls and how to avoid them• Dealing with poorly performing

contractors or their personnel• Case study

Social media in the work place

• The employment context• Monitoring online activity before and

during employment, the risks and best practice

• Justifying dismissal• Developing a ‘sensible use’ policy• Case study

What’s Covered?

PRESENTATION SKILLS MASTER CLASSDo you find presentations provoke anxiety and would you like to develop coping strategies and improve your delivery?

Or do you want your presentations to be more exciting and better understood? If so this master class is for you.

School leadership requires many skills, not least effective communication and the ability to deliver impactful briefings and presentations.

In almost every aspect of your role and probably on a daily basis, you’re required to communicate key messages across the school whether that’s to pupils during school assembly, briefing parents or presenting to Governors or externally to partnership organisations.

This full-day interactive master class, designed for a select group of just six delegates, is delivered by master communicator and presenter, Chris Schiller. Benefiting from his years of experience, he’ll share tips and techniques to present your message with confidence and enthusiasm whilst connecting quickly with his audience.

Through advice, guidance and purposeful activities you’ll practise the skills and techniques that will take your communication abilities to the next level, with invaluable feedback to support ongoing development.

Delivered byChris Schiller, anAssociate Trainer with the CIPD for more than adecade, this is a master class deliveredby a true master of the trade.

Chris is a highly successful and dynamic consultant trainer with extensive experience across public, not-for-profit and major private sector organisations across the UK and overseas. More recently he has also worked as a judge for the prestigious People Management Awards.

“Chris is our most popular trainer. Delegate feedback is consistently positive and enthusiastic. His style and approach are dynamic, energetic and personable and his workshops are engaging, enjoyable and always meet or exceed expectations ... A joy to work with!”

Programme Executive(Learning & Development)NHS Litigation Authority

Unlock your potential with our popular master class. Refine and perfect your presentational skills. Contact us today to discuss availability.

Register Your Interest ...summer.macer@kent.gov.uk

17Back to Menu

• Essential preparation – knowing your audience, identifying key outcomes and structuring a presentation

• Key presentation skills – approaches to grab the audience’s attention and maintain interest and engagement

• How to deliver presentations effectively by paying attention to the message

• An overview of non-verbal communication – how to read body language and choose an appropriate response

• Hints and tips for effective use of visual aids including PowerPoint

• How to run an effective question and answer session

• Implementing a presentation skills action plan back at the workplace.

What’s Covered?

bespoke training

The benefits of bespoke training (including on-site delivery of our open courses) are sixfold:

• Fits your school requirement exactly• Train all relevant staff in one session• Leads to consistent practice• Delivered flexibly with full day/half day/hourly

options available• Cost effective• Delivered at your chosen location/school site.

To discuss specific training needs please make contact with our HR and Training team or your designated HR consultant at:

Brook House (East Kent)03000 419552

Worrall House (West Kent)03000 412357

360° Feedback

It is vital for staff, particularly SLT and those aspiring to leadership, to receive regular, honest feedback on their performance, and understand how their role drives school improvement, both in respect of their own performance by engaging the efforts of their staff and teams. 360 degree feedback can enhance this process by widening the scope for information from the line manager relationship to embrace a wider range of input – peers, appraisee/staff etc.

Schools’ Personnel ServiceSpecialist advice and support

for schools and academies

Alongside our collection of open courses we are also available and keen to work with schools on specific projects to the benefit of individuals, teams, staff groups and,

of course, the school as a whole.

If your school, Collaboration and/or Federation has a specific requirement, please contact your designated consultant and we will be happy to

discuss your needs, draw up a proposal for your consideration and deliver an informative and

interactive session on your chosen theme.

18 Back to Menu

Over the last year alone we have successfully delivered the following sessions, positively impacting on individuals and schools ...

Safer Recruitment Awareness Sessions

While a core number of designated Governors and School Leaders need to have attended the full-day certified course to support their role on a recruitment panel, we recognise that there are obvious benefits from raising awareness of the issues more widely among School Leaders and keeping them informed of the schools’ responsibilities. This session, though unaccredited, will provide an introduction to safer recruitment practice for governing bodies and indeed wider School Leaders.

Coaching

A tailored approach to personal development for you, your staff and/or pupils (youth coaching). Our one-to-one sessions are extremely effective at helping to develop skills across a range of areas including:

• Leadership skills• Staff performance • Conflict management• Dealing with change• Confidence building

Sessions are driven by you/the coachee and tailored to your requirements to ensure the best support is provided.

Team Building

The cumulative effect of a high performing team can reach far beyond the school gates. These sessions, whilst drawing on any chosen theme, focus on defining a common goal, understanding how members want to work together and creating an understanding of the behaviours required to develop better team performance.

The entire session revolves around developing action points and identifying improvements for the team. Teams are challenged and work together to improve specific workplace issues.

With leadership groups, themes of leadership, management, support and challenge are also explored.

Emotional Intelligence Assessment andCoaching

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognise and understand emotions in yourself and others, and the ability to use this awareness to manage your behaviour and relationships.

This assessment explores the five realms of EI:

• Self-perception and self-expression

• Interpersonal skills (including relationship building and empathy)

• Decision making (including problem solving where emotions are involved) and

• Stress management including stress tolerance.

Providing objective insight into impact at work and strategies for action to develop skills and practice.

Skills Development Sessions

We have also worked with a number of schools and partners on specific skills development projects, designing programmes covering subjects such as:

• Handling Difficult Conversations: A session for Deputy Head Teachers

• Clerking - Supporting Hearings and Panels - An Awareness

• Exploring Strategies to Manage Stress

www.the-sps.co.uk/training19Back to Menu

Appraisal for Appraisees - An Awareness for Staff

Enabling and empowering staff to engage positively in the appraisal process, understanding their role in the process and the drive for high performance and school improvement.

• Exploring Strategies to Better Manage Time and Workload

• Customer Service skills• Handling Concerns and

Complaints: A Session for Governors.

Exploring Strategies to Manage Stress

In the last six years the number of working days lost to stress, depression and anxiety has increased by 24%, with one in five people taking a day off work due to stress.

Indeed the Health and Safety Executive reports 45% of absence in the education sector is stress related. We recognise that the impact of stress can extend far beyond the individual, affecting the wider team, school as a whole and, of course, pupils.

This half-day workshop, delivered as part of school INSET focuses on the following key themes:

• A spotlight on ‘Stress’ – What is it (how it differs from the general pressures of day-to-day life)? How would I know if I ‘have’ it? And why does it affect everyone differently?

Handling Difficult conversations

Following the success of the Deputy Heads’ Conference, we are pleased to be able to offer to senior and middle leaders an informative one-hour workshop on handling difficult conversations. Whilst School Leaders are no strangers to dealing with the pressures and challenges of school life, such as the changes in curriculum and assessment, the prospect of being ambushed by difficult staffing issues is often a source of dread, distracting attention from teaching and learning.

This hour-long workshop, designed to fit within a team meeting, will share some very practical steps you can take to handle dificult conversations more easily, helping you to do so confidently, at a time that’s right for you and working towards the outcomeyou want.

10% DiscountON ALL BESPOKE SESSIONSTAKING PLACE IN TERMS 3&4

For details please contact summer.macer@kent.gov.uk

20 Back to Menu

And finally ...

We can adapt any of our Management Essentials courses for your school. This can be a very cost-effective way of providing training for a group of staff, and will focus on questions and issues specific to your school and the group’s training needs. There is also the opportunity to maximise your investment further and spread the cost by joining up with a neighbouring school.

• Recognising the warning signs – What are the signs and symptoms of stress? What’s happening to the body? And what’s the long-term impact on health?

• Identifying personal strategies and skills for managing stress – what can we do to support ourselves and colleagues in a better way and build resilience?

E-learning PortalSchools’ Personnel Service

What isE-learning?

Just how

E-learning?

PilotFeedback

In its broadest sensee-learning is anything

delivered in an electronicformat from video, electronic

documents, PDFs, podcasts,webinars and interactive

learning modules as found onour E-learning portal.

• Convenient

• Cost effective • More efficient

• Cuts out travel expenses

• Expansive CPD catalogue

What arethe benefits?

E-learning cuts thetraditional face-to-facetraining time down toa third.

Well-designede-learning programmes

can be on average three timesas effective… that is to say,

superior outcomes canpotentially be demonstrated

in as little as a thirdof the time

Michael S. Reid, PhD, Psy.D

Coming Soon2015-16

And what arethe financial

benefits?

1 staff memberaccesses a 1 day courseat a local venue.

Cost:

Face to Face

E-learning

Total cost£165+

The benefits of E-learning modules whencompared to face-to-face delivery ...

For more information pleaseemail our HR & Training

Consultant,summer.macer@kent.gov.ukwith ‘SPS E-learning Portal’

in the subject heading.

felt the coursescompleted mettheir needs99%

100%

95%felt the modules wereeasy to follow andkept their interest

87% rated their overallexperience as goodor excellent.

would welcome access tothe E-learning portal to

support professionaldevelopment

E-learning modules take on average 45 minutesto complete. That is equivalent to 2.5 hours ora half-day course

In 6 hours (equivalent of a 1 day course) a member ofstaff could complete appoximately 8 E-learning courses

The annual licence gives ALL staff access to a catalogueof some 50 courses

No additional costs - such as cover, travel or expenses.

Travel expenses

Cost of cover

Time out of school

Average cost of 1 day CPD course forsupport staff as advertised on CPD onlineapprox. £165

Coming

Soon!

21 Back to Menu

E-learning PortalComing Soon 2015-16

Our e-learning offer is intended to support whole school development, enabling all staff, particularly support staff, access to learning

opportunities which can support them fourfold, be it...

• In fulfilling their role e.g. An Introduction to Health & Safety and Data protection

• Opportunities to develop their knowledge and practice e.g. Visual Impairment – An Awareness and Managing your Priorities

• Supporting career development e.g. Mentoring for Mentors and Giving and Receiving Feedback; and

• Personal development through our Well-being Zone or opportunities to improve ICT skills with Office 2010 beginners to advanced courses.

22

We have been running a pilot with a number of schools over the Summer Term, which has proved wholly positive, not only in terms of the valuable feedback

from learners but also in testing technical capabilities to ensure the learner/user experience is positive from start to finish. We are in the final stages of development

and look forward to bringing this exciting CPD offer to schools in 2015-16.

Back to Menu

Invaluable course presented in an accessible format and a lovely lunch to

boot!

Business Manager

What delegates have said about us in the last 12 months...

Having the opportunity to discuss and share ideas

with colleagues. Great trainer, really well delivered.

KS2 Leader

I attended the course yesterday and it was fantastic, probably the best I’ve been to recently. Can you thank the trainer for a great day.

Deputy Centre Manager

Thanks also for a really engaging session – who knew appraisals could be made fun! It was a really good course and good end to the week.

HeadteacherExcellent trainer who took time to listen to individual situations

and gave advice accordingly.

PA to Executive Headteacher

Reinforced beliefs and extended knowledge and

understanding. Thank you I will be booking more staff

on!

Vice Principal

Brilliant courseleader who deliveredthe content in a very

enthusiastic manner. The course was comprehensive, totally useful and enjoyable.

Headteacher

The trainer was very eloquent and knowledgeable and the informal atmosphere allowed for some really useful discussion.

Teacher

The day was packed full of information.

HR Administrator

Thanks to everyone from SPS that made the day very enjoyable.

Bursar

The course tutor was very knowledgeable. Excellent style of delivery...lots of information given.

Bursar

23Back to Menu

Our Venues

We understand that your time is precious and that time out of the office must be time well spent.

SPS prides itself on delivering high-quality courses in high-quality venues; time spent on one of our courses is certainly time well spent!

WEST KENT

BrandshatchPlace Hotel

Dartford

DA3 8PD

MID KENT

Chilston Park HotelLenham

(Near Maidstone)

ME17 2BE

EAST KENT

St Augustine’s Conference

CentreMargate

CT8 8NL

MID KENT

The Hilton HotelMaidstone

ME14 5AA

www.the-sps.co.uk24 Back to Menu

25Back to Menu

How do I book my chosen course?

All courses need to be booked via CPD online – www.kentcpdonline.org.uk. Please click on your chosen course date within this brochure to be redirected to the relevant booking page on CPD online. Alternatively you can visit the site itself and search for your chosen course via course title and/or date.

What time does the course start/finish?

All courses start promptly at 9:00 with refreshments and registration from 8:30.*

Full-day courses finish at 15:00 and half-day courses finish at 12:45.

All courses include lunch.

* Safer recruitment finishes later at 16:30.

Will I get the latest policy updates?

Absolutely! All courses refer to the latest policy updates – both national and statutory guidelines, e.g. Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document as well as local model and procedures and industry best practice.

How frequently are courses delivered?

Whilst the frequency varies courses are delivered at our three venues – east, mid and west Kent at least once each year.

Safer recruitment courses, are held monthly, so too are our appraisal courses maximising the opportunity for school leaders and managers to access the training and fulfil both statutory compliance and, in the case of appraisal, their appraisal responsibilities, and by doing so releasing some capacity of SLT.

What happens if I am unable to attend mybooked course?

If you are unable to attend your chosen course please make contact with the office on 03000 419552 to discuss next steps. Generally speaking if you are unable to attend owing to an emergency, an Ofsted visit for example, we will happily transfer your booking to a future date or alternative course.

What else can we expect for the year ahead?

We have a full programme of some 90 courses on offer to schools over the course of 2015-16 from our Power Hour and Insight Series and our Management Essentials programme.

Dates are released at the beginning of each double term—Terms 1&2, 3&4 and 5&6; but please do keep an eye on our website for updates, articles and news of special events.

We hope this brochure has piqued your CPD interest and look forward to welcoming you onto a course in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

www.the-sps.co.uk

www.the-sps.co.uk

Upon being appointed as Acting Headteacher I made it an absolute priority to ensure there was a robust performance appraisal cycle in place for my team. To be able to facilitate this I attended the ‘Appraisal for Appraisers’ course as I had not previously carried out appraisals for multiple members of staff.

The course, led by Summer Macer, was highly engaging and gave me an in-depth understanding of performance appraisal. Course materials were detailed and abundant, and there were a variety of methods used to tease out answers from the attendees. We were also challenged to consider action points for the following day, following week and the following three months. Summer’s delivery of the course was outstanding.

Following the course I organised a staff INSET day dedicated to performance appraisal and I am pleased to say that we now have a robust cycle in place. All staff have targets which link to the Development Plan and it is clear that people feel more empowered, and more valued, knowing that they’re working towards shared and personal goals throughout the year.

@thesps_online

sales@the-sps.co.uk

03000 411115

Worrall House30 Kings Hill AvenueKings HillWest MallingKentME19 4AE

Back to Menu