This course provides an opportunity for Governors to develop a strong focus on their core strategic functions below:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
• Meeting safeguarding responsibilities

Governors will:

• have a clear understanding of the role for which they have volunteered 
• become active participators and effective Governors as quickly as possible 
• understand how to get to know their school and how to challenge
• be confident when dealing with written information
• be able to interrogate data
• be confident in managing their accountability responsibilities
• understand their safeguarding role and responsibilities

New or recently appointed/elected Governors

This course specifically focuses on meeting the needs of children with an ASD in the Foundation Stage. 

It covers:

• What is ASD?
• Communication development and strategies
• Sensory sensitivities and strategies to manage them
• Behaviour and strategies to manage behaviour

Pupils will:

• be provided with appropriate strategies and support to assist their inclusion, interaction and access to all areas of the curriculum

Practitioners will:

• have a deeper understanding of autism and how it affects children and their families
• be equipped with a range of strategies to support children with autism in mainstream primary schools

Settings will:

• have staff who have a greater understanding of best practice in relation to children with autism as well as the sensory difficulties they experience which can affect their ability to be included

Staff supporting pupils with an ASD in the Foundation Stage, SENCOs, Teachers and Teaching Assistants

This session will focus on particular criteria within the expected standard and provide an opportunity for participants to:  

• Strengthen their understanding of the KS2 writing national standards
• Moderate a range of writing from their Year 6 pupils with other schools 

Delegates will be required to bring along a selection of Year 6 writing evidence from their school to moderate with other schools against the expected standard statements. 

The second moderation workshop session, in March,  will focus on the criteria within the greater depth standard. 

A recorded presentation detailing the requirements and arrangements for statutory moderation in 2025 will also be made available for participants to download and share with other relevant members of staff in their school.

Pupils will: 

• be enabled and supported to reach expectations appropriate to their ability and in line with similar pupils nationally 

• moderate and validate their judgements with other schools against national standards 

• be secure in their teacher assessment judgements for Year 6 writing

Year 6 Teachers of all Primary schools