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 will investigate the specific and important role of the Safeguarding Governor, to ensure the:

• legal requirements are in place and are known and understood by all staff and adults working in your school
• expectations of OfSTED are being met and that governors can provide evidence of their compliance
• expectations from Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance are fully understood and embedded

This is a certified course to support Governors evidence of KCSIE compliance.

Governors will: 

• have a clear understanding of their role
• have the knowledge and expertise to hold the school to account for ensuring that the policies and processes are in place and that they are being consistently applied
• have a good understanding of what they should monitor and challenge and how that is reported back to the full Governing Board
• be able to report on the staff's understanding of their role in Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance 

All Governors

This course will explore the specific and important role of the SEND Governor ensuring: 

• The legal requirements are in place and are known and understood by all staff and adults working in your school 
• That your school is ambitious for all our children with SEND and they are supported to reach their full potential 
• The SEND governors have the required skills and knowledge to challenge the provision in place and the use of the notional SEND budget

There will also be an opportunity for governors to understand the process of applying for an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) including the amount of evidence that is required and discussions with external agencies, this will also include the timing and procedure for the annual reviews. 

Governors will: 

• have a clear understanding of their role 
• have the knowledge and expertise to hold the school to account for ensuring that the policies and processes are in place and that they are being consistently applied 
• have a good understanding of what they should monitor and challenge and how that is reported back to the full Governing Board 
• have the knowledge to inform their Governing Boards of how the money for SEND pupils is spent and its impact 
• understand the rigour and time commitment to the EHCP application process, the implications for the staff managing this process and the need to ensure that there is enough capacity for the role.

All Governors, but especially those with SEN responsibilities

The course will support Governors to understand their role in managing all complaints and concerns raised about their school. An effective complaints policy that is understood by the school community will help to ensure that any concerns or issues are dealt with effectively and a quick and positive outcome is secured.

This session will include:

• An overview of policies and guidance
• Application of the policy across the school community
• Mechanisms to ensure all staff understand their role within the policy

Governors will:

• have a good understanding of what a complaint is
• be confident if asked to investigate a complaint on behalf of the governing board
• be confident to serve on a complaints panel
• have a whole school complaints policy which will ensure that all stakeholders are confident that their concerns or complaints will be dealt with sympathetically and fairly
• confidentially manage any complaints against the governing board

 Schools will reduce the risk of: 

• concerns converting to complaints
• the need for a panel hearing
• a DfE review

All Governors