News, training and professional development from Devon Education Services
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News from the education teams:
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Conferences and professional development:
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News from the education teams
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** NEW ** Directory 2025-26
View our new directory for a full list of our service level agreements for academic year 2024/25 in the following areas; |
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Lead schools for music - applications now open
We are looking for 10 primary and 10 secondary schools to lead schools for music. They will advocate and promote music education among local schools. Applications must be submitted by 24 March 2025. |
| Find out more and apply here
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FAST 15 – Short updates for school leadersThe School Effectiveness Team are continually putting together recorded sessions, to summarise and communicate key points and themes on a range of subjects, in just 15 minutes.
The latest FAST 15 updates feature Human Resources and Early Years. |
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 | Exeter Racecourse, Exeter
28 March 2025 |
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Outdoor learning conference: Places and spacesCome along to this event for ideas and tools for making the most of outdoor learning places and spaces on your doorstep and within your area.
With keynote speakers and workshops to help you link local places with the school curriculum and enrich children's learning. |
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Exciting summer term availabilityAre you looking for an adventurous residential experience in the heart of Dartmoor? We have prime time slots available leading up to the summer term at both our centres; Don’t miss out on this fabulous opportunity! |
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Supporting inclusive practice and provision at Key Stage 1Attend our webinar to develop the skills of school staff in mainstream primary schools to support children with more complex needs in Key Stage 1, to be well included at school, with a focus on using visual support. |
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Future Finance project update
We will be transitioning between FINEST and Unit 4 at the end of March, opening our new system to users on Monday 7 April. Schools work processes will substantially remain the same as today. iTrent will be updating it’s cost codes, further information will follow shortly on the changes and how to find out what the new equivalent cost codes are. |
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Briefings and network meetings |
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- Bursar briefings - 21, 22, 23 Oct 2025 (in person and online)
Clerks briefing for maintained and academy schools - 6, 7, 8 May 2025 (online) - DPO networking forum - 26 Mar, 15 May, 2 Jul 2025 (online)
- Early Years and Childcare: Safeguarding and welfare forums - 3 Apr, 3, 5 Jun 2025
- Early Years SENDCo Forums - 3, 4 & 5 Jun 2025 (online)
- Educational visits co-ordinator (EVC) termly briefings - Spring dates available
- EYFS briefings for schools - 30 Jun, 1, 2 Jul 2025 (online)
Library network meetings (secondary) - 19 or 20 Mar 2025 - Primary English subject leader meetings - summer dates available
- Primary Maths subject leader meetings - summer dates available
- Primary PE subject leader meetings - 23 May 2025 (in person)
- Safeguarding forums - 10, 11 Jun 2025 (in person and online)
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A fantastic opportunity for both subscribing and non-subscribing schools to meet and share ideas whilst receiving the latest updates on changes to data protection legislation and how this could affect you.
(Please note that schools who subscribe to our DPO service can attend at no charge, as part of their subscription package) | Back to top |
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Early education (EYFS) and childcare |
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Early Years Foundation Stage |
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Early Years and Childcare - including some fully funded training for Devon EYC providers (excl. Plymouth and Torbay) |
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These courses are fully funded for Devon schools and other schools with Devon children in care |
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Ethnically Diverse Education Achievement Service (EDEAS)
(Formerly EMTAS)
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Effective governance
Effective clerking
Key responsibilities
Lunchtime bite-size sessions |
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Health and safety
(now all bookable via the Devon Education Services shop platform) |
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Devon Health and Safety Service training courses
- Accident investigation - 29 Apr or 18 Nov 2025 (online)
- Asbestos operational awareness - 23 Apr, 10 Jun, 16 Sept or 4 Nov 2025 (online)
- Asbestos duty to manage - 14 May, 1 Jul or 22 Oct 2025 (online)
- Control of contractors and CDM - 19 Mar, 8 Oct or 9 Dec 2025 (online)
- COSHH – managing chemicals safely - 12 Jun or 26 Nov 2025 (online)
- Fire warden - 23 Apr, 15 Jul or 9 Oct 2025 (online)
- Health and safety general awareness - 15 May or 21 Oct 2025 (online)
- Health and safety risk assessment - 21 May or 4 Nov 2025 (online)
- IOSH managing safely (4-day course) - 30 Apr, 24 Sept or 5 Nov 2025 (in person)
- IOSH managing safely refresher - 25 Jun 2025 (in person)
- IOSH working safely - 2 Apr or 7 Oct 2025 (in person)
- Legionella operational awareness - 24 Apr, 26 Jun, 18 Sept or 2 Dec 2025 (online)
- Legionella responsible person - 15 May, 10 Jul or 20 Nov 2025 (online)
- School governors’ health and safety overview - 5 Jun or 19 Nov 2025 (online)
- Senior managers’ premises overview (schools) - 13 Mar, 20 May, 15 Oct or 27 Nov 2025 (online)
- Managing work at height - 13 May or 6 Oct 2025 (online)
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Maths Subject Leaders: Support and Professional Development |
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Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision |
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Outdoor education and leadership courses |
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Child Protection Level 3 initial training (online) - 2 Jun, 20 Oct 2025, 15 Jan, 2 Jun 2026 (2 days) Child Protection level 3 initial training (in person) - 19 May, 3 Jul 2025 (2 days) - Child Protection refresher training Group 3 and above (online) - 25 Apr, 10 Jul, 6, 24 Oct 2025, 9 Jan, 9 Feb, 17 Mar, 20 May 2026
- Child Protection refresher training Group 3 and above (in person) - 26 Mar or 6 Jun 2025
- Safeguarding Conference: Safe paths for every child - 26 Jun 2025 (Sandy Park, Exeter) Early Bird expires 14 February
- Safeguarding forum - 19 Mar 10, 11 Jun 2025
- Safer recruitment and allegations management (initial) - 6 May 2025
- Safer recruitment and allegations management (refresher) - more dates coming soon
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Internet safety parents' workshop (delivered in school)
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School Leadership and Effectiveness |
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The School Leadership and Effectiveness Team have put together a selection of sessions which you can use to create a bespoke package for you and your team. Contact us to discuss these in more detail and to find out about our flexible delivery models and costings.
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Would you like to connect with other school librarians?
Our termly networking meetings are held either at our centre in Willand, at a host school or online. They are led by the SLS advisory team and are a source of up-to-date information, the sharing of ideas and good practice, plus a chance to look around another library and talk about the books we love.
Library network meetings (secondary) - 19 or 20 Mar 2025 Focus: Non-fiction collections in the secondary library |
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SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health |
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SEND - Communication and interaction (autism and language) |
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Did you know..?
All of our language training can be delivered in your school, and bespoke sessions and packages are available. Contact us to discuss your individual requirements.
Our current training sessions include
- Understanding DLD and language
- Language and behaviour – training and consultation
Developing Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision to support C&I needs focusing on
- Vocabulary
- Visual support
- Colour Semantics
- Supporting struggling readers
- Verbal reasoning and Blank levels
Training on Speech and Language UK interventions |
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SEND - Leadership and strategic support |
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SEND - Sensory and/or physical needs |
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Sustainable schools and waste education |
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Sustainability conference: Empowering schools towards a sustainable future
To support schools and settings with their sustainability commitments, we are launching a sustainability conference on 27 November 2025 which will be held at Sandy Park, Exeter. Early bird rates are available until 23 May.
Sandy Park, Exeter
27 November 2025 |
| Find out more and book your place here
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The Department for Education has published its strategy ‘Sustainability and Climate Change: A Strategy for the Education and Children’s Services Systems’ which states that by 2025, all schools should have:
- A Climate Action Plan – outlining how the schools plan to work towards Net Zero
- A Sustainability Lead – a individual or team of people who will implement actions to improve the sustainability of the school.
Devon County Council can support schools with a wide range of resources and opportunities to help with climate action plans, but there is also a number of excellent free resources being made available. |
| Visit our website to find out more
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| Free trips for schools - Bring a class of upper KS2 or secondary pupils to see inside the Energy from Waste plants in Exeter and Plymouth. Our trips book up fast so contact us now for 2025/26 dates. Grants are available to help cover coach costs.
Free workshops for schools - Interactive and fun workshops, about topics like marine litter, materials, compost and recycling are brought to your school. They can help engage pupils with waste at school through waste audits – perfect for Eco-Groups aiming for their Eco-Schools Green Flag Award. |
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