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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Iain Stevens
Strategy and Delivery Lead |
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Introducing our new Strategy and Delivery LeadDevon Education Services is pleased to welcome Iain Stevens as our new Strategy and Delivery Lead.
Iain joined us in January, he is passionate about supporting schools and settings across Devon and beyond, and is currently leading the final stages of this year’s DES Directory, due to be shared after February half term. |
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20 March 2026
Exeter Racecourse |
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Outdoor learning conferenceJoin educators from across Devon for a practical, inspiring day focused on supporting schools to embed high‑quality outdoor learning into everyday practice.
Featuring keynote speaker Dr Anne Hunt and hands‑on workshops from expert partners, the conference will support schools to confidently take learning beyond the classroom. |
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Supporting pupils with Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)Develop your Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision (OAIP) around supporting attendance and tackling Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA).
Gain practical strategies and resources like the ATTEND Framework and School Wellbeing Cards to help pupils thrive. |
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Count your carbon webinarClimate Ambassadors and Keep Britain Tidy are hosting a one‑hour webinar on 25 February (4–5pm) to support education staff in using the Count Your Carbon calculator to measure and act on their school’s carbon footprint. |
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10 March 2026
Sandy Park, Exeter |
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Mentally healthy schools conferenceDon’t miss Devon’s flagship wellbeing event! This year’s theme — “Feeling safer to connect, belong and learn” — brings powerful keynote speakers and practical workshops designed to help your school strengthen emotional safety, inclusion and whole‑school wellbeing.
A must‑attend day for leaders and staff passionate about creating thriving, supportive learning environments. |
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Help shape school food support in DevonDevon County Council Public Health is developing a new programme to support a whole‑school approach to food — and they want to hear from you. Share your challenges and what would help your school improve food provision, engage families, promote healthy messages, and increase access to affordable, nutritious food. |
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Complete the short survey by Friday 27 February for a chance to win £250 for food preparation or activity equipment.
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| 👉 Take part
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WINNER ANNOUNCED!
£200 of library booksCongratulations to Colyton Grammar School, winners of our recent competition to receive £200 worth of library books. Thank you to every school that took part — your feedback will help us continue shaping the support we offer for reading and library development across Devon. |
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Briefings and network meetings |
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- Budget Planning Workshop (in person) - 11, 12 Mar 2026
- Bursar briefings (in person and online) - 3, 4, 5 Mar 2026
Clerks briefing (online and in person) - dates coming soon DPO networking forum (online) - 19 Mar 2026 Early Years and Childcare: Provider network meeting - 3, 4, 11, 12, 16, 24 Mar 2026 - at various locations across Devon Educational visits co-ordinator (EVC) termly briefing - (in person and online) 24 Feb, 10, 16, 17 Mar 2026 EYFS briefings for schools (online) - 9, 10, 11 Mar, 6, 7, 9 Jul 2026 Safeguarding forums (in person and online) - 10, 11, 18 Mar, 8, 9, 10 Jun 2026 - School Library Service network meetings - 17, 18 Mar 2026
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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.
Data Protection Networking Forum (online)
19 March 2026
Records retention and management |
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(Please note: schools who subscribe to our DPO service can attend at no charge, as part of their subscription package)
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Early education (EYFS) and childcare |
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Early Years Foundation Stage - Early Years music conference - 10 Mar 2026 - Future Skills Centre, Exeter
- Early Years SENDCo Forums - 11,12 Feb, 18, 19, 21 May 2026
EYFS briefings for schools (online) - 9, 10, 11 Mar, 6, 7, 9 Jul 2026 Early Years Foundation Stage conference - 8 October 2026 - Sandy Park, Exeter |
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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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Assessment of writing - Make accurate, evidence-based assessments of writing across KS1 and KS2 where no national criteria or exemplification exists. BookWries and BookBuds - An innovative package of English teaching sequences for R-Y6, a secure but flexible framework of learning, within which teachers can develop their own expertise. Re-think Reading! - A comprehensive resource to support the teaching of reading from Y1-Y6. |
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Ethnically Diverse Education Achievement Service (EDEAS)
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Devon Health and Safety Service training courses
- Asbestos operational awareness (online) - 27 Apr, 10 Jun, 16 Sep, 3 Nov 2026
- Asbestos duty to manage (online) - 10 Mar, 13 May, 8 Jul, 12 Oct 2026
- Control of contractors and CDM (online) - 11 Mar, 23 Sep, 9 Dec 2026
- COSHH – managing chemicals safely (online) - 4 Mar, 17 Jun, 26 Nov 2026
- Fire safety duty to manage (DCC) (online) - 17 Jun, 22 Sept, 25 Nov 2026
- Fire safety duty to manage (Academy) (online) - 25 Jun, 20 Oct 2026
- Fire warden (online) - 6 May, 7 Jul, 8 Oct 2026
- Health and safety general awareness (online) - 2 Apr, 10 Nov 2026
- Health and safety risk assessment (online) - 14 May, 12 Nov 2026
- IOSH managing safely (4-day course) (in person) - 3 Jun, 7 Oct 2026
- IOSH Managing safely refresher (in person) - 24 Jun 2026
- IOSH working safely (in person) - 25 Mar, 5 Nov 2026
- Legionella operational awareness (online) - 12 Feb, 30 Apr, 30 Jun 24 Sep, 1 Dec 2026
- Legionella responsible person (online) - 12 Mar, 12 May, 14 Jul, 24 Nov 2026
- School governors’ health and safety overview (online) - 11 Feb, 16 Jun, 3 Dec 2026
- Senior managers’ premises overview (schools) (online) - 12 Mar, 18 Jun, 20 Oct, 9 Dec 2026
- Managing work at height (online) - 7 May, 6 Oct 2026
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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 (2 days) (online) - dates coming soon Child Protection level 3 initial training (2 days) (in person) - 2 Jun 2026 Child Protection refresher training Group 3 and above (online) - 17 Mar, 20 May 2026 - Child Protection refresher training Group 3 and above (in person) - 26 Feb, 6, 26 Mar, 7 Jul 2026
- Safeguarding conference 2026 - 1 Jul 2026 - Sandy Park, Exeter
Early Bird price expires 13 February 2026
- Safeguarding forum (in person and online) - 10, 11, 18 Mar, 8, 9, 10 Jun 2026
Supporting mentally healthy schools conference - 10 Mar 2025 - Sandy Park, Exeter
Thanks to funding, this event is just £40 per person | Internet safety parents' workshop (delivered in school)
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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 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. |
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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 - Sensory and/or physical needs |
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Sustainable schools and waste education |
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The Department for Education's strategy ‘Sustainability and Climate Change: A Strategy for the Education and Children’s Services Systems’ stated that all schools should have:
- A Sustainability Lead – a individual or team of people who will implement actions to improve the sustainability of the school
- A Climate Action Plan – outlining how the schools plan to work towards Net Zero
It’s not too late to get started on your Climate Action Plan; if you are still looking for help developing and implementing your plan, then visit Devon County Council’s Sustainable Schools webpages for links to a wide range of excellent free resources and opportunities. |
| Visit the Sustainable Schools website
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| The Zone Recycle Devon website provides a wealth of resources, from lesson plans and activities through to practical advice for managing waste better in schools. |
| Visit the Zone Recycle Devon website
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Sign up for a half-termly bulletin full of info and resources for teachers and schools in Devon around environmental issues, sustainability and outdoor learning. Keep up-to-date with the Sustainability Bulletin.
Take a look at past issues here: Sustainability Bulletin - Zone |
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Sign up to newsletters from our education teams and read previous issues: |
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