Networking
Our Trust team is in constant communication, and being part of our Trust is being part of an informal family network, but we also formulate specifically focused network groups to address and develop key areas which our settings wish to work together on.
The uniqueness of our academies is something we hold dear, but there is also a great deal of cross-over, and our academy leaders are all keen to draw together the best practice, ideas and aspirations from across our Trust.
For 2024-2025 we are formally providing:
Safeguarding Network Group
Our Trust’s Safeguarding Network Lead leads this group and DSLs and Safeguarding Teams meet through the academic year to identify new challenges, formulate new approaches and share best practice. It also provides a forum for off-loading and taking on support in what can be a difficult area of academy life.
In addition, we conduct supportive safeguarding reviews with our teams, drop-in one-to-one support meetings, and supervision assistance. Our Safeguarding teams are never alone and there is always back up available.
SEND Network Group
Similar to Safeguarding, our Trust’s SEND Network Lead replicates this model with our SENCOs and SEND Teams.
The support, the review, the bespoke assistance and the combination of ‘face-to-face’ and ‘end-of-the-phone’ availability is always there to assist with provision, whether it be dealing with the Local Authority SEND systems or seeking bespoke ideas to meet a particular need.
Early Years Network Group
Our Early Years leaders meet through the year to share best practice, offer new ideas and strategies, and to be supportive in raising achievement and welfare standards across our academies.
Attendance Network Group
Our senior Attendance leaders meet through the year to share best practice, compare attendance approaches, and to map in interventions to target this key area of academy improvement. There is support in data, documentation, tracking and a real focus on Disadvantaged students where this issue is usually most prevalent.
Trust Finance Network Group
Our Trust Chief Finance Officer leads termly meetings where academy representatives receive guidance, support and consultation over forthcoming developments.
This group follows the Trust’s ethos of keeping education and academy improvement at the forefront of the approach and so is always acutely aware that their ultimate purpose is to enable effective classroom learning and more widely enhance the daily experience of our children.
Trust HR Network Group
Similar to Finance, our Trust’s HR Leads replicate this model and approach with academy representatives in their field.
Again, latest policy and practice is shared and discussed, and like with Finance, individual setting meetings and ‘end-of-the-phone’ support are available each day.