PURPLE POST March 2022

A warm welcome to the March edition of Purple Post.

We hope that everyone has had a good month and is starting to enjoy the lighter evenings?

In this month’s edition, we have an update to the National Insurance news from last month, more well-being tips from our People team, an introduction to our Non-Executive Directors and Governors of Parenta, and an important update from our Functional Skills team. 

Parenta's Non-Executive Directors and Governors

May I introduce ourselves, we are Patrick Tucker and Hannah Lloyd, and are Non-Executive Directors of Parenta as well as Governors of Parenta. Adjoined to this, we are consultants in the education landscape and are Directors of Seren Skills Network.

We wear three hats in Parenta. We will use these different roles depending upon the nature of the meeting and/or activity we are doing at the time, we will of course inform you of our role at the time. 

1. Non-Executive Directors
2. Governors
3. Consultants as part of Seren Skills Network Ltd - https://serenskills.co.uk/

Below is a short explanation to the three roles:

Non-Executive Directors

As Non-Executive Directors (NED) our role is to provide a creative contribution to the Parenta board by providing independent oversight and constructive challenge to the Executive Directors. There is no legal distinction between executive and non-executive directors. As a consequence, in the UK unitary board structure, NEDs have the same legal duties, responsibilities and potential liabilities as their executive counterparts. Clearly, it is appreciated that NEDs cannot give the same continuous attention to the business of the company. 

However, it is important that they show the same commitment to its success as their executive colleagues. It follows that as NEDs we are subject to the codified duties of directors contained in the Companies Act 2006 in the same way as executive directors. The Companies Act 2006 places statutory duties on executive and non-executive directors alike to:

• Act within powers set out in the company’s memorandum of association.
• Promote success of the company.
• Exercise independent judgement.
• Exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence.
• Avoid conflicts of interest.
• Not accept benefits from third parties.
• Declare interests in proposed transactions or arrangements.

Governors

Independent Training Providers (ITPs) provide excellent learning and training experience for learners and apprentices and are a key element of the skills delivery system of this country. They are entrusted with billions of pounds of public funds annually to provide quality services and experiences to students and apprentices. Collectively ITPs deliver most of the UK apprenticeship programme and any individual provider failure damages reputation and trust in the whole programme. Therefore, it is important that we demonstrate the highest standards of governance. 

As an Independent Training provider, Parenta Training is regulated by Ofsted and the ESFA (Education and Skills Funding Agency). To ensure internal challenge and ongoing assurance a Governance board has been established to provide critical evaluation and challenge to senior members of the organisation.

The Board of Governors is responsible for ensuring the best interest of students and employers and that public funds are well spent and focus on meeting the organisations goals and government priority.

Consultants

Seren Skills Network Ltd is a prominent management consultancy that predominately operates in the UK education space. We (Seren Skills) plays a key role in working within the Apprenticeship and Vocational Education and Training (sector as advisors, influencers and subject matter experts working on the principle that organisations “don’t know what they don’t know”. We have over 70 years of Vocational Education Training (VET) experience but more importantly, have been at the forefront of engaging with providers and employers to make sense and implement the correct VET offer for businesses in the post reform world and post COVID 19. 

We operate as Consultants to support the business and drive the business forward. Seren Skills is made up of four Directors and we utilise our network to engage with subject matter experts to support training providers. 

National Insurance - Update:

Last month, we told you about National Insurance increasing from 1^st April 2022. Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in his Spring Statement on 23^rd March 2022 that this would further change. 

Currently, most of us pay 12% of earnings between £9,568 and £50,250, then 2% on any earnings above that. From July, National Insurance will be paid on income over £12,570 a year - the same level as income tax starts being paid. This means that anyone earning less than around £35,000 per annum will pay less national insurance during the year. For those who earn more than that, they will likely see a tax rise, although it is a smaller rise than expected. For example: 

• For an employee earning £20,000 a year, it means an annual National Insurance cut of £180 in 2022-23, instead of an £89 rise expected before the announcement, according to accountancy firm Deloitte
  
• For a £40,000 earner, it means a rise of £70, instead of a previously expected £339 rise
  
• For a £60,000 earner, it means a £442 rise, instead of a previously expected £711 rise

You can see the spring statement by visiting: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spring-statement-2022-documents

CPD:

With our anticipated Ofsted Inspection, it is important that we complete all CPD mandatory courses. These are:

·       Safeguarding for Children Certificate

·       Prevent Duty Certificate

·       Equality, Diversity & Discrimination Awareness

·       Health and Safety for Homeworkers

·       GDPR

·       Modern Slavery Awareness

·       Display Screen Equipment Awareness

·       Safer Recruitment (For Managers)

Once you’ve completed your course, please send the certificate to HR so we can update your records. 

Well-Being:

We are all under a lot of pressure at the moment with the upcoming Ofsted inspection. We really appreciate all of the work you’re all putting in, just don’t forget to make some time for yourself each day. 

• Make sure you take your lunch breaks - You need to make sure you are eating properly and having some time away from your screens.
• Try going for a lunchtime walk - In the February edition of Purple Post, we told you about the benefits of going for a walk during the day. 
• Try having a morning catch up with your team – This is a good way to refocus your mind and also ask for extra support if you need it. 
• Switch off at the end of the day – do something that makes you happy or helps you relax and don’t think about work until you start again the next day. 

Most importantly, speak to someone if you find you are feeling overwhelmed or like you can’t cope. Your line managers are there to support you and HR will always take the time to listen to you. 

Welcome Jill! – Our New HR Administrator

I am very excited to be joining the Parenta team. I have worked in various administration roles within education most of my career including Headteacher’s PA and Personnel Manager. In March 2020 my husband and I bought a vintage sweet shop in Faversham but unfortunately this was just as Covid hit so the shop has not developed as we would have liked it to.  Hence, my return to a ‘proper’ job while my husband manages the shop.

In my spare time I love to do anything crafty and also walking my two dogs, Poppy 10 years and Freddie who is 11 weeks and full of puppy energy!

I am very much looking forward to working with you all.

The new 15-week maths course has started, and we are excited to announce that we are now offering a more intense and structured maths programme for our learners. 

Upskill Rule

We wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the upskill rule: if a learner is completing a L2 programme they will need to gain L1 in all aspects of FS, including speaking and listening, they will then need to attempt L2 FS. We are pitching our FS courses at L2, and if they fail a level 2 FS exam they will then drop back to L1. If a learner has a 3/D grade in GCSE they are exempt from L1. Can we please make sure the message is clear to learners that they need to work towards their L2 in FS.

The message from Ofsted is that FS is a companywide priority - we must not consider FS as an “add on”. As a company we need to drive the importance of this and how important it is for the work place and life skills. The FS curriculum should be present in every aspect of our teaching and communication with learners. The FS team are planning to share the new Scheme of Works with everyone, including the learners. 

CPD training ideas – what do YOU want to learn?

Don't forget to complete the short survey!

We are looking at expanding our learning and development offer across all our teams - so please help us with ideas that you would like to develop in. 

We really want our Parenta People to choose the topics to help drive our continuous development plan.

Please note that not all topics need to be work related - please complete this short survey and let us know what YOU want to learn! 

Complete the survey here!

When sending documents to the Marketing team for creating and / or branding, please ensure that the FINAL version which has been approved and signed off by all relevant parties and line managers - including those from other teams – is sent to the team. Please also ensure that the correct data with all the required fields is included as a CSV file.  This will avoid re-work and delay in returning the documents back to you.

Thank you!

Please don’t forget to use the staff intranet – it’s packed with resources to help us, our learners and our settings

A reminder that all Parenta resources to help ourselves, our learners and settings can be found here on our intranet, all in one handy place.

We publish additional industry expert advice, news articles and crafts in our free magazine and on our blog .

Here are this month’s How to Guides and documents added to the staff intranet:

Group Teaching - Process and Procedure

How to hire your perfect apprentice

How to support your children, learners and staff over the situation in Ukraine

Staff development strategies and career progression

Parenta PowerPoint Template

Apprentice Handbook

The positive endorsements that we receive from our existing customers are not only a great way for giving praise to the individuals or teams concerned, but are used as a valuable marketing tool to attract new customers! 

Please ensure that after every positive interaction you have with a customer you ask them if they would be willing to send in a short testimonial and then follow up with the usual link https://www.parenta.com/testimonial/  

“Excellent response times and prompt email actions.
“When calling through for support we find that you are always helpful and help us to resolve our issue.

Fantastic response to my emails and expert knowledge.”

Charlene

Clever Clogs

“Easy to follow advice, thank you very much.”

Brishing Barn

“Very quick to respond and helpful.”

Muhammed Khan

“Thanks Amie for a quick response to my query, which made perfect sense!”

Sarah Sexon

“Actioned very quickly, excellent!

Rosie, as always, was very knowledgeable and helpful and was able to deal with my query swiftly. Thank you.”

Claire Braidwood

“I am just emailing you today to make you aware of the support & help that I have received from my assessor Gemma Hares.

Gemma took over at the start of the year after a multitude of assessors coming, going & delaying my studies. She has always emailed, text and phoned me back immediately, uploads work when she says she will, marks it off quickly & moves through outstanding projects quickly. She has gone above & beyond to get me through my studies which thanks to her, I am now almost finished. I thought it would be nice for you to hear the positive feedback about the excellent level of care she is giving to her students!”

Celia Burton

Spotlight on… Lorraine White!

This month, we caught up with Lorriane who was the Kudos winner for February! Click below to watch her clip!

Keep those high fives coming!

Thanks to all those who have been giving kudos throughout the month – please keep it going, it’s important now more than ever to give each other a deserved ‘pat on the back’. Our winner for March is Richelle Sparks! Congratulations Richelle!

Don't forget you can start voting for our April employee of the month already. Keep that Kudos coming and please give recognition for all the hard work our colleagues are doing.

Parenta Magazine

Our free monthly magazine is packed with news articles and advice pieces - all of which are written to help nursery managers with the efficient running of their settings and to promote the health, happiness and well-being of the children in their care. Please do read it and send the magazine link to your contacts.