Samford Division
March Newsletter
2022
Cllr Georgia Hall
Georgia.hall@suffolk.gov.uk
07955 434445

Over 98.5% of pupils receive a place at one of their preferred Secondary
Schools on National Offer Day

It was announced on March 1
st
that 98.51% of pupils received a place at one of their
Preferred Secondary Schools in Suffolk on National Offer Day.
This year, Suffolk County Council (SCC) received 7768 applications from parents indicating at
which secondary school they would prefer their child to be educated from September 2022.

7339 pupils received offers for their first preference school and 7652 pupils received an
offer for one of their three preferred schools.

Families who applied online are able to log on to the Admissions Portal from today to see
their child’s offer. They will also receive an email to confirm this offer. Letters will be sent to
parents who made a paper application by second class post today (1 March).
If a family does not receive a place at their preferred school, their child’s name will
automatically be added to the waiting list for that school. Parents will also be advised on
how to log an appeal should they wish to do so.

Councillor Rachel Hood, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, SEND
and Skills, said:
“It is excellent news, that the vast majority of families have once again been offered a place
at one of their preferred schools. Published criteria was used to decide who has priority for
places so that the process is fair and clear.

“Starting secondary school is a big step in a child’s education and the more we can do to
make the transition to a new school smoother for them, the better.”
Once school places have been confirmed, parents need to consider how their child will get
to and from school. If their child is eligible for SCC funded school travel they will receive an
email by the end of March 2022 with details of how to opt-in.
For further information on secondary school admissions please
visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissions.

Suffolk County Council’s leaving care service receives high praise from Ofsted

On March 3
rd
, Suffolk County Council’s leaving care service received high praise from Ofsted
after a recent visit.
Ofsted inspectors assessed the local authority’s arrangement for care leavers as part of a
focused visit to the service. The visit follows on from the Outstanding rating received by
SCC’s Children’s Services department in 2019. The services for children in care and care
leavers was the only area at the time to be rated ‘Good’ and therefore was an area of
priority for the council.

At the recent visit inspectors concluded that care leavers are successfully helped to
transition to independence and reach their full potential. The service was seen to have a
culture that is “determined, ambitious and creative” with practitioners who build trusting
relationships with care leavers. Practitioners were seen accessing a wide range of specialist
expertise to provide services to care leavers that are individualised and responsive.
Inspectors also said that “Many care leavers achieve well, exceeding their own expectations.
All are valued and their achievements are celebrated. Persistent efforts are made to reach
out to those who are difficult to engage.”
James Reeder, Cabinet member for Children and Young People’s Services said:
“I am absolutely delighted to receive such high praise from Ofsted. This report really
demonstrates the hard work that staff in the leaving care service deliver day in, day out. I
would like to thank them for the great work that they do for our care leavers.
“We are committed to delivering the highest quality service for our care leavers in Suffolk.
All young people have the right to the appropriate level of support they need to aspire and
achieve. I am committed to ensuring that this is the reality for all of Suffolk’s young people,
including our most vulnerable.”
The full report can be found here: https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50178373
Campaign urges households to recycle glass properly
Residents across Suffolk are being encouraged to get behind a campaign calling for people
to recycle glass properly.
Suffolk Waste Partnership (SWP) is launching ‘Glass – It’s Better in The Bank’, a 12-week
campaign aimed at getting people to stop putting glass in their household recycling bins and
to use a bottle bank instead.
Suffolk Waste Partnership comprises the county, district and borough councils working
together to improve waste management services.
The SWP campaign runs until 31 May and will feature in adverts on buses, at supermarket
billboards and on a van touring part of the county, plus on social media and on radio.
District and borough councils, which collect our rubbish, will be applying bin tags and
stickers to recycling bins containing glass.
Crews will have a prompt in the cab to remind them to be on the look-out and recycling bins
may not be emptied if they are found to contain glass.
There will be a dedicated web page about the campaign on the Suffolk Recycling webpage
with a set of FAQs and an information leaflet to distribute at events.
Glass is not accepted in household recycling bins as the Materials Recycling Facility at Great
Blakenham near Ipswich, where the bins are taken for sorting, is unable to separate glass
from other materials.
Glass mistakenly placed in household recycling bins costs the SWP around £500,000 a year.
It will not be recycled and can spoil other good recycling, especially card and paper.

Glass represents about half of all the wrong material in household recycling bins – other bad
eggs include black rubbish sacks, food, nappies, textiles, and cartons – and rejection levels
are currently running at around 20%.
Lifesaving fire equipment to help efforts in Ukraine
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has pledged its support for Ukraine by providing much-
needed fire engines and kit for those on the frontline.
This forms part of the ongoing National Fire Chiefs Council and Fire Aid initiative, which will
see a convoy of donations travel to the war-torn country.
Two surplus engines no longer in service have been donated to Ukraine by Suffolk Fire and
Rescue Service, along with vital equipment including hoses.
Jon Lacey, Chief Fire Officer for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, said:
“Like most of the world, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service is deeply saddened by Russia’s
invasion of Ukraine and will do everything in its power to help the country.
“We are incredibly proud to support the National Fire Chiefs Council by providing two of our
fire engines to Ukraine, both of which are fully operational and ready for use on arrival.
“Our thoughts are with all Ukrainian firefighters at this time, as they continue to protect
their communities during the conflict despite the danger posed to their own lives.”
It is anticipated that 5,000 pieces of kit will be donated by fire services from across the UK
over coming weeks. The items will be sent to Ukraine via Poland, with the first convoy
having left England a few days ago.
Councillor Andrew Reid, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection,
commented:
“I am pleased that Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service can play its part in helping Ukraine by
donating essential equipment to replace their old and damaged kit.
“This will make a real difference to the country’s emergency services, whose bravery and
resilience cannot be underestimated as they remain critical in responding to the atrocities
caused by Russia’s invasion.
“I am sure I am not alone in hoping for peace and safety for Ukraine and its people, many of
whom have had their lives devastated by recent events.”
Those wishing to lend their support to the scheme can
visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/KeepUkraineFireFightersSafe to donate to Fire Aid,
who have provided crucial equipment to Ukrainian firefighters since 2012.
In addition to donating kit to Ukraine, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service will host a charity car
wash at fire stations across the county between 10am and 2pm on Saturday March 26.
Funds raised from this will be shared between the Disasters Emergency Committee, who
continue to provide food and shelter to those fleeing Ukraine, and The Fire Fighters Charity,
which offers invaluable support to both serving and former fire staff.