Dear colleagues 

Thank you to all schools involved in the recent Ofsted/CQC SEND inspection

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the schools who participated in the recent three-week inspection by Ofsted and CQC, which concluded on 27 June 2025. Your co-operation throughout the process has been invaluable.

A special thank you goes to those of you who spoke directly with the inspectors. Your insights and openness played a crucial role in making the inspection thorough and meaningful.

What happens next?

• In 14 days’ time, we will receive a draft report outlining the inspectors’ findings and outcomes.
• We will then have 10 days to review the draft and highlight any minor amendments or corrections.
• Finally, five days after our response, the final inspection report will be published.

We appreciate your ongoing support and will keep you updated of the outcome.

*Please note that the timelines outlined are general estimates and may be subject to change.

With best wishes for a restful summer break. 

Helen 

Helen Ellis
Director of SEND and Inclusion

Annual Reviews and EHCP Updates 

The SENAR team would like to sincerely thank all schools and settings across the city for the significant time and effort you dedicate to annual reviews, providing updates, and proposing amendments to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Your continued commitment is greatly appreciated. 

We recognise that while progress has been made, there is still work to do to ensure that all children and young people receive timely reviews, and that SENAR receives the completed paperwork within the required two-week timeframe. We remain committed to working closely with you on this improvement journey, ensuring the experiences and needs of children and young people remain at the heart of the process. 

Use of Elevate Paperwork 

The Elevate paperwork has now been in circulation for some time. As previously communicated, from the start of the summer term, this is the only paperwork that should be used for: 

• Annual reviews
• New requests for assessment 

All documents are available on the Local Offer website: Documents - Local Offer Birmingham 

We would like to thank everyone involved in co-producing these documents and those who provided valuable feedback during the pilot phase. 

Requesting EHCP Changes 

Schools or parents can request changes to an EHCP through the annual review process. However, this does not automatically mean the plan will be updated. SENAR officers consider a range of factors before making any amendments, and the final decision rests with the Local Authority (LA). 

In some cases, proposed changes may be considered minor and deferred until a future review when more substantial updates are needed. 

SENAR follows the SEND Code of Practice, which outlines the following principles: 

“EHC plans are not expected to be amended on a very frequent basis. However, an EHC plan may need to be amended at other times where, for example, there are changes in health or social care provision resulting from minor or specific changes in the child or young person’s circumstances, but where a full review or re-assessment is not necessary.” 

“Outcomes underpin and inform the detail of EHC plans. Outcomes will usually set out what needs to be achieved by the end of a phase or stage of education in order to enable the child or young person to progress successfully to the next phase or stage.” 

“An EHC plan must be reviewed and amended in sufficient time prior to a child or young person moving between key phases of education, to allow for planning for and, where necessary, commissioning of support and provision at the new institution.” 

When Will the LA Consider Amending an EHCP? 

The Local Authority will generally consider amendments under the following circumstances: 

• Outdated Information:  If the EHCP is over three years old and no longer reflects the child’s current needs, attainment, or provision. If the content is still accurate, an update may not be necessary. 
• Significant Changes in Needs or Provision: Where there are substantial changes in the child’s needs or the type of support required, supported by professional reports. 
• New or Updated Needs: If new needs are identified or additional information is provided about existing needs, supported by relevant professionals. 
• Removal of a Need: If a need is to be removed, there must be clear supporting evidence included in the annual review paperwork. Without this, the amendment cannot be made. 
• Curriculum Relevance: 
  • If the EHCP refers to Nursery, Early Years, or Foundation Stage, and the child is now in Year 1 or above.  
  • If the EHCP includes early developmental goals (e.g., play skills, toilet training) and the child is now in secondary school. 
• Key Transition Points:  
  • Year 5: To prepare for secondary school transition. 
  • Year 9: To support transition to adulthood. 

For any future questions please contact your allocated case officer: SENAR - Local Offer Birmingham. 

Delivering Better Value Workstream 2 Webinars May 2025

A series of three webinars took place in May 2025 to provide a further update on the Delivering Better Value Workstream 2 (DBVW2).

The purpose of DBVW2 is to review High Needs Funding (HNF) arrangements, including SEND Support Provision Plans, to ensure that there is clarity for schools and settings about how much money they will receive for each pupil and how the decision regarding funding has been made. 

The webinar provided key information and updates on the following:

• DBV Workstream 2 Project Timeline
• Spend Analysis Update
• Update on the next steps for the Options Development phase - Task and Finish Groups to be established for:
  • High Needs Funding for pupils with EHC Plans and
  • Pre-Statutory High Needs Funding
• Invites for Expression of Interests for the above Task & Finish Groups

A recording of the webinar can be found at this link:  High Needs Funding Spend Analysis - Update and Next Actions - YouTube

If you have any questions in relation to the webinars, please email them to: DeliveringBetterValue@Birmingham.gov.uk

Creating an Inclusive City

Birmingham's 5-year Change for Children and Young People Strategy is committed to fostering system-wide inclusion and achieving excellent outcomes for children, young people, and young adults.  This strategy aims to empower our children to reach their full potential and fulfil their dreams and aspirations.  A key contributor to this effort is the Education System Leader Strategic Advisory Group, also known as the Headteacher Advisory Group. This group, composed of experienced headteachers and leaders, collaborates to promote education that is fully inclusive, fair, and accessible to all.

This group is spearheading a long-term initiative to understand pupils' experiences of inclusion and to enhance Birmingham as a nurturing place to grow up. A key aspect of this project involves gathering the views and lived experiences of children and young people across all Birmingham schools and settings. This helps us better understand what constitutes a supportive environment for growth and development. The 2024-25 survey findings highlight that children and young people value the following themes: inclusion and equality, kindness and support, friendship and unity, respect and being listened to, teamwork and participation, acceptance of differences, community and diversity, clubs and activities, crime and safety, and public space issues.

Next Steps

• To acknowledge the children and young people who participated in the survey, thank them, and let them know that their voices have been heard.
• The survey findings will contribute to the creation of an Inclusion Charter for Birmingham, which aims to provide a common code of best practice. This charter will set out clear guidelines and expectations for schools and settings to ensure that all children and young people, regardless of their background or abilities, feel valued and supported.
• To integrate the survey findings into relevant areas of work, such as the City’s youth strategy.
• To collaborate with other partners to address themes emerging from the survey, including crime, lack of suitable transport for those with SEND, and safe spaces.
• Further work to be explored with the Headteachers Advisory Group in relation to the future of the Inclusive City Board. More information to follow on this one.
• I am really pleased to say both Ollie Wilson at Woodhouse Primary and Simon Harris Wilson Stuart Special School will be co-chairing the Education Systems Leaders Group going forward.

For any queries or further information please contact Ann Scott, Partnership Inclusion Manager at Ann.Scott@birmingham.gov.uk

The OAG Parents Action Research Project

The OAG Parents Action Research Project is a collaborative initiative involving seven Birmingham schools and the Birmingham Parent Carer Forum (BPCF). The project aims to strengthen parent carers’ understanding and confidence in the support available for their children with SEND, as outlined in Birmingham’s Ordinarily Available Guidance (OAG).

The project emerged from the recognition that parent carers play a crucial role in shaping effective and inclusive SEND provision. While the OAG offers a framework for what should be in place for children and young people with SEND in mainstream schools, feedback indicated that many parents were unaware of the guidance, unsure of what support to expect, and unclear on how to engage with schools around their child’s provision.

In response, Birmingham’s SEND Advisory Services, in partnership with the BPCF, developed an action research project focused specifically on parent voice.

Seven schools participated across the primary, secondary, and all-through phases of education. The project was underpinned by two core research questions:

• Do parents/carers know what support is readily available in school for their child with SEND?
• Are parents/carers confident that the support available will meet their child’s needs?

The schools involved have been developing their Stories of Implementation a visual summary to share with stakeholders across Birmingham, celebrating practical examples of parent-led change – watch out for these in the next SENCo Noticeboard on 3rd July.  Parent groups are also working with us on co-designing a series of one-page leaflets to explain each of the ten OAG principles in parent-friendly language. These will include practical examples and prompts for schools and families.

If you have parent groups in your school who would like to be part of this work, then please get in touch with Heather Wood at Heather.Wood@birmingham.gov.uk. 

Schools Observing SEND Panel

We’re delighted that so many schools have taken up the opportunity to observe the SEND panel, which began on 24 June. Between now and the October half-term, around 50 schools will be joining the panel on Tuesday mornings to gain insight into how decisions are made around education, health, and care needs assessments and plans.

After the October half-term, SENAR will be engaging with participating schools to gather feedback on their experience and to shape how schools can become active contributors to the SEND panel in the new year.

If your school would like to be added to the waiting list to observe a future panel, please contact our Quality and Improvement Team at: candfsendqualityandimprovement@birmingham.gov.uk