Dear colleagues

As we reach the end of the Autumn term, I want to thank you for your incredible support and partnership throughout 2025. Together, we’ve achieved so much for children and young people with SEND, and I’m truly grateful for your commitment and collaboration.

The Communication and Autism Team’s new 1:1 virtual advice session has been a huge success, with all December slots booked quickly. In response, the team is adding 90 more sessions in January – thank you for helping families access this support.

We’re also excited to share that Birmingham SEND is now on Instagram! Please follow us and help spread the word, alongside our Facebook page.

Another highlight: Birmingham has secured £700,000 from the Department for Education’s Intervention Support Fund. This funding will strengthen relationships across the SEND community and create more opportunities for parent carer engagement through events and activities.

You’ll find other key updates in this bulletin, so please take a few moments to read through. If there’s anything you’d like us to include in future editions, please get in touch.

Finally, as this is our last bulletin of the year, I want to wish you all a restful break. We look forward to reconnecting in 2026 and continuing our shared work to make a real difference for children and young people.

Thank you once again for everything you do.

Helen

Helen Ellis
Director of Early Years, SEND and Inclusion

Department for Education Intervention Support Fund Success

In collaboration with the Birmingham Parent Carer Forum, we have been successful in securing funding of £700,000 from the Department of Education Intervention Support Fund.

The funded activity will focus on building and improving relationships with schools and within the SEND community through a range of initiatives. It will also support the development of co-produced working together agreements with clear, mutually beneficial commitments outlining how parent carers and professionals will engage, what effective partnership looks like, and how a whole-system approach to participation can be achieved. In addition, the funding will enable the delivery of parent carer events, creating more opportunities for families and services to connect, share experiences, and access information and support.

Birmingham SEND is now on Instagram!

We’re excited to announce that Birmingham SEND has officially launched its Instagram account and growing our social media presence. 

Our goal is to create a space where children, young people, parent carers, professionals, and the wider community can stay connected and informed. On Instagram, just like we do on our Facebook page we’ll be sharing:

• Updates on SEND services and support
• Helpful resources and guidance
• Upcoming events and workshops
• Stories, achievements, and community highlights
• Tips for navigating the Local Offer

By joining us on social media, you’ll have easier access to timely information and a more engaging way to stay involved with our work.

Follow us today and help us build a supportive online community: 

• Instagram - @LocalOfferBirmingham -https://www.instagram.com/localofferbirmingham/ 
• Facebook - www.facebook.com/SENDBirmingham

Thank you for your continued support, we look forward to connecting with you!

Educational Psychology Service (EPS) – New Ways of Working 2026/27

Thank you to all schools that joined our recent webinars on 1 and 2 December 2025. These sessions outlined important changes to our traded service delivery model for the next academic year, starting April 2026.

Our current model has been in place since 2011, and several key factors have prompted a critical review. During the webinars, we shared:

• The current context and drivers for change
• What is working well
• The challenges we need to address

You can access the webinar recording and here: Educational Psychology Traded Services Delivery 2026/27 - New Ways of Working

We value your feedback. Please take a few moments to share your thoughts here:
https://forms.office.com/e/71Rgje1GHF

Further updates will be shared with schools and services during the Spring Term.

Delivering Better Value – Workstream 2

Review of ‘Band’ Descriptors

Workstream 2 is currently in the options development stage for future top-up funding frameworks. To ensure a strong foundation for the chosen framework, we are beginning exploratory conversations with stakeholders to review the current ‘Band’ descriptors in existing guidance.

A series of workshops will take place in January and February, each focusing on a specific category of need. Each session will involve 10–12 participants, representing key stakeholders, schools, and services. We are inviting expressions of interest to support this important work.

Background

The Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and its appendices should clearly identify the level of need and provision required for children and young people in Birmingham. This ensures they receive the right level of support.

Currently, the Local Authority uses two main banding guidance documents to determine funding ranges for early years settings, mainstream schools, and resource bases; and banded descriptors for Special Schools: Funding - Local Offer Birmingham

To maintain a needs-led, child-centred approach, we must ensure:

• Confidence that current descriptors reflect a graduated response to need
• Alignment between the two documents
• Clear additionality beyond ordinarily available provision

Workshop Themes

Each workshop will explore:

• How descriptors are currently used
• Confidence in familiarity and interpretation
• Impact of the Ordinarily Available Guidance (OAG)
• Congruence between the two documents – strengths and anomalies
• Priorities for additional detail

These workshops mark the starting point of the review. Further consultation will follow, and once options are agreed, additional meetings will take place in the Spring Term to complete the review.

Workshop Schedule

Workshop	Date	Time	Area of Need Focus	Venue
1	Wed 21.01.26	AM	Communication & Interaction (SCLN/Autism)	Council House
2	Wed 21.01.26	PM	SEMH	Council House
3	Thu 22.01.26	AM	Physical & Medical	Council House
4	Thu 22.01.26	PM	Cognition & Learning	Council House
5	Mon 02.02.26	AM	Communication & Interaction (SCLN/Autism)	Council House
6	Mon 02.02.26	PM	SEMH	Council House
7	Wed 04.02.26	AM	Sensory	Council House

Please submit your expression of interest using this form: DBV Workstream 2 - EOI Form for Banded Descriptors Review - Initial Workshops Jan 2026. Full details will be provided prior to the workshops.

For queries, please contact: DeliveringBetterValue@birmingham.gov.uk or Dr Pauline Bromfield at Pauline.Bromfield@birmingham.gov.uk.

Help Shape Birmingham’s Inclusive Education Future

We’re seeking your views on two key strategies:

Inclusive Pathways Framework
Clear routes for children and young people who need tailored support, face barriers to education, or require help transitioning between settings. Priorities include early identification, flexible pathways, integrated services, family engagement. Read more:

• Inclusive Pathways Framework
• Inclusive Pathways Framework presentation
• Birmingham Inclusive Pathways - Risk and needs screening tool - Draft
• Notification of permanent exclusion - Draft | Birmingham City Council
• Notification of suspension or lunchtime exclusion - Draft

Share your views by 31 December 2025: Consultation - Birmingham's Inclusive Pathways
Contact: sarah.impey@birmingham.gov.uk

Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy
Short-term, child-centred interventions for learners on the edge of mainstream education, out of school, or unable to attend due to health issues. The aim is re-engagement, not permanent placement. Priorities include diverse AP commissioning, time-limited placements, SEMH capacity, locality-based access. Read more: Alternative provision strategy 2025 to 2028 - Draft

Share your views by 31 December 2025: Alternative Provision Strategy Consultation
Contact: beth.gibson@birmingham.gov.uk

Your feedback is vital in ensuring these approaches are inclusive, effective, and truly reflect the needs of our children and families. Thank you for taking the time to share your views.