This week's update includes information on:

• Nominate a Provider Portal User
• Wraparound Childcare
• DSL and Safeguarding Support Network
• Safeguarding Updates for Providers Who Work with Children Aged 5+
• Upcoming SEN Support Plan and Inclusion Support in Early Years (ISEY) Workshops
• Early Talk Boost

Please feel free to share this update with anyone you think would benefit from accessing this content. 

If you have any questions or feedback, please contact familyinformation@birmingham.gov.uk

Nominate a Provider Portal User

As you may already be aware, the Early Years and Childcare Team has launched a new Information Portal for providers called the Nexus Provider Portal. 

Many providers have already nominated a Nexus Provider Portal user. If you haven’t already done so, please do this today using our online form. You can have accounts for up to four people within your organisation. 

The introduction of this portal will enable us to:

• strengthen the information that we collect from you to support our sufficiency data
• improve the information that we can provide to parents and third parties when they are looking for childcare options
• contact you more efficiently.  

Please note: Completing this form does not immediately create your account. After we verify the nominated user form, we will send you a link to create your Provider Portal account.

If you have any queries about the Nexus Provider Portal, please contact FamilyInformation@birmingham.gov.uk

Wraparound Childcare

Calling All Schools & Wraparound Care Providers!

Are you looking to connect with others in the education and childcare sector? We are compiling a comprehensive list of schools and wraparound care providers who are interested in being contacted by potential partners.

By adding your details, you will open doors to new collaborations, opportunities, and valuable connections. Whether you are looking to host a provider in your school to deliver wraparound care services or you are a provider looking for a base location, this is the perfect chance to get involved!

Sign up today to be included!

To add your details to the list, please select the relevant form. Closing date 13 June 2025.

• School Form
• Provider Form

Let us build a strong, supportive community together!

DSL and Safeguarding Support Network

For the information of Out of School (OOS) only (when running SAP include Holiday Playscheme)

Anyone who is a setting Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or has a safeguarding responsibility.

Aimed at DSLs who work with children aged over five in either an out of school club, a holiday playscheme or as a HAF provider.

• Tuesday 10th June 2025, 11am - 12pm
• Thursday 12th June 2025, 6pm - 7pm 

Safeguarding Updates for Providers Who Work with Children Aged 5+

For the information of Out of School (OOS) only (when running SAP include Holiday Playscheme) and Holiday Playschemes.

Safer recruitment:

Ensure that you are familiar with the details and apply to your policies and procedures.

• Do your recruitment procedures consider Keeping Children Safe in Education? 
• Do you have a safeguarding statement in all job adverts and recruitment information?
• Do you have a rigorous induction process for all Staff, Volunteers and Trainees?
• Do staff have opportunities to disclose historic convictions, warnings, cautions, current court orders and reprimands at any time?
• Do you know how to make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring service?

Useful links:

• Keeping children safe in education - GOV.UK
• After-school clubs, community activities, and tuition - safeguarding guidance for providers
• Safer recruitment | NSPCC Learning

Safeguarding concerns:

Is there a current policy and procedure to safeguard children that is in-line with Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership's, interventions for early help and the framework for Right Help Right Time?

Safeguarding Concerns - Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership

• As the registered person do you know what to do if you are concerned about a child?
• As the manager do you know what to do if you are concerned about a child?
• Do you have a process to follow if an allegation is made against a member of staff in line with Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures? (Please see further information here - LADO - Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership)
• Are all staff made aware of the setting's whistleblowing policy and procedure?

Upcoming SEN Support Plan and Inclusion Support in Early Years (ISEY) Workshops

For the attention of Childminders.

Sue Bristow, Area SENCo, will be delivering SEN Support Plan and ISEY workshops.

Both workshops will be delivered online using Microsoft Teams, please find below details of the workshops.

SEN Support Plan:

What is a SEN Support Plan?

An SEN Support Plan is put in place where an active team surrounds the child (with emerging or identified SEND), or referrals to appropriate and required outside agencies have been made.

The SEN Support plan:

• involves parents and the child at the earliest stage
• has information about a child's strengths and needs
• provision in place to support their learning and development progress
• describes the outcomes that are expected as a result of the support
• reflects the four-stage cycle of Assess, Plan, Do, Review of the Graduated Approach

SEN Support Plan Workshop:

• Monday 2nd June 2025, 6pm - 7:15pm, Microsoft Teams

Inclusion Support in Early Years for Childminders (ISEY):

ISEY is Birmingham’s Early Years Inclusion funding to support early years providers in Birmingham in meeting the needs of children with SEND.  

ISEY Workshops:

• Thursday 29th May 2025, 6pm - 7:15pm, Microsoft Teams
• Tuesday 3rd June 2025, 6pm - 7:15pm, Microsoft Teams

How do I book on the workshops?

If you have any queries about the SEN Support Plan and the ISEY funding or would like to book a place, please email sue.bristow@birmingham.gov.uk, as this inbox will be monitored.

Early Talk Boost

This training is FREE and funded by Birmingham City Council, suitable for Birmingham EEE Funding Registered Day Nurseries, Nursery Schools, and School Nursery Classes.

Early Talk Boost is a targeted intervention aimed at 3-4-year-old children who need help with talking and understanding words, helping to boost their language skills to narrow the gap between them and their peers. The programme aims to accelerate children’s progress in language and communication by an average of 6 months, after a nine-week intervention. 

Children selected to take part in the intervention will attend three sessions per week during circle/story time, each lasting 15-20 minutes delivered by an early year’s practitioner. The sessions activities include the foundation skills in speech, language, and communication that children need for learning and understanding new words, as well as having conversations. The training is delivered face to face and each setting will receive two boxes of Early Talk Boost resources.

The sessions take place at 9.30am – 3.00pm with a 20-person capacity:

• Friday 6th June 2025, Erdington Family Hub (Lakeside Children's Centre), 22 Lakes Road, B23 7UH
• Friday 20th June 2025, Perry Barr Family Hub (Rookery Children's Centre), 60 Mount Pleasant Avenue, B21 9QA

Please fill out the Microsoft form to choose your preferred date and location.