Noticeboard

Noticeboard: 9 December 2021

This week's Noticeboard includes a reminder of the message about free school meal vouchers sent earlier today, guidance on the in-year admissions process, a reminder about the Fair Access Protocol consultation, attendance training and much more.

Included in this update:

Christmas free school meal vouchers

Earlier today an email was sent to headteachers with details of how to access supermarket vouchers for families eligible for free school meals over the Christmas period.

Please ensure your school has received this email and that you access the vouchers through Perspective.

If you have queries relate to downloading the vouchers from Perspective or about the number of vouchers allocated for Reception to Year 14, please contact educationdata@birmingham.gov.uk. 

Guidance for schools on the In-Year admissions process

Birmingham City Council does not co-ordinate the In-Year admissions process and continues to advise all families looking for in-year school places to approach their local schools and apply directly. Schools must process all In-Year applications that they receive promptly, and must not refuse to accept an application, or tell parents that they are unable to apply for a year group in which there are currently no places available. Where a school has places available, they must offer places to all applicants up to the published admission number for the relevant year group.

The School Admissions Code 2021 states that:

Where it is not possible to offer a place, the school must add the child’s name to the waiting list for the year group. This is regardless of how many children are on the list, or how infrequently it experiences movement. Waiting lists must be held in admission criteria order, and children cannot be prioritised for admission based on the date on which their application was received.

It is also a requirement that schools provide the local authority with details of places available for In-Year admission, and must do so within 2 school days of receipt of a request for this information. Full details of all the requirements relating to In-Year admissions can be found in the School Admissions Code (2021).

Enquiries about the In-Year admissions process should be made to the School Admissions and Fair Access Team by email at admissions@birmingham.gov.uk, or by telephone on 0121 303 1888.

Statutory Autumn 2021 Phonics Year 2 check

The web page https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/primarydata has now been updated with the necessary documentation regarding the statutory collection for Phonics Year 2. 

Guidance on how to submit your return is available in the 'Recording and Submission guidance' and 'Anycomm+' section.  

Please submit your Phonics return strictly no later than Friday 17th December 2021. However, we encourage schools to submit their results as soon as possible after tests have been administered.  

Contact: educationdata@birmingham.gov.uk 

Revised Fair Access Protocol 2022 Schools Consultation:  Closing date 17 December 2021

We previously contacted you regarding the Revised Fair Access Protocol 2022, which has been amended in accordance with the changes to the new School Admissions Code 2021
The main changes are:

As part of the formal Fair Access Protocol consultation process, please allocate some time, if you have not already done so, to review the document and provide your comments and feedback to a few simple questions by completing a short survey here:  Fair Access Protocol 2022 Consultation This will enable us to capture your views, and ensure a robust and balanced process moving forward.

The proposed Fair Access Protocol 2022 can be found on the council’s website at: Draft Fair Access Protocol 2022.

Once all feedback has been received and reviewed, a final version of the Fair Access Protocol will be forwarded to all schools for sign-off in January, with implementation planned from 1 March 2022.  

SEND Transport Update

The latest SEND Transport Update (December 2021) is available on the Local Offer website at this link.

Queen's Baton Relay: Curriculum resources for primary schools

Curriculum resources on the Queen's Baton Relay have been produced by the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee for use in schools. These are available at the links below:

Improving school attendance

The Department for Education has produced guidance for schools and local authorities in relation to improving school attendance. The importance of tackling absence from school, making sure children are safe and have their legal right to a full time education protected, has never been more apparent.  The first part of the document sets out the principles underpinning an effective whole school strategy for attendance. 

The second part outlines actions that school staff may consider taking to improve attendance for all pupils, pupils at risk of persistent absence and pupils who are persistently absent. It has been informed by engagement with many partners, including schools who have successfully reduced their persistent absence levels.

The guidance can be accessed via this link.

School Attendance – Early Help and Legal Processes training

Further dates are now available for online training via Microsoft Teams in relation to pupil absence from school, covering ‘FAST-track to Attendance’ and the ‘Leave in Term Time (Legal) process’.  ‘School Attendance – Early Help and Legal Processes’ will cover early help, children with frequent illness absence and what to do next when all else has failed.

To book your place via BESS, please click on the links below.  To ensure this popular course is available to as many schools as possible, only two places per school are available. 

Proposed reduction to Reception PAN at Robin Hood Academy

Robin Hood Academy, in Hall Green, is proposing to reduce their Published Admissions Number (PAN) for both 2022 and 2023 Reception entry. There remains a requirement in the School Admissions Code to consult when the proposal is to reduce a PAN at a school. The Academy is thereby seeking comments on the proposed reduction in Reception PAN from 90 to 60. These proposed reductions are to enable the academy to ensure the efficient use of their resources as indicated by the sustained reduction in birth rates in the area.

Note: for 2022, the academy is required to consult and submit a business case to the RSC. For 2023, the academy is required to consult and then determine their numbers accordingly. Full consultation details are available at  www.robinhoodprimary.com (see “Consultation to Reduce Numbers” under “Key Information”).

The consultation is open from 6th December 2021 to 16th January 2022. Any comments regarding the consultation should be made to consultation@robinhoodacademy.co.uk 

If you have any other queries, please email enquiry@robinhoodacademy.co.uk

Proposal to create a sixth form at Light Hall School (Solihull)

We have been informed by Solihull Local Authority that Light Hall School is proposing to create a sixth form at the school from September 2023.

They would like to make sure that any schools or colleges in Birmingham who may want to respond to the consultation have the opportunity to do so. A letter regarding the consultation is attached here.  

The consultation began on Monday 6th December 2021 and continues until 12 noon on Wednesday 17th January 2022.

Any comments, questions or suggestions about what is being proposed can be made using the consultation response form. 

Early Years and Childcare Parent and Provider Surveys November 2021

The Early Years and Childcare Service is undertaking  parent and childcare provider surveys to support our statutory duty to assess childcare sufficiency in Birmingham. Both surveys will be managed on behalf of Birmingham City Council by an external organisation called CORAM who are a children’s charity. The surveys went live on BEHEARD Tuesday 23rd November 2021 and close on Sunday 12th December 2021.

Can you please complete the childcare provider survey and also encourage as many parents and carers as possible to engage in their survey as the results will be used to inform childcare strategies across all sectors moving forward.

Please see details and links to both surveys below.

Parent Survey - The Early Years and Childcare Service is undertaking a survey of parents and carers across Birmingham who currently use childcare, have recently used childcare or who will be looking to use childcare in the near future. Please see the following link where you can view the BEHEARD Survey

Childcare Provider Survey - The Early Years and Childcare Service is undertaking a survey of childcare providers across Birmingham. We want to hear your views and experience of the childcare market. Please see the following link where you can  view the BEHEARD Survey: https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/people-1/csa-provider-questionnaire

Proposed Birmingham Health and Wellbeing Strategy: Creating a Bolder, Healthier City

The Birmingham Health and Wellbeing Board would like your views on the proposed Birmingham Health and Wellbeing Strategy: Creating a Bolder, Healthier City.

Creating a Bolder, Healthier City sets out the Health and Wellbeing Board’s ambitions for the next 8 years (2022-2030), signposting to action across the health and care system. The draft strategy is available to view (see the “Related” section at the bottom of this page).

Creating a Bolder, Healthier City aims to address some of the critical challenges Birmingham faces, including tackling health inequalities and mitigating the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The draft strategy contains a series of themes and cross-cutting approaches, each containing key actions, indicators to measure progress, and the leadership required to achieve our ambitions.

The draft strategy has been shaped by stakeholder engagement with partners on the Health and Wellbeing Board, its four sub-forums, the Public Health Division, and across Birmingham City Council. It has also been informed by citizen engagement over the last three years.

More information, and the consultation, is available at this link.

The Auditor Autumn Edition 2021 

The Autumn 2021 edition of the Auditor newsletter is now available at this link.

Be Empowered Workshops

Please find attached the new flyer and booking form for the next set of Be Empowered Workshops (BEWs) taking place in January and February 2022.

This set of workshops is being held at Dyson Gardens Children’s Centre, 145 Highfield Road, Birmingham B8 3QF) on Monday’s in the daytime from 10am-1pm on, starting on 10th January ’22  through to the 14th February ’22. It would be much appreciated if you could please forward these to colleagues in your organisation to share with any interested parent carers of children with SEND.

The deadline for receiving bookings is Thursday 16th December 2021. Any queries and booking forms can be emailed to BeEmpowered@birmingham.gov.uk

Healthy Child Programme Survey

We would like to hear YOUR views on our current Healthy Child Programme services in Birmingham. The overall purpose of the Healthy Child Programme (HCP) is to reduce health inequalities for children and young people aged 0-19 and young people up to age 25 who have SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) or who have left care at 18 years. Your views are important in helping us to find out how well the service works and how it can be improved. We are also seeking to gain your views about multi-agency working. This important survey should only take a few minutes of your time.

Please follow the link below and complete before midnight on 14 December 2021: https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/people-1/questionnaire-schools-stakeholders-children-5-19

Health and Safety Training Courses Online

For school staff – December 2021 to January 2022

Fire Marshall Training (Online) – 14th December 2021
Date:  14th December 2021 – Start Time:  10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Cost: £20.00 per delegate
Delivered via Microsoft Teams  
Schools must book online - Website : https://www.birminghameducationsupportservices.co.uk/Event/157807
General Enquiries please Email:   schoolsafety@birmingham.gov.uk

Fire Marshall Training (Online) – 14th December 2021
Date:  14th December 2021 – Start Time:  1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: £20.00 per delegate
Delivered via Microsoft Teams  
Schools must book online - Website : https://www.birminghameducationsupportservices.co.uk/Event/159105
General Enquiries please Email:   schoolsafety@birmingham.gov.uk

Fire Marshall Training (Online) – 4th January 2022
Date:  4th January 2022  – Start Time:  1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: £20.00 per delegate
Delivered via Microsoft Teams  
Schools must book online - Website : https://www.birminghameducationsupportservices.co.uk/Event/157808
General Enquiries please Email:   schoolsafety@birmingham.gov.uk

Level 3 First aid at Work – 21st 24th & 25th January 2022
Date:  – 21st 24th & 25th January 2022 - Start Time:  9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cost: £190.00 per delegate
Venue:  Stirchley Baths, Bournville Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2JT
Schools must book online - Website https://www.birminghameducationsupportservices.co.uk/Event/156267
General Enquiries please Email:   schoolsafety@birmingham.gov.uk
Note:  Due to Covid restrictions no lunch or refreshments will be provided 

Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid – 28th January 2022
Date:  28th January 2022 – Start Time:  9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cost: £98.00 per delegate
Venue:  Stirchley Baths, Bournville Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2JT
Schools must book online - Website :  https://www.birminghameducationsupportservices.co.uk/Event/159316
General Enquiries please Email:   schoolsafety@birmingham.gov.uk
Note:  Due to Covid restrictions no lunch or refreshments will be provided 
 
Level 3 Award First Aid at Work (Requalification) – 31st Jan and 1st Feb 2022
Date:  2022 – Start Time:  9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cost: £105.00 per delegate
Venue:  Stirchley Baths, Bournville Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2JT
Schools must book online - Website : https://www.birminghameducationsupportservices.co.uk/Event/159314
General Enquiries please Email:   schoolsafety@birmingham.gov.uk
Note:  Due to Covid restrictions no lunch or refreshments will be provided 

Social Mobility Foundation: Promoting 2022 Programmes

Applications for the Social Mobility Foundation’s free Aspiring Professionals Programme are now open for 2022.

The APP supports high achieving Year 12 students from low income backgrounds across the UK to access top universities and careers. Support is offered through our four pillars:

  1. Mentoring by a professional
  2. Tailored skills sessions and career workshops
  3. University application support and guidance
  4. Internships with top employers

How students receive the four pillars of support is dependent on where they live. Please see below for further details of the programmes offered: 

The deadline for applications from students has now been extended to a new date yet to be confirmed.

Click the links below to access information and resources. 

Bespoke school presentations will be delivered to introduce both school contacts and students to the programme.

You can book your presentation via the booking form here.

For specific criteria for your school, please refer to this schools list. If your school / college does not appear on this list but you would like to apply or promote to students, please contact the SMF (birmingham@socialmobility.org.uk)

This entry was posted by Laura Hendry on 06/12/2021.

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