Noticeboard: 28 April 2022

This week's Noticeboard includes upcoming Operation Encompass refresher training, a webinar and updates about school attendance, recently published guidance from the DfE, an update following primary offer day and much more.

Included in this update:

Operation Encompass refresher training: 17 May 2022

All schools are invited to attend refresher training on Operation Encompass. The training will take place online on Tuesday 17th May 2pm - 3.30pm.

The session will reinforce the online key adult training which is a prerequisite for schools to sign up to Operation Encompass in Birmingham. The session will also provide the opportunity to:

review the implementation of Operation Encompass since it launched in Birmingham in September 2021.
discuss the Birmingham process map and how schools can help with continuous practice improvement.
help understand the purpose of Operation Encompass, and to consider schools' role in supporting children who may be experiencing domestic abuse immediately following an incident.

Places can be booked through the Birmingham Education Support Services website at this link. Schools who have not previously used the BESS website are able to sign up through the booking link.

After the session, the slides presented will be made available to all schools along with the recording and an FAQ sheet.

Contact: ssi@birmingham.gov.uk

School Attendance: Updates and webinar

Accurate Registration Coding/Deletion From Roll webinar

On Thursday 12th May 2022 at 2pm, BCC's Lead Attendance Officer Edwina Langley will be hosting a free one hour webinar on Teams for schools. The session will focus on the statutory responsibilities schools have for recording registers accurately and removing pupils from roll. There will also be an opportunity for schools to raise specific queries relating to these topics.

To access the webinar on the day, please use this link just before 2pm on Thursday 12th. The slides and a recording of the session will be circulated to all schools after the webinar.

DfE school attendance guidance – Covid addendum

The DfE has updated its guidance relating to the recording of COVID-19 in schools. Schools are no longer advised to record pupils who are not attending school for reasons related to COVID-19 using Code X (not attending in circumstances related to COVID-19). Pupils with symptoms of COVID-19 are no longer advised to get a test, and most of the scenarios that this category was brought in to record no longer apply.

Where a pupil is not attending because they have symptoms of COVID-19 or have had a positive test, schools should record this using Code I (illness) unless another more appropriate code applies. Schools may continue to use the sub-code (I02) to record illness due to suspected COVID-19 although they are not required to.

FAST-track to Attendance/Leave in Term Time (Legal) process updates

To reflect recent changes to Covid regulations relating to school attendance, BCC’s legal process guidance and letters have been amended. The updated documents are available at this link.

DfE Updated advice on the admission of foreign nationals

On 12th April the DfE published guidance for schools, local authorities and parents on the rights of foreign nationals to access schools in England. It provides advice on:

eligibility to enter the country to access a school
requirements for admission authorities in processing applications (i.e. requirements within the School Admissions Code and the law)
advice on processing applications made from those living outside England but returning to live in England

As you will be aware:

all children living in the UK have a right to access a school in England irrespective of nationality or immigration status. This includes EEA nationals resident in the UK
schools must always apply their admission arrangements unless the fair access protocol is being applied (so, refugees from Ukraine, and migrants from Afghanistan and Hong Kong or asylum seekers from other countries receive no higher or lower priority for admission than other people living in the UK)
school admission authorities should not delay admission to await information on a migrant’s immigration status, home address or age. It is the responsibility of:
parents to ascertain their UK entry terms, and those of their children, will not be breached by them taking up a state-funded school for their child. This is not the responsibility of the school, admission authority or local authority;
local authorities to undertake age assessments where the age of a migrant child is uncertain
state-funded schools must not seek to recruit foreign nationals as pupils from outside the UK (Irish nationals aside)

Birmingham 2022: Bring The Power Good Luck Challenge

Bring the Power, Birmingham 2022’s Youth Programme, is inviting young people aged 4 to 14 to send in good luck artwork and letters to welcome athletes to the Commonwealth Games this summer. The letters will be included in the welcome packs given to all athletes on arrival in July and the artwork will be displayed in the Athletes' Villages to help motivate the athletes before and during their competition.

Please see the video about the challenge available at this link

All schools in Birmingham and the West Midlands are invited to take part in both the letter writing and artwork challenges.

Further details and information, including resources are available at at this link.

A selection of entries will also be rewarded with some fantastic prizes. The deadline for entries to both challenges is Friday 13 May 2022.

Offer of Reception Class places

Nearly 13,000 reception class places were offered on 19 April 2022. The team is now processing late applications in date order. If schools are aware of any families who have not submitted an application for their child to start reception class in September, please advise them to apply online by visiting our website www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions.

The School Admissions team will not generate waiting lists until 9 May 2022. This is to allow families time to consider offers made and submit any refusals by the deadline of 3 May 2022, the outcome of which will be more robust waiting lists.

Indicative budgets for 2022/23: Early Years

Indicative Budgets for Early Years Settings (PVIs, Maintained Nursery Schools and Schools with a Nursery Class) are not yet available. We apologise for the difficulties this will present for your budget planning; we are aiming to get budgets out to schools as soon as is possible.

All budget queries should be sent by email to: fairfunding@birmingham.gov.uk

Update from the Standards and Testing Agency

The latest update that has been sent to schools from the Standards and Testing Agency is available at this link.

Early Education Entitlement

2 Year Funded Places

To help promote 2 year funding to parents, please share this video.

Before you offer a 2 year Early Education Entitlement (EEE) place you must ensure that the 2 year old child is eligible. A parent (or provider on the parent's behalf with permission) must complete an eligibility application to confirm eligibility by using this link: - https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/oeye/birmingham

Every application generates a code or reference number - you must keep a note of this code for audit. If the code is eligible then you can offer a place, however the eligibility checker does not always confirm eligibility so if it doesn't you will need to view evidence of eligibility, then email NEF@birmingham.gov.uk with the child's name, DOB and the eligibility application code / reference and confirm specifically what evidence you have seen confirming the child's eligibility for example; you may have seen a confirmation letter that the child receives DLA. On receipt of this information the NEF team will override the application to eligible and email you back so that you can offer the place.

Do not offer a place unless you know the child is eligible. 2 year olds can get a EEE funded place if they live in England and meet the 2 year eligibility criteria which can be found at this link.

30 Hours Places for Summer Term 2022

For parents to access a 30 hour funded place in Summer 2022 parents must have received an eligible code on or before 31st March 2022. The local authority cannot fund codes that have a validity start date of on or after the 1st April 2022.

It is the childcare provider's responsibility to check the date on the code before offering a 30 hour place or part of a 30 hour place. You must do this by entering the code on ECS and then check the validity start date of it to make sure it is eligible for the current term :

https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/oefe/birmingham/la/schools

A child cannot have 30 hours extended entitlement in Summer 2022 if the validity start date of the code is on or after 1st April 2022. You must check the date before allowing the child to access a 30 hour place this term.Further information about 30 hours and validating codes can be found on EYMIS: www.ted-birmingham.org.uk

Username: PVI2 (please note this is a capital i not the number one)
Password: PVI2year (please note this is a capital i not the number one)

If you have any queries regarding 30 hours extended entitlement please email NEF@birmingham.gov.uk

Places for children of Ukrainian families

As you aware in light of the current Ukraine crisis many families are arriving in the UK through the Ukraine Family Scheme or the Homes for Ukraine (sponsorship) and inevitably this will mean that there will be parents looking for childcare for their children. Please note that we will support children from Ukrainian families starting at any point during the term. Up until headcount you should follow your usual admission procedures and include any children on your headcount claim.

If you receive a request for a funded place after headcount (Thursday 19th May):

for 3 and 4 year olds we can arrange a funded place using the exceptional agreement process – please use the exceptional circumstance request form which can be found on EYMIS and must be fully completed.
for 2 year olds they must still meet the eligibility criteria but they can start using the Flexible 2s process – please use the Flexible 2s Request form which can be found on EYMIS and must be fully completed.

Risk of NEET students - Years 11, 12 & 13

In response to Covid-19 and the disproportionate impact on the future career opportunities for young people, Birmingham Careers Service has been offering its RONI (risk of NEET) offer from 1st April 2022. Careers Leads are invited to submit a referral form for any 2022 leaver they consider is at risk of not progressing into education, employment or training.

For full details and a referral form, please visit this link. Please be aware this does not replace schools' statutory duty to provide impartial and independent careers guidance.

Police and Crime Commissioner Victims' Fund 2022-23

The Police and Crime Commissioner has made £150,000 available for organisations which support victims cope and recover from the effects of crime and has asked that this be shared with education settings. Applications should be made from organisations which meet the criteria detailed in the form at this link, for maximum bids of up to £20,000.

The services provided must be linked to those prioritised in the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan, such as domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation, stalking, harassment, female genital mutilation, hate crime and modern slavery.

Please ensure you read the guidance carefully and send all completed forms to Chelsea Lloyd at chelsea.lloyd@westmidlands.police.uk by the deadline (9am on 16th May 2022).

Applicants will be notified as to the outcome of their application week commencing 30th May 2022. More information is available at this link.

Services for Education: Appropriate Body For ECT/NQT Registration

Services For Education is an Appropriate Body on behalf of Birmingham Local Authority to provide ECT/NQT registration which is needed to start the Early Career Framework and statutory induction.

More information, including the benefits of using Services for Education, is available on their website at this link.

Access to Education Autism Courses

AET Post-16: Making Sense of Autism (4th May 2022)

This 90-minute session is suitable for all staff working directly with autistic young people in a Post-16 setting. Participants will learn:

to understand the four key areas of difference that need to be taken into account when working with young people on the autism spectrum
the importance of understanding the young person on the autism spectrum and their profile of strengths and areas for development
to identify key areas to help young people on the autism spectrum build positive relationships with staff, peers and people in their community
to develop awareness of the sensory and communication differences that young people on the autism spectrum may experience.

This session will be delivered remotely via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 4th May 2022 at 9:30am – 11:00am. Booking information is available at this link.

AET Schools: Good Autism Practice Training by the Birmingham Communication and Autism Team (5th May 2022)

The session will focus on gaining practical knowledge, tools and strategies to support pupils with Autism. Participants will:

develop knowledge and understanding of good autism practice.
reflect on and improve practice in working with autistic pupils.
understand strategies and approaches you can draw upon for autistic pupils you work with
reflect on the kind of information you need to collect for creating a person—centred education plan
consider how to involve the autistic pupil and their family in setting learning goals

This session will be delivered at Thornbury Centre, Thornbury Road, Birchfield, Birmingham, B20 3DE on 5th May 2022. Booking information is available at this link

Birmingham Adult Education Service Courses

Health & Social Care Courses

Birmingham Adult Education Service is offering free courses. Flexible online learning courses means that you can study in a way that best suits your lifestyle and personal circumstances. Courses include:

Counselling Skills
Special Education Needs & Disabilities
Information, Advice and Guidance
Mental Health First Aid
Understanding Domestic Abuse
Principles of Team Leading

A certification fee of £55 per course applies if you are not unemployed and looking for work, or you earn more than the National Living Wage (annual income £18,525).

Further information is available at this link or by calling 0121 303 4318.

FREE Essential Digital Skills Qualifications

The Essential Digital Skills framework specifies the digital skills that people require to benefit from, participate in, and contribute to the digital environment in a secure manner.

Entry Level: Created for people who have no or limited prior familiarity with digital devices or the internet.
Level 1: Aimed at people who have some familiarity with digital devices and the internet but lack fundamental secure digital skills.
Online ICDL Level 2: (Free if on benefits): Aimed at people who want to learn and gain a qualification in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Level 2 in Digital Marketing (Free if on benefits)
Level 1 In Introduction to Programming (Free if on benefits)

Please email sameena.asmat@birmingham.gov.uk for an application form.

This entry was posted by on 26/04/2022.

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