Included in this update: 

• Year 6 to 7 Transition Process
• Inclusion Mini Conferences: 17 and 24 June
• SEND Partnership Newsletter
• Ofsted Inspection data summary report
• EYSFF Returns for Summer Term 2022
• Services for Education EYFS Network Meeting: Tuesday 14th June 2022: 9am – 12pm
• ECT Statutory Induction Guidance
• Access to Education courses
• Speech and Language Therapy Parent webinars
• Services for Education Safer Recruitment training: 27 June 2022
• The Primary Design and Technology Bamboo Challenge
• Bookmark Reading Charity

Briefing with John Coughlan on SEND report

A recording of the briefing for headteachers that took place earlier this week is available via this link.

Year 6 to 7 Transition Process

Colleagues from both the primary and secondary phase have been in strong agreement that they want to continue with the transition process set up during the pandemic.   

So, for 2022 BEP have tweaked the previous Common Transfer Form (CTF) to keep the process as simple as possible in the hope that we can make it something universally useful and doable.  They have followed up on feedback and have included a column to record pupil premium details and introduced colour coding to support ‘trend’ spotting for secondary schools. The first few rows have been completed for illustrative purposes, so just delete and complete with your actual school's data.

The CTF has two stages to the information handover. 

The first stage would be gathering general pastoral, safeguarding and SEND information, including any lasting effects of COVID where a family has been especially impacted. This is what secondary colleagues most want for the creation of form groups.  

At the very end of the summer term, there would then be a second stage on academic data, with the following suggested timeline of activity: 

• Secondary schools will circulate a pupil populated CTF form to each feeder primary school (again giving us all a chance to check for any missing children). 
• Primary schools will complete the pastoral part of the CTF and return it to the secondary school. Secondary schools will use the pastoral data to inform any transition plans. 
• Secondary schools will return the form to feeder primary schools, ready for completion of  the data. 
• W/b 11th July, Primary schools will return the CTF to the secondaries, with completed academic data and any updates on individual children. 

The secondary induction day is scheduled for Wednesday 6th July 2022 and pupils will be expected to attend in person.

The Common Transfer Form can be accessed here.

Inclusion Mini Conferences: 17 and 24 June

Message from Sue Harrison, Director of Children’s Services

Dear all

I am delighted to invite you to spend time with colleagues to consider together how we shape an inclusive city for our children and young people, ensuring they thrive and are well prepared to take advantage of future opportunities. I really want to hear from you, to listen and learn from your collective experiences. This is an opportunity to agree our definition of inclusion,  explore what good inclusion looks like, and how we can work together to achieve this.  I know there is great practice out there, and these events are an ideal opportunity to identify the good practice already working and what the barriers may be to improvement to enhance the lives of the children and young people we support.

We are running four sessions, both a morning and afternoon on 17th and 24th June. Three of the sessions are for primary schools (including our maintained nursery schools) and one is for secondary schools. Special schools are welcome to attend a primary or secondary session as they feel appropriate.

Refreshments will be provided and we can accommodate up to 120 per session. We will also be sending out an agenda with some additional information and questions to consider in the near future  so we can use the time together as productively as possible. 

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at one of the events. Please note that at this time, we are looking for headteachers to attend. 

Venue: Swanshurst School, Brook Ln, Birmingham B13 0TW. 
Dates and times, please book onto your preferred session via the links below:

Friday 17th June
Primary 09.30 to 12.30
Primary 13.30 to 16.30

Friday 24th June
Secondary 09.30 to 12.30
Primary 13.30 to 16.30

SEND Partnership Newsletter

Please find this half term’s SEND Partnership Newsletter here, which is designed to help and support families, children and young people with additional needs by providing useful information and support. 

We would be grateful if you would pass this on to parents and carers along with the link below for other SEND newsletters and updates and an accessible version of the newsletter.  

Latest News on Local Offer: www.localofferbirmingham.co.uk/latest-news/ 

Ofsted Inspection data summary report 

Ofsted has updated the inspection data summary report (IDSR) with absence data from summer term 2021, based on the DfE published data. This does not include spring 2021 in the IDSR as this was heavily affected by the lockdown from 4 January 2021. Ofsted has also updated the finance data in the context section to 2020/21.

For further information, please see the IDSR guidance at this available link.

If you have any questions, please email the team at: School.Performance.Data@ofsted.gov.uk 

EYSFF Returns for Summer Term 2022

For schools with Early Years provision for 2, 3 and 4 year olds - As you are aware each term you are required to submit and return an EYSFF spreadsheet to the Fair Funding team to provide us with your numbers of eligible 2 year olds, EYPP and FSM take up so that we can reconcile your early years funding. 

This is now completed by a simple on-line form  and is managed by the Early Years Funding Team (NEF). 

For your Summer 2022 submission please use the following link to complete your on-line return: You must submit the information no later than today, Thursday 26th May 2022. 
 
Please note there is no facility to receive a copy of your submission -  you should have the details of numbers of eligible children on your records in line with the terms and conditions of EEE funding. The EEE Provider Agreement detailing the terms and conditions of delivering early education entitlement can be found on EYMIS available at this link:

To access EYMIS please use Username: PVI2 Password PVI2year
 
If you have any queries regarding the online form or the eligibility of children please email NEF@birmingham.gov.uk

If you have any queries regarding your funding allocation please email fairfunding@birmingham.gov.uk 

Services for Education EYFS Network Meeting: Tuesday 14th June 2022: 9am – 12pm

These half-day, termly sessions enable EYFS leads and practitioners to discuss hot topics and disseminate key updates and information.

EYFS practitioners will be given the opportunity to reflect and discuss current practice in relation to education evidence based research, together with reference to the seven areas of learning, development and assessment requirements of the new revised Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Bookings can be made via this link.

Contact email address hello@servicesforeducation.co.uk

ECT Statutory Induction Guidance

As we approach the next academic year, which will be the first time two cohorts of first and second year ECTs will be in the system together, the Department for Education has asked appropriate bodies to remind schools about the importance of ensuring that timetabling for next academic year includes sufficient time off timetable as per the Statutory Induction Guidance. This includes ensuring that:

• ECTs have 10% in year 1 and 5% in year 2; and that
• mentors have sufficient time to carry out their role effectively – both to:
  • undertake mentor training (for those on funded training programmes); and
  • plan and hold mentor sessions with their ECT(s)
• mentoring sessions would normally be expected to be during normal teaching hours 

The Department has asked appropriate bodies to prioritise checking that in all schools, all ECTs and their mentors are receiving their full entitlements and support.

Services for Education is the Appropriate Body on behalf of Birmingham Local Authority. To register your ECTs with Services for Education, please visit this link.  

Access to Education courses

Early Years: Leadership, Inclusion and Structural Reasonable Adjustments 

Date: 17th June 2022 - Time: 9.00am – 12.30pm - Cost: £120 per delegate - This session will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. Booking available at this link:

The Leadership, Inclusion and Structural, Reasonable Adjustments Module is part of the Suite of Resources for Leaders. It has been compiled for leaders and leadership teams within education settings to embed culture change across their provision and support them on their journey to become an outstanding and inclusive setting. The resources will support leaders to fully embed the 8 principles of good autism practice as outlined in the Good Autism Practice Report.

This module will help leaders to understand what is needed to fully embed an inclusive culture. It looks at education legislation and guidance surrounding inclusion, the steps required to lead culture change and the importance of considering structural reasonable adjustments and AET resources to support leaders with this.

The aim of this module is to enable delegates:

• to look at how inclusive provision and structural reasonable adjustments can help a setting to be outstanding.
• to consider what is needed to lead culture change in a setting.
• to know about AET resources and guidance that can support leaders to provide inclusive environments through structural reasonable adjustments.
• to consider different ways of making structural reasonable adjustments to ensure autistic pupils are fully supported.

Learning objectives For leaders: 

• to be able to develop a culture where autistic pupils feel listened to, supported and included.
• to have the skills, tools and confidence to lead change in their setting.
• to have a good understanding of educational legislation related to inclusion.
• to reflect on and plan next steps for what is required 
• to lead change and fully embed an inclusive culture. 
• to understand how to embed the Autism Standards Framework to improve good autism practice.

Makaton Level 2 Training – 16th June 2022

Date: Thursday 16th June 2022 - Time: 9.00am – 4.00pm - Cost: £185 per person
Location: Thornbury Centre, Thornbury Road, Birmingham, B20 3DE

You will learn the signs and symbols from Stages 1, 2 and some of the Additional stages of the Core Vocabulary.

On completion of level 2 workshop, participants should know about the history, design and structure of Makaton Core vocabulary; be able to use signs and symbols from stages 1-4 and the additional vocabulary in their daily environment, including direction, placement, and movement; and have a knowledge of different approaches available to develop the communication skills of a wide range of Makaton users.

This training workshop is designed by The Makaton Charity for professionals working with individuals who need Makaton to support communication. 

To secure your place, please book online via the link

Sensory Ladders - Communication and Autism Team

Date: 5th July 2022 - Time: 3.45pm – 5.00pm - Cost: £35.00 per delegate - Venue: Microsoft Teams (Virtual)

The training is for a practitioners, teachers and support staff in Birmingham based Early Years Settings, Primary and Secondary schools. 

This training is an introduction to Sensory Ladders (Kath Smith©). Sensory Ladders help develop an understanding of the individual’s sensory needs, how supporting sensory integration and can be used across all ages and settings.

Aims of the programme:

• to develop an understanding of ‘alertness’ in relation to sensory processing.
• to know how to gather the necessary information to create a Sensory Ladder.
• to be able to create a Sensory Ladder to support pupils with sensory integration.

To reserve your place: please book via the link

Early Years: Good Autism Practice

Date: 9th June 2022 - Time: 9.00am – 4.30pm - Cost: £215 per delegate - This session will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams

In this module, we take delegates through some of the distinct learning needs, strengths, and difficulties that autistic children share, whilst helping delegates to take note of individual differences. Participants are given the opportunity to start thinking about a particular autistic child and their learning needs, along with ways in which they can adjust and adapt their own practice and the learning environment.  

The aims of ‘Good autism practice in the Early Years’ are to support practitioners who work directly with autistic children to: 

• develop their knowledge and understanding of good autism practice. 
• deflect on and improve their practice in working with autistic children. 
• dnderstand strategies and approaches they can draw upon for autistic children they work with. 
• reflect on the kind of information they need to collect for the one-page profile, the support plan, and the EYFS profile. 
• consider how to involve the autistic child and their family in setting learning goals.  

After completing ‘Good autism practice in the Early Years, delegates will be able to: 

• develop their knowledge of how the key areas of difference can affect the learning of an autistic child. 
• consider the approaches, strategies, and adaptations they can implement to remove barriers to wellbeing, participation, and learning for autistic children. 
• understand the importance of involving the child and family in planning and setting learning goals - reflect on ways of gathering information from the child, parents/carers, and other professionals. 

To secure your place, please book via the link.

Speech and Language Therapy Parent webinars

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust hosts parent/carer webinars regularly throughout the year covering a number of different topics. Please find below details of upcoming Speech and Language Therapy webinars for parent/carers.

• Supporting Selective Talkers & Quiet Children, Primary Focus: Wednesday 15th June 10am. More information, including how to book a place, is available on the Local Offer website at this link. 
• Supporting Selective Talkers & Quiet Children, Secondary Focus: Thursday 16th June 2022, 1pm - 2pm. More information, including how to book a place, is available on the Local Offer website at this link. 

All attendees will be sent a copy of the presentation and a copy of the recording of the webinar.

Services for Education Safer Recruitment training: 27 June 2022

This full-day course will assist schools to meet statutory requirements and to improve processes that help deter, reject or identify people who might abuse children or who are otherwise unsuited to working with them.

Places can be booked at this link. 

The Primary Design and Technology Bamboo Challenge

What: Primary CPD training focussed on the D&T curriculum (structures) where participants will gain experience in practical model making
Who: Birmingham Primary D&T Leads, Curriculum Leads, and Trainee Teachers (BCU)
When: Wednesday 29th June 2022, 13.30 -17.00pm
Where: Birmingham City University campus (central) - Cost: £65
Places: Limited to 45. Booking is on a first come first served basis. Tea and coffee served with the option of lunch to be booked in advance

As part of Imagineer’s Imagine Bamboo project (commissioned by Birmingham 2022 Festival) teachers are invited  to explore a process of delivering the Design and Technology primary curriculum in a completely new way using bamboo – increasingly viewed by engineers, architects, academics and environmentalists as one of the most important sustainable materials on the planet for design and construction – a 21st century steel. Coventry based Imagineer Productions have been working with bamboo specialists from India, Ghana and Indonesia and in this unprecedented and unique CPD training event, they will share the practical skills and stories they have learnt.

Keeping close to the expectations of delivering a sequential structures learning program from Year 1 to Year 6, and underpinned by the design, make and evaluate principles throughout, teachers will participate in teams in a creative bamboo model making task followed by the creation of an exciting large scale bamboo structure outdoors. They will also meet and work with Gensler, the largest global architecture, design, and planning firm in the world! The team from Gensler’s Birmingham office will share their insights into how to the transform our living environment by making design sustainable for the future and give practical advice on how to translate this thinking into the classroom and apply it to model making.  

This exclusive training opportunity has been commissioned by BEP and BCU and will offer teachers new confidence and creative ideas for delivering the primary D&T curriculum both in the classroom and out on the playground. They will also gain cutting edge industry insight to help them explore and teach sustainability, international design and architecture, and the environment together with a whole host of cross-curricular links. This will be an inspiring afternoon and a chance for you to meet and work with your peers from across the city. All teachers that attend will be given the opportunity to participate in and connect their pupils with the Imagine Bamboo Summit, taking place in Sunset Park, Birmingham 2nd and 3rd July, as part of Birmingham 2022 Festival.

More information, including how to book a place is available on the BEP website at this link https://bep.education/events/bamboo-challenge/ 

Bookmark Reading Charity

Bookmark is a children’s literacy charity with a simple mission for every child to read. They partner with primary schools to deliver high impact, low admin one to one reading sessions for children in years 1-4 who are at risk of not meeting the expected standard for reading. Please head to their schools' page to register your interest.
 
They are proud to have been able to support schools during this extraordinarily challenging year and their findings reflect exactly what a Bookmark programme has helped their readers achieve. For example, 97% of children on a Bookmark programme improved or maintained their reading level despite disrupted learning. For more information, please review Bookmark’s Impact Report for 2020-21. 

To find out more about how Bookmark can have an impact in your school in as little as four weeks, they are hosting a webinar on Wednesday, 22 June at 12:00-12:30.  

If you are interested in attending, please register here 

Bookmark Box for Ukraine

Bookmark has launched an urgent appeal to support incoming children from Ukraine, and want to raise £1 million to fund the Bookmark Box for Ukraine. Thanks to their wonderful community of supporters, they have now raised enough funds for 2,000 boxes and continue to work hard to ensure they can support as many children as possible. 

If your school is looking to find ways to support these children, especially those coming into your school communities, they have designed, with the help of literacy experts, a Bookmark Box for Ukrainian children aged 5-9 to make them feel welcomed, comfortable in their new surroundings and help build familiarity with the English language. For more information on how your school can fundraise or to request a box for a new pupil, please visit the Bookmark website here.