Noticeboard 23 June 2022

This week's noticeboard contains an Oracle Cloud update, important information on the Fair Access Protocol 2022; SEND and Inclusion Strategy Workshops; Early Education Entitlement; details on courses you may wish to attend and much more!

Oracle Cloud Weekly Update from 1B Team 

Thank you for your continued patience as we implement this new system.

  • Work is on-going on Birmingham City Council's reporting functionality from Oracle and we hope our HR, Finance and Payroll colleagues will begin to have access to the reports soon. However, specifically regarding payroll costs reports, it is anticipated they will be sent out by the end of June / early July.  Once the reports have been issued and where it is applicable regarding Cheque Book Schools, the Direct Debit will be re-started.  
  • Work is ongoing to provide schools with reconciliation files, and we hope to update you towards the end of this week with an idea of timelines for a resolution. 
  • Last week we provided schools' finance users with a list of suppliers who do not have their VAT registration listed in Oracle, this is causing invoices to these suppliers to require Accounts Payable (AP) revalidation before payment is made. The AP team is working through this list, and we will contact Simplified Loader users directly when these issues are fixed. Please only contact AP in an emergency, the team is processing invoices in the order they come into Oracle.
  • Work continues to identify the correct approvers of internal charging, until this issue has been rectified BCC colleagues have been requested to pause processing internal charging through Oracle.
  • The remittance batch issue is now fixed and has been tested by a number of schools. Please commence entering your income banking onto Oracle and creating your remittance batches.  Our subject matter expert will be running a refresher drop-in session in the coming weeks and all school finance users will receive an invite directly.

Most users are accessing Oracle and Simplified Loader without issues. However, if you are experiencing access issues please follow the below:

Summer Holiday Activities Programme

All schools will have received notification that the Summer Holiday Activities Programme codes are now available to download and distribute, together with:

Please note that codes are only valid for the Summer Holiday Activities Programme and for children in Reception to Year 14.

Codes have been allocated based on the Spring Term Schools Census, and families can visit www.bringitonbrum.co.uk from Friday, 1 July to book places.

Should you have any queries, or require support, please contact the following:

REMINDER: 2022 Data Collections for EYFSP, Phonics, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2

The website Primary data has now been updated with all the necessary documentation regarding the statutory collections including how to submit the returns and online confirmation forms, which need to be completed once CTF has been sent to the LA for EYFSP, Key stage 1 and Phonics.

Please see link 'Deadlines Poster 2022’ for deadlines of each key stage assessment return. Please note, ALL schools are required to submit final returns by the stated deadlines.

Any files received after the deadlines may not be validated before being submitted to the DfE and schools may not receive reports in a timely manner.

All schools will submit their CTF containing the assessments to the LA using Anycomms+

If you have forgotten your password please try ‘Forgot password’ option on the login page, if you are unsuccessful please complete the following service request form.

Please note Key stage 2 assessment will need to be submitted to STA via Primary Assessment Gateway.

Any queries should be directed to the Data Intelligence team: educationdata@birmingham.gov.uk

EYSFF Indicative Allocations 2022 - 2023

Early Years indicative budget 22-23 revision

Please accept our apologies that the indicative budget for Early Years 2022-23 needs to be revised.   The corrected version will be uploaded by the end of June 2022 or early July 2022. 

Further work on the clawback adjustments for 21/22 is also being undertaken.

We understand that this may cause more difficulties, and we will endeavour to work with providers to resolve any potential issues.

Any queries should be addressed to fairfunding@birmingham.gov.uk

Special School & Resource Based Budget 2022-23

Birmingham City Council has updated the indicative budget for 2022-23 for Special Schools & Resource Based establishments.

Many apologies for any problems caused.

All budget queries should be sent by email to: fairfunding@birmingham.gov.uk and further information can be found here.

Birmingham SEND and Inclusion Strategy Workshops Week Commencing 27 June 2022

This is your chance to influence and co-produce the refreshed Birmingham SEND strategy and to create the new inclusion strategy! 

We are inviting you to take part in workshops that will help shape and create the new Inclusion strategy and a refreshed SEND strategy for the City. We are looking to co-produce solid foundations for the way in which we work together to deliver excellent services to families. These two-hour strategy workshops are multi-agency and we would like as many stakeholders as possible from all areas, grades and roles to attend at least one session to influence how we do things in the future.  Please do pass this invitation widely to colleagues, team members and contacts.

We will be building on the rich and detailed information already gained from talking to parents and carers across the City over the past months to co-produce and shape the future of service delivery to improve the lives of children and young people with additional needs and their families.

An information pack outlining the local vision for the work in the Children’s and Families Directorate in general can be found here for you to consider before you attend a workshop. We welcome parents, carers and family members to attend but rest assured we are already working on feedback from parents and carers, so if you have already ‘had your say’, please do not feel obliged to attend these workshops.  

The workshops are separate and in addition to other planned engagement activites, such as the Headteacher's Inclusion Conferences hosted by Sue Harrison. 

There are a number of dates for face-to-face and virtual discussions and a questionnaire will be produced for those who are unable to attend. Workshops will commence w/c 27 June and we look forward to seeing a cross section of people across the local teams.

Please sign up to a workshop via the following link : SEND strategy and Inclusion strategy co-production workshops

If you have any questions regarding these opportunities to influence the way forward, please email Bob Harrison - bob.harrison@birmingham.gov.uk 

Please note:

  • Registration is free but compulsory
  • All workshops are in-person except for the 6pm workshops which are virtual
  • In-person workshops on 29 June and 8 July will be held at Hall Green United Community Church, Birmingham. All other in-person workshops will be held at Council Office, Woodcock Street, Birmingham (further details will be shared following your registration)
  • Places on each workshop will be on first come, first served basis as capacity is limited.

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in the coming weeks.

Fair Access Protocol 2022

All schools will have received a copy of Birmingham’s Fair Access Protocol which has been finalised in accordance with the revised School Admissions Code 2021; we have also taken into consideration comments/views made during the formal period of consultation.

As a matter of procedure, we are now asking all schools to formally acknowledge and sign-up to the new Protocol. If you have not already done so, please simply complete and submit the short sign-up form at this link by no later than close of play Friday 8 July 2022.

In line with government guidance, we require over 50% of schools to have agreed to the revised Fair Access Protocol. It will be implemented from September 2022 with all schools required to adhere to its policy and procedures.

Any queries should be directed to fairaccessprotocol2022@birmingham.gov.uk 

School Admissions for Pupils from Overseas Including Ukraine

Thank you for your continued support in admitting pupils from overseas including Ukraine. To ensure speedy admissions continues please:

  • process applications as soon as possible
  • confirm the outcome of any applications to families, in writing within 10 school days
  • If you are not able to admit, ensure children are added to your school waiting list and families are informed of their right of appeal
  • report applications and related outcomes via the schools portal without delay as this supports the council placing children quickly if required. If you need any support with reporting via the schools portal, please contact admict@birmingham.gov.uk
  • ensure your numbers on roll are reported to the LA and that you update your current vacancies via the schools portal regularly (every Monday).

The council and all schools are required to adhere to the requirements of the School Admission Code (2022) as outlined by the DfE when admitting children, including those from overseas.

Further detail is available from the “School Admissions for Pupils from Overseas, including Ukraine” webinar recording and presentation and the council website. Please see links below:

There is information on the School Admissions website specific to children of refugees and asylum seekers

New Attendance Guidance and DfE Consultations

Colleagues may be aware of the new Department for Education document ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ which will be voluntary guidance from September 2022 but likely to be statutory guidance by September 2023.

The DfE is running a series of webinars for schools and local authorities on the implications of the new guidance and best practice.  Many Birmingham schools have already attended these sessions but if your school hasn’t done so yet, you can access future schools webinars and receive access to previous webinars:

In addition to this, the DfE has also started a consultation on new pupil registration regulations, relating to admissions, attendance, deletions from roll, thresholds for legal intervention and notifications to the local authority.  You can access the consultation and draft regulations by following this link.

Share Your Daily School Attendance Data - Wonde

Most schools in England have now signed up to Wonde, which will enable the DfE to collect pupil level attendance data.  Collecting data attendance daily will give schools, local authorities and multi-academy trusts (MATs) access to more timely pupil level attendance data. This collection will not add to your schools’ workload and will enable schools to be ready for when the sharing of such data is a statutory requirement, likely to be September 2023.

We’ve become aware of external services contacting schools offering to link them to the DfE database in return for a fee, however, it is completely free to sign up to Wonde and schools do not need to use external contractors to do so.  You can find all the information here. 

Tax-Free Childcare Parent and Provider Surveys May/June 2022

The Early Years and Childcare Service is undertaking parent and childcare provider surveys to support and inform the local authority and National Strategies to encourage increased participation in the Tax Free Childcare scheme that was rolled out by HMRC in 2017.

The latest data confirms that participation in the scheme is a lot lower than anticipated and that many families are not taking advantage of the scheme to receive a contribution to their childcare costs which in turn could have financial benefits for childcare providers across the sector. The surveys went live on BEHEARD on Friday 19th May 2022 and will close on Friday 24th June 2022.

Can you please complete the childcare provider survey and encourage as many parents and carers as possible to engage in the survey as the results will be used to inform strategies to increase participation across all sectors moving forward. In addition, awareness of the survey may prompt parents and providers alike to participate in the scheme. 

The surveys will take no more than 10 minutes to complete from a phone, tablet or computer, and can be accessed via the following links: 

Tax Free Childcare Survey for Parents May 2022 

In addition, please use the poster to promote the parent survey. The poster can be found on EYMIS in the Tax Free Childcare Folder – Please use Username: PVI2 and Password: PVI2year.

Tax Free Childcare Survey for Childcare Providers May 2022

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Early Education Entitlement

30 Hours Places for Autumn Term 2022

  • For parents to access a 30 hour funded place in Autumn 2022 parents must have received an eligible code on or before 31st August 2022.
  • The local authority cannot fund codes that have a validity start date of on or after 1st September 2022.
  • Please remind your parents to apply and reconfirm their eligibility in time so that they don't lose out.
  • It is the childcare providers 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 Autumn 2022 if the validity start date of the code is on or after 1st September 2022. You must check the date before allowing the child to access a 30 hour place this term.

30 Hour Places for Foster Children

  • Foster parents can apply for 30 hours extended entitlement for their 3 and 4 year old foster children, if they are in paid employment outside of their foster care role.
  • These applications cannot be made via the usual route of the Childcare Choices website and have to come directly to the local authority. The foster carer or social worker should email from September 2022 for Autumn term. If you are aware of any looked after children that might be eligible for 30 hours extended entitlement please signpost them to NEF@birmingham.gov.uk for an application form. The Social Worker and Birmingham Virtual School Advisor have to be in agreement that the application is in the best interests of the child.
  • The same deadlines apply - they must have a code by 31st August 2022 in order to access 30 hours from September 2022 for Autumn term. If you are aware of any looked after children that might be eligible for 30 hours extended entitlement please signpost them to NEF@birmingham.gov.uk
  • As with all 30 hours codes you will still need to validate the code on ECS before agreeing the 30 hours start date. 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

Further information about 30 hours and validating codes can be found on EYMIS: 

  • 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

Statutory Consultation

On 9 June 2022, Birmingham City Council published the following proposals for statutory consultation:

Uffculme School

The prescribed alteration is to increase the number of pupil places being offered from 204 to 266.

Please follow this link to view a copy of the Uffculme School proposal and details of how to submit comments

The Pines School

The prescribed alteration is to increase in two phases:

  • The number of pupil places being offered from 230 to 260 from September 2022
  • The number of pupil places being offered from 260 to 270 from September 2023

Please follow this link to view a copy of the Pines School proposal and details of how to submit comments

Baskerville School

The prescribed alteration is to increase the number of pupil places being offer from 118 to 183.

Please follow this link to view a copy of the Baskerville School proposal and details of how to submit comments

Please note that comments regarding the above proposals must be received no later than 7th July 2022.

AET Schools: Good Autism Practice Training by the Communication and Autism Team (Birmingham) 

Monday, 4 July 2022 - Thornbury Centre, Thornbury Road, Birchfield, Birmingham, B20 3DE

This course is suitable for practitioners who work directly with pupils with Autism including: SENCOs; teachers; senior managers and other practitioners who work with pupils on the Autism spectrum.

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

  • To develop knowledge and understanding of good autism practice.
  • To reflect on and improve your 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

Please book before 29 June 2022 to guarantee your place

Safeguarding and Child Protection Course for Headteachers and Nominated Governors 

Friday, 8 July 2022 - 09:00-16:00

This full-day course will equip Head Teachers/Heads of Service (who are not DSLs) and Governors with the information, knowledge and understanding to undertake their responsibilities in respect of safeguarding, including supporting staff members acting in the DSL role and dealing with allegations against staff.

You can book your place by following this link

Community Event – Saltley Wellbeing Centre

Saturday, 16 July 2022 - 12:00pm-5pm

Our Community Foundation invites families to celebrate at an event being held on Saturday, 16 July at Saltley Wellbeing Centre, 120 Broadway Avenue, B9 5YD. Further information available at this link

There will be various stalls and a variety of activities for all the family including:

  • FREE Judo, Zumba, Squash, and Archery
  • Henna and DJs
  • Food and Drink, Coffee and Cake
  • FREE football tournament with prizes for the winners!

For further information please contact: Amaan Hussain or Darnish Amraz enquiries@ourcommunity.org.uk or visit www.ourcommunity.org.uk

 

 

This entry was posted by on 20/06/2022.