Noticeboard - 21 September 2023

This week's Noticeboard includes an Oracle system update, information regarding reception and Y2-3 admissions for 2024, the headteacher induction programme, the upcoming HR schools conference and more.

Included in this update:

Oracle System Update

The sections set out below summarise this week’s updates for Finance Transactional Servies and HR Services.

Ongoing commitments to address priority finance and HR related Oracle system fixes and the impact on financial close priorities have been continuing at pace and information will be shared in future updates in due course.

If you’re a newly appointed business manager and Oracle user, please email the OracleCommunications@birmingham.gov.uk mailbox asking to be added to the mailing list for email communications.

Finance update – Transactional Services

Further to information shared in the last Oracle System Update on 7 September, the long standing technical issues with the reconciliation files (ZSIMS) process has been resolved, with all expected files produced and made available for schools to download. The Schools’ Transactional Service Team continues to provide a single, central point for supporting transactional finance queries, so if you have any queries relating to reconciliation files, please email them to SchoolsTransactionalServicesQueries@birmingham.gov.uk.

Paying in slip income

Several queries have been received regarding missing paying in slip income with over 1,000 identified cases that still need to be reconciled and allocated. To do so, the Schools’ Transactional Service Team needs the following additional information:

  1. Date
  2. School Name
  3. School Code
  4. Breakdown including individual amounts (send a copy of the paying slip with details)
  5. Total Amount
  6. Paying In slip number
  7. Any references used

So, if you have any paying in slip income that has not yet received, please email the above details to SchoolsTransactionalServicesQueries@birmingham.gov.uk with ‘paying in slip’ in the subject heading.

HR services update

  • Live learning sessions - HR Services for Schools will be repeating the Oracle demonstrations delivered at the end of 2022 and the start of 2023.These sessions are ideal for those new to the form raiser role or for those needing a refresher. They will involve a 30-minute demo / walkthrough, followed by a 30-minute Q&A session based on the demo topics. Sessions will take place between 26 and 29 September and full details of dates, times and joining instructions will be emailed direct to all role holders shortly.
  • Online guidance - Work to update Oracle user guides has continued, with a range of guidance now available on the hrforschools.org.uk website. More learning resources, including video guidance will be available over the coming weeks to support you in using the HR functionality.

Oracle support and contact information

Reception and Year 2-3 Admissions – September 2024

Online admissions open on Sunday 1 October 2023 for Reception and Year 2-3 (Infant to Junior) admissions in September 2024. 

Applications can be made online through the Birmingham City Council website www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions until the final deadline of 15 January 2024. Offer notifications will be sent on 16 April 2024.

Please can you help raise awareness of the process as parents who apply late are less likely to be offered one of their preferred schools.  All the information parents need to support with making their preferences is available on our website www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions.  

More advice and support is also available from Children’s Services on 0121 303 1888.

Early Education Entitlement - 30 Hours Places for Autumn Term 2023

For children to access a 30 hour funded place in Autumn 2023 parents must have received an eligible code on or before 31st August 2023. The local authority cannot fund codes that have a validity start date of on or after 1st September 2023.

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   

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 earlyeducation@birmingham.gov.uk

Head Teacher Induction Programme

The 2023 Head Teacher induction will be delivered during the autumn term on Microsoft Teams.

The induction programme is designed to introduce new head teachers to the network of support available from the city’s key support services.

If you have recently been appointed as a new head teacher, and have not yet received your invite, please contact schoolshrcommunications@hrforschools.org.uk

HR Schools Conference 2023

Keys to Wellbeing and Safeguarding; A Proactive Approach

We have lined up a number of workshops and secured some great keynote speakers for the day focusing on the key topics of Safeguarding and Wellbeing. Tickets for the 2023 Schools HR Conference can be booked at this link.

New for this year

The conference has been developed with different attendance streams for Headteachers and members of the SLT, School Business Support Managers and Governors. This means that you will be able to access workshop sessions aligned to your area of specialism within the school environment.

Our speakers

Our workshop presenters

  • Chris Proctor, Recruitment and criminal record disclosure speaker
  • Emma Slaven, Supporting mental health in the workplace
  • Jessica Hannan, How to build and sustain your resilience whilst supporting the mental health and wellbeing of your team

Conference Programme

8am to 9am: Registration, exhibition, and welcome refreshments
9am to 9:05am: Welcome and housekeeping items - Paul Crossley 
9:05am to 9:45am: Conference opening - Sue Harrison, Director of Children and Families and Rebecca Hemsley, Assistant Director of People Services
9:50am to 10:50am: AM breakout sessions
10:50am to 11:20am: Break to visit exhibition
11:20am to 12:20pm: Keynote presentation – Lee Parkinson
12:20pm to 12:50pm: Lunch for red lanyards, exhibition for blue lanyards
12:50pm to 1:20pm: Lunch for blue lanyards, exhibition for red lanyards
1:20pm to 2:20pm: PM breakout sessions
2:30pm to 3:30pm: Keynote presentation - Darren Edwards
3:30pm to 3:35pm: Conference close - Paul Crossley

AM breakout sessions

Headteachers and SLT

Pick one:

  1. Safeguarding - Presenter TBC
  2. Employment law update - Deirdre Birch and Daljinder Dhillon, Birmingham City Council Legal Team, 

Business Managers and Business Support

Pick one:

  1. Safe and fair recruitment and admissions and risk assessment - Christopher Proctor, NACRO
  2. Practical Tips for supporting Mental Health in the workplace -  Emma Slaven ACAS

Governors

  • 10am to 10:20am: School and Governor Support - Moira Gilligan, School and Governor Support
  • 10:30am to 10:50am: Governor toolkit overview - Schools HR Employee Relations Team

PM breakout sessions

Headteachers and SLT

Pick one:

  1. Reducing the workload for wellbeing -  Lee Parkinson
  2. How to build and sustain your resilience whilst supporting the mental health and wellbeing of your team - Jess Hannan, Education Support

Business Managers and Business Support

Pick one:

  1. Safe and fair recruitment in Education; Risk assessing applicants with a criminal record - Christopher Proctor, NACRO
  2. My Birmingham Rewards, Occupational Health and Care First

Governors

  • 1:20 pm to 1:40pm: Employment law summary - Deirdre Birch and Daljinder Dhillon, BCC Legal Team
  • 1:50pm to 2:10pm: Safeguarding and the role of governors - Charlotte Shepherd and Kayleigh Pegg, Schools recruitment Team

Ticket prices

Cost includes VAT, lunch, refreshments and on-site parking.

One complimentary place offered to governors booked with two delegates from the same subscribed school.

  • subscriber schools:
    • £100 per delegate
    • £50 per governor
  • non subscriber schools:
    • £180 per delegate
    • £80 per governor

Youth Vaping Resources

Birmingham and Solihull Councils have formed a multi-agency Tobacco Control partnership that is working to reduce tobacco use and the associated harms of tobacco use across the BSol footprint.

The partnership has recognised the growing confusion and concerns regarding the use of vapes in children and young people and is committed to providing up to date and accurate information on this issue. Therefore, a suite of resources has been commissioned to provide guidance to children, young people, parents, and carers regarding the latest facts around vaping.

A video has also been produced that summarises key information on vaping and can be accessed and downloaded via the following link: Birmingham_Solihull (vimeo.com)

Search “stop smoking Birmingham” to find out more about support services. Further information on Birmingham smoking cessation services can also be accessed via this link.

Please share with relevant colleagues and partner networks to help them reach their target audience.

Services for Education Training: The Reading Framework, July 2023 – Updates, Revision and Additions 15.30- 16.30 Monday 2nd Oct 2023

The Reading Framework, published by the DfE, not only outlines guidance for best practice when teaching reading in primary and secondary schools, but also identifies expectations of what this should look like. In this one-hour webinar, we will identify some of the key changes and additions made in the July publication, exploring the implications for your school. Book this course here: Reading Framework

Twilight Online Safer Recruitment

This online course is delivered as four twilight sessions to give flexibility for busy professionals. It is delivered by accredited Safer Recruitment Consortium trainers and enables 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. It also identifies ways settings can create safer environments with a culture of vigilance. Book this course here: various dates -Twilight Safer Recruitment

*Online Primary Reading Conference – Inspiration, Engagement and Attainment* Thursday 9th Nov 2023

Services for Education are very excited to present a full-day online conference covering all aspects of reading! Our focus will be Inspiration, Engagement and Attainment. For more information click here

This entry was posted by Jaspal Shambi on 19/09/2023.