Noticeboard - 8 February 2024

This week's noticeboard contains a link to the recent measles webinar, information on Early Education Entitlement, Training Opportunities and more. May we take this opportunity of wishing you an enjoyable half-term break.

Included in this update:

Measles Update

A recording of the recent joint Birmingham/Solihull measles webinar held on Friday, 2 February 2024 is available at this link.

For any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact the Health Protection team at HPTeam@birmingham.gov.uk.

Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership - Birmingham Neglect Strategy 2022-2026

This strategy sets out the guiding principles, strategic objectives, approach and priorities. We have deliberately kept this document short and top level. It will be supported by practitioner guidance on tackling neglect and by multi-agency action plans that will be regularly reviewed and refreshed. By recognising the signs of neglect and taking pro-active multi-agency action we can make a real difference to the lives of some of our city’s most vulnerable children. The strategy can be found at this link.

Early Education Entitlement

Parental Declarations

The Early Education Entitlement (EEE) Parent Declaration Form has now been updated to reflect the new entitlement offers that are being introduced from April 2024-September 2025.

Please use the revised form for all funded 2, 3 and 4 year olds accessing a place from summer term 2024 onwards.

The parent declaration form is used to determine where funding is paid, for example in the case of an EEE audit or when investigating duplicate claims. It is therefore imperative that the form is completed with parents so they understand what they are agreeing to.

The declarations need to be signed each term (you must not agree more than one term in advance) and state clearly what term and what hours are being agreed. Incomplete forms can result in loss of or claw-back of funding.

The parent declaration forms 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, please email earlyeducation@birmingham.gov.uk

2 Year old Working Entitlement

The new offers for Early Education Entitlements are being phased in during 2024 / 2025. The first phase starts from April 2024 where eligible working parents of 2 year olds will be able to access 15 hours of working entitlement and here is what you need to know.

The introduction of the working offer does not mean that 2 year funding is for every 2 year old as it is NOT a universal offer – there will still be families who do not qualify for either of the 2 year old offers, for example, where only one parent works in a family or where parents do not meet or they exceed the income thresholds.

From April 2024 2 year olds will be eligible if:

  • The family are in receipt of government support – the criteria that applies can be found here: Help paying for childcare: Free education and childcare for 2-year-olds - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk ) 

           OR

Working Entitlement Overview

  • The working eligibility criteria and application process will be the same as the current 30 hours for working parents of 3&4 year olds
  • Parents can apply now - applications will need to be made directly to HMRC. You can signpost parents to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk where the most up to date information will be made available to support parents.
  • Parents will need to apply for and receive their eligibility code on or before 31st March 2024 to be able to access the 15 working hours entitlement from 1st April 2024. Encourage parents to apply early in case they need to provide any additional information to HMRC to support their application!
  • An eligible 2 year old can access their place from the term after they turn 2 years old as long as they have their code in time.
  • Providers will be required to check the codes are eligible for the term being applied for, using ECS.
  • Please do not allow children to access their entitlement until you have confirmed that they are eligible to do so.
  • Providers will be required to submit the codes on their census claims.
  • There may be a very small number of families eligible for 2 year funding under the current disadvantaged eligibility criteria who may also be eligible for the 15 hours working entitlement. These parents can only claim 15 hours in total and cannot claim both elements. These parents should be encouraged to remain on the current disadvantaged entitlement until they can apply for 30 hours working entitlement.
  • Parents who have recently reconfirmed their Tax Free Childcare accounts and now wish to apply for the 2 year old working entitlement, may have to wait until their next reconfirmation date to enable them to do this. DFE have recognised that this may cause concern for some parents whose reconfirmation dates are late February / March. If a parents reconfirmation date is on or after 15th February 2024 then they will receive a letter from HMRC with a temporary code to enable them to access a working entitlement place. Parents do not need to contact HMRC – they will automatically receive the letter.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the EEE team: earlyeducation@birmingham.gov.uk

Birmingham Community Healthcare Plus Occupational Therapy Service

FAO SENCO/Head Teacher

Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) Plus Occupational Therapists work with children and young people to help them achieve their full potential in activities of daily living that they need, want, or are expected to participate in. These activities include washing, dressing, feeding, toileting, school-based activities such as handwriting and play based activities. BCHC Plus provides additional services supplementing those currently available through locally commissioned NHS provision. This enables schools and other settings to purchase the Occupational Therapy Support their pupils need, providing scheduled dedicated time and support from a named therapist.

They are able to provide specialist 1:1 assessments of identified children; environmental assessments e.g. classroom/school hall/playground; individual goals and treatment; screening and identifying priority children; targeted whole school approach to improving occupational performance; supporting school staff to identify children that would benefit from specific interventions.

To find out more about how BCHC Plus can benefit schools, pupils, families and staff, please contact our BCHC Plus team at bchc.bchcplus@nhs.net

Free Jewellery Workshop

The Goldsmith Institute is delighted to offer 30 free places to Year 11 students on a Get into Jewellery Workshop in next week’s half term on Thursday 15th February 2024.

During this session within our workshop, students will have the opportunity to develop and create your own designs and manufacture bespoke pieces including:

Dog Tags, Bracelets / Bangles, Rings, Necklaces and Memorabilia.

There will also be the opportunity to find out more about careers with Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, routes into gold smithing and the Institutes new Jewellery T Level (just 12 prestigious places) which opens September 2024.

Tickets are available here

West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership

County Lines and Exploitation Awareness Training Schedule: 26 February-1 March 2024

The West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership are pleased to provide the region with a FREE online county lines and exploitation awareness training delivered via Microsoft Teams.

This awareness training programme aims to develop and improve our understanding of the threat from County Lines and Criminal Exploitation

There are sessions for a variety of audiences: Professionals/frontline workers, community members, parents/grandparents/carers.

There are limited spaces, with only 300 spaces available per session, so please sign up at your earliest opportunity to guarantee your place.

If you cannot attend after you have signed up, please ensure you cancel your ticket to allow others to sign up.

Understanding the Experience of Women & Girls in County Lines
Training Provider: Catch 22
Facilitator/s: Jasmeet Kaur
Target Audience: Professionals, frontline workers
Date & Time: Monday 26th February,10:00 – 11:00 - Book Now

WMP Economic Crime Unit - Financial Exploitation/Money Muling
Training Provider: WMP Economic Crime Unit
Facilitator/s: Khatija Nichols
Target Audience: Professionals, frontline workers
Date & Time: Monday 26th February, 14:00 – 15:00 - Book Now

Modern Slavery and Understanding the NRM
Training Provider: Barnardo’s
Facilitator/s: Holly Jessup & Nic Cummings
Target Audience: Professionals, frontline workers
Date & Time: Tuesday 27th February, 10:00 – 12:00 - Book Now

NSPCC Online Safety
Training Provider: NSPCC
Facilitator/s: Rachel Wallace
Target Audience: Professionals, frontline workers, parents/carers/grandparents, community members
Date & Time: Tuesday 27th February, 14:00 – 15:00 - Book Now

Cuckooing/Home Invasion Awareness
Training Provider: Safer Together
Facilitator/s: Nikki Holmes
Target Audience: Professionals, frontline workers
Date & Time: Wednesday 28th February, 10:00 – 12:00 - Book Now

Childline Today
Training Provider: NSPCC
Facilitator/s: Danielle Harris
Target Audience: Professionals, frontline workers, parents/carers/grandparents, community members
Date & Time: Wednesday 28th February, 13:00 – 14:00 - Book Now

Understanding County Lines for Parents, Grandparents & Guardians
Training Provider: The Clewer Initiative
Facilitator/s: Amy Bishop & Jackie Mouradian
Target Audience: Parents/carers/grandparents
Date & Time: Wednesday 28th February, 14:00 – 15:00 - Book Now

County Lines Session for Parents, Guardians & Carers
Training Provider: St Giles Trust
Facilitator/s: Liam Teasdale
Target Audience: Parents/carers/grandparents
Date & Time: Thursday 29th February, 10:00 – 11:00 - Book Now

Exploring Child Financial Exploitation
Training Provider: The Children’s Society
Facilitator/s: Maryam Hussain
Target Audience: Professionals, frontline workers
Date & Time: Thursday 29th February, 12:30 – 14:00 - Book Now

Dynamic Safety Planning for Complex Circumstances
Training Provider: SaferNow
Facilitator/s: Sean Monaghan
Target Audience: Professionals, frontline workers
Date & Time: Thursday 29th February, 14:00 – 16:30 - Book Now

Anti-oppressive Practice
Training Provider: The Children’s Society
Facilitator/s: Maryam Hussain
Target Audience: Professionals, frontline workers
Date & Time: Friday 1st March, 10:00 – 12:00 - Book Now

Ivision Trust’s Relational Safeguarding Model & Contextual Safeguarding Approach
Training Provider: Ivision Trust
Facilitator/s: Dr Sarah Hall
Target Audience: Professionals, frontline workers
Date & Time: Friday 1st March, 14:00 – 15:00 - Book Now

Additional training/resources:

Contextual Safeguarding training –Applicants must have completed Foundation (agency specific, in-house) safeguarding training and ideally LSCP Module 5(A) CE Awareness training) - Register

VRP webinars week commencing 26th February, (all via MS Teams)

Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention webinar: Monday 26th February, 14:00 – 16:00 - Sign up

Trauma Informed Practice webinar: Tuesday 27th February, 09:00 – 13:30 - Sign up

EMVAWG webinar: Thursday 29th February, 10:00 – 11:00 Sign up

Working with Trauma in Early Years webinar: Thursday 9th February, 10:00 – 11:00 - Sign up

Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention webinar: Friday 1st March, 10:30 – 11:30 - Sign up

If you have any queries or require any further information, please contact vrp@westmidlands.police.uk

Services for Education

Increasing Greater Depth Writing Attainment – an Overview for Leaders (ONLINE) Tue 27th Feb 2024.  Book here:

Safer Recruitment- Refresher Training (ONLINE) Wednesday 28th Feb 2024
This refresher course will enable schools to ensure they are meeting statutory requirements and to improve processes that help deter, reject or identify people who might abuse children and identifies ways settings can create safer environment Book here

Teachers and Assessment Leaders New to Year 2 - Preparing for the Essential Assessment Processes at the End of KS1 (CENTRE BASED) - Monday 4th March 2024: 09.00 - 16.00. Book here

Interim Writing Moderation at KS1 – For Year 2 Teachers (Centre Based) Thursday 7th Mar 2024.
This shared moderation will be an opportunity for Year 2 teachers to ensure that assessments of writing are secure. Although now non-statutory, it is best practice to continue using the 2019 KS1 Teacher Assessment Framework to maintain rigour and make robust and accurate judgements at KS1. Book here

Interim Writing Moderation at KS2 – For Teachers New to Year 6 Monday 11th Mar 2024
This course will provide an early opportunity for Year 6 teachers to review writing evidence against the 2019 KS2 teacher assessment framework standards to inform next steps in the teaching, learning and assessment process. Book here

 

 

This entry was posted by Jaspal Shambi on 06/02/2024.