Noticeboard

Noticeboard - 7 November 2024

Welcome back! This week's Noticeboard contains a message from Dr Sue Harrison; the latest Oracle Transition for Schools update, financial updates, information on the Wraparound Childcare Programme capital and revenue funding application process and more.

This week's noticeboard includes: 

 

A message from Dr Sue Harrison, Strategic Director of Children and Families

Dear colleagues

Welcome back! I hope you had a restful half-term break.

Thank you to those schools that have already completed the Oracle Transition for Schools Self-Assessment Survey. For those who haven’t yet, please remember that the survey closes tomorrow, Friday, 8 November. The survey takes no more than 10 minutes to complete and will help us direct support according to need.

The last webinar to learn more about the DfE’s Get Help Buying for Schools Service is scheduled for next Wednesday, 13 November. This session will tell you everything you need to know about how the free service can support schools and you can register to attend by following this link.

I’ve also recently written to Academy headteachers regarding the Service Level Agreements for academies for either HR or Payroll and Pensions Services. If you haven’t received your copy, please do get in touch and we’ll email it directly to you.

Please continue to read the weekly update. It contains essential information and important dates to keep you informed – Oracle transition for schools, updates, questions and answers.

If you have any queries or would like further information on anything relating to the Oracle Transition for schools, please contact the team at oracleschoolsrelationship@birmingham.gov.uk and they will be happy to assist.

So far, we’ve had over 700 responses to our Young People’s Services Schools Survey. A big thank you to everyone who has already contributed, and please continue to encourage your students aged 11-18 to take 5-minutes to complete it. Their feedback will remain anonymous and is crucial in identifying the issues that matter most to them – Young People's Services Survey. The deadline for completing the survey is Monday, 25 November.

I want to take a moment to emphasise the importance of our School Noticeboard. This vital tool serves as a central hub for disseminating important information from the council, ensuring that everyone stays informed about key updates and announcements. If there are any additional individuals you would like to add to the distribution list, please let us know by emailing education@birmingham.gov.uk and we’ll ensure they receive future notifications.

Thank you as always for everything you do for our children, young people and families.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Sue

Oracle Transition for Schools Update

The latest updates can be found here: Oracle transition for schools, updates, questions and answers.

Archived Q&A can be found here: Archived Oracle Transition Q&A.

For any queries or further information please contact the team at oracleschoolsrelationship@birmingham.gov.uk

Thank you for your ongoing support. 

Finance Updates

Transitioning Schools to Cheque Book Status

Following Cabinet’s decision to transition all schools to cheque book status by September 2025, with the exception of April 2025, we are planning to convert schools monthly, with the aim of completing all transitions by September 2025. 

Please find within this link a briefing note and step by step guide:

A briefing note and step by step guide for conversion can be found here: Schools transitioning to cheque book status

For queries or any further information please contact: fairfunding@birmingham.gov.uk

Schools Budget Payment Schedule 2024/2025 

Please find the new cash sheet which will be issued on a monthly basis here: Statement of funding and provisional school budget payment schedule 2024 to 2025

We hope you find this useful in reconciling the monthly instalment as well as grant payments the authority has paid in a given month. 

Please note, grant payments that were made to the LA at the end of June will be paid to schools in July, and the August copy of this spreadsheet will reflect this when it is issued. 

If you have trouble accessing the file, you may need to save the spreadsheet to your personal desktop, then unblock the file by right clicking, properties, and clicking unblock and applying changes. 

Please direct any queries to FairFunding@Birmingham.gov.uk. 

Reminder - Mainstream Schools and Academies Split Site Funding 2025/26

The split sites factor was introduced in 2024/25 is compulsory for all local authorities, ensuring that split sites funding will be allocated consistently and fairly across the country.

The basic eligibility criteria for split sites funding requires additional sites to:

  • be part of the main school, that is, to share the same unique reference number (URN) with the school’s main site
  • be separated from the school’s main site by a public road or railway
  • have a building on them which is maintained by the school, and which is primarily used for the education of 5 to 16- year-old pupils in mainstream education. This excludes playing fields, ‘ancillary buildings’ and buildings leased out full time by the school to another entity

Funding for the distance element should be allocated through a tapered approach, beginning at 100 metres, with allocations increasing linearly up to 500 metres, from which point schools should receive the total maximum funding allowed.

The number of additional sites that schools can receive funding for should be capped at 3 per school. If a school has more than 3 additional sites, the distance funding should be calculated based on those that are furthest away from the main site.

To enable the local authority to calculate split site funding as part of the 2025/26 schools budget setting process, we require all mainstream schools and academies to complete the split split site funding 2025/26 template and return it to  FairFunding@birmingham.gov.uk  by 8 November 2024.

Wraparound Childcare Programme 2024-2026

Capital and Revenue Funding Application Process

The Local Authority has extended the deadline for Wraparound Childcare Funding Applications to 30th November 2024. Please follow the original guidance and application process communicated in September 2024.

In the March 2023 Budget, the Government announced significant funding for Wraparound Childcare. This funding, available for both Revenue and Capital, is specifically for expanding or creating wraparound childcare for Primary School Age children (Reception to Year 6).

Application Process:

The funding process is open to all types of Ofsted registered providers.

For further information, please contact Kevin Caulfield at kevin.caulfield@birmingham.gov.uk.

Young People’s Services – Schools Survey

A big thank you to everyone who has already contributed to our Schools Survey on Young People’s Services!

We still need more voices! Please encourage your students aged 11-18 to take a quick 5-minute survey. Their feedback is essential in identifying the issues that matter most to them. Please note Monday, 25 November as the deadline for completion. 

Thank you for your continued support in making a difference for our young people.

Early Years Developing Local Provision (DLP)

FAO: All Early Years Providers including Schools and Academies with Nursery Classes

Calling Reception Teachers – We Need Your Help!

The Early Years DLP aims to:

  • Increase the number of children achieving a Good Level of Development by the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
  • Support children in having a successful transition to reception.

We are asking reception teachers to complete a short, anonymous questionnaire. Your input will help us better plan Early Years support in each district.

Please click here to complete the form

Hold the Date – Early Years Transition Events 2025

Following the success of last year’s district-based transition meetings between schools and early years providers, dates for 2025 have been set. More information will follow in the Spring term, but please hold the dates:

  • Edgbaston               May 19th Morning and afternoon
  • Erdington                 May 21st Afternoon
  • Hall Green               May 21st Morning
  • Hodge Hill                May 20th Morning
  • Ladywood                June 10th Morning
  • Northfield                 May 21st Morning
  • Perry Barr                June 3rd Morning
  • Selly Oak                 May 16th Morning
  • Sutton Coldfield      June 4th Afternoon
  • Yardley                    May 22nd Afternoon

New Mental Health Care Plan for Children and Young People: Share Your Thoughts

Health and care services in Birmingham and Solihull are working together to improve mental health care for children and young people. They are now seeking comments on the proposed plans.

Why This Change? To improve access to mental health services, provide more support, and address health inequalities.

Learn More You can find detailed plans, a summary, and an audio version here: Share your views on our new plan for mental health care for children and young people: NHS Birmingham and Solihull

How to Provide Feedback Comments are welcomed from anyone with an interest in children and young people’s mental health services. Please share your thoughts by 5pm on 22nd November 2024.

For assistance with the documents or to request them in a different language, call the Mental Health Provider Collaborative Team at 07985 882137.

NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service

FAO: PSHE Leads, pastoral and sexual wellbeing leads in schools, further and higher education settings

Educational Settings’ Role in Sexual Health Awareness

Educational settings are crucial in raising awareness among students about access to sexual health services. The NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service now allows the initiation and repeat provision of oral contraception, initially prescribed in general practice, pharmacies, or sexual health clinics. Find out more about the service here. 

Resources for Promotion

Message to Students

Community pharmacies are conveniently located and often open evenings and weekends, making them an accessible choice for sexual health services. They offer oral contraception (the pill) via the NHS, providing both repeat prescriptions and new initiations. Pharmacists will conduct a confidential consultation to help you decide on your contraception needs.

Bursaries Available to Train Peer Mediators in Primary Schools

Empower Your Students with Peer Mediation!

Peacemakers, a West Midlands-based charity with over 30 years of experience in primary schools, is offering an incredible opportunity for Autumn 2024/Spring 2025. With significant bursaries available, we can help your school set up a Peer Mediation scheme tailored to your students’ needs.

What is Peer Mediation? Peer Mediation is a conflict resolution programme where young people help their peers resolve disputes. It’s a powerful way to create a more peaceful school environment and develop essential life skills.

Offer:

  • Introductory Workshop: Peacemakers will run a workshop for the year group(s) from which mediators will be selected, introducing the concept of mediation.
  • Comprehensive Training: Up to 24 students will receive three full days of training to become peer mediators, equipped to handle playground disputes.
  • Staff Training: The Peer Mediation Plus package includes training for lunchtime and classroom staff to ensure the success of the scheme.

Benefits:

  • Reduced Staff Intervention: With trained mediators, staff spend less time managing conflicts.
  • Life Skills: Students gain valuable skills that benefit the entire school community.

To learn more and apply, contact Libbs Packer at libbs@peacemakers.org.uk.

Visit the Peacemakers website for more details: https://peacemakers.org.uk/primary-schools/

Road Safety Week – Healthy Schools Lunch & Learn

Join us for the Birmingham Healthy Schools Lunch & Learn series, featuring quick and informative 20-minute online sessions designed for school staff.

The next webinar is about Road Safety Week on Thursday 14th November @ 4pm. This session is open to all school staff, governors, parent network groups and community champions. 

Illegal or dangerous parking around school gates poses serious road safety risks for children walking, wheeling, cycling, or scooting to school. It also contributes to harmful air and noise pollution. Addressing road safety is crucial for keeping our pupils safe.

One of the most effective ways of alleviating congestion and pollution around the school gates is to encourage people to leave the car at home where they can and to walk, wheel, cycle or take public transport for the journey to school instead.

Taking place in advance of Brake’s Road Safety week (17 to 23 November) this session will:

  • deliver training around the topic of road safety helping you to deliver your own road safety lessons and campaigns
  • signpost to free lesson plans, and classroom resources helping to save time in class preparation

To register for this webinar, please follow this link: Road Safety Week

Occupational Therapy Service

FAO: Head Teacher/SENCO

BCHC Plus Occupational Therapists time can be purchased by schools to work with children and young people in mainstream and specialist settings 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. We provide additional services supplementing those currently available through locally commissioned NHS provision. Therapists are able to upskill staff in the classroom and support with embedding strategies to meet the needs withing your setting.

We can provide universal support through whole school approach to training and improving occupational performance/environmental assessments; targeted support via group work/ parent workshops/classroom observations and specialist 1:1 assessments and interventions of identified priority children.

Commencement dates will depend on customer demand

To find out more about how BCHC Plus can benefit your setting; pupils; families and staff; please visit our website https://www.bhamcommunity.nhs.uk/bchc-plus-occupational-therapy or contact the BCHC Plus team on 0121 466 6266 or bchc.bchcplus@nhs.net

Free Climate Action Workshops for Primary Schools

Climate Ed, a charity dedicated to climate education, is now offering free workshops to primary schools in Birmingham, starting this Autumn term!

About the Programme:

  • Five Workshops: Spread over five weeks, suitable for Years 4, 5, and 6.
  • Completely Free: No cost to your school.

Why Participate?

  • Engaging Content: Workshops are designed to educate and inspire young minds about climate change.
  • Proven Success: Hear what others have to say:
    • “Climate Ed were nothing but fantastic.” – Ravenstone Primary, Wandsworth
    • “I would recommend that all children have the opportunity to take part in this carefully constructed and relevant programme.” – Furzedown Primary, Wandsworth
    • “Ofsted were intrigued and impressed with the opportunities it gave children to deepen their understanding of the world.” – St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary, Westminster

For further information, please contact Joshua Marchant, Regional Programme Coordinator at Climate Ed – birmingham@climateed.net.

Learn more about Climate Ed – https://www.climateed.net/

Free Webinar: KS1 Assessment and What it Means for School Leaders

Monday, 25 November 2024 – 16:00-16:45

Join Services for Education for this free online update from the Moderation Team to make sure that schools are up to date with the latest recommendations from the STA and LA for the KS1 Assessments.

This session will reflect upon recent changes and how this might impact the Assessment Schedule, with a short 15 minutes Q&A session at the end. During the webinar, schools will deepen their understanding of:

  • National and Local Expectations
  • Available Resources
  • An understanding of the support available for you
  • A reflection upon potential strategies to ensure best practice

Book your free place for the webinar by simply following this link

Free Anti-littering Presentation for Schools

Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement (WISE) partners with Birmingham City Council to tackle litter enforcement in Birmingham.

Exciting Opportunity for Your School!

WISE is offering a free visit to your school for an engaging litter presentation during assembly. Plus, if schools are interested, they can organise a litter pick on the same day, complete with a free loan of equipment!

What’s in it for your students?

  • Anti-Littering Poster Contest: Students can design posters to help save the environment, with prizes for the best designs!
  • Interactive Presentation: The 40-minute presentation (flexible to your needs) will get students passionate about littering and environmental issues.

The programme has received excellent feedback, and students have been incredibly engaged and enthusiastic about making a difference. Check out this school’s social media post to see the impact! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/wJdxoe9zhUrq8M9J/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Together we can inspire the next generation of environmental champions!

For further information or to book a visit, please contact Darran Carter, Social Value & Communities Manager, WISE at darran@wasteenforcement.co.uk.

This entry was posted by Dawn Evans on 31/10/2024.

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