Noticeboard

Noticeboard - 20 March 2026

Welcome to this week’s Noticeboard, including a message from James Thomas, finance deadlines, measles guidance, the new Attendance Strategy, and other key updates.

This week's Noticeboard includes: 

A Message from James Thomas

Dear colleagues

It was a real pleasure to join Secondary Forum this week as my first step in regular engagement with all the Fora, and an opportunity for me to share key strategic messages as well as to listen to the key issues for headteachers. The headlines that I shared:

  • Council setting a balanced budget for the next three years and moving out of s114 status – a huge milestone
  • Commissioners continue to give the Council a balanced scorecard with a particular focus upon improvement in the corporate core of the organisation
  • A great deal of preparation is in hand for the local elections in May and the administration that will follow, including the support to a large influx of new members
  • Concern for DCSs across the region (I currently Chair the West Midlands DCS Network) about the extent of government reforms and demands all coming at once

I was pleased to see both Razia in my Council team and Ali in my BCT team speaking proactively about steps to improve the support to schools with safeguarding – Razia with the introduction of 10 new district based Education Safeguarding roles who can play a more hands on role in supporting schools and DSLs; and Ali in making clear the offer of brokering support from the multi-agency network where schools are experiencing peaks in safeguarding concerns. The discussion about the challenges of pupil place planning was all too familiar after many years of managing these challenges in a period where there have been complex patterns of rising and falling numbers, which can be so crucial to a school’s financial viability – and I heard the concerns that the scaffolding of support from the Council has not always been good enough.

Martin and I met with senior colleagues from the DfE this week in our monthly catch-up. It is part of my role to lobby government on the issues causing us concern and that includes relaying the concerns of headteachers, so do always feel able to use me as a conduit to the DfE for what is bothering you. We heard a high degree of confidence from DfE in our commitment and approach to continual improvement on SEND, and that we have strong foundations on which to build our SEND Reform Plan that is due to be submitted by 19th June. And they were particularly interested in our plans for the Best Start in Life and our ability to increase the existing rate of improvement in the % of our children achieving at Good Level of Development at Early Years Foundation Stage.

Eid Mubarak to all those who will be celebrating!

James

James Thomas
Interim Executive Director of Children & Families

Schools Finance

Schools Closure of Accounts 2025/26

A reminder that the deadline for year‑end submissions is 20 March 2026. All closure of accounts guidance and the required year‑end templates can be accessed here: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50379/finance_in_schools/3153/year-end_procedures. The first training session on completing the return took place on 25 February, and a recording is available for schools to view. If you have any questions regarding the guidance or workbook, please contact SchoolsFinance@Birmingham.gov.uk.

Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS) 2025/26 – Reminder

The DfE requires all local authority‑maintained schools to submit the SFVS checklist annually to demonstrate effective financial management and good resource use. Schools must submit their completed checklist to the Local Authority by 27 March 2026 via schoolsfinance@birmingham.gov.uk.

Please note that the former Statement of Internal Control, Pre‑certification Checklist for Governors, and Governors Financial Assurance Checklist Report are no longer required and have been replaced by the SFVS.

Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Measles this Spring

There have been recent measles cases in the region. To keep yourself and others safe and healthy this spring, please read and share the materials in this toolkit with the appropriate audiences: 

  • Action cards for colleagues in early years settings and schools
  • 1-page information sheet for parents
  • Newsletter article for parents
  • Social media static images and copy

What is measles?

Measles is a highly contagious disease, which can be very serious, especially in children under one, pregnant women, and people with a weakened immune system. 

The best protection against measles is two doses of the MMRV immunisation.

What are the symptoms?

  • cold-like symptoms such as runny or blocked nose, sneezing and cough
  • red, sore watery eyes
  • high temperature (fever) which may reach around 40OC / 104OF
  • a non-itchy, red-brown rash usually appears 3-5 days after symptoms begin (sometimes starts around the ears before spreading to rest of the body), spots may be raised and join to form blotchy patches – which may be harder to see on darker skin tones

What should you do if someone in your education setting has suspected measles?

If a pupil develops symptoms in your education setting, urgently ask their parents to contact their GP. They should NOT attend any medical setting, including a GP surgery, A&E or walk-in centre, unless they have been asked to do so. The doctor will advise on what to do, including making any special arrangements to see children so that if they have measles, they won’t pass it on.

Parents should call your GP or NHS 111 if they, their child or a family member is showing symptoms of measles.

If you suspect that someone in your early years setting has measles, please contact the UKHSA West Midlands Health Protection team (HPT) at 0344 225 3560 (option 2). The HPT will do a risk assessment and determine what actions are needed.

What is the best way to protect against measles?

The MMRV immunisation protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (varicella). Children are offered 2 doses of the immunisation when they are 12 months and 18 months old. Older children born on or after 1 January 2020 are also offered 1 or 2 doses of the immunisation.

A pork-free version of the MMRV immunisation, called Priorix-Tetra, is available at all GP surgeries.

The MMRV immunisation is safe, effective, and free of charge. It does NOT cause autism – numerous studies have proven there is no link between the immunisation and autism.

The MMR immunisation is no longer offered to all young children. It is recommended for anyone born on or before 31 December 2019 who missed having this immunisation when they were younger.

How can you get the immunisation?

To get immunised, book an appointment at your GP surgery. To find out if your child is up to date with their immunisations, can check their Personal Child Health Record or ‘red book’ or contact your GP surgery.

Further information on measles can be found here, and information on the MMRV immunisation can be found here. 

Thank you for helping to keep Birmingham safe and healthy this spring.

WellComm Termly Data Collection – Spring 2026

WellComm is Birmingham’s approved screening tool, providing a consistent universal approach to assessing and supporting children’s speech, language and communication needs. To help us monitor the impact of the tool across the city, we ask all settings to share their termly screening data with us.

For schools and nursery schools, data is collected via an online form each term, and the Spring term form is now available. (Please note: Day nurseries and childminders do not complete this form.)

Please submit your information by 31 March 2026 here:  WellComm Data Collection Spring 2026

Parents & Carers Conference – 26 March 2026

Please share with your school and parent/carer networks.

A free Parents & Carers Conference is taking place on 26 March 09:30-16:00 at the Birmingham Rep Theatre, hosted by Blesst CIC, the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership, and Birmingham Children’s Trust.

The full‑day event is open to all parents and carers, including SEND families, young parents, foster carers, residential care staff, and professionals supporting children and young people. The day includes keynote speakers, workshops, practical parenting strategies, and opportunities to connect with local services. A free lunch is provided.

Find out more and register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/parents-carers-parenting-conference-birmingham-tickets-1982781065542?aff=oddtdtcreator

For further information, contact Richard Campbell on 07889 673213 or Richard@blesst.co.uk.

Healthy Schools Lunch & Learn: Pause - Walk-in Mental Health Support for Under 25s

Wednesday, 25 March 2026 at 16:00

Open to all school staff, this session will provide an overview of the mental health support available for young people from Pause, including:

  • What Pause Birmingham is, who it supports, and how the drop-in model works
  • How young people, parents/carers and professionals can access the service
  • Common issues service users bring to Pause
  • Opportunities for ongoing collaboration between Pause and schools.

This session will be delivered by Olive Ahmed, Pause Service Manager. Olive oversees the delivery of Pause’s open-access drop-in and outreach work. She is passionate about reducing barriers to mental health support and ensuring that young people feel heard, understood, and empowered.

Register for this webinar here: Pause: Walk-in mental health support for under 25s across Birmingham

To receive updates from the Healthy Schools team, including details of upcoming sessions, please email: HealthySchools@birmingham.gov.uk

Have You Completed Our Oral Health Survey?

Share your views and help shape new oral health resources for Birmingham schools. The survey closes at 5pm on Monday 23 March 2026.

Public Health teams are gathering insight into oral health in schools, and your input will help us understand current challenges, identify what support staff need, and develop practical resources for pupils.

Complete the survey here: Oral Health in Schools - tell us what you think!

The survey is open to all staff in Birmingham primary, secondary, and special schools. For any questions, please email HealthySchools@birmingham.gov.uk.

Shape the Future of Urgent Care in Birmingham and Solihull

The NHS in Birmingham and Solihull is running a public consultation on proposed changes to Urgent Treatment Centres and GP out-of-hours services, and is encouraging NHS staff, patients, families, and the wider public to share their views before the consultation closes on 16 April.

Two options are being considered, and no decisions have been made – feedback from local communities will directly influence what happens next. Schools can support this work by sharing the consultation with parents, carers, and wider networks, helping ensure as many voices as possible are heard.

Every response helps the NHS understand people’s experiences and priorities so it can design services that meet the needs of all our communities.

Birmingham School Attendance Strategy 2026–2029

We are pleased to share the newly published Birmingham School Attendance Strategy 2026 to 2029. This city-wide strategy sets out our collective commitment to improving school attendance and ensuring every child can attend, belong, and achieve.

Improving attendance continues to be a key priority across Birmingham. The strategy:

  • Aligns fully with ‘Working Together to Improve School Attendance’
  • Provides a clear framework for early intervention, targeted support, and statutory responsibilities
  • Promotes a relational, values-led approach, built on strong partnerships between families, schools, and wider services

Download the strategy here: School attendance advice for schools and professionals.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact: attendance@birmingham.gov.uk.

Thank you for your continued support for Birmingham’s children and young people.

The March 2026 SEND and Inclusion Bulletin is now live!

You can read the latest edition at www.birmingham.gov.uk/blog/sendinclusion.

This month’s bulletin includes a message from Helen Ellis, Director of Early Years, SEND and Inclusion, plus updates from the recent PCF Working Together Practice Sharing Event. It also features helpful guidance on raising and resolving concerns with SENAR, details of changes to EHCP finalisation processes to improve timeliness and get funding to pupils sooner, and news on progress within the Delivering Better Value Programme. Schools can also find information on SSPP transition arrangements for Summer/Autumn 2026 and an update on support for pupils with medical needs.

Delivering Better Value – Workstream 2

Review of Banded Descriptors – Phase 2

Birmingham City Council is moving into Phase 2 of reviewing the Ranges and Banded Descriptors as part of the DfE Delivering Better Value Programme. This phase will update and align descriptors to ensure they remain needs‑led, child‑centred and provide clear, consistent SEND funding information for schools.

Five working groups – one for each area of need – will meet three times between April and September 2026. A cross‑group session will support consistency across all categories. Meetings will be mainly in person.

We are seeking strong participation from mainstream nursery, primary, secondary and resource‑base schools, as these sectors were under‑represented in Phase 1.

Meeting Dates (Phase 2)

SEMH: 28 April, 19 May, 13 July
Sensory: 5 May, 3 June, 23 September
Physical: 13 May, 30 June, 23 September
SCLN/Autism: 10 June, 10 July, 28 September
Cognition & Learning: 2 June, 13 July, 17 September
General Group: 8 October

Expressions of Interest

Please send expressions of interest to DeliveringBetterValue@birmingham.gov.uk by the following deadlines, so that papers can be issued in a timely manner.

Deadlines:

  • SEMH – 17 April
  • Sensory – 27 April
  • Physical – 1 May
  • SCLN/Autism – 13 May
  • Cognition & Learning – 18 May

Thank you for your continued support. For any queries or further information please contact the team at DeliveringBetterValue@birmingham.gov.uk.

A full information document is available to download here: Delivering Better Value workstream 2

Join the Birmingham RE Teachers Network

Be part of a collaborative professional community!

We are inviting RE teachers to express their interest in joining the newly established Birmingham RE Teachers Network. This network will provide a professional forum for colleagues across Primary, Secondary, Special and Post‑16 settings to work together on the delivery of the Birmingham Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education and wider RE programmes. Members will have opportunities to develop subject knowledge, explore emerging issues in RE, share best practice and high‑quality resources, and strengthen links with Birmingham SACRE.

The network will meet once a term and will support professional dialogue, curriculum development and reflective practice. Sessions will be facilitated by Ayisha Ali, Senior Education Adviser, with specialist input from SACRE members and invited contributors where appropriate. Meetings will take place virtually or face‑to‑face.

If you would like to be part of this professional community, please submit your expression of interest including your name, school, role and phase (one nominated representative per school is encouraged). The first meeting will be held in May.

Please send your Expression of Interest to religiouseducation@birmingham.gov.uk by 25 March 2026.

Reminder: Annual Statutory Compliance Return

This is a reminder that the Annual Statutory Compliance Return for maintained schools is now open.

All maintained schools are required to complete the return, which covers statutory testing and safety arrangements for your site. (Please note: Free Schools and Academies do not need to complete this return.)

Key points:

  • The return is now hosted on Microsoft Forms.
  • It opened on 13 March 2026 and will remain accessible for six consecutive term‑time weeks.
  • The submission deadline is 8 May 2026 and the form will not reopen after this date.
  • You will be asked to respond to questions relating to statutory testing and safety arrangements and submit the completed form to the Education Infrastructure (EDI) Team.

Access the return: Annual School Compliance Return 2026

Following the deadline, a selection of schools will be audited by the Schools Safety Services team. Schools that do not submit a return may be prioritised for audit.

For further information on statutory testing requirements, please refer to the Property Logbook.

If you have queries about the return, contact: EdICapitalProjects@birmingham.gov.uk
For wider safety enquiries, contact Education Safety Services on 0121 303 2420 or schoolsafety@birmingham.gov.uk.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Exciting News for Birmingham’s Young People

Birmingham is preparing to launch the Young Futures Hub – a brand-new space designed with young people and for young people as part of the national Early Adopters Programme. Opening first at the Library of Birmingham in April 2026, the Hub will offer a safe, welcoming place where young people can access support, creativity, careers guidance and opportunities to shape services that matter to them.

A permanent city‑centre Hub on Cannon Street will follow in summer 2026, alongside wider improvements to youth provision through the Local Youth Transformation Programme.

Read the full Newsletter here: Early Adopters Programme Birmingham newsletter - March 2026

This entry was posted by Dawn Evans on 16/03/2026.

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