Key Message

• Message from Martin Fitzwilliam, Interim Director of Schools and Employability

Important Updates, Deadlines and Actions

• Schools Finance
• Pay and Policy Compliance
• Elective Home Education (EHE): Removal from Roll – Required Process for Schools
• Health-related absence referrals: School Nursing Service
• 2026 Primary Data Collections – EYFSP, Phonics, KS1 and KS2
• Clean Air Zone – School Minibus Exemption

Opportunities for Pupils and Students

• Opportunity for Birmingham Secondary Schools – New Scientist Live 2026
• Lapworth Museum Creative Writing Competition
• European Athletics Championships Birmingham 2026 – Ticket Offers for Schools and Groups
• Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Youth Festival (hosted by Big Ideas)
• Free climate action workshops for Birmingham primary schools
• Free reading support for KS1 and Year 3 – Chapter One

Information, Services and Support

• Promoting child safety over the Summer period
• Birmingham Experts at Hand
• Birmingham School Safety Training Courses
• Healthy Schools Lunch & Learn webinars – upcoming sessions
• Update on proposed changes to supporting pupils with medical conditions at school
• Guidance for schools: play sand and asbestos
• Last chance: Free Early Years SEND training – sign up by 30 June
• BCHC Plus Occupational Therapy Service
• Invitation to partner on research: visual comfort in children

Message from Martin Fitzwilliam, Interim Director of Schools and Employability

Dear colleagues

Partnership matters most when the system is changing.  As schools and settings prepare for the next phase of national policy updates, we are thinking together about what this means for children, families and Birmingham.

Recent Department for Education updates cover a range of areas, including free school meals, attendance, early years transition, pupil premium, safeguarding, physical activity and  decision-making where children’s access to education is at risk. Each has its own requirements, but the shared thread is clear: national policy only makes a difference when it is translated carefully into local practice.

The expansion of free school meals is the most immediate example. As previously shared, the new eligibility checking service is now available and the work of identifying eligible pupils, supporting families and preparing for September is  now moving into a more practical phase. This matters  not only for meals, but for family confidence, attendance, wellbeing, planning  and future funding.

Partnership will also matter in  how we respond to other developments. The updated Reception improvement offer reinforces the importance of early years transition, early identification and strong foundations for learning. The renewed focus on physical activity and school sport speaks to children’s health, confidence, participation and belonging. Updated guidance on suspensions, exclusions and pupil movement is also a reminder that decisions affecting a child’s place in education  require careful evidence, timely support and shared responsibility.

This is why partnership cannot be an additional task. Attendance, safeguarding, inclusion, admissions, transition, family support and curriculum all meet in the daily decisions made  by leaders. Our role is to work with you so that information is shared well, families understand the support available and national change becomes practical help for children.

I recognise that this is a demanding point in the year. Schools and settings are managing examinations, assessment, transition, placements, safeguarding, staffing and budget planning. Thank you for the care you are taking with that work, particularly where children’s circumstances are complex and where small decisions now will make a significant difference to September.

Birmingham’s shared task remains clear. We need children attending well, learning well, being safe, being included and seeing real opportunity in their future. We will continue to work with you and  partners across the city to keep  these priorities connected and  turn change into practical support for children and families.

Martin 

Schools Finance

Deficit Recovery Plan: updated template

For schools in financial difficulty, the deficit recovery plan template has been updated for the 2026/27 financial year. Schools should use this template when submitting a deficit recovery plan:

• Deficit recovery plan template | Birmingham City Council
• Schools in financial difficulty | Birmingham City Council

For any queries, please contact: schoolsfinance@birmingham.gov.uk. 

VAT: timetable reminder

The VAT reimbursement timetable is included with the VAT reimbursement form. Claims must be received by the Schools Finance mailbox by the stated deadline — late submissions will be processed with the following month’s payment.

If you have any outstanding claims, please ensure all required documents (including the correct template) are submitted to the Schools Finance mailbox. Claims will be reviewed and processed where appropriate.

• schools VAT reimbursement form

For any queries, please contact schoolsfinance@birmingham.gov.uk.   

Cash Sheets: June 2026/27

Updated cash sheets are available for:

• Academy schools: Cash sheets June 2026 - Academy
• Maintained schools: Cash sheets June 2026 - Maintained

These cash sheets support reconciliation of monthly instalments and grant payments made during the financial year.

If you experience difficulty accessing the spreadsheet, please:

1. Save the file to your local desktop

2. Right click the file and select Properties

3. Click Unblock, then Apply

For any queries, please contact SchoolsFinance@birmingham.gov.uk

Pay and Policy Compliance

This month’s (June) Pay and Policy Compliance briefing provides important updates on:

• BCC Pay Policy update 
• April Increments for Support staff
• Continuous Service Dates 
• Contract end dates for Teachers leaving 31 August 2026 
• Contract end dates for Term-Time Only Support Staff 
• Support Staff – Rules for time served increments for newly appointed staff 
• Schools converting to Academy Status 
• School Group Size Calculation – Updated Guidance
• School Compliance Review and Ongoing Process Development
• Use of Approved Contract Templates and Retention of Signed Contracts
• Consequences of Non-Compliance

The full briefing can be found here: Compliance | Birmingham City Council

Please take a moment to read through these points carefully. They are essential to ensuring we remain compliant and informed.

For any questions or queries, please contact the Pay and Policy Compliance Team directly at pay.compliance@birmingham.gov.uk. 

Elective Home Education (EHE): Removal from Roll – Required Process for Schools

When a parent decides to home educate their child, they must inform the school in writing to request that their child is removed from the school roll.

Schools are legally required to remove a child from roll immediately upon receipt of written notification, and the date of that notice must be recorded as the formal date of removal.

As a Local Authority, we work in partnership with schools and families to ensure that decisions about Elective Home Education (EHE) are made in the best interests of the child. For this reason, in addition to the legal requirement, schools are also asked to hold the place open for 10 school days. This allows time to meet with the family, explore the reasons for withdrawal, and, where appropriate, support a return to school if this is in the child’s best interests.

Schools must complete and submit an EHE referral form to the Local Authority, including a copy of the parent’s written notification.

Where a written notification has not been received, the child must remain on roll while this is followed up. If written confirmation is not provided, the child should be recorded as Children Missing Education (CME) and referred to the CME team using the existing process. In these circumstances, the child must not be recorded as home educated.

Once an EHE referral is submitted, the EHE team will issue an automated acknowledgement confirming receipt and reminding schools of both the legal requirement to remove from roll and the request to hold the place for 10 days.

Please ensure this process is followed consistently in all cases where a child is being withdrawn for Elective Home Education.

If you have any queries, please contact the EHE team at: EducationSafeguarding@birmingham.gov.uk

Thank you for your continued support.

Health-related absence referrals: School Nursing Service

Please note that, as in previous years, the Birmingham School Health Support Service will not accept referrals for health-related absence for the current academic year after 5pm on Friday 3 July 2026.

This allows time for referrals to be assessed, health appointments arranged, and outcomes shared with schools before the end of term.

Referrals for health-related absence will resume from 1 September 2026.

If you are planning to refer a pupil with health-related absence (below 85% attendance), please ensure your referral form is submitted before the deadline.

Referrals that meet other criteria (not related to health-related absence) will continue to be triaged and assessed as normal. These may still be progressed during the summer break, with outcomes shared with the referrer.

For further information, contact: BCHNT.southcentralsnteam@nhs.net / BCHNT.northeastsnteam@nhs.net

2026 Primary Data Collections – EYFSP, Phonics, KS1 and KS2

Guidance for the 2026 primary data collections (EYFSP, Phonics and optional KS1) is now available on the Primary Data Collections webpage. The page includes key guidance and submission deadlines for each collection.

EYFSP, Phonics and KS1 (optional) data should be submitted to the local authority via Perspective Lite. KS2 data must be submitted directly to the STA via the NCA Portal.

Schools and academies must ensure all final returns are submitted by the published deadlines, as late submissions may not be validated in time for DfE returns.

File requests open from Monday 8 June. Schools are advised to ensure access to all required systems ahead of submission.

For queries, contact educationdata@birmingham.gov.uk.

Clean Air Zone – School Minibus Exemption

Community and school transport vehicles can be exempt from Clean Air Zone charges, but this is not automatic and must be applied for.

Non‑compliant school minibuses may qualify for a one‑year exemption. Applications require a V5C document (showing the registered keeper and vehicle details) and a valid Section 19 or 22 permit.

Exemptions for the 2025/26 permit year will be extended until the end of June 2026 to allow time to apply for the new 2026/27 permit. Applications for 2026/27 are now open.

Further information and applications can be found here: Community and school transport | Support and exemptions | Brum Breathes. If an exemption is already in place for 2026/27, no action is needed.

For queries, contact cleanair@birmingham.gov.uk.

Opportunity for Birmingham Secondary Schools – New Scientist Live 2026

We have a fantastic opportunity, supported by ESB Energy, for Birmingham secondary schools to attend New Scientist Live 2026 at the Excel Centre, London, on 12 October 2026.

There are:

• 60 student places
• 10 staff places
• £1,000 travel contribution available in total

This is a brilliant opportunity for young people to experience live science talks, interactive exhibits and cutting-edge innovation – an inspiring day that can genuinely broaden horizons.

We are particularly keen to hear from up to three schools where students may not usually have access to opportunities like this.

What we’re looking for:

• Schools able to take a significant group of students (e.g. around 30)
• A named lead to coordinate arrangements

If your school would like to be considered, please contact us as soon as possible to express interest and provide a key contact: SSI@birmingham.gov.uk

Given the short timescales, we will be confirming participating schools quickly, but hope to offer similar opportunities in the future.

Lapworth Museum Creative Writing Competition

Lapworth Museum Creative Writing Competition

The Lapworth Museum of Geology (University of Birmingham) is inviting entries to its Creative Writing Competition, open to young people and adults of all backgrounds.

Theme: Entries must link in some way to the Museum or its collections. This could include topics such as geology, dinosaurs, volcanoes, minerals, history or museums.

Age categories and word limits:

• 5–8 years: up to 400 words
• 9–11 years: up to 600 words
• 12–14 years: up to 900 words
• 15–19 years: up to 1000 words
• 20+ years: up to 1500 words

One winner will be selected from each age group. All submissions will be anonymised for judging.

Judging panel:

• Alice Roberts – anthropologist, author and media presenter
• Hannah Burrows – poet and museum worker
• Abbie Roberts – local author and sustainability advocate

Key dates: Submissions open at midday on 1 July 2026 and close at midday on 31 July 2026.

Further information: Full guidance, terms of entry and submission details are available on the University of Birmingham website: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/lapworth-museum-creative-writing-competition

European Athletics Championships Birmingham 2026 – Ticket Offers for Schools and Groups

New ticket offers are available to help schools, youth groups and community organisations attend the European Athletics Championships Birmingham 2026. A limited number of ‘Mondo Tickets’ are priced at £6.31, reflecting the world record height of pole‑vaulter Armand Duplantis, for the session featuring his qualifying round.

Discounted Group Tickets are also available for child‑focused, student, adult and mixed‑age groups. For child‑focused groups, every nine young person tickets purchased (at £5 each) includes two free adult tickets for supervision. For groups of nine or more in other categories, all tickets are priced at £5.

Further information is available via the European Athletics Championships Birmingham 2026 Group Ticket page.

Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Youth Festival (hosted by Big Ideas)

Big Ideas is hosting a free online workshop as part of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Youth Festival, designed for pupils aged 8–14.

This 50‑minute session explores the theme of machine learning, featuring expert guest Ben Money‑Coomes. Pupils will take part in interactive activities, meet inspiring role models and have the opportunity to ask questions.

Suitable for upper primary and lower secondary classes.

To sign up or find out more, visit the Youth Festival event page or contact STEM@big-ideas.org.

Free climate action workshops for Birmingham primary schools

Climate Ed is offering free climate education workshops for Birmingham primary schools in the 2026–27 academic year.

The programme includes five workshops delivered over five weeks and is suitable for Years 5 and 6. Sessions are fully funded and can be scheduled for the autumn and spring terms.

Over 50 West Midlands schools took part this year, with positive feedback from teachers on engagement and impact.

If you are interested, visit the ClimateEd website or contact Elliott McDowell at westmidlands@climateed.net.

Free reading support for KS1 and Year 3 – Chapter One

Chapter One provides free one-to-one reading support for pupils in Years 1, 2 and 3 and is looking to work with more Birmingham schools from September 2026.

The programme helps develop a love of reading with minimal impact on teacher workload. Schools with higher-than-average Pupil Premium levels are prioritised, with pupils selected based on need.

Trained and DBS-checked volunteers deliver weekly online reading sessions using Chapter One’s platform. The first year is fully funded, with all equipment provided.

For more information, visit the Chapter One website or contact Kathryn Taylor at kathryn.taylor@chapterone.org.   

Promoting child safety over the Summer period

As we move towards the summer months, schools are encouraged to support parents and carers with key messages about keeping children safe, particularly around water. 

Resources are available to help families build confidence in managing everyday risks, including practical safety advice and short videos. Schools may also wish to share the RNLI’s “Float to Live” campaign, which gives clear guidance on what to do if a child finds themselves in difficulty in water, and resources from the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS) to support schools and families with learning about water safety.

• Child Safety Advice | Practical tips and free resources
• Child Safety Videos | Child Accident Prevention Trust
• RNLI launches its Float to Live campaign for 2026 | RNLI
• The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) 

Birmingham Experts at Hand

Birmingham is developing a new district-based Experts at Hand model to strengthen inclusive practice in mainstream settings, alongside the Inclusion House platform. The aim is to help schools access support earlier, build staff confidence, and respond more effectively to SEND need.

The model will bring together multidisciplinary support within district teams, including educational psychology, specialist teaching, speech and language therapy, outreach, and parent ambassador support. It is being developed across all 10 districts, with Hodge Hill acting as an early testbed.

By bringing expertise closer to schools, the model aims to support earlier identification, strengthen inclusive practice, and reduce the need for escalation. Learning will also inform the wider universal offer through Inclusion House.

We are inviting representatives from Early Years, schools and FE providers to join the Experts at Hand Steering Group to help shape this work.

To find out more or express an interest, contact Pauline Bromfield (Pauline.Bromfield@birmingham.gov.uk) or Heather Wood (Heather.Wood@birmingham.gov.uk).

The first meeting will take place on Thursday 18 June, 9am–11am, at Hollyfields Sports and Conference Centre.

Birmingham School Safety Training Courses

A range of training courses is available for school, academy and nursery staff, covering key areas of health, safety and educational visits.

Please book courses via the BESS Website using the appropriate link. For general enquiries please contact: schoolsafety@birmingham.gov.uk.   

Guidance for schools: play sand and asbestos

Birmingham City Council Safety Services is aware of national concerns about some imported play sand potentially containing very low levels of asbestos. Details of the recalled product can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls/product-recall-addo-play-limited-out-to-impress-sand-art-creations-2602-0230

Current advice indicates the risk to health is very low, particularly when sand is used outdoors and not disturbed to create dust. There is no indication that children or staff have been put at risk.

Precautionary advice
As a sensible precaution, schools may wish to:

• Pause use of loose play sand if you’re unsure of its origin or certification
• Avoid activities that create dust (e.g. sweeping or tipping dry sand)
• Do not dry, sieve, or mechanically disturb sand
• Ensure handwashing after outdoor play

Storage and disposal
If removing sand:

• Lightly dampen to reduce dust
• Seal in bags or a covered container
• Dispose of via your usual waste contractor (unless advised otherwise)
• Do not place loose in skips or treat as asbestos waste without confirmed testing

Where sand is of unknown origin (particularly outside the UK/EU), take extra care. For advice or testing guidance, contact Birmingham City Laboratories: 0121 303 9300 or asbestos@birmingham.gov.uk

We will update schools if further action is required. For queries, contact schoolsafety@birmingham.gov.uk

Last chance: Free Early Years SEND training – sign up by 30 June

Early Years professionals, parents and carers across Birmingham have until Tuesday 30 June 2026 to access £500 worth of free online SEND training from Dingley’s Promise. The training includes 10 high-quality modules designed to support inclusive practice for children under 5, covering topics such as SEND transitions, behaviour, communication, inclusive environments and leadership for inclusion.

The programme offers flexible, self-paced learning with interactive resources and a certificate for each module completed. It is open to anyone supporting young children, including Early Years practitioners (including school-based staff and SENCos), childminders, Family Hub staff, local authority colleagues, and parents and carers.

To take part, visit the Dingley’s Promise Training Finder, select Birmingham and create an account: Comic Relief Early Years Inclusion Programme - Dingley's Promise

Settings can also work towards the Dingley’s Promise Mark of Achievement as recognition of their commitment to inclusion.

BCHC Plus Occupational Therapy Service

BCHC Plus offers schools the opportunity to purchase occupational therapy support for pupils in mainstream and specialist settings. This provision focuses on helping children and young people participate in everyday activities such as dressing, feeding, toileting, handwriting and play.

Support is available at universal, targeted and specialist levels, including whole‑school training and environmental assessments, group work, parent workshops, classroom observations, and 1:1 assessment and intervention for identified pupils. The service also helps staff to develop skills and embed practical strategies within their setting.

Due to current capacity, provision will begin from the Autumn term.

Further information is available on the BCHC Plus Occupational Therapy webpage, or by contacting the team on 0121 466 6266 or bchc.bchcplus@nhs.net.

Invitation to partner on research: visual comfort in children

Primary and secondary schools are invited to partner with the University of Birmingham on research exploring what autistic and non-autistic children find comfortable or uncomfortable to look at. The findings will help inform more accessible visual materials and environments.

Participating schools will be asked to share information with parents of children aged 6 to 14 about a study taking place at the University of Birmingham outside school hours. In return, schools will receive access to research findings and opportunities for engagement with the Centre for Developmental Science, including talks, events and workshops.

Further information is available by contacting Sam Tyler (s.l.tyler@bham.ac.uk, 0121 414 6241) or Cathy Manning (c.manning@bham.ac.uk, 0121 414 5517).