Noticeboard

Noticeboard - 19 June 2026

This week’s Noticeboard brings together key updates, actions for schools, and a range of opportunities, alongside information and support available.

In this week's noticeboard: 

Key Message: 

Important Updates, Deadlines and Actions

Opportunities for Pupils and Students

Training and Development

Message from Stuart Lackenby - Interim Executive Director of Children and Families

Dear colleagues

I wanted to introduce myself and to say that I am very much looking forward to working with you over the coming months while the recruitment process for the Executive Director of Children and Families role is underway.

I joined Birmingham City Council on 1 April 2025 as Executive Director for Adult Social Care and Health. My portfolio includes Adult Social Care, Public Health and the Council’s Early Intervention and Prevention Directorate.

Prior to Birmingham, I was Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director at West Northamptonshire Council, where my responsibilities included Adult Social Care, Children and Families and Public Health. During this time, I also held the statutory Director of Children’s Services role for around two years.

By background, I am a nurse and social worker, and have previously worked across Worcestershire, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall, so I may already have met some of you over the years.

Over the coming weeks, I will be working closely with James Thomas and our Children and Families Directors to get up to speed and begin contributing to our local partnerships.

I recognise how important stability and continuity are, and I am committed to supporting this work throughout this period and working closely with you.

Best wishes

Stuart

Stuart Lackenby
Interim Executive Director of Children and Families
Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health

Free school meals changes from September 2026

The Department for Education (DfE) has now provided additional information through a recent webinar. The session offers a helpful overview of the changes and what they mean in practice for schools. You can watch a recording here: Watch the DfE FSM webinar (Session Two)

As a reminder, the changes include an expansion of eligibility to all children from households receiving Universal Credit from the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, alongside the end of transitional protections.

Schools can revisit the full DfE guidance here: : Free school meals: guidance for schools and local authorities

Please continue preparing for the September changes by checking eligible pupils, processing applications, and ensuring your management information system can distinguish between Targeted FSM and Expanded FSM ahead of the autumn census.

Pupil Place Planning – Notification of Proposed PAN Reductions

To help manage the ongoing impact of surplus primary places and reduced pupil intakes, we are proposing variations to reduce the PAN at several of our maintained schools. In line with School Admissions Code requirements we are writing out to notify schools and are preparing the relevant submissions to seek a decision from the Office of the Schools Adjudicator.

  • Raddlebarn Primary School – to reduce their PAN from 60 to 30 for Reception 2026 and 2027
  • Worlds End Infant School – to reduce their PAN from 90 to 60 for Reception 2026 and 2027
  • Ward End Primary School – to reduce their PAN from 120 to 90 for Reception 2027

For further information, please contact Education Infrastructure: ediplaceplanning@birmingham.gov.uk.

WellComm – Summer Term Data Collection Now Open

FAO: Primary Schools and Nursery Schools

WellComm remains the approved screening tool in Birmingham, supporting a consistent universal approach to identifying and addressing children’s speech, language and communication needs.

To help us monitor impact across the city, schools are asked to submit their WellComm screening data each term via a short online form.

The Summer term data collection form is now open for primary schools and maintained nursery schools.

Please note that day nurseries and childminders do not need to complete this form.

The deadline for submissions is 31 August 2026.

To complete the form, please use the following link: Primary Schools and Maintained Nursery Schools WellComm Data Collection Summer 2026 – Fill in form

Early Years: Key Updates for Nurseries and Schools with Nursery Provision

The following updates relate to early education funding and entitlements. Please review the items relevant to your setting.

Tax-Free Childcare – Are you Signed Up?
Childcare providers can help make childcare more affordable for families by signing up to Tax-Free Childcare. Parents can receive up to £500 every three months (up to £2,000 per year per child), or up to £1,000 every three months for children with disabilities.

To offer this, providers must be registered with a regulatory body (for example Ofsted or DfE) and sign up online. Registration takes around 10 minutes, and once approved, parents can find your setting within a couple of days and pay directly through their Tax-Free Childcare account.

To sign up, visit: Sign up as a Tax-Free Childcare provider

Parents can find out more at: Childcare Choices

Looked After Children – Early Education Entitlements
Looked after children should be supported to access their funded early education place as early as possible.

Foster carers in paid employment can apply for a working entitlement code through the local authority responsible for the child (not via the Childcare Choices website). For children with a Birmingham social worker, foster carers or social workers should request an application form by emailing earlyeducation@birmingham.gov.uk.

Applications follow national deadlines:

  • 31 March (summer term)
  • 31 August (autumn term)
  • 31 December (spring term)

For 2-year-olds not in working households, a funded 15-hour place may be available through the disadvantaged offer. All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 funded hours, with eligible working families able to access 30 hours.

For further support, contact: earlyeducation@birmingham.gov.uk

2-Year-Old Funded Places – Children with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)
Some children from families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) may still be eligible for a funded early education place.

If a family approaches your setting, you should:

  • support the parent to complete the online application
  • check evidence of NRPF status (for example a Biometric Residence Permit or Social Worker confirmation)
  • confirm the family meets the financial thresholds
  • complete the local authority application form with the parent and retain it for audit purposes

Once eligibility is confirmed, email earlyeducation@birmingham.gov.uk so the code can be updated. Children can then be added to headcount or a flexible funding request submitted, allowing them to start as soon as possible.

If you are unsure at any stage, please contact: earlyeducation@birmingham.gov.uk

Schools in Harmony: ‘Our World, Our Home’ – join the live performance (29 June)

Schools in Harmony are delighted to invite schools, families and partners to their 2026 choir event, taking place on Monday 29 June at 1.30pm.

This year’s theme, ‘Our World, Our Home’, brings together pupils from 11 schools, performing both as individual choirs and as one collective voice, sharing a powerful message about caring for our planet and for each other.

The performance celebrates the idea that small actions – like recycling, saving energy, showing kindness and working together – can make a big difference to our communities and our world.

Schools and settings are encouraged to join live, or watch back later, to support these talented young performers and help share their message.

Watch the live stream (or on demand): Watch ‘Our World, Our Home’ performance

One world. One home. One voice.

Free Performing Arts Workshops for Primary Schools – BOA #WeWill Programme

FAO: Primary Schools

Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA), a specialist creative arts academy in the city centre, is offering free performing arts workshops to primary schools through its #WeWill outreach programme.

Designed to support creativity across the curriculum, the workshops help develop pupils’ confidence, collaboration and oracy, while enriching learning through engaging, high-quality arts activities.

Delivered by trained BOA student ambassadors, sessions can be tailored to your school’s priorities and are flexible to fit within the school day.

So far, the programme has reached over 5,000 pupils in 25 Birmingham primary schools.

To find out more or express interest, please contact: mary.savva@boa-academy.co.uk

You can also watch a short introduction to the programme

Register your interest to join the Services For Education KS2 Moderation Team (2026–27)

Services For Education School Support Service, commissioned by Birmingham City Council, organises, manages and delivers statutory KS2 assessment duties.

The application process opens in September, and colleagues can register their interest in advance by emailing sharon.noble@servicesforeducation.co.uk. Applicants will then be contacted with further details nearer the time.

Further information about the role is available on the moderation page: Statutory Assessment Moderation and Support - Services For Education

Healthy Schools Lunch & Learn: Trading Standards – Young Volunteer Opportunities

FAO: Secondary Schools

The next Healthy Schools Lunch & Learn webinar, Trading Standards: Young Volunteer Opportunities, will take place on Wednesday 24 June at 4pm and is aimed at secondary school staff.

This session will provide an overview of Trading Standards work in Birmingham and highlight the unique and engaging volunteering opportunities available for young people. It will also cover how students are supported and safeguarded, the benefits of volunteering – including skills development and experience for CVs, job and university applications – and how schools can promote and support participation.

Register here: Trading Standards: Young volunteer opportunities

To stay up to date with future sessions, join the Healthy Schools mailing list by emailing: healthyschools@birmingham.gov.uk

 

This entry was posted by Dawn Evans on 15/06/2026.