Noticeboard

Noticeboard - 10 July 2026

Welcome to this week’s noticeboard, featuring key updates, opportunities, and important information for Birmingham schools.

This week's School Noticeboard includes:

Message from Martin Fitzwilliam, Interim Director of Schools and Employability  

Dear colleagues

As the end of the school year approaches, many children and young people will be preparing for an important next step in their educational journey. Whether moving into a new year group, transferring to secondary school, starting a specialist provision, progressing to sixth form or college, or considering the opportunities that will follow summer examination results, this is a time of significant transition for many families.

Schools play a vital role in helping children and young people approach these changes with confidence. Through careful planning, strong partnership working and a focus on individual needs, staff help to ensure that children feel supported, welcomed and ready for what comes next.

For some children, particularly those who may be vulnerable or have additional needs, effective transition arrangements can have a lasting impact on wellbeing, confidence and future success. Equally, for young people preparing to take their next steps after GCSEs or other qualifications, the guidance, encouragement and support provided by schools helps them make informed decisions about their future pathways.

I would like to thank headteachers, governors, teachers and support staff for the care and commitment they show in supporting children and young people through periods of change. The work taking place now will help ensure that Birmingham's children and young people are well prepared for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

Best wishes

Martin Fitzwilliam
Interim Director of Schools and Employability

Introducing the Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families

Following the agreement of Birmingham City Council's new administration and Cabinet, we are pleased to introduce Councillor Kamel Hawwash, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, and Councillor Mumtaz Hussain, Deputy Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families.

In their roles, Councillor Hawwash and Councillor Hussain will work closely with Children's Services, schools, settings and partners across the city, helping to champion the needs of children, young people and families across Birmingham.

Schools and settings may have opportunities to meet Councillor Hawwash and Councillor Hussain through future engagement events, school visits and partnership activities, and we look forward to working with them in the months ahead.

For further information, please visit the councillor profiles for Councillor Kamel Hawwash and Councillor Mumtaz Hussain.

Education Finance

Fraud And Cyber Awareness - All Schools 

Education Finance would like to invite all schools to attend the below calls hosted by HSBC, one of BCC's partners, as part of enhancing strong banking controls. All who are interested are welcome to join. 

Fraud & Cyber Aware – Invoice Scams

Date: Wednesday 15th July 2026

Session 1

Time: 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM

Venue: Zoom Webinar

To register for the event: Webinar Registration - Zoom

Session 2

Time: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM

Venue: Zoom Webinar

To register for the event: Webinar Registration - Zoom

Fraud & Cyber Aware – Card Fraud

Date: Wednesday 16th September 2026

Session 1

Time: 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM

Venue: Zoom Webinar

To register for the event: Webinar Registration - Zoom

Session 2

Time: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM

Venue: Zoom Webinar

To register for the event: Webinar Registration - Zoom

Schools VAT Re-Imbursement

If schools have any outstanding claims, please ensure all required documents (including the correct template) are submitted to the Schools Finance mailbox by 13.07.2026. Claims will be reviewed and processed where appropriate.

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

Birmingham's Year of the Child 2026/27

From September 2026, Birmingham will launch its Year of the Child, a city-wide commitment to putting children and young people at the heart of everything we do. It is an opportunity to celebrate childhood, champion children's rights and voices, showcase their talents and achievements, and strengthen our collective ambition to make Birmingham the very best place for children and young people to grow up.

Schools and early years settings are central to the success of the Year of the Child. Every day, schools and settings help children to learn, thrive and develop their confidence, aspirations and sense of belonging. We know that incredible work is already taking place across Birmingham's schools to support wellbeing, inclusion, creativity, participation, equality, children's rights and achievement.

We want the Year of the Child to shine a spotlight on this fantastic work.

Whether you're planning a special event, launching a new initiative, celebrating pupil leadership, promoting children's rights, showcasing creative arts, strengthening inclusion, supporting wellbeing, or delivering something unique to your school community, we'd love to hear about it.

Throughout the year, we'll be sharing regular updates and highlighting inspiring examples from schools across the city. By completing the attached Year of the Child form, you'll help us celebrate and showcase the amazing things Birmingham schools are doing for children and young people.

Tell us about your plans and be part of Birmingham's Year of the Child, because every child matters, every voice counts, and every school and setting has a story worth sharing.

Complete the Year of the Child form today - Schools Survey – Fill in form  

Help Us Celebrate Birmingham's Year of the Child 2026/27

From September 2026, Birmingham will launch its 'Year of the Child', a city-wide commitment to putting children and young people at the heart of everything we do. It is an opportunity to celebrate childhood, champion young people's voices and rights, showcase their talents and achievements, and strengthen our collective ambition to make Birmingham the best place for children and young people to learn, grow and thrive.

Colleges, sixth forms and post-16 providers are central to the success of the Year of the Child. You play a vital role in supporting young people as they prepare for adulthood, develop their skills and ambitions, and take their next steps into higher education, employment, training and active citizenship. Every day, you help young people build the confidence, resilience and opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.

We know there is already fantastic work taking place across Birmingham's post-16 sector. Whether you're promoting student voice, delivering enrichment activities, supporting wellbeing, championing inclusion, celebrating diversity, developing employability skills, creating opportunities for volunteering and leadership, or showcasing creativity and achievement, we want to hear about it.

Throughout the year, we'll be sharing regular updates and highlighting inspiring examples from across the city. By completing the Year of the Child form, you'll help us showcase the contribution that colleges and post-16 providers make to improving the lives and futures of Birmingham's young people.

Tell us what you're planning and be part of Birmingham's Year of the Child. Together, we can celebrate the achievements, aspirations and potential of the next generation - Post 16 - Post 16 - Survey – Fill in form  

Birmingham's 5th UNICEF Celebration – World Children's Day 2026

Following the success of previous UNICEF celebrations, I am delighted to invite Birmingham schools to be part of our fifth citywide UNICEF Celebration, taking place at Birmingham Town Hall on Friday 20 November 2026, from 9.30am to 12 noon. See poster here: UNICEF celebration poster | Birmingham City Council

This year, for the first time, we are opening the invitation to all Birmingham schools, regardless of where they are on their Rights Respecting Schools journey. Whether you are just beginning or have been involved with UNICEF for many years, we would love to hear from you.

This year's celebration is an opportunity for children and young people to take centre stage at the Town Hall, and bring children's rights to life through creativity, voice and participation.

Over the years we have been privileged to see incredible performances from Birmingham pupils – through music, dance, drama, poetry, spoken word, film and art. The passion, talent and commitment shown by children and young people has always been inspiring and a powerful reminder of why children's rights matter.

The theme for World Children's Day 2026 is "Inclusion, For Every Child"

We are inviting schools to explore what inclusion means through the lens of children's rights and to create a performance that celebrates every child's right to belong, participate, be heard and thrive.

Schools can respond to the theme in any way they choose. Performances may include drama, music, dance, poetry, spoken word, film or any other creative medium and should last no more than three minutes, involving up to 30 children and young people.

Taking Part

There is no cost to participate, although schools will need to support rehearsals and arrange transport for children attending the event.

Birmingham Town Hall is well equipped for performances, and we will work closely with successful schools to understand any technical requirements, including audio, video, staging or specialist equipment.

As part of the process, participating children will need to be licensed through the Child Employment Team. We will provide guidance and support with this should your expression of interest be successful.

How to Apply

To express your interest in performing, please register your interest by Friday 17 July 2026 and complete the expression of interest below by Friday 4th September.  A webinar to share full details with participating schools will take place at 3.30pm Monday 14th September 2026. 

Submit an expression of interest

A dress rehearsal is currently planned for the week commencing 5 October 2026, with further details shared with shortlisted schools.

Every year we are amazed by the creativity, insight and passion of Birmingham's children and young people. I am looking forward to seeing how schools bring this year's theme to life and to celebrating together the rights of every child.

If you have any questions, please contact Chaperones@birmingham.gov.uk and a member of the team will be happy to help. 

Changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education 

On 7 July 2026 (following consultation), the DfE published revised, information-only version of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, effective from 1 September 2026

The changes are extensive and the Education Safeguarding Service (ESS) has developed a one-page summary for schools for ease of reference. Please see link attached: Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) 2026 - What's new | Birmingham City Council

In the meantime, ESS is working on updating the Model Safeguarding Policy for Schools (and associated training materials) to re-issue in September. This should not delay schools from updating their policies and procedures accordingly.

Briefing for Schools: Smart Glasses and Emerging Safeguarding Risks

There are increasing concerns that high street opticians and retailers are selling Smart and Meta glasses. These look like normal modern spectacles but have inbuilt cameras/VR and audio. These and similar devices can record continuously, livestream in real time, and upload footage to third-party servers. Prices start from £220 in Argos, John Lewis and Currys for example. 

There is a small indicator light to show the glasses are recording, which is easily missed, and in some cases, people have had it deliberately disabled. Not only do these glasses record images, they have excellent microphones to record sound. Meta is perhaps the best-known brand, but other cheaper, unbranded camera glasses (with no indicator light at all) are available online for as little as £20. The UK Meta Store webpage provides helpful information on what these glasses do: What are smart glasses? AI glasses explained.

While this has significant implications for partners in general, from a schools perspective it raises several issues for: pupils, staff, visitors, parents and contractors who could come into the premises wearing these spectacles and put at risk:

  • Safeguarding: images or videos can be captured without consent.
  • Privacy: live-streaming may inadvertently expose sensitive or identifying information about pupils.
  • Data protection: such recordings could breach UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Barrister, Frederick Powell (Doughty Street Chambers) who specialises in the law of data protection and civil liberties has written a legal overview available via: Ray-Ban Meta, privacy and the law in the UK

There some practical steps schools can take including:

  • Updating your visitor sign-in procedure to include a declaration covering camera-enabled wearable devices, including glasses; consider whether these devices should be allowed into the school.
  • Add wearable recording devices (including glasses) to your safeguarding, data protection, acceptable use of IT, behaviour policies and any other relevant policy statements. (Note: the Model Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy issued to schools by Education Safeguarding Service will include this in the planned September update).

An example of how one school has worded their communication to parents, is Shrewsbury School's published statement here: https://www.shrewsbury.org.uk/news/2025-11-21/smart-glasses-important-update-for-parents-and-guardians.  

MenB vaccination message for current Yr13s

Meningococcal group B (MenB) bacteria can cause serious, life-threatening illnesses including meningitis and septicaemia which can both lead to sepsis. Being around lots of new people in shared living spaces like university halls increases the risk of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease spreading. Getting 2 doses of the MenB vaccine before the autumn term is one of the most important things young people can do to protect themselves.

Starting from Monday 13th July those aged 17 to 18 years old and born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008 will be eligible for the MenB vaccine.

The MenB vaccine is given in 2 doses, which need to be at least 4 weeks apart. Book your 2nd dose after you've had your 1st dose.

Book an appointment via this link: Book a MenB vaccination appointment - NHS.

Walk-in pharmacy appointments will also be available for those born on or after 21 July 2001 who are: (i) either starting university this autumn or (ii) starting at some further education colleges as a residential student this autumn.

For more information, visit the UK Health Security blog: Who is eligible for the new one-off MenB vaccine programme?  – UK Health Security Agency

Please share this information with your current Year 13 students and parents. Please also consider sharing this information on A-Level Results Day. 

Education Infrastructure – Summer 2026 Bulletin

The latest Education Infrastructure bulletin is available on the Birmingham Education Support Services website, and covers the following topics:

  • Autumn Training dates: Duty Holder and Asbestos Management Plan
  • Key holder contacts over the summer
  • Traded services update
  • Annual Compliance Return update
  • Caretaker’s houses

We have launched a survey to gather feedback on your experience using Education Infrastructure services.

Please let us know your thoughts: Education Infrastructure Traded Service Survey 2026

Please get in touch with the Education Infrastructure team for school place planning, capital projects and property management queries: edsi.enquiries@birmingham.gov.uk. We will be available over the summer period.  

Changes to Free School Meal Eligibility and the Holiday Activities and Food Programme

The government has announced changes to free school meal eligibility from September 2026, which will have implications for eligibility for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, known locally as Bring it on Brum!

To support planning for future HAF delivery, Birmingham City Council is asking schools to complete a short survey on how these changes may affect eligibility within their setting.

Further information about the changes and the purpose of the survey is provided within the form.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by 21 July 2026: Changes to Free School Meal Eligibility September 2026 and the HAF Programme 

Your feedback will help us better understand the likely impact of the changes and support future planning for HAF activity provision across the city.

School-Based Nursery Capital Programme – funding opportunity for schools

The Department for Education has launched Phase 3 of the School-Based Nursery Capital Programme, offering eligible state-funded schools the opportunity to increase early education places (0 to 4 year olds) within existing provision or create new early years provision on school sites where there is unmet local demand. Funding is available for capital works to refurbish or repurpose existing school spaces.

Schools interested in exploring this opportunity should contact Kevin Caulfield at Kevin.Caulfield@birmingham.gov.uk and Rebekah Horton at rebekah.horton@birmingham.gov.uk to discuss their proposal, eligibility and the application process.

Learning for Peace – Bursaries for Primary Schools

Peacemakers is a charity dedicated to promoting peace education in schools.  We’re pleased to have secured bursary funding to help schools embed our resource, Learning for Peace.  This includes staff training, support to map onto your PSHE curriculum, ongoing guidance to build confidence in circle time, and a copy of the resource for every year group.

Learning for Peace is a comprehensive programme that helps children explore peace within themselves, their relationships, communities, and the wider world. Using an inclusive, playful approach based on circle work, it develops essential skills like empathy, communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution. The curriculum follows a spiral structure, revisiting key themes at different stages of development for deeper engagement.

Benefits
Introducing Learning for Peace establishes regular circle time across year groups, creating a supportive environment where students strengthen emotional resilience, classroom cohesion, and positive relationships. It equips children with tools to resolve conflicts constructively and work collaboratively with peers. By integrating peace education into the curriculum, schools foster harmony and lay the foundation for more peaceful and just societies.

“Peacemakers has helped us to unify our classrooms…we have experienced the power of a circle…which has empowered our pupils”   

Time-limited: Early Years DfE Funding Opportunity for Schools, Early Years Providers & Partners - Early Education Partnerships

The Department for Education (DfE) has launched an exciting new Early Education Partnerships funding opportunity to support stronger collaboration between schools, early years providers and partners, with the aim of improving children's transitions into Reception and strengthening Reception readiness

This three-year initiative will provide funding for partnerships to work together to:

  • Strengthen transitions from early years settings to school
  • Improve reception readiness
  • Build and embed an evidence base for effective transition and reception readiness practice across the sector
  • Improve outcomes for children, particularly those with SEND and those from disadvantaged backgrounds
  • Enable more teaching time to be spent delivering the Reception curriculum

Who can form a partnership?

Partnerships must include:

  • At least one state-funded primary school
  • At least one pre-Reception early years provider (for example, a PVI nursery, childminder, maintained nursery school etc)

While other potential partners such as Best Start Family Hubs or organisations involved in supporting children in their Early Years may join partnerships, please note:

  • Only a state-funded primary school can act as the Partnership Grant Administrator (PGA).
  • The PGA is responsible for submitting the application and managing the grant on behalf of the partnership.

We encourage all those who are interested in joining a partnership, to consider who they may wish to work with locally and to start conversations now, as the application deadline is fast approaching!

Next steps

If you are interested in forming a partnership, we encourage you to:

  1. Read the DfE guidance and familiarise yourself with the expectations of the programme.
  2. Reach out to local schools, early years providers and other relevant partners to explore opportunities to establish a partnership and collaborate on a funding application.
  3. Consider how your existing transition and reception readiness work could be enhanced through collaborative working.

Even if you are not leading an application, it may be beneficial to review the guidance in case you are approached by another organisation wishing to form a partnership.

Deadline

Applications must be completed and submitted by 17 July 2026.

Need more information?

Webinar Recording

If you were unable to attend one of the DfE webinars, or would like a recap, you can access the webinar recording here: https://youtu.be/ceC26f8Eerc

Frequently Asked Questions

The DfE has also produced a Frequently Asked Questions document in response to questions raised by providers and webinar attendees. Please download the FAQ document here at this link: Early education partnerships webinar Q&A | Birmingham City Council

A Final Request: Please Keep Us Informed

This initiative represents a significant opportunity to strengthen local early years systems, support children and families more effectively and develop sustainable practice that can continue beyond the lifetime of the programme.

If your identified partnership is successful in securing DfE funding, Birmingham's Early Years and Childcare Service would be delighted to hear about your plans and periodically follow your partnership journey.  Please let us know of your success by contacting the Quality, Impact and Outcomes Officer at: EYDuty@birmingham.gov.uk.   

Good luck with your applications! 

New training course for reception teachers and early years CPD available now

Key Information

The Department for Education (DfE) is increasing the amount of training that early years educators, including reception teachers, can access.  This includes:

Click on each programme to find out more, including details on how to apply.

Note:  Starts for the National Professional Qualification (NPQ) programmes and the Excellence in Reception Teaching course will begin in Autumn 2026, with registrations opening on 23 June 2026 and 6 July 2026 respectively.  Registrations for the early years child development training are open now.

Other CPD Offers for Early Years and Reception Educators

More about why such training is being made available now

On 7 July 2025, DfE launched the Giving every child the best start in life strategy, which is known as Best Start Brum across Birmingham.  This included a commitment to improve the quality of education that children receive in early years settings, including childminders and reception classes.  To honour this commitment, the above listed training offers have been designed specifically for early years educators.

Have you read Best Start Brum?

It is imperative that we all familiarise with Best Start Brum, Birmingham’s local strategy in response to the DfE’s ‘Giving every child the best start in life’ national strategy, which aims to improve outcomes for children from birth to age five.

Helpful Tip: Internet search ‘Best Start Brum’ & download the PDF file to access an informative overview of Birmingham’s local strategy. 

BCHC Plus Makaton Workshops

If any of your staff would like information regarding Makaton Training, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are running several workshops throughout the year.

Level 1 and 2

This workshop is suitable for Professionals who need to use Makaton in their work (as well as for others who wish a more in-depth training). Signs and symbols in Stages 1 – 4 and Additional will be taught. Current best practice around sign and symbol use. Participant manuals provided

Places available on the following workshops:

Level 1 - 22nd September 2026

Level 2 - 29th September 2026

Cost:

Level 1 or 2 - £97

Level 1 and 2 - £173

Level 3

Level 3 training helps you to improve and develop your signing and symbol skills and how to use them effectively every day. You will revise the signs and symbols you learned in your Level 1 and 2 training and learn the signs and symbols for Stages 5 and 6 of the Core Vocabulary.

Date: 03rd November 2026

Cost: £113

Please e-mail Gareth Humpage at the following g.humpage@nhs.net to request further information and or a booking form. 

Register your interest to join Services for Education KS2 (Key Stage 2) Moderation Team 2026-27

Services For Education, School Support Service, are commissioned by Birmingham Local Authority to organise, manage and deliver statutory assessment duty for KS2.

The application process starts in September, but you can register your interest by emailing sharon.noble@servicesforeducation.co.uk and we will contact you nearer the time.

For further information about what this entails, please see our moderation page here. 

SUTTON COLDFIELD COMMUNITY GAMES 2026

The Community Games are coming to back to Sutton Coldfield! The Sutton Coldfield Community Games is a two-day community event being held on Saturday 11th July and Sunday 12th July 2026, 12:00 pm until 5:00 pm each day, and is designed to inspire health and happiness though physical activity. Come along and try over 30 different activities from local activity providers and clubs.  

The Community Games bring together families and local sports clubs in a friendly community setting, to create opportunities for both adults and children to try different sporting activities regardless of age or ability. The aim is for both children and their parents to be able to experience clubs and sporting activities that are on offer in their local area; all in a safe, fun and friendly environment.

At each event adults and children can collect stickers for trying different activities which earns them their very own medal to take away with them.

Information and tickets can be accessed here at this link: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/104250

When booking tickets please book a ticket for every person attending.  

Dates and Time: Saturday 11th July to Sunday 12th July 2026 – 12pm to 5pm

Location: Wyndley Leisure Centre, Clifton Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B73 6EN.  

NCMP IT Discovery short surveys

The Department for Health and Social Care are carrying out a national NCMP Discovery project to understand how the National Child Measurement Programme works for the people involved in delivery, or parents of children who have taken part or may do in the future.

There are some key themes to explore so the team have created a short survey (less than 10 questions taking less than 5 mins to complete).

This work will transform how we communicate with you and parents about their child’s growth. We’d be grateful if you could complete the short surveys linked below.

Any questions please contact the National NCMP team at ncmp@dhsc.gov.uk. 

Drawing Hope – Join a global exchange of creativity and connection – all ages and settings

Drawing Hope is an international self-portrait project, inviting children and young people to creatively connect across boundaries and build bridges of understanding across cultures: www.drawinghope.net

This year, Peacemakers, together with Quakers in Britain, are inviting primary, secondary and other educational settings to draw a simple self portrait and include a message of greeting to a friend they have not yet met.  The artwork received by Peacemakers will be displayed in the region.  A selection will be on display in London and at the UN headquarters in Geneva.

Get involved!

Lesson plans and resources will be provided to schools for free. Contact us today to register your interest.  office@peacemakers.org.uk. 

NASA Live

Date: Friday 11 September 2026

Time: 2:00 PM (1 hour)

Format: Live, online, and classroom-ready – all you need is paper!

Join us for this exciting event live from Imperial Space School. NASA Engineers Howard Hu and Branelle Rodriguez will share the story of Artemis II with young people in the UK.

This event will give young people an opportunity to hear about the team behind the Orion spacecraft and its 10-day mission around the Moon.  

This digital event is open to students aged 8 – 18 from schools UK-wide.

Book your FREE place now: https://www.big-ideas.org/nasa-live/

For any queries, please do not hesitate to contact engineer@big-ideas.org.  

This entry was posted by Dawn Evans on 01/07/2026.