Noticeboard

Noticeboard - 17 July 2026

This week’s Noticeboard brings together key updates, actions for schools, and a range of opportunities, alongside information and support available. With our best wishes for a restful summer break.

In this week's School Noticeboard: 

Key updates and action required
SEND, Inclusion and Early Help
Opportunities, Engagement and Participation
Support for Children and Families

With thanks at the end of another school year

As another school year draws to a close, we would like to take a moment to thank all Birmingham schools for everything you have done for children, young people and families over the past year.

This has been a year of challenge, change and opportunity. Through it all, schools have continued to put children and young people first, responding with professionalism, flexibility and care.

In recent weeks, schools have once again adapted to changing circumstances, including the periods of exceptionally hot weather experienced across the city. Your focus on keeping children safe, well and learning has been greatly appreciated.

As the term comes to an end, schools are also creating the moments that children will remember long after they leave the classroom. Sports days, performances, educational visits, celebrations, transition activities and end-of-year events all help make this time of year special. Behind every one of those moments is a great deal of planning, effort and care from school staff- thank you.

Looking back on the year, one thing stands out above all else – the difference schools make every day.

Schools help children learn, grow in confidence, build friendships, overcome challenges and take their next steps. They support families, strengthen communities and open up opportunities that can shape lives for years to come.

This year has also highlighted the increasingly complex needs many children and families are facing. Schools continue to respond with compassion, flexibility and determination, helping children feel welcome, supported and able to belong. We know this work is not always easy, and that no single organisation can meet these challenges alone.

The year has also reminded us of the strength of relationships across Birmingham's education community. Schools, trusts, governors, local authority services and wider partners have continued to support one another, have honest conversations, share expertise and work together in the best interests of children and young people. We are grateful not only for what schools achieve, but for the openness, trust and shared commitment that underpin that work.

This summer we will also be saying farewell to a number of headteachers and school leaders who will be leaving their posts. Whether moving into retirement or beginning a new chapter in their careers, we would like to thank them for their contribution to Birmingham's children, families and school communities and wish them every success for the future.

This year, we say farewell and thank you to:

  • Sarah Smith, Birmingham CofE Diocese
  • Andrew Steggal, Moor Hall Primary School
  • Dave Foster, Forestdale Primary School
  • Nicola Raggett, Kings Norton Girls School
  • Evelyn Harper, English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School
  • Sonia Adu, Hodge Hill Girls School

Finally, to every school across Birmingham, thank you for everything you have done this year.

We recognise that Key Stage 2 SATs results were shared later than originally planned, with schools receiving them very close to the end of term. Thank you to primary colleagues for the care and professionalism you continue to show in supporting pupils, families and transition arrangements during this busy period.

As students receive their A-Level and GCSE results later this summer, we hope schools will have the opportunity to celebrate their achievements and the journeys behind them. We would be delighted to hear and share some of your success stories.

We hope that staff, governors and school leaders are able to enjoy a well-earned break over the summer.

We look forward to continuing our work together in September and wish you, your pupils and your communities a safe and enjoyable summer.

Senior Leadership Team
Children and Families Directorate

Education Finance

August instalment update

Due to the timetable around BACS processing and the Oracle Brindley reimplementation, Education Finance has taken the decision to pay schools their August instalment early to avoid any disruption.

For any enquiries, please email schoolsfinance@birmingham.gov.uk.

Reminder – Payroll Report Request

Schools that have not yet submitted their cumulative payroll report for the 2025/26 financial year are reminded to do so as soon as possible.

The original submission deadline was Friday 10 July 2026. If you have not yet provided your report, please arrange for this to be sent at the earliest opportunity.

Please follow the instructions in the guidance according to your payroll provider: Payroll report request guidance

Once completed, please email the report to Financeclosedown@birmingham.gov.uk with the subject line: School Payroll – [School Name]

Fair Access Protocol – Consultation Update and Next Steps

We would like to thank schools, partners and stakeholders across Birmingham for the significant level of engagement with the Fair Access Protocol consultation. The response has been detailed, thoughtful and demonstrates a strong collective commitment to getting this right for children and young people across the city.

Having reviewed the feedback received to date, we are now moving from initial consultation into step change to meet some of the areas schools have said they would like to see.

From the beginning, this process has been about improving Fair Access for the children of Birmingham, and making sure that any changes are fully understood, operationally robust, and developed with the system.

Feedback shows clear support for the principle of a fair and consistent approach to placing vulnerable pupils. It has also highlighted important areas where further clarity and assurance are needed – particularly around how the model will operate in practice, safeguarding and risk, roles and responsibilities, and overall system fairness and transparency.

We recognise these are fundamental considerations in how the system works day to day. It is a statutory requirement that the Local Authority has a Fair Access Protocol, and its success depends on strong partnership working and collective responsibility shared across all schools.

The next stepped phase will focus on working more closely with schools and partners to  develop these areas in greater depth, ensuring the approach reflects different school contexts and builds confidence in how it will operate in practice.

As part of this, we will work with schools over the coming terms to build more clarity into:

  • Alternative Provision and reintegration arrangements, including support expectations and safeguards, moving into phase two of the inclusive pathways pilot to build in post Permanent Exclusion support for pupils returning to mainstream school.
  • Local Authority presence at  the Local Sharing Panels (LSPs), retaining local intelligence and collaboration.
  • Clear operational guidance, processes and supporting documentation.
  • Consistent communication and engagement materials alongside developing training opportunities.

This work will be carried out through targeted engagement with headteachers, partnerships and networks.

We remain committed to ensuring children are placed promptly into appropriate education, maintaining a fair and transparent system, and supporting schools to meet their responsibilities in a sustainable way.

Further details on how to engage in this next phase will be shared shortly. We appreciate the time and openness schools have already given and look forward to continuing to work together to further shape this process.

Thank you for your continued support.

GCSE and Post-16 Results Collection

We would be grateful if secondary schools and academies could share their GCSE and Post-16 to 18 results data on GCSE Results Day (20 August 2026).

The online forms will be available from 19 August 2026. Please complete the relevant form as soon as possible after results day.

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

Thank you for contributing to the MACPT consultation

Thank you to all partners who contributed to the recent Multi-Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT) consultation.

We received 81 responses, with Education providing the largest proportion of feedback (58 responses, 72%), demonstrating a strong commitment from schools and education settings to the development of the new model.

The education sector's significant contribution has provided invaluable insight into both the strengths of current arrangements and opportunities for improvement. These findings will help shape the future development of MACPTs and strengthen multi-agency safeguarding practice across Birmingham

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.

SEND and Inclusion Bulletin – July 2026

The latest SEND and Inclusion Bulletin is now available, bringing together key updates from across the service: www.birmingham.gov.uk/blog/sendinclusion

This edition includes a message from Helen Ellis, Director of Early Years, SEND and Inclusion, along with updates on SEND Sufficiency and Delivering Better Value Workstream 2.

Best Start in Life – What's Happening Next? 

Following the successful launch of Birmingham's Best Start in Life Strategy, we're pleased to share that the accompanying action plan is available alongside the strategy, helping to turn our shared ambitions for children and families into practical action across the city: Our vision | Best Start in Life Strategy | Birmingham City Council 

As we move into the next phase of delivery, a dedicated Best Start in Life Working Group has been established to oversee progress and support the workstreams that will drive the strategy forward. The first workstream meetings are planned for September, with regular updates to follow so that partners, practitioners and stakeholders can stay informed about developments and achievements across the programme.  

We are committed to keeping the conversation going and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to stay involved. Over the coming months, we will: 

  • Share regular progress updates from the Best Start in Life workstreams. 
  • Provide information on upcoming webinars and engagement opportunities. 
  • Highlight key developments and emerging priorities across the programme. 
  • Continue to involve partners from early years settings, schools, Family Hubs, health services, the voluntary and community sector, and other organisations supporting children and families across Birmingham.  

If you would like to contribute to a workstream or find out more about how you can support the delivery of the strategy, we encourage you to get involved. Together, we can help ensure that every child in Birmingham gets the best possible start in life.  

If you'd like to get involved, please send your preferred workstream and your contact details to FamilyInformation@birmingham.gov.uk  

New Early Years and Reception Training Opportunities

The Department for Education (DfE) has expanded its professional development offer for early years educators, including reception teachers.

New and existing opportunities include:

Applications for the Early Years Child Development Training are open now. Registration for the Excellence in Reception Teaching programme and NPQ Early Years Leadership programmes opened earlier this summer, with courses beginning in Autumn 2026.

Additional professional development opportunities are also available through:

These training opportunities support the ambitions of Best Start Brum, Birmingham's local response to the DfE's Giving every child the best start in life strategy, which aims to improve outcomes for children from birth to age five.

Schools and settings are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Best Start Brum strategy and consider which professional development opportunities may benefit their staff.

Perform at Birmingham's UNICEF Celebration 2026

Birmingham schools are invited to take part in the city's fifth UNICEF Celebration, taking place at Birmingham Town Hall on Friday 20 November 2026 to mark World Children's Day.

For the first time, the invitation is open to all Birmingham schools, regardless of where they are on their Rights Respecting Schools journey.

This year's theme is "Inclusion, For Every Child". Schools are invited to create a performance of up to three minutes exploring what inclusion means through the lens of children's rights. Performances could include music, dance, drama, poetry, spoken word, film or other creative work and may involve up to 30 children and young people.

There is no cost to participate, although schools will need to arrange rehearsals and transport.

Important dates

For further information, contact Chaperones@birmingham.gov.uk.

Be Part of 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.

The Year of the Child is an opportunity to celebrate childhood, champion children's rights and voices, showcase achievements, and recognise the many ways schools, settings and post-16 providers help children and young people learn, grow and thrive.

Across Birmingham, there is already fantastic work taking place to support wellbeing, inclusion, creativity, participation, leadership, equality and achievement. Whether you're planning a special event, launching a new initiative, celebrating pupil or student voice, showcasing creative talent, promoting children's rights, supporting wellbeing, or creating opportunities for leadership and enrichment, we'd love to hear about it.

Throughout the year, we'll be sharing stories and highlighting inspiring examples from across the city. By telling us about your plans, you'll help showcase the difference Birmingham schools, early years settings, colleges and post-16 providers make every day.

Every child matters. Every voice counts. Every setting has a story worth sharing.

Please complete the relevant form below:

Together, let's make Birmingham's Year of the Child 2026/27 a celebration of the achievements, aspirations and potential of children and young people across our city.

Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 – Schools and College Engagement Programme

Schools and colleges are invited to register their interest in an exciting new education programme linked to the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027. Developed by The Education Exchange West Midlands and created by teachers for young learners, the programme uses the values of the Invictus Games to bring learning to life across a range of curriculum subjects.

Launching in September 2026, the free programme will provide curriculum-aligned resources for learners from Early Years through to Key Stage 5, including adapted resources to support SEND delivery. Themes include resilience, teamwork, inclusion, determination and wellbeing, with resources covering subjects such as English, Maths, STEM, Art, Performing Arts, Sport and PSHE.

Schools and colleges are encouraged to register their interest ahead of the launch: Expression of Interest - Programme INSPIRE: Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 Youth Engagement.

Further information is available via the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 Schools Engagement Programme website which goes live on 1 September 2026: https://www.invictusgames2027.org/schools

For enquiries, please contact The Education Exchange West Midlands at Info@educationexchangewm.org.uk.

Free Morrisons and Kellogg's breakfast offer for families this summer

Schools may wish to share this information with families who could benefit from additional support during the summer holidays.

Morrisons and Kellogg's are offering a free breakfast for children and adults at Morrisons Cafés nationwide throughout the summer holiday period. The offer includes a bowl of Kellogg's cereal (Corn Flakes or Rice Krispies), dairy or non-dairy milk, and a piece of fruit.

The offer is available daily from 29 June to 6 September 2026 at participating Morrisons Cafés across the UK. Families simply need to ask for a 'Kellogg's Breakfast' at the café till. A limit of one breakfast per person per day applies.

The initiative aims to support families during the school holidays when household budgets can come under additional pressure and term-time breakfast club provision is not available.

Compass Birmingham Mental Health Support Teams Summer Fun Days

Compass Birmingham Mental Health Support Teams are running a series of free family wellbeing events across Birmingham during the summer holidays.

Children and families can take part in a range of activities including Mindful Movers, football, T-shirt painting, crafts, bracelet and stress ball making, glitter tattoos, Mehndi, face painting, mindful colouring and a free prize draw.

Event dates and locations

Wednesday 5 August 2026, 11am–3pm
Nechells Wellbeing Centre, Rupert Street, Birmingham, B7 4AR

Wednesday 19 August 2026, 11am–3pm
Holford Drive Community Sports Hub, 101 Holford Drive, Birmingham, B42 2TU

Wednesday 26 August 2026, 11am–3pm
EBCF Summerfield Community Centre, Winson Green Road, Birmingham, B18 4EJ

The events are free to attend. Children must be accompanied by an adult and families are encouraged to bring a packed lunch or picnic and water.

For further information, contact birminghammhst@compass-uk.org or call 0121 227 8254.

 

This entry was posted by Sahdiya Khatoon on 09/07/2026.