Message from Dr Tim O’Neill

Dear all

As I am moving on from BCC at the end of this week to take up my new post at Action for Children, I am writing to thank you all for your hard work, dedication and support during my two years as Director for Education and Skills.

I have enjoyed my time in Birmingham immensely and am extremely proud of what we have achieved together, particularly during the pandemic. Over the last year we have made a real and lasting impact to the lives of children, young people and families during the most challenging period many of us will have ever experienced.

I wish you all the very best for the future and I know that the improvements and progress will continue.

With very best wishes

Tim

Free school meal vouchers for February half-term

The council will be using Sodexo as our provider of free school meal vouchers for February half term.  As we have done with Sodexo vouchers in the past, we will upload the vouchers to Perspectives and these will be available for schools to access on 8th February, so that there will be time to administer these to families prior to half term.  We will provide detailed guidance on the process by Thursday 4th February at the latest.

Questions and answers from Birmingham Public Health following lateral flow testing webinar

• Will vaccination be offered to those supporting LFTs?

Vaccination is being run by the NHS and not by Birmingham City Council. The priority groups for testing are determined nationally and the priority groups have been shared publicly.  Local implementation is by the local NHS, led by Birmingham & Solihull CCG, and we advise checking this website for questions of eligibility.

• If a member of staff or child has had a previous positive PCR test, would they then have LFT testing as part of asymptomatic testing – and what we do with a positive LFT?

The DfE’s position is that they encourage the testing of staff, even if they have tested positive recently. We are aware that Public Health has set out a different position on this issue. We have raised this with senior DfE colleagues and will share with schools the response we receive.

• Should schools send bubbles home with a positive LFT case? Should schools closing a bubble after a positive LFD test? Or wait for the PCR test?

Yes – close the bubble immediately. Public Health Birmingham is currently waiting for confirmation that there is no need for secondary schools to have a confirmatory positive PCR after a positive LFT.  

• How should staff dispose of a test kit if positive result on a lateral flow test kit at home?

In accordance with DfE guidance, please use the disposal bag provided with the test and dispose of in household waste.

• Is there a requirement for staff to undertake training if home testing?

Public Health Birmingham recommend staff watch the webinars and youtube video made available by DfE (link to document sharing portal here). Further support is available from Public Health Birmingham (see below).

Support from Public Health Birmingham with lateral flow tests

We know that the DfE is dispatching lateral flow testing home testing kits directly to primary school teachers for regularly twice weekly self-testing. Lateral flow testing at home is likely to be more prone to mistakes unless those using the test are confident and used to testing.

Therefore we would advise teachers who are going  to be receiving testing kits for home use to test several times through the established testing sites first to become familiar with the approach, especially the depth of insertion for the self-swab.

If any schools would like further support and training with LFTs please contact us via edsi.enquiries@birmingham.gov.uk, letting us know what kind of support you are looking for.

Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership training courses

BSCP courses running throughout March that still have places available.  You can view course outlines and book a place by clicking here. 

• Child Exploitation: Tackling CE Together in Birmingham

WEDNESDAY 3 MARCH 2021 (09.15 - 16.30)

Venue: MS Teams –

• Safeguarding for Senior, Designated & Operational Managers

THURSDAY 4 MARCH 2021 (09.15 - 16.30)

Venue: MS Teams –

• Advanced CSE - Trauma & Developing Skills for Practice

THURSDAY 11 MARCH 2021 (09.15 - 16.30)

Venue: MS Teams –

• Child Exploitation: Tackling CE Together in Birmingham

WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 (09.15 - 16.30)

Venue: MS Teams –

• Safeguarding for Senior, Designated & Operational Managers

THURSDAY 18 MARCH 2021 (09.15 - 16.30)

Venue: MS Teams –

Information for virtual courses

• Virtual courses will take place via Microsoft Teams and - to a lesser extent – Zoom.
• Links to join the course will be sent by the trainer before the course start date so please ensure that you check your emails.
• Please read the course information, confirmations and any follow up emails carefully during and after your booking process, and follow the instructions for receiving or locating the link to the course.
• Virtual courses have been re-designed from their usual face to face format, and so some alterations such as the requirement to complete pre-course work (in some instances) are in place for you.
• If your organisation allows it, Microsoft Teams should be downloaded on your device and you should know how to use it prior to training.
• For staff who cannot download Zoom, it will not be necessary to download the Zoom program in order to attend the virtual session.