Free school meals vouchers for Easter holidays

Following an extension of the government’s COVID Winter Grant Scheme, we can confirm that BCC will provide two weeks of vouchers to support families eligible for free school meals over the Easter holidays.

We anticipating getting the two weeks vouchers to schools by Friday 19th March for distribution to families before the holiday starts.

Risk assessment

Following the webinar earlier this week and our discussions with Public Health on LFD testing and face coverings, two sections have been added to our risk assessment template which is available at this link.

These sections are highlighted so schools can see where the additions have been made.

Attendance update

As you will now be aware, attendance at school will once again become mandatory from 8th March 2021.  We know that many families have suffered bereavement, anxiety and financial hardship in recent months.  Some of our children have lost grandparents and even parents to Covid.  As in September 2020, the emphasis for this term and into the Summer term will be on relationships with parents and children, and early help.  Schools can use the updated whole school letter which is attached here. 

Though attendance will be compulsory, we want to give parents an opportunity to work with schools before legal processes are considered.  Therefore, ‘FAST-track to Attendance’ and the ‘Leave in Term Time (penalty notice)’ processes remain suspended.  Only Step One of FAST-track can be used at this point which is the early help step.  SARMs arranged for January should not now take place as early help should be again offered in the first instance as in September.

In terms of leave in term time requests or instances where it is discovered families are on unauthorised leave, LD1 and LD2 letters may be used but due to issues related to the short notice to return, flight availability and quarantine, action cannot be taken against families for unauthorised leave for this term.  However, schools can use an additional letter on our webpage aimed at explaining to parents whose children are currently abroad that the children should now return.  If schools have email addresses for families abroad, or mobile phone numbers, please contact the families and send the letter by email, or scan and send it if possible so they are clear what is required at this time.  Alternatively a phone call alerting the families that they must now return their children to school could help.  The letter is attached.

If, after all the school’s efforts, children have not returned to school, schools can now make use of the ‘Team around the school’ local offer which has been launched this week by Birmingham Children’s Partnership.  DSLs should have already received information regarding this initiative.   The offer means that you will have named contacts from the localities, health, care and police to support you and the pupils you are most worried about.  As pupils return to school next week, and you will continue to be alert to signs of difficulties at home, mental health needs, exploitation and safeguarding harms, we hope that the new team around the school will be useful. To start, please see this spreadsheet with the names and contact details of your team.  The first line of support is your voluntary sector locality lead for early help.  However, you might also want advice on a case from mental health professionals, or to check on a pupil’s needs with an Educational Psychologist or share a concern about domestic abuse with the Police or Family Support.

Please note that the same Right Help, Right Time thresholds remain, and safeguarding concerns should be referred to the Children’s Advice and Support Service (CASS).  The database is in addition to the early help offer included in the ‘From Birmingham with Love’ package which is still available to all families in Birmingham and can help with food poverty, mental health, domestic violence, financial problems and bereavement

Schools can also ask their school nurse for support where parents are stating their child has serious health condition prevents their return to school but have not been able to provide an official shielding letter.

Finally, the DfE have published a set of sub codes for schools to use to consistently record non-attendance related to coronavirus and help them to complete the educational settings status form.  You can find the codes and the updated guidance on how to complete the form here.

Public Health webinar for schools

Birmingham Public Health are hosting a webinar for schools next Wednesday 10th March 2pm – 3pm where officers, including the Director of Public Health, Dr Justin Varney, will provide updated information and answer any questions schools may have.

Please book places using this Eventbrite link and a Teams link will be sent before the session.