Part-time/Reduced Timetables – ‘Nil-Return’ Notification

You will already be aware of the statutory requirement to notify the local authority when a child is placed on a part-time/reduced timetable.  Birmingham City Council has recently published new guidance which identifies the exceptional circumstances where it might be appropriate to agree a short-term reduced timetable, and the process that must be followed to ensure your schools safeguarding responsibilities are met: Part-time/Reduced timetable guidance

In circumstances where there are no children in school receiving a part-time/reduced timetable, you are still required to notify us by submitting a half-termly ‘nil-return’, and in this instance we would ask that you do so no later than Friday, 22 October 2021.  The same online form used for other notifications can be used to submit your ‘nil-return’, and should only take a few minutes to complete:  Part-time provision/nil-return notification

We appreciate schools are extremely busy, but it is only by submitting requested information in a timely manner that we can ensure we offer the appropriate support to schools and our children remain safe.

If you have any queries or require any further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch Attendance@birmingham.gov.uk

Birmingham Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme Webinar for schools: 2 November 10am – 11am

The Birmingham Holiday Activities Team are pleased to invite schools to a short webinar to explore winter HAF delivery. The webinar will take place on Tuesday 2nd November 10am – 11am. To book a place, please use this Eventbrite link and the Teams link will be sent before the session.

During the session the team will share the successes and learning from summer delivery with a specific focus on the contribution of education.

The webinar will give an insight into engagement by primary and secondary aged children and areas for improvement across specific cohorts and geographies.

There is £800k available in Birmingham from the DfE to bid in to for revenue and capital expenditure for winter delivery during the Christmas holiday period. The team will share and discuss the options for school engagement, the grant application process, funds available and delivery planning.

Information shared at the webinar will be sent to all schools after it takes place.

Prevent Community Update: Counter Terrorism Command leading investigation into Sir David Amess murder

On Friday 15th October we saw the tragic death of Sir David Amess, who had been a Conservative MP since 1983.  Sir David was stabbed multiple times during a regular Friday meeting with his Southend West constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

The investigation is now being led by the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Counter-Terrorism Command and has been declared by the Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism as a terrorist incident. A 25-year-old British male has been arrested in connection with this incident and the police are not looking for anyone else at this stage. The early investigation has revealed a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism.

We know this terrible news will be felt strongly among communities in Essex and across the country, and we recognise it will cause understandable concern. Police forces will continue to work closely with their communities and partners to provide updates and reassurance. The terrorism threat level remains the same at ‘substantial’.

As leaders and representatives within your communities we appreciate that you can play a key role by reaching out to your own community groups and networks with messages of reassurance. We recognise that you will have particular concern about the security of MPs and those in public life. Police forces across the country, including the Counter-Terrorism Command, this weekend offered additional advice and support to all MPs on this matter.

As always, anyone with information about a crime can call 101, 999 in an emergency or the police anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321. Emotional and practical support is also available for anyone affected via the following website: https://victimsofterrorism.campaign.gov.uk/

If you require local support in relation to this briefing, please contact: razia.butt@birmingham.gov.uk