Included in this update:

• Birmingham Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme Webinar for schools: 2 November 10am – 11am
• Information on available School Places
• Education Infrastructure bulletin
• School Accessibility survey 2021
• Graded Care Profile Version 2 Training
• Birmingham School Health Support Service
• The World Reimagined
• Services for Education training courses

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.

Information on available School Places

Thank you for providing information on your available school places via the Schools Portal.

The vast majority of schools supplied the information requested promptly. Schools are reminded that it is a requirement of the Schools Admissions Code (September 2021) that they provide information on places available within two school days of receiving a request from the local authority. This is now a weekly requirement, and we would ask you to please ensure your records on available places per year group are updated on the Schools Portal by the end of the school day each Friday in term-time.

It is important that this data is accurate and up-to-date, as it will be shared with parents who contact the local authority to request vacancy information. It will also help support an effective council and schools partnership approach.

If you have difficulties using the Portal or need an account for a new member of staff, please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions ICT team on admict@birmingham.gov.uk.

Education Infrastructure bulletin

This term’s Education Infrastructure bulletin is available on BESS: https://www.birminghameducationsupportservices.co.uk/Article/91359
The bulletin covers the following topics:

• Information if you are planning to carry out any onsite works
• Request to complete a survey into accessibility facilities in schools
• Caretakers' Houses Framework
• Future dates for duty holder and asbestos management training
• Update on surplus places work
• Request for additional Y7 places in Erdington and Sutton Coldfield
• Reminder of traded services offer available
• Request for photos of your school buildings

Contact Education Infrastructure for school place planning, capital projects and asset management queries: edsi.enquiries@birmingham.gov.uk

School Accessibility survey 2021

Improving the accessibility of our schools is a key priority for Birmingham City Council. We are particularly interested in the accessibility plan and facilities within schools. We are surveying the mainstream school estate to understand what facilities are currently available and what support schools may need to improve accessibility (e.g. access to funding).

In order to gather this information we are asking you to please complete the below BeHeard survey regarding accessibility at your school.  The link can be found below and the survey will be available from Thursday 14th October until Friday 19th November. 

https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/people-1/2b879d5f 

This is a survey by Education Infrastructure in collaboration with the Physical Disability Support Service.  If you have any queries please contact the team (edsi.enquiries@birmingham.gov.uk). If you have already previously completed this survey there is no need to submit a further response unless you wish to provide further information. 

Graded Care Profile Version 2 Training

The Graded Care Profile v2 (GCP2) is a licensed tool developed by the NSPCC to support professionals working with children and families where neglect is a concern. The tool enables practitioners to measure the quality of care that a child is receiving and supports them to plan targeted interventions to address neglect. This is being introduced in Birmingham as part of the BSCP Neglect Strategy.
 
GCP2 training is being offered to professionals from all agencies working with families at an Early Help level in the Hodge Hill and Northfield areas initially and will be rolled out across the city next year. Practitioners will be required to complete a neglect e-learning module prior to attending the course.
 
There are spaces remaining on the following dates: Wednesday 3rd November 2021 - Thursday 18th November 2021 - Wednesday 24th November 2021 - Monday 29th November 2021 - Wednesday 8th December 2021

Training is for one day and will be delivered via MS Teams.

To request a place please contact Luisa Fraser, Neglect Lead Manager, Birmingham Children’s Trust gcp2@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk

To find out more go to https://www.lscpbirmingham.org.uk/campaigns/tackling-neglect-in-birmingham

Birmingham School Health Support Service

The School Nursing Service continues to support children, families and schools throughout the pandemic. Contact between schools and the service will be resuming face to face in schools where it is permitted and agreed with school. Virtual contact will continue as an alternative option as required.

More information is available at this link.

The World Reimagined

Schools are being invited to get involved with a national art education project – The World Reimagined – which will seeks to transform our understanding of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.  This project will see art trails featuring large globe structures appear in Birmingham and seven other UK cities between August and October 2022.

A creative learning programme for schools offers artist and bursary support for primary and secondary schools that wish to get involved – for more information visit the website https://www.theworldreimagined.org/learning/

For details on how to apply and the resources available, you can contact keisha.thompson@theworldreimagined.org

Services for Education training courses

Effective Leadership of English

You’ve just been appointed as English subject leader in your primary school. Congratulations! Perhaps subject leadership is something you’ve been considering for several years, one that feels like a natural fit given your love of the subject and your qualifications. Or perhaps, you’ve somehow fallen into the role. Either way, the subject leadership job is yours, and it may be a daunting prospect.

By attending this online training, you will be supported to: 

• Develop a cohesive vision for English across your school and wider curriculum, in line with the expectations of the new Ofsted Inspection Framework
• Explore the ‘Deep Dive’ methodology
• Organise your provision for progression and sequencing through the objectives of the National Curriculum
• Revisit, review and improve your Subject Action Plan
• Consider provision for different groups within the school, with a focus on Pupil Premium and SEND
• Look at the link between reading and writing and opportunities to strengthen whole-school English, including cross-curricular writing and reading support
• Plan how to implement your next steps for outstanding leadership of your subject at your school

https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/our-offer/effective-leadership-of-english-2/

Assessment Briefings for Senior Leaders (Live Webinar)

This course will provide senior school leaders with essential information, guidance and updates regarding Statutory Assessment and key assessment issues at both local and national levels.

During the course, participants will gain:

• An understanding of the requirements for statutory assessment across the primary age range
• An opportunity to consider the management of Statutory Assessment duty including accountability, security and integrity of the processes
• Details of the cycle of moderation and monitoring in Birmingham schools

https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/our-offer/assessment-briefings-for-senior-leaders-3/

Leading Reading and Phonics at Key Stage One - Wednesday 17th Nov 2021 – 4pm – 5.30pm (Live Webinar)

Primary education reading leader training recommended for EYFS and KS1.

Topics covered:

• Reading Leader Focus
• Time Allocation to Reading
• Assessment and Tracking
• Pupil Progress
• Groups of children
• Staff Training and Development

For other courses in the English series please use this link.