Included in this update:

• SEND Support Provision Plan Mailbox Change
• New online application form for Home to School Transport
• Road Safety Webinar
• School Crossing Patrol Wardens needed
• Services for Education training courses
• Birmingham Faith Visits for Schools
• Peacemakers West Midlands Quaker Peace Education Project Courses
• FREE Essential Digital Skills Qualifications

SEND Support Provision Plan Mailbox Change

The mailbox used to submit SEND Support Provision Plan (SSPP) funding requests has changed. Please can you now send any requests for funding via a SSPP, including parental consent forms, signed Outside Agency declarations and any other relevant evidence to SSPP@birmingham.gov.uk

Whilst you can also send enquiries about SSPPs to this mailbox, we strongly recommend that you talk to the support professionals from the appropriate SEND Support Agency in the first instance.

Further information about SEND Support Provision Plans can be found on the Birmingham Local Offer website: SEN Support – Local Offer Birmingham

New online application form for Home to School Transport

Some changes have been made to the online forms for all aspects of Home to School Transport applications. This is to simplify the process for applicants and to make our forms accessible to all visitors.

Forms that were on  the Birmingham City Council and Local Offer websites will now be replaced by a single online form, accessible from both websites and linked from here: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/xfp/form/902. 

The online form requires key information for both SEND Eligibility and Risk Assessment to be entered and uploaded and provides the applicant with a reference number.

As of 1st December 2021, you will only be able to apply for Home to School Transport using the link : https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/xfp/form/902. 

Road Safety Webinar: Thursday 11th November 3.45pm-4.30pm

You are warmly invited to join us for a free webinar training session taking place on Thursday 11th November 2021 at 3.45pm-4.30pm - The session is available to school teaching staff, governors, parent network groups and community champions.To register your attendance please email: connected@birmingham.gov.uk

Road safety and keeping pupils safe is an important issue for schools to address.  The good news is that small actions can make a big difference. Birmingham City Council is working in partnership with many other groups to support schools, pupils and their families to understand simple ways that we can work together to encourage safe and sustainable travel.

Taking place in advance of Road Safety week on the 15th to 19th November this CPD session will: Deliver training around the topic of road safety helping you to deliver your own road safety lessons and campaigns both within the school setting and at home. Signpost to free lesson plans, and classroom resources helping to save time in class preparation.

School Crossing Patrol Wardens needed

In common with other councils across the country, the school crossing service suffers difficulties in recruiting, so we are trying different ways to advertise our posts and hope you can help. We have a number of  vacancies across the city that we are trying to fill. Further details can be obtained by visiting this advert link.

These posts would be ideal for lunchtime supervisors or kitchen staff who would like to top up their current hours. Please share the above advert with these members of staff or anyone that you may know who would be interested in joining the team. If your require further information or help please do not hesitate to contact our general enquires on 0121 303 6262.       

School Crossing Patrol Wardens needed

Pro Rata £18,562 - £20,493 (Part time £9.75 per hour)
Working from 8hrs per week – Term Time only.
You will assist at places where children/adults cross roads on their way to and from school (or on their way from one part of a school to another) during the prescribed hours, ensuring their safe passage, and will also be responsible for reporting any problems encountered to supervisors.

• You will need to be caring, reliable and must have good verbal communication skills to enable you to communicate effectively with a range of people in differing situations.
• You will need to be available term time mornings and afternoons during the school run.
• All leave must be taken in school holidays.
• Successful applicants will be provided with a uniform and training.
• A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken.

Application forms can be completed online: https://www.wmjobs.co.uk/job/87909/school-crossings-patrol-warden/

Vacancies can be found on ‘View all Birmingham City Council Vacancies on WM Jobs Website’.

If there are any queries, please contact the School Crossings team on 0121 303 7777 or schoolcrossings@birmingham.gov.uk 

Services for Education training courses

Preparing for Statutory Assessment Processes at the End of KS1

This full-day course will equip participants with the knowledge and understanding required to fulfil their statutory duty for the teacher assessment of Maths, Reading and Writing. https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/our-offer/teachers-new-to-year-2-preparing-for-statutory-assessment-processes-at-the-end-of-ks1-2/ - Denise.harris@servicesforeducation.co.uk

Planning for Writing using High-Quality Texts - Tuesday 30th Nov 2021

Many schools have seen the power of using high-quality texts to inspire their English teaching. Text-based literacy is an amazing tool which supports schools to focus on an integrated approach to the teaching of English, however it does need to be carefully managed to result in best outcomes.

https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/our-offer/planning-for-writing-using-high-quality-texts-2/ - Tricia.bunn@servicesforeduaction.co.uk

Teaching Outstanding Primary History

Gain confidence and knowledge by learning practical approaches to effective subject leadership. Gain the skills to help empower your teachers to meet the challenge of primary history teaching within the new Ofsted inspection framework.
Content:

• Understanding the National Curriculum for History
• Sequencing an effective primary History curriculum – approaches
• Subject leadership in challenging times- the role of the subject leader
• Intent, Implementation and Impact – and how these relate to History.
• Diving deep into primary History
• Auditing where you are now and what you want to achieve
• Key documentation
• Raising the status of the subject in your school

https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/our-offer/teaching-outstanding-primary-history/

Become an Expert MFL Curriculum Leader

A new way of developing your skills as a curriculum area lead. Work over the year with an MFL expert to address a number of subject delivery and management related situations and scenarios. Develop your own answers and thinking and then compare and contrast with our expert, to build your skills and knowledge.

Each half term we will release a new case study video to you, followed by a second video on how our expert would address the issues in the case study. This will start to develop your thinking by providing you with solutions and approaches to problems that can arise as a subject leader. At the end of each term you will be invited to attend a one hour live online event with the expert and your fellow course delegates, to discuss as a group your thinking and to reflect on how you dealt with the issues.

Through this model you will move from beginning your journey as a MFL subject leader through to expert status by the end of the year. As we progress through the year you will be able to shape the future case studies to reflect your own school scenarios and context.
https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/our-offer/become-an-expert-mfl-curriculum-leader/

Birmingham Faith Visits for Schools

Free resources to enhance a school visit to a place of worship, or to support a virtual visit, have been designed for children Year 3 to Year 9. An introductory film, classroom clips, illustrated guide and quiz for Sikh, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Christian and Buddhist places of worship have been produced by The Arts Society Birmingham in collaboration with places of worship, Birmingham Faith Leaders and other organisations. This project was supported by a generous grant from Westhill Endowment Trust.

The resources may be downloaded now without charge from https://birmingham-faith-visits.theartssociety.org

It is hoped that this suite of resources will enable teachers to plan in confidence whilst addressing the needs of their pupils and to make those valuable links with communities.

Ideas for arts-related cross-curricular activities relating to awe and wonder, heritage and culture, creative arts and service will also be available by March 2022.
https://birmingham-faith-visits.theartssociety.org

Peacemakers West Midlands Quaker Peace Education Project Courses

An Introduction to Restorative Practices - One day in-person open access training

Monday 15 November 2021 9.30am - 4pm

The restorative process brings those harmed by conflict, and those responsible for the harm, into communication, enabling everyone affected by a particular incident to play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward. We offer schools an alternative way of thinking about addressing relationships , learning and behaviour and offer a consistent framework for responding to these issues.

This course is for people working in education at all levels. It will provide participants with the background knowledge and skills that are required to use informal restorative practices in their day to day work.

The training day is experiential with a mix of theory, skills practice and small group work people have come to expect from Peacemakers. The training will cover a variety of restorative practices.

Cost: £75 per person

The Priory Rooms Meeting & Conference Centre, Quaker Meeting House, 40 Bull St, Birmingham B4 6AF

Hot and cold refreshments will be provided throughout the day, with a sandwich lunch. Please let us know of any dietary requirements you have. https://mailchi.mp/0700d22fd58d/peacemakers-courses-and-bursary-offers-1727924 - office@peacemakers.org.uk

3 Day Restorative Practitioner Training

Monday 24th, Tuesday 25th and Monday 31st January 2022

This 3-day course provides intensive, interactive facilitator training, focusing on an understanding of restorative ethos and the practice of sound restorative practitioner skills. The aim of this training is to contribute to the building of a strong, mutually respectful, safe, inclusive and peaceful school community. This course will enable staff to facilitate restorative practices such as formal conferences, corridor and playground chats and class circles.

The Priory Rooms Meeting & Conference Centre, Quaker Meeting House, 40 Bull St, Birmingham B4 6AF

Cost:  £350.00 per person. This includes 3 days training, all resources, a lovely hot lunch on each day and follow up when back in your school/setting.
https://mailchi.mp/0700d22fd58d/peacemakers-courses-and-bursary-offers-1727924

3 free Junior Peacemaker Workshops

These peace-themed workshops shine a light on important global themes, whilst making connections to children's everyday lives. They are for a whole Key Stage 2 year group [up to 3 forms] over a day. You choose the theme and we bring the trainers and resources needed to introduce the theme to your school. Use the day as a springboard for in depth work around the theme after we have left. The days are linked to the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Award and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Choose from:

• A Sense of Belonging: Welcoming refugees & asylum seekers
• Creating a Healthy School: Wellbeing & relationship-building
• Change Starts with Us: Taking action against bullying
• Thinking about WW1: Choices then and now
• Climate Justice: Peace, sustainability & rights
• It's not Fair: How can I make a difference?

https://mailchi.mp/0700d22fd58d/peacemakers-courses-and-bursary-offers-1727924

Learning for Peace package (bursary funding available)

Putting peace at the heart of your PSHE curriculum to enrich SMSC throughout the school.  This package of support for teachers and children will refresh your circle times, through a structured, but flexible approach.
Training brings alive the theory and practical aspects of our Learning for Peace resource, so staff are better equipped to put it into practice. By the end of the training, your school will have the tools to be able to address SMSC through PSHE from Reception to Yr 6 through five themes. We work with you to be able to facilitate Peacemaker circles and to understand the purpose and significance of the fun and interactive methods we use to engage pupils spiritually, morally, socially and culturally. The whole package can be delivered over half a term.
 
https://mailchi.mp/0700d22fd58d/peacemakers-courses-and-bursary-offers-1727924

Peacemaker Courses (bursary funding available for schools)

We have a special offer for the spring academic term 2022 of £600 off the full cost (£1,600) of one of our Peacemakers courses.  So two schools will have the opportunity to pay £1,000 for an eight week course. The courses are:

• PEACE EXPLORERS - OUT AND ABOUT. Nurture peace and wellbeing using your outdoor space. Children explore whilst learning about: cooperation, managing 'big' emotions, inner peace and wellbeing.
• YEAR 6 - UP YOU GO! Specially designed for Y6, this course prepares children socially and emotionally for their transition to secondary school.
• BECOMING PEACEBUILDERS Builds children's confidence to build peace themselves. Includes understanding peace as well as understanding conflict, how it escalates and how to resolve it.
• RESTORE Enables a class to spend some nourishing and nurturing time together. This is a restorative course, following the RESTORE framework.

https://mailchi.mp/0700d22fd58d/peacemakers-courses-and-bursary-offers-1727924

Peacemaker Courses (bursary funding available for schools)

We have a special offer for the Spring academic term 2022 of £600 off the full cost (£1,600) of one of our Peacemakers courses.  So two schools will have the opportunity to pay £1,000 for an eight week course. The courses are:

• PEACE EXPLORERS - OUT AND ABOUT. Nurture peace and wellbeing using your outdoor space. Children explore whilst learning about: cooperation, managing 'big' emotions, inner peace and wellbeing.
• YEAR 6 - UP YOU GO! Specially designed for Y6, this course prepares children socially and emotionally for their transition to secondary school.
• BECOMING PEACEBUILDERS Builds children's confidence to build peace themselves. Includes understanding peace as well as understanding conflict, how it escalates and how to resolve it.
• RESTORE Enables a class to spend some nourishing and nurturing time together. This is a restorative course, following the RESTORE framework.

https://mailchi.mp/0700d22fd58d/peacemakers-courses-and-bursary-offers-1727924

Free Essential Digital Skills Qualifications

The Essential Digital Skills framework specifies the digital skills that people require to benefit from, participate in, and contribute to the digital environment in a secure manner.

• Entry Level: Created for people who have no or limited prior familiarity with digital devices or the internet.
• Level 1: Aimed at people who have some familiarity with digital devices and the internet but lack fundamental secure digital skills.
• Level 2: Aimed at people who want to learn and gain a qualification in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Email and TEAMS.

Why not enrol today? All you need to do is email sameena.asmat@birmingham.gov.uk for an application form. www.trainbaes.co.uk