Noticeboard

Noticeboard - 14 November 2024

This week's Noticeboard contains a message from Dr Sue Harrison; the latest Oracle Transition for Schools update, important information on Flu Vaccination, Pupil Place Planning and School Attendance, free webinars and more.

This week's noticeboard includes: 

Message from Dr Sue Harrison, Strategic Director of Children and Families

Dear colleagues

As we move deeper into November, I hope this week’s message finds  you well and thriving amidst the busy school term.

The Oracle Transition for Schools project has been running for six months now, and although many schools have continued to engage with us, there are still some we don’t believe are making the most of the support on offer. I have written separately to those schools and would urge you to complete the Oracle Transition for Schools Self-Assessment Survey so we can ensure we’re providing you with the right support according to your needs.

By the end of this week, schools will receive a copy of the Schools Financial Services SLA for 2025-26. We kindly ask that you let us know whether you wish to sign up for the service before the Christmas break. Once we have a clear understanding of how many schools wish to continue with the service, we will make a considered decision in the new year.

We’ll continue to provide regular updates via the School Noticeboard and the Oracle transition for schools, updates, questions and answers document, and any queries can be directed to oracleschoolsrelationship@birmingham.gov.uk.

I’m pleased to see that the Young People's Services Survey is gaining significant momentum. Your efforts in encouraging students aged 11-18 to participate are greatly appreciated, and please do continue this support. Monday, 25 November is the deadline for completion so there’s still time yet.

The School Attendance team has provided a series of updates in this week’s School Noticeboard, including details of a webinar on Part-Time/Reduced Timetables being held on Thursday, 5 December. This webinar is a great opportunity to refresh or familiarise yourself with the guidance and recent updates, specifically around the use of the C2 code, to ensure that absences are documented correctly and that the school remains compliant with legal and safeguarding requirements.

To all our Primary and Nursery Schools, we’d be hugely grateful if you would return your Autumn Term WellComm screening results by completing the survey form by Tuesday, 31 December. Thank you for using the WellComm Toolkit to improve Speech-Language and Communication (SLC) outcomes in your school or setting. The data collected from the WellComm returns show that targeted interventions by early years providers are significantly enhancing children’s SLC development.

This week, I had the pleasure of receiving two wonderful good news stories from Nigel Attwood, Bellfield Junior School and Emma Nott, St Benedict’s Primary School, which I’m excited to share in my Children and Families staff newsletter. I love highlighting the fantastic work our schools are doing, and I encourage you to keep sharing your successes with me. It’s truly one of the joys of our work, and I know everyone takes great delight in hearing about your achievements.

I hope you enjoy a restful weekend and thank you wholeheartedly for everything you continue to do for our children, young people and families. Your dedication and hard work are truly appreciated and never go unnoticed.

With my very best wishes

Sue

Oracle Transition for Schools Update

The latest updates can be found here: Oracle transition for schools, updates, questions and answers.

Archived Q&A can be found here: Archived Oracle Transition Q&A.

For any queries or further information please contact the team at oracleschoolsrelationship@birmingham.gov.uk

Thank you for your ongoing support. 

Young People’s Services – Schools Survey

A big thank you to everyone who has already contributed to our Schools Survey on Young People’s Services!

We still need more voices! Please encourage your students aged 11-18 to take a quick 5-minute survey. Their feedback is essential in identifying the issues that matter most to them. Please note Monday, 25 November as the deadline for completion. 

Thank you for your continued support in making a difference for our young people.

School Attendance Updates

Leave of absence (Legal) Process update

The Leave of Absence (Legal) Process has been enhanced to include a new Leave of Absence Agreed (LoAA) letter, now available online. This update comes in response to requests from schools and is intended for use only where a leave of absence has been approved for exceptional circumstances.

You can access the LoAA letter and the updated guidance by scrolling down on the following page: Attendance procedures for schools | School attendance advice for schools and professionals | Birmingham City Council

Part-time/reduced timetable webinar

A webinar has been arranged for schools which covers the Part-time/reduced timetable guidance, notifications and updates such as use of the C2 code.  The session will be delivered by Edwina Langley MBE, Lead Attendance Officer and Sarah Scarr, Deputy Service Lead for Communication and Autism Team. 

The webinar will take place on Thursday, 5 December 2024 at 10:30-12:00.

To book your place please use the link below.  If you don’t have an account with BESS you can also set one up using the link: https://birminghameducationsupportservices.co.uk/Event/252944

DfE Attendance and Absence codes FAQs and webinars

The Department for Education have circulated a helpful FAQ document for schools and local authorities related to the new attendance and absence codes. They have also circulated a link to a recording of a webinar offering guidance: Working together to improve school attendance webinar

Attendance toolkit

The DfE have published an attendance toolkit, developed by Rob Tarn CBE, National Attendance Ambassador and CEO of Northern Education Trust, which schools may find helpful.  It describes approaches for leaders to consider and adopt where they feel these could be helpful in improving their approach to reducing absence, including practical resources to support schools.  The toolkit can be found here: Attendance toolkit for schools

Autumn Term WellComm Data Return

FAO: Primary schools and Nursery Schools

Thank you for using the WellComm Toolkit to improve Speech-Language and Communication (SLC) outcomes in your school or setting. The WellComm data collection returns are demonstrating that targeted interventions offered by early years providers have improved children's level of SLC development. Therefore, we request that every early year's provider returns their Autumn Term WellComm screening results by 31st December 2024. 

If you have not had the capacity to screen all of your children during the term then, please, send us the results that you have.

To complete the survey, please click here

Flu Vaccination

Schools and Early Years settings are being asked to help support in protecting children, young people, families, and staff against flu this winter.

Currently, fewer primary and secondary school students, as well as two- and three-year-old children in Birmingham, are vaccinated against flu compared to those in neighbouring local authorities and other large cities. This means more children in Birmingham are at risk of getting seriously ill or needing hospital care due to flu.

The links below provide more detail around the actions we are asking schools and early years settings to take, along with useful contact details and links to further information:

Perspective Lite

A big thank you to all headteachers who attended the Perspective Lite showcase. A recording is now available, along with the presentation slide deck for those who were unable to attend or to act as a refresher: 

Any queries related to Perspective/Record of Visits access, please email your request to Educationdata@birmingham.gov.uk

Pupil Place Planning - Proposals to Reduce PAN for 2025 Entry

In order to help address surplus primary places and ongoing lower intakes into Reception, we are seeking a proposed PAN reduction at the following maintained school:

  • Broadmeadow Infants School - reducing from 60 to 30 for Reception 2025 entry

The business case will be sent to the Schools Adjudicator in due course for consideration. We will publish the outcome of the decision.

Community and VC school PANs and admission arrangements for Reception 2026 are currently being consulted on: Proposed admissions arrangements 2026 | Determined admissions arrangements | Birmingham City Council

The arrangements will be submitted for a decision later this month.

If you have any concerns over falling roll and would like to discuss your options please contact Education Infrastructure team at ediplaceplanning@birmingham.gov.uk or on 0121 303 8847.

New Mental Health Care Plan for Children and Young People: Share Your Thoughts

Health and care services in Birmingham and Solihull are working together to improve mental health care for children and young people. They are now seeking comments on the proposed plans.

Why This Change? To improve access to mental health services, provide more support, and address health inequalities.

Learn More You can find detailed plans, a summary, and an audio version here: Share your views on our new plan for mental health care for children and young people: NHS Birmingham and Solihull

How to Provide Feedback Comments are welcomed from anyone with an interest in children and young people’s mental health services. Please share your thoughts by 5pm on 22nd November 2024.

For assistance with the documents or to request them in a different language, call the Mental Health Provider Collaborative Team at 07985 882137.

Birmingham Community Health Care Plus School Nursing Service

Do you need additional School Nursing input? If so Birmingham Community NHS Foundation Trust can help.

Through its BCHC Plus (Traded Services) School Nursing service it can provide additional education focused services that supplement the NHS ‘core’ school nurse service.

The link between educational attainment and positive health is well documented; however sometimes schools find that incidence of health-related needs amongst their pupils requires more clinical support. We offer schools the opportunity to buy additional dedicated school nurse time to address health needs that lie beyond the scope of the core service.

School health topics that we provide support for include:

  • Curriculum input focused on health and wellbeing.
  • Issues arising in school that may have a link to health.
  • Dedicated support addressing a school’s wider health related challenges.
  • Liaison with GP’s Health Visitors and other professionals.
  • Health education and promotion activities.

To find out more about how BCHC Plus (Traded Services) can benefit your school; pupils; families and staff; please contact our BCHC Plus team on 0121 4666266 or e-mail bchc.bchcplus@nhs.net We will then arrange a Teams meeting to discuss our services and your requirements in more detail. Note we have capacity to commence with immediate effect.

Free Webinar: KS1 Assessment and What it Means for School Leaders

Monday, 25 November 2024 – 16:00-16:45

Join Services for Education for this free online update from the Moderation Team to make sure that schools are up to date with the latest recommendations from the STA and LA for the KS1 Assessments.

This session will reflect upon recent changes and how this might impact the Assessment Schedule, with a short 15 minutes Q&A session at the end. During the webinar, schools will deepen their understanding of:

  • National and Local Expectations
  • Available Resources
  • An understanding of the support available for you
  • A reflection upon potential strategies to ensure best practice

Book your free place for the webinar by simply following this link

Free Workshops: Aspire to Engineer: AI and Me – December 2024

Discover how AI is shaping the future. Can AI outplay humans? Could you create life-saving tech? AI is rapidly shaping our world, and these free sessions are a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about the latest advancements and how AI impacts our everyday lives. 

Sign up now for two special events with world class speakers David Silver from Google DeepMind and Regina Barzilay from M.I.T. [secondary schools only].

Find out more and register here: https://www.big-ideas.org/aspire-to-engineer-ai-and-me/

Free to join thanks to the generosity of the Royal Commission for 1851. 

For any queries please contact: Engineer@big-ideas.org

OVO Foundation Nature Prize and Let’s Go Zero

OVO Foundation Nature Prize (Open to UK schools)

The OVO Foundation Nature Prize is open to schools who are working on projects that drive climate action and help young people to connect with nature. Schools can win a cash prize of £200 or £1,000 to implement a community nature project, creating a wild and wonderful space with plenty of learning opportunities. Schools from less advantaged areas with high pupil premium are encouraged to apply. Applications are now open and close on Monday 25th November 2024.

Click on this link to enter: The OVO Foundation Nature Prize - Lets Go Zero

Climate Action Advisors (England only)

Let’s Go zero now have a full team of 32 Let's Go Zero Climate Action Advisors in post across England, providing free, expert advice on decarbonising the school estate and cutting their carbon emissions.

Supporting schools to understand their carbon impact, make effective plans and find funding. We help schools on their journey to sustainability with in-depth support with climate action plans.

Click on this link to sign up for support: Climate Action Advisors - Lets Go Zero

This entry was posted by Dawn Evans on 11/11/2024.

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