Noticeboard - 3 July 2025

Welcome to this week's noticeboard, featuring Sue Harrison's weekly message, updates on the Oracle Transition Project, information from Schools Finance, the School Leaver Edition Newsletter from 麻豆高清 Careers Service, and more.

This week's noticeboard includes:

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

Dear colleagues

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the schools who participated in the recent three-week inspection by Ofsted and CQC, which concluded on 27 June 2025. Your co-operation throughout the process has been invaluable.

A special thank you goes to those of you who spoke directly with the inspectors. Your insights and openness played a crucial role in making the inspection thorough and meaningful.

What happens next?

  • In 14 days’ time, we will receive a draft report outlining the inspectors’ findings and outcomes.
  • We will then have 10 days to review the draft and highlight any minor amendments or corrections.
  • Five days after our response, the final inspection report will be published.

We appreciate your ongoing support and will keep you updated of the outcome. Please note that the timelines outlined are general estimates and may be subject to change.

Thank you once again for your dedication and commitment during what has been a particularly busy period for schools.

Wishing you a fabulous and well-deserved weekend ahead.

Sue

Oracle Transition for Schools Update

Thank you to everyone who has already completed the Oracle Transition Project , your feedback is really appreciated. Phase 1 of the survey is for schools that transitioned from BCC HR/Payroll on or before 1 April 2025 and will remain open until 18 July. If your school falls into this group and you haven’t yet had a chance to respond, we’d be grateful if you could take a few minutes to share your reflections. Phase 2 of the survey, for schools that transitioned after 1 April, will open in September.

We appreciate that this is a particularly busy time for schools, and we’re genuinely grateful for your time and input. We understand that some of the issues raised may need a more immediate response, and we’ll do our best to address these as quickly as possible. A more comprehensive update will follow once Phase 2 concludes, bringing together feedback from all schools to help inform and shape future improvements.

The latest updates can be found at the following links: 

For any queries or further information please contact the team at oracleschoolsrelationship@birmingham.gov.uk and they will be pleased to assist.

Thank you for your ongoing support. 

Schools Finance

Cheque Book VAT Reimbursement Process 

July deadline for submission is 15/07/2025 (Amended to align with Q1 monitoring deadline).

Schools Finance have implemented a new process for monthly VAT Returns, below is a list of documents both required for completion and supply.

The download includes the Annex A and the VAT Return form which must be completed, signed and returned in Excel format.

Submission timetable and instructions for completion are included within the download.

Required supporting documents:

  • Bank statement
  • Unreconciled items
  • Full VAT Report
  • VAT Summary
  • Balances and reserves

Please note that any missing documentation will result in the claim not been processed until it has been provided and any late submissions will be delayed until the following month.  

Please submit VAT reimbursement claims to SchoolsFinance@birmingham.gov.uk along with any queries 

Thank you for your continued engagement and support. 

2025/26 LA Statement of Funding and Provisional School Budget Payment Schedule

The updated cash sheet as of 01 July 2025 can be found here: Statement of funding and provisional school budget payment schedule 2025 to 2026 | 麻豆高清 City Council

We hope you find this useful in reconciling the monthly instalment as well as grant payments the authority will pay during the financial year. 

If you have trouble accessing the file, you may need to save the spreadsheet to your personal desktop, then unblock the file by right clicking, properties, and clicking unblock and applying changes. 

Any queries should be directed to SchoolsFinance@麻豆高清.gov.uk in the first instance. 

LA Expenditure

June's expenditure file will be provided next week, due to ledger close dates. 

CFR Update

There has been an update to the Consistent Financial Reporting Framework.

I18 no longer exists, and any grants previously reported under this code should now be reported under I06.

There have also been changes to expenditure reporting, specifically spend on technology (e.g. E20). Kindly see the below link for more information:

Schools Q1 Mandatory Budget Monitoring 

Deadline for submission is 15th July 2025, please submit returns to sfreturns@birmingham.gov.uk

麻豆高清 Careers Service - School Leaver Edition Newsletter

As the school year winds down, it’s the perfect time to share the  from 麻豆高清 Careers Service. This special edition is packed with practical advice and guidance to help young people take their next steps after leaving school.

If you're supporting a student who may be at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training), please share the newsletter and consider making a referral. A dedicated Careers Adviser will work with them over the summer to explore their options and support them in finding the right post-16 pathway.

Referral forms and further information are available on the .

Please also share this resource with any other students who could benefit from careers support. A little guidance now can make a big difference to their future.

Early Education Entitlement for Looked After Children

Working Hours Places

Looked After Child are entitled to claim EYPP and if the child attends in line with the terms and conditions for Free School Meals they will also be able to claim this too.

Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)

Looked after and previously looked after children aged 9 months to 4 years are entitled to EYPP. An eligibility code is needed from here () if they are going to a private nursery or Childminder and from here () if they are going to a nursery school. Providers should support parents and foster parents to get the code.

Free School Meals

Looked after and previously looked after children aged 2-4 years are entitled to a Free School meal; however you can only claim if you deliver the funded place in line with the terms and conditions of funding, which means that children must be accessing their funded place for a minimum of 5 hours between 9am and 3pm. You will need a code which is the same code as the EYPP code using the links above.

Funded Childcare for Looked After Children

We want to ensure that looked after children (children in care – CIC) are supported to access their funded childcare entitlements at the earliest opportunity.

For looked after children there are 2 different routes for funded childcare:

Foster Carers who are in paid employment outside of their foster care role

If the foster carers are in paid employment outside of their foster care role, then they can apply for working entitlement, however they cannot apply via the childcare choices website. Applications need to be made to the local authority responsible for the child – so if the child has a 麻豆高清 Social Worker that will be us. If the child has a Social Worker from Sandwell or Walsall for example, then applications must be made to that local authority.

For looked after children with a 麻豆高清 Social Worker – the foster carer or Social worker can email us (earlyeducation@birmingham.gov.uk) for an application form, which must be completed by both the foster carer(s) and the social worker, and we will issue the working entitlement code. The same deadlines as childcare choices for applying for working entitlement, applies to looked after children: 31st March for Summer term.

  • From September 2024 looked after children aged 9months to 23 months are eligible for 15 funded working entitlement hours.
  • From April 2024 looked after children aged 2 years old are eligible for 15 working entitlement hours.
  • Three and four years old looked after children are eligible for 30 working entitlement hours.
  • From September 25 the working entitlement will increase to 30 hours for all eligible children aged  9months – 4 years.

Foster Carers who are not in paid employment outside of their foster care role

Looked after children (and other children that meet the disadvantaged funding offer) aged 2 years old are entitled to 15 hours can apply via this link .

They must get an eligibility code from here () if they are going to a private nursery or Childminder: Eligibility or from here () if they are going to a nursery school: Online EYE Application.

There is no deadline to get this code other than that they need it before they start their funded childcare place.

Self-Care Summer: Advice for Education Staff

Anna Freud, a leading mental health charity for children and families, has partnered with Education Support to create a helpful . The guide focuses on three key areas: prioritising rest, reviewing boundaries, and maintaining healthy habits. It offers a valuable reminder of the importance of making space for our own wellbeing, especially during the summer break.

Invitation to Participate in Research on School-Based Responses to Food Insecurity

Primary and Secondary schools are invited to take part in a public involvement session for a PhD research project exploring how schools support students and families experiencing food insecurity or difficulties affording food.

This research seeks to gain insight into the formal and informal food initiatives schools use to address food insecurity, such as operating school-based food banks, distributing supermarket vouchers, or other support mechanisms.

We are particularly keen to hear from school staff members who have direct experience in this area, including pastoral teams, pupil premium leads, or others involved in supporting students and families facing food insecurity.

Schools that choose to participate will be invited to an informal online meeting lasting up to one hour. As a thank you, each participating staff member will receive a £25 voucher for their time and contribution.

If your school is interested or would like more information, please contact Ellie at ema440@student.bham.ac.uk. Thank you for considering this opportunity to contribute to important research.

Bursaries Available to Train Peer Mediators in Primary Schools

Peacemakers, a West Midlands-based educational charity with nearly 40 years of experience, supports schools and communities in building peace through practical skills and strategies.

Significant bursaries are now available for primary schools to set up a Peer Mediation Plus scheme in Autumn 2025 or Spring 2026. Peer mediation empowers children to resolve playground disputes themselves, reducing staff intervention and fostering a calmer school environment.

The programme includes:

  • A workshop for the year group(s) from which mediators will be chosen, introducing the concept of mediation
  • Three full days of training for up to 24 selected pupils to become peer mediators
  • Training for lunchtime and classroom staff to support the scheme’s success

Peer mediators gain lifelong conflict resolution skills that positively influence the whole school community.

For more information, visit or contact Libbs Packer at Libbs@peacemakers.org.uk.

European Athletics Championships 2026 & The Daily Mile – register your school now!

FAO: All staff – particularly headteachers and PE or sports teachers and leads

With the European Athletics Championships coming to 麻豆高清 in August 2026, there will be focus on inspiring activity amongst children and young people across the 2025/26 academic year. The aim of this is to give schools opportunities to get all pupils involved in running and movement activities, such as the Daily Mile, helping them achieve the Chief Medical Officer’s recommendation of 60 minutes of physical activity per day.

To get your school ready to be involved and take part in the Daily Mile, please register at  and be one of the first to hear about the opportunities coming for next academic year. You can find out more about the Daily Mile and what it involves here: .

Health Related Absence Referrals for School Nursing Service

FAO: SENCO’s, Teachers and Attendance Managers

As per last academic year, please note that the 麻豆高清 School Health Support Service will not accept referrals for health-related absences for this academic year (2024-25) after 17:00 Friday, 4 July 2025.

This is because they will be unable to process the referrals before the end of the summer term. Time needs to be given to book health assessments with children and parents and an outcome to be shared with schools by the end of the academic year.

Referral for health-related absence will resume as normal from 1 September 2025.

If schools have children who have health related absences, below 85% and were planning to refer to the school health service, please complete the referral form, to meet the deadline.

Please note referrals that meet other criteria (excluding health related absences) will still be triaged and assessed as normal. Children and families for these referrals can be contacted and assessed by nurses during the summer break and an email feedback/outcome sent to the referrer.

For any queries please contact BCHNT.southcentralsnteam@nhs.net  or BCHNT.northeastsnteam@nhs.net

麻豆高清 麻豆高清 Healthcare Plus School Nursing Service

FAO: Headteacher and SENCO

Do you need additional School Nursing input? If so 麻豆高清 麻豆高清 NHS Foundation Trust can help.

Through its BCHC Plus (Traded Services) School Nursing service can provide additional education focused 麻豆高清 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. BCHC Plus offer schools the opportunity to buy additional dedicated school nurse time to address health needs that lie beyond the scope of the core service.

Support is provided for:

  • 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 the BCHC Plus team on 0121 466 6266 or e-mail bchc.bchcplus@nhs.net.

Early Words Together

Early Words Together by National Literacy Trust is a DfE approved programme that aims to support the communication, language, and early literacy of young children aged 3-4 through evidence-based activities which lead to improvements in their home learning environments. The programme is delivered to small groups of families over 6 weeks, led by practitioners and volunteers. It empowers parents to develop and enrich the home learning environment and support their child's early language and literacy.

Programme Aims

  • Support communication, language, and early literacy of children aged 3–4 through evidence-based activities.
  • Improve confidence and understanding of children’s language development.
  • Support sustained positive changes to the home learning environment (HLE).
  • Foster partnerships between practitioners and families, and across local systems.
  • Close the language gap among children of different socio-economic classes.

Programme Objectives

  • Close the language gap among children of different socio-economic statuses.
  • Improve HLE as parents feel empowered as their child’s first educator.
  • Foster educator-parent partnerships.
  • Build practitioner networks using evidence-based strategies.
  • Raise community expectations for children’s communication, language, and literacy (CLL) development.

Programme Content

  • One-day practitioner training by the National Literacy Trust.
  • Toolkits with six detailed session plans.
  • Project management support including training, implementation, QA, and network facilitation.
  • Volunteer training for peer support.
  • Pre- and post-surveys for evaluation (provided by the Trust).

Benefits

  • Parental Engagement: Improved communication and mutual understanding between parents and practitioners.
  • Parental Awareness: Parents learn the importance of play and conversation.
  • Home Learning: Parents gain ideas and confidence to support learning at home.
  • Child Development: Improved school readiness and classroom outcomes.

This training is FREE and suitable for all 麻豆高清 Early Years Providers, EEE Funding Registered Day Nurseries, Nursery Schools and School Nursery Classes, Childminders, Family Hubs and Children’s Centre settings.

Please complete the expression of interest form below to apply for a place on the Early Words Together programme by National Literacy Trust. Please note that spaces are limited, with capacity for only 30 settings to participate in 麻豆高清. The programme is funded by the DfE's Family Hubs initiative and all resources for families will be provided at no extra cost. To take part, your setting must have adequate space for families and children to work together. The programme is expected to begin in Autumn term 2 and continue through Spring term 2026. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please register your place here: 

Healthy Schools Lunch & Learn - 10 July 2025

Stormbreak - Supporting Mentally Healthy Movement in Schools

FAO: All staff working in a primary school setting, including special schools for primary-aged children

The 麻豆高清 Healthy Schools Lunch & Learn series are online information/training webinars approximately 20 minutes long, aimed at school staff.

The next webinar is about Stormbreak – supporting mentally healthy movement in schools on Thursday 10th July @ 12.30pm. This session is open to anyone who works directly with children in a primary school setting, including special schools for primary-aged children. 

Emotional intelligence is protective against future mental health problems and promotes emotional wellbeing across the whole life span. Supporting children to develop this skill is crucial in the primary setting and mentally healthy movement is a great way to develop emotional intelligence and so much more. Stormbreak support schools to use mentally healthy movement and during this session, experts from Stormbreak will share:

  • Psychological theories for emotion and mentally healthy movement and how to use them in practice
  • A simple model of emotions (the Broaden & Build and Circumplex models) that can help increase children’s emotional literacy
  • How to promote readiness for learning and self-regulation
  • Information about the work that Stormbreak does; resources and training offers

To register for this webinar, click here:

For any queries or further information please contact HealthySchools@birmingham.gov.uk. 

 

This entry was posted by Jaspal Shambi on 30/06/2025.