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This week's noticeboard includes: 

• Message from Dr Sue Harrison, Strategic Director of Children and Families
• Oracle Transition for Schools
• Arrangements for the Offer of Year 7 Places on Monday 3 March 2025
• Invitation to Observe SEND Panel Meetings

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

Dear colleagues

Welcome back!  I hope you had a refreshing half-term break and that your first week back at school is off to a great start.

Having committed to notifying all schools of their 2025-2026 budget allocations by 28 February 2025, I'm delighted that budgets for all Maintained Nursery, Mainstream, and Special Schools have been shared on this week’s School Noticeboard. I know colleagues in the Finance Team have worked hard to make this happen and I’m confident that these timely allocations will be welcomed by schools.

There will be a dedicated space on the School Noticeboard for future finance updates, ensuring schools remain fully informed. Finance colleagues are also available to answer any queries you may have and can be reached by emailing SchoolsFinance@birmingham.gov.uk, or for Early Years, EarlyYearsFunding@birmingham.gov.uk.

Chris Etheridge continues to support with our Oracle transition programme and can be contacted at oracleschoolsrelationship@birmingham.gov.uk, so please get in touch if there’s anything you need. Our Oracle update has now been broken down into two documents, which we hope will make the information easier to digest:

1. Oracle transition for schools finance update - Q&As
2. Oracle transition for schools HR payroll and pensions update - Q&As

I understand that there is a lot happening at the moment, and the abundance of information can sometimes feel overwhelming. Please remember that we are here to support you, and I thank you sincerely for your understanding and patience as we navigate these challenging times together.

The holy month of Ramadan begins tomorrow evening and continues until Sunday, 30 March, subject to the sighting of the new moon. During Ramadan, it’s common for children, young people, and their families to follow the timetable of their local mosque, marking this period by prayer, fasting, self-control, and goodwill towards others. I know the team have provided guidance to schools, but if you do require any further support or advice, please contact our Senior Education Advisor, Ayisha Ali at Ayisha.ali@birmingham.gov.uk. Ayisha will be pleased to assist.

May I take this opportunity to extend my warmest wishes to all colleagues who will be observing this special time. Ramadan Mubarak!

With my very best wishes for a wonderful weekend when it arrives, and my heartfelt thanks for everything you do for our children, young people and families.

Sue

Oracle Transition for Schools

The Oracle Transition for Schools Update and Q&A has now been split into two documents so that you can access the information you need more easily.

1. Oracle transition for schools finance update - Q&As
2. Oracle transition for schools HR payroll and pensions update - Q&As

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

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

In response to recent feedback from schools, we are pleased to announce a new designated space on the School Noticeboard for Schools Finance. This area will provide timely information and documentation to better support your needs.

The space will be regularly updated and will include useful links to additional information regarding Schools Finance.

We hope you find this resource helpful. If you have any queries please reach out to the team on SchoolsFinance@birmingham.gov.uk, or for Early Years EarlyYearsFunding@birmingham.gov.uk

Thank you for your continued support.

Schools Budgets 2025/26

Each year, Birmingham City Council sets the amount that maintained schools can spend. This includes:

• Individual Schools Budgets for Primary and Secondary Mainstream Schools
• Indicative High Needs Budgets for Maintained Special Schools
• Indicative Early Years Budgets for Infant, Primary and Maintained Nursery Schools

Cabinet approved Schools budgets on 11 February 2025. Where budgets are indicative, these will be updated at various points throughout the year.

Budget share guidance is also provided with a detailed breakdown of funding factors and the basis of allocating the schools budget share.

Budget documentation can be accessed at this link

Posting to the schools system from the monthly cash sheet

Schools have been asking for details of how to treat income and expenditure from the monthly cash sheet in their local finance systems.

Schools Cash Sheet Posting Guidance can be found at this link

2024/25 Year-End Guidance and workbook

We have published this week, the draft year-end guidance and workbook.  The workbook must be completed by all schools by 9 April 2025 and Schools Finance will be holding mandatory training sessions for schools on how to complete the workbook as well as daily drop-in sessions for schools to attend between 3-9 April 2025.  Please ensure you attend at least one of the training sessions and use the drop-in sessions as necessary to complete and submit the year-end workbooks on time.

You must ensure that you read the draft guidance and look at the workbook prior to attending a training session so that you are prepared to ask questions if necessary.  Completed workbook must be submitted by the deadline for BCC to meet statutory obligations by producing a Statement of Accounts for 2024/25. 

Year End guidance and workbook can be downloaded at this link

Training sessions have been arranged as follows:

• 03 March 2025 10:00-13:00:
• 05 March 2025 13:00-16:00:
• 13 March 2025 13:00-16:00:
• 18 March 2025 10:00-13:00:

Ramadan 2025 – Support for Schools

The holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin around 28 February 2025, depending on the sighting of the new moon. We have updated the guidance provided by NAHT last year to assist schools in supporting Muslim pupils who will be fasting.

During Ramadan, it is common for children, young people, and their families to follow the timetable of their local mosque. This period is marked by prayer, fasting, self-control, and goodwill towards others. Ramadan is anticipated to start on 28 February and will last for approximately 30 days, culminating in the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr.

Please find the following documentation to support schools:

• Ramadan Guidance 2025
• Ramadan model letter and request to fast form

If you require any further support and advice, please do not hesitate to contact Ayisha Ali, Senior Education Advisor at Ayisha.ali@birmingham.gov.uk. 

Arrangements for the Offer of Year 7 Places on Monday 3 March 2025

Information about the arrangements for secondary school offer day is now available on the council's website /Year_7_offer_day and has also been emailed to Year 6 parent/carers in Birmingham this week. This sets out the process for the offer of secondary school places on Monday 3 March 2025. Information will also be shared on the council's social media accounts.

Offer emails will be sent on 3 March 2025 and we expect that parent/carers will receive their emails by 4pm - the exact time will depend on their email service provider. Parent/carers will also receive their child’s offer by letter from 3 March 2025.

Secondary schools will be able to download their allocation reports via the Schools’ Portal from 00:01 am on 3 March 2025. Please note that applications received after the final closing date (31 October 2024) will be considered after applications received on time and processed in date order from 3 March 2025 onwards. 

Finally, to ensure consistency for all families, waiting lists in Birmingham will not be made available until 24 March 2025. Parent/carers who have applied for non-Birmingham schools should contact the relevant local authority for advice and guidance on their arrangements.

If you have any further queries, then please do not hesitate to email admissions@birmingham.gov.uk.

Healthy Schools Lunch & Learn: Innovative Ways to Teach RSHE/PSHE

The Birmingham Healthy Schools Lunch & Learn series offers online information/training sessions, approximately 20 minutes long, aimed at school staff.

The next session, "Innovative Ways to Teach RSHE/PSHE," will be held on Wednesday, 5th March at 4pm. This session is open to all school staff interested in the health and wellbeing of their students, with a special invitation to those who teach RSHE/PSHE.

The session will provide simple, flexible, and practical ideas to help build confidence in delivering PSHE/RSHE. These techniques use fictional characters and scenarios to explore challenging topics, ensuring the safety of both young people and staff.

Matthew Farmer, the Actor/Facilitator Manager from Loudmouth Education and Training, will deliver the session. With nearly 20 years of experience working with young people on RSHE topics, Matthew has conducted thousands of educational and training sessions for children, young people, professionals, and parents. Loudmouth offers a range of programmes and formats to support safeguarding and RSHE.

To register for this session, please follow this link: .

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

Invitation to Observe SEND Panel Meetings

As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and openness, we invite schools to observe our SEND Panel meetings. Initially, we seek feedback on how school and setting representatives can best contribute to these meetings. In the long term, we aim to offer representatives from educational settings the opportunity to attend the Panels on a rotational, termly basis. We encourage participation from all provisions.

The SEND Panel meets weekly, every Tuesday from 9:00am to 12:00pm, virtually via Microsoft Teams.

SEND Panel Remit:

• Decision to conduct EHC needs assessments (Decision to Assess - DTA)
• Decision to conduct EHC needs re-assessments
• Decision on whether to issue EHC plans (Decision to Issue - DTI)
• Confirming the type of placement
• Agreeing on the level of mainstream funding support within and outside the current mainstream resource allocation system
• Considering change of placement requests
• EHE referrals

If schools are interested in attending a future panel meeting, please contact Harry Davis at Harry.Davis@birmingham.gov.uk to express your interest.

We look forward to your potential involvement and feedback. 

Fully Funded Bikeability Cycle Training for Schools

We are pleased to inform you of changes to the cycle training for schools in Birmingham, effective April 2025. Following a recent tender process, Birmingham City Council has appointed three training providers to deliver free cycle training, funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) via the Bikeability Trust.

The DfT has set local authorities a target for all Year 5 & 6 pupils to have the opportunity to undertake training up to . These new arrangements enable us to increase our delivery capacity across Birmingham. We are grateful to the Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) and Aspire Active Education for their work delivering Bikeability over the past few years and are glad they will continue to be involved with this. We also welcome Bike Right as a new training provider and look forward to them joining the delivery team.

Your new training provider will contact you shortly to explain available and discuss your requirements. This may include supplying bikes for pupils who don’t have access to one and offering additional support for SEND pupils. We will seek to honour any existing bookings wherever possible.

The Bikeability Trust also has a programme available to equip primary school teaching staff to deliver cycle skills to pupils in PE lessons or during extra-curricular provision. Your school will also receive a fleet of six balance bikes and helmets to enable all pupils to take part. .

If you are a Modeshift STARS school in Birmingham, Bikeability can count towards this accreditation (e.g. Cycling C21-23 and Road Safety & Training R1). If you have any questions about the free Modeshift STARS scheme to promote safe, sustainable travel please contact connected@birmingham.gov.uk.

Bikeability Training Providers

• Sutton Coldfield
  • Wards: Four Oaks, Mere Green, Reddicap, Roughley, Trinity, Vesey, Walmley & Minworth, Wylde Green
  • Bikeability Provider: Aspire Active Education
  • Contact Email: Steph.Parris@aaeg.co.uk
• Erdington
  • Wards: Castle Vale, Erdington, Gravelly Hill, Kingstanding, Perry Common, Pype Hayes, Stockland Green (also part of Oscott ward)
  • Bikeability Provider: Aspire Active Education
  • Contact Email: Steph.Parris@aaeg.co.uk
• Hodge Hill
  • Wards: Bromford & Hodge Hill, Garretts Green, Glebe Farm & Tile Cross, Heartlands, Shard End, Ward End
  • Bikeability Provider:
  • Contact Email: bikeability@theaws.org
• Yardley
  • Wards: Acocks Green, Sheldon, Small Heath, South Yardley, Tyseley & Hay Mills, Yardley East, Yardley West & Stechford
  • Bikeability Provider: The Active Wellbeing Society
  • Contact Email: bikeability@theaws.org
• Ladywood
  • Wards: Alum Rock, Balsall Heath West, Bordesley & Highgate, Bordesley Green, Ladywood, Nechells, Newtown, Soho & Jewellery Quarter
  • Bikeability Provider:
  • Contact Email: midlands@bikeright.co.uk
• Perry Barr
  • Wards: Aston, Birchfield, Handsworth, Handsworth Wood, Holyhead, Lozells, Oscott, Perry Barr
  • Bikeability Provider: Bike Right
  • Contact Email: midlands@bikeright.co.uk
• Hall Green & Moseley
  • Wards: Hall Green North, Hall Green South, Moseley, Sparkbrook & Balsall Heath East, Sparkhill
  • Bikeability Provider: Bike Right
  • Contact Email: midlands@bikeright.co.uk
• Selly Oak
  • Wards: Billesley, Bournbrook & Selly Park, Bournville & Cotteridge, Brandwood & Kings Heath, Druids Heath & Monyhull, Stirchley
  • Bikeability Provider: Bike Right
  • Contact Email: midlands@bikeright.co.uk
• Edgbaston
  • Wards: Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne, North Edgbaston, Quinton
  • Bikeability Provider: Bike Right
  • Contact Email: midlands@bikeright.co.uk
• Northfield
  • Wards: Allens Cross, Frankley Great Park, Kings Norton North, Kings Norton South, Longbridge & West Heath, Northfield, Rubery & Rednal, Weoley & Selly Oak
  • Bikeability Provider: Bike Right
  • Contact Email: midlands@bikeright.co.uk

Birmingham Public Health School Nursing Offer – Please Have Your Say!

We are exploring how the School Health Support Service (public health school nurses), commissioned by Public Health at Birmingham City Council, could be delivered after February 2027. To create a model that meets schools' needs within our limited resources, we need your input.

Please take a few minutes to complete this survey: . Your feedback will help us develop the future public health school nursing model.

For any queries or further information, please contact our team at HealthySchools@birmingham.gov.uk.

Thank you for your support!

Birmingham Community NHS Foundation Trust

Need extra School Nursing support? The Birmingham Community NHS Foundation Trust can help through its BCHC Plus (Traded Services) School Nursing service. This service supplements the NHS core school nurse service by offering additional education-focused support.

Schools often face health-related challenges that require more clinical support. BCHC provide the option to purchase extra school nurse time to address these needs. Services include:

• Health and wellbeing curriculum input
• Addressing health-related issues in school
• Dedicated support for broader health challenges
• Liaison with GPs, Health Visitors, and other professionals
• Health education and promotion activities

To learn more about how BCHC Plus can benefit your school, pupils, families, and staff, contact the team at 0121 466 6266 or email bchc.bchcplus@nhs.net. They will arrange a Teams meeting to discuss your needs in detail.

Free Veolia Education Sessions

the UK's leading resource management company, is offering free, curriculum-aligned education sessions to schools in Birmingham.

The offering teaches pupils about the importance of living sustainably, best practices when it comes to caring for the planet, and managing waste and recycling in the home. Raising awareness of the waste hierarchy (reduce, reuse, recycle, recover), what it is, and how it can be used to rethink how we look at waste, the Journey of Recycling, and the purpose of an Energy Recovery Facility.

The session offers a range of engaging workshops, talks and assemblies, which can be tailored to different age groups. Sessions can be arts-and-craft or STEM focused, and our teaching compliments science, PSHE, geography, and art topics. Sessions can be delivered in the , or an ECO Officer can deliver educational sessions in schools or deliver the session virtually.

For further information, please don't hesitate to contact Isla Sutton, ECO Officer at isla.sutton@veolia.com

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AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run

AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run returns this May, with a bigger-then-ever event for children and teenagers taking centre stage on Saturday 3 May.

Taking place at Alexander Stadium, this year’s race sees revamped versions of the Mini (3-8 years old) and Junior (9-15) events, where Minis will take on a 1.5km route and juniors are challenged by a 2.5km route. 

Having celebrated its 10th staging this year, the Junior & Mini event has seen thousands of young runners cross the start and finish line since its inception in 2013, raising tens of thousands of pounds for local and national charities over the years.

The 2024 event sold out months in advance and with a limited number of spaces available so don’t miss out!

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