SEND and Inclusion Update - May 2025
Dear colleagues
I hope this message finds you well and that you’ve had a restful Easter break. As we settle into the new term, I wanted to share this month’s SEND and Inclusion updates with you.
A key focus this month is the Ordinarily Available Guidance (OAG). We’ve recently circulated a short survey to gather feedback on how schools are using the OAG in practice. Your insights are incredibly valuable in shaping how we support inclusive education in Birmingham. If you haven’t already, please do encourage your SENCo or SEND Lead to take a few minutes to complete the survey: .
We’re also pleased to share an update on the Delivering Better Value (DBV) Programme, led by Dr Pauline Bromfield. The programme continues to build momentum, and this month’s article provides further detail on High Needs Funding and the next steps. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has contributed their time and expertise to this important work – your commitment is truly appreciated.
As always, thank you for your continued dedication to supporting children and young people with SEND.
With very best wishes
Helen
Helen Ellis
Director of SEND and Inclusion
Ordinarily Available Guidance (OAG)
Lots of work is happening around the OAG, both within schools and settings and across the wider partnership, and it is great to hear how this is being used by schools to support their SEND provision and practice. There have been a number of schools who have been using the OAG as part of an action research project over the last 12 months, and we are really pleased to be able to share their ‘Stories of Implementation’ to showcase practice in the next SENCo Noticeboard. Similar action research projects have taken place with groups of parents, working alongside the SENCo for their child’s school on various aspects of the OAG, as part of understanding what is ordinarily available provision for their child - we hope to share their stories next term.
The EYS version has now been drafted and is ready to share with EYS settings and reception classes across primary schools and a working group has now been established to develop the Post 16 OAG.
We will be working across the partnership to review the school age version during the Autumn term, ready for the online version to be published April 2026 – this will incorporate the EYS, school age and Post 16 elements. We will be inviting schools and settings to get involved in this to share their views and support any revisions, as well as looking for schools and settings willing to share their practice through video clips to be published on the Online OAG.
With this in mind, we shared a short survey on the last SENCo Noticeboard asking schools how they have they been using the OAG in their setting, including what’s worked well for them and any challenges and potential barriers. 36 schools have responded so far and we will be using their feedback to inform the school age revision and shape the online OAG, so please make sure your SENCo/SEND Lead has completed the . It’s important your views are heard.
For any queries or further information please contact Heather Wood at Heather.Wood@birmingham.gov.uk.
Delivering Better Value Workstream 2
High Needs Funding Update and Next Actions
DBV workstream 2 are currently providing, for Headteachers, a repeat series of webinars (30 minutes) to provide an update on the most recent action, the high needs spend analysis on sample returns from schools. The webinars will also be inviting expressions of interest from Headteachers to join two task and finish groups that are supporting the option development phase of the workstream that will take place this term.
Group one is looking at future options for high needs top up funding for pupils with EHC plans. Currently we have unaligned banded resource systems deployed separately in our education sectors. The task and finish group will involve five meetings between May and early September. It is important to have representation from mainstream (including early years), resource base, and special schools.
Group One will meet on the following dates:
- Tuesdays 9:30 -11:00 am
- 10.06.25. 17.06.26, 01.07.25, 09.07.25 and 09.09.25
Group two is the final stage of the review of SEN Support Provision Plans, the current pre-statutory high needs funding model in Birmingham. The group will support recommendations regarding future options. The task and finish group will involve 2 meetings in June and July. It is important to have representation from early years, primary and secondary mainstream settings.
Group Two will meet on the following dates:
- Wednesday 18.06.25 1.30-3.00pm
- Monday 07.07.25 1.30 -3.00pm
Expression of interest for the task and finish groups can be sent to: DeliveringBetterValue@birmingham.gov.uk
The webinar dates are as follows:
A recording of the webinar will be made available after the final session along with a FAQ response to any queries or questions raised in the chat or via email.
For any queries or further information please contact the team at DeliveringBetterValue@birmingham.gov.uk. They will be pleased to assist.