Early Years Forum

Acting together as partners to raise educational outcomes and break down barriers of poverty and/or inequality faced by Birmingham’s children, young people, families, and communities.

Background and principles

Governance arrangements for the Birmingham education system have been reviewed with the aim of nurturing system-wide educational improvement via purposeful system leadership and effective collaboration networks.

The following principles will guide all the work of the forum:

  • Children and young people are at the heart of everything we do.

  • We are ambitious for every child and young person in Birmingham or who belong to Birmingham.

  • We are one partnership, with one set of shared priorities

 

Aims

To nurture system-wide educational improvement through purposeful development and implementation of education system leadership, with a sharp focus on raising outcomes, and improving the life chances of our babies, children, and young people in Birmingham.

To strengthen the collective voice of education leaders across our city

 
 

Objectives

  • Forge effective collaboration and professional learning networks across our education system.

  • Facilitate sharing of information, good practice, and evidence between Birmingham’s early years settings, with a sharp focus on raising educational outcomes.

  • Create collaboration space for formal consultation with Headteachers, and Early Years Leaders representing Birmingham.

  • Scrutinise and make best use of data analysis, insight, lived experience and evaluation to strengthen our partnership arrangements 

  • Report on challenges at locality, city, and regional levels 

  • Ensure that strategic implementation programmes and national policy can improve outcomes and tackle inequity 

  • Develop and maintain a regular dialogue between the Local Authority (LA) and its partners.

  •  Ensure parity across Early Years, Primary, Secondary, Post-16, Special, and Alternative Provision

Membership of this group should reflect all sectors where our young children and their families can access early education and support services. 

The suggested membership is:

• 1 representative from each of the 10 districts. District reps should be selected via their district Early Years Network steering group.

• 2 Primary Head Teachers from schools with a nursery class

• 2 Maintained Nursery School Head Teachers

• 2 Representatives from the PVI sector

• 1 Childminder

• 1 Out of School Provider

• A Primary Headteacher from Primary Fora

• A Special School Primary Head Teacher from Special Fora

Along with attendees from Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Education Partnership, Birmingham Children’s Trust and Community Partners.

To find the name of the representative for your district please check your district page.

 

Working within Birmingham Balanced Education System

 
 
 

Upcoming meetings and minutes

Meetings are currently held on Wednesdays at 1.00-2.30pm via Microsoft Teams. You can view upcoming meeting dates and download past meetings’ minutes below.

Dates for 2024-2025:

If you have any questions or comments related to the EY Forum, or would like to see any of the documents associated with the minutes, please contact Abi Boyce (clerk to EY Forum), email: abi.boyce@services4schools.org.uk