Communications (test)

Solihull Health and Wellbeing Board partners have unanimously agreed to support a call encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).

Children’s vaccine uptake has been slowly decreasing across England since 2012-13, meaning that children have missed out and may remain vulnerable to serious or even fatal infections.

In Solihull, almost 5,500 children aged 1-18 have either had no MMR vaccine or been under-vaccinated because they have only had one of the two recommended doses.

The free MMR vaccine is a safe and effective way of protecting against measles, as well as mumps and rubella.

The first MMR vaccine is given when the child is 1 year old, with a pre-school booster at 3 years 4 months of age. Both doses are required to achieve maximum protection. If children and young adults have missed these vaccinations, it’s not too late.

Parents should check their child’s red book to see if they’ve received MMR vaccinations as scheduled, or speak to their GP surgery if they are unsure.

Young people aged 15-25 are also being encouraged to check that they are covered as they attend their first festivals, travel to countries with ongoing measles outbreaks or start university.

Please share this information with parents, staff, and students (as appropriate) at your school or college. You can also read the full press release here.

Solihull Council supports schools with learning outside the classroom opportunities and arranging a wide range of out of school activities, e.g. visits to museums, trips to the countryside, taking part in adventurous activities and residential trips, etc.

In preparation for summer trips or new visits in the autumn term, we wanted to take the opportunity of reminding schools of the information, guidance, and support which is available to ensure that educational trips and visits are safely managed and continue to be successful learning opportunities.

The guidance includes some changes to the approval of visits from 1 September 2019 to help streamline the process in the planning of educational trips. Please ensure all relevant staff including senior leaders and educational visit coordinators are aware of this information.

CALLING ALL POETS: Benjamin Zephaniah revealed as the guest opener for Lichfield Cathedral’s first poetry competition and festival. 

The Very Reverend Adrian Dorber, Dean of Lichfield, invites you and your students to participate in Lichfield Cathedral’s first poetry competition.

Please find the competition pack attached: a poster for your classroom, information for teachers, entry form and submission guidelines.

Visit the cathedral website for information about the poetry festival and much more. https://www.lichfield-cathedral.org/

I would be grateful if you could let me have notification of your five INSET days for the new academic year September 2019-July 2020.

We have been advised by our Electoral Registration department that there will be elections on 7 May 2020. You should bear this in mind when planning your INSET dates.

Please complete the attached form and return it to me at lbartlett@solihull.gov.uk  as soon as possible.

The early May bank holiday in 2020 will move from Monday 4 May to Friday 8 May to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day which takes place on 8 May, and to enable people to pay tribute to those who served in one of the most significant events in our country’s history, Business Secretary Greg Clark announced on 07 June 2019.

Only the second time ever that the early May bank holiday has been moved – the first was in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of VE Day

The occasion will remember the contribution of British, Commonwealth and Allied armed forces personnel; those who contributed to the war effort and safeguarded the Home Front. As well as marking the Allies’ victory in 1945, the bank holiday will serve as an opportunity to pay tribute to those who have served and continue to serve in the UK Armed Forces and their families.