Lanesfield Primary School is celebrating after being awarded the Platinum OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) Award – the highest level of accreditation – with an exceptional score of 94%. The award recognises schools that provide outstanding play opportunities and environments for children. It places Lanesfield among the leading schools in the UK for high‑quality, inclusive and imaginative play. Before Lanesfield began its OPAL journey, playtimes were challenging, with limited activities, restricted spaces and children separated by age. Since then, the school has transformed its approach to play, creating a vibrant, creative and collaborative environment for pupils of all ages.…

The council is to invest around £1.66million to create and enhance Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) resources at Ocker Hill Academy in Tipton and Wood Green Academy in Wednesbury. This funding will help more children and young people to learn, grow and thrive in their local communities and contribute to new purpose‑built facilities being delivered as part of the Department for Education’s national School Rebuild Programme, which is comprehensively redeveloping both academy sites. At Ocker Hill Academy, the existing SEND resource offer will be expanded from 10 to 15 places, strengthening an already well‑established offer for pupils…

People in Wolverhampton are being urged to know the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease following an outbreak of Meningitis B in Kent which has sadly claimed the lives of 2 young people. Meningococcal disease is an uncommon but serious illness caused by meningococcal bacteria. Very rarely, these bacteria can lead to meningitis – inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord – and septicaemia, or blood poisoning. The onset of illness is often sudden and early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are vital to prevent serious illness which can lead to permanent damage to the brain or…

A major new Learning Campus is set to open on the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital site, marking a significant milestone in the regeneration of Smethwick and the wider Sandwell area. The campus will expand access to education, training, and professional development for residents of all ages, helping local people gain the skills needed for future careers in a rapidly changing economy. Developed through a unique partnership between Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS trust and its Learning Works, Sandwell College, the University of Wolverhampton, Aston University, and Sandwell Council the Learning Campus will provide access to entry-level learning through…

Solihull Council’s adult social care services have been rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in a report published today (Wednesday 18 March 2026). The Council received a score of 84% and that places Solihull fifth in the country against other local authorities that have had a recent CQC inspection (as of 18 March 2026). The inspection looked at nine quality areas in which Solihull achieved three ‘Outstanding’ and six ‘Good’ ratings – very few councils have achieved ‘Good’ or better for all nine areas. Councillor Tony Dicicco, Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Health,…

The success of the City of Wolverhampton Council’s pioneering Technology Enabled Care (TEC) project was celebrated at a prestigious international awards ceremony on Monday night (16 March, 2026). The council and its partners were shortlisted for one award at the International Technology Enabled Care Awards at the ICC in Birmingham, while Alcove, which delivers the service in Wolverhampton, was triumphant in another category. TEC is helping residents in Wolverhampton access innovative technology that provides everyday support, enabling them to live the independent lives they want. It offers a wide range of products tailored to people’s eligible care needs, such as…

Sandwell Council is delighted to announce it has been awarded nearly £300,000 from the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Cultural and Creative Investment Programme. The funding will support and upgrade cultural and heritage infrastructure across Sandwell, with the aim of increasing cultural activity and participation for residents of all ages. Investment will be directed towards a wide range of cultural spaces and initiatives, including enhancements to digital infrastructure, improvements to high streets, and upgrades to museums, archives and libraries. A portion of the funding will also be distributed as grants to grassroots and community organisations, helping to strengthen the borough’s…

Great food and great prices will be right on the doorstep for residents as a new community shop opens today in Heath Town at Hope Community Project. It is the latest in a network of shops across the city, which were first created back in 2021 to help with the pandemic and the cost of living crisis. They are just one of many measures taken by the council to ensure city residents can access good food on a budget and gain the knowledge to cook and prepare it to nourish their families, especially in these difficult times. Hope…

Works will begin in sections of Lichfield Street and Queen Square early next month (April) as delivery of the major £19million Wolverhampton city centre transformation scheme progresses. There will be a short pause to operations on upper Darlington Street, between the Waterloo Road and North Street junctions, while the new locations are set up, after technical designs were finalised. First stage works on lower Darlington Street were completed in November ahead of the busy Christmas period. The overall scheme across all 3 locations remains on track to be completed in 2027 and will deliver high quality improvements such…

The second phase of a Wolverhampton Council scheme is underway to replace 105 post-war prefabs on two sites in the city and provide existing residents with 111 new energy efficient council bungalows and 4 flats. Works are ongoing on the first phase of 36 new bungalows on the Lincoln Green Estate, Bushbury, with the first 8 bungalows completed and residents already enjoying their new homes. As part of phase 2, a further 63 new bungalows and four flats will be delivered on the Lincoln Green Estate and another 12 in Wood End, Wednesfield. It is part of the…