The government guidance about the use of physical restraint in schools has been updated and comes into force from April this year.You can download both the current and new guidance documents from the Department of Educatiobn website, here.
Author: Bruce Levitan
Government modernises exam records with new app: GCSE results online
The Department for Education today annouced that Year 11 students across England will be able to view their GCSE results on their phones for the first time from this summer. You can read the full press release here.
Generation AI: fears of ‘social divide’ unless all children learn computing skills
This is the title of a Guardian article by Robert Booth, UK technology editor, published on 5th January. It explores the danger of \ splitb developing between those who are AI literate and those who are not. It quotes Philip Colligan, the chief executive of the digital education charity the Raspberry Pi Foundation, who warns … Continue reading Generation AI: fears of ‘social divide’ unless all children learn computing skills
RISE attendance and behaviour hubs programme
New guidance for school leaders on the RISE (regional improvement for standards and excellence) attendance and behaviour hubs programme, its benefits and support, and how to join, has been published by the Department for Education (DfE). You can read about it and sign up on their website, here.
NGA publishes policy paper on SEND
Findings from NGA’s annual governance survey reveal an education system under growing strain. Supporting pupils with SEND has seen the steepest rise as the top challenge for governing boards across England (cited by 63% of respondents) and is accompanied by sharp increases in SEND-related pressures such as difficulties accessing funding and securing education, health and … Continue reading NGA publishes policy paper on SEND
Ofsted annual report 2024/25: education, children’s services and skills
According to Ofsted’s Annual Report 19% more children are missing education entirely compared to 2024. It notes that "The gap between disadvantaged children and their peers starts early and widens through education phases. Exacerbating this, disadvantaged children too often miss school and are unable to recover lost learning, ending up in alternative provision or out … Continue reading Ofsted annual report 2024/25: education, children’s services and skills
Maximising value for pupils: guidance for schools and trusts
The DfE has published guidance, support and a policy document for schools and trusts to maximise value from resources, ensuring every pound delivers for children. This includes: a policy paper: Maximising value for pupils; Achieving better value when buying; Managing financial and physical assets; Strategic workforce planning for schools and trusts; Improve your school's and … Continue reading Maximising value for pupils: guidance for schools and trusts
Access to early SEND support through Best Start Family Hubs
Best Start Family Hubs are part of the governmenta's new Child Poverty Strategy (see this post for more on that). Best Start Family Hubs are to act as a one-stop-shop for parents to access SEND professional and services to support speech and language development. As part of the government’s pledge to roll out Best Start … Continue reading Access to early SEND support through Best Start Family Hubs
Child Poverty Strategy
The government has published its long awaited Child Poverty Strategy, which can be found on their website here. The strategy sets out the steps they are taking to reduce child poverty in the short term, as well as putting in place the building blocks needed to change the course we’re on and create long-term change. … Continue reading Child Poverty Strategy
The rise of deepfake pornography in schools
This Guardian article highlights the growing problem of deepfake pornography in schools, noting that the use of ‘nudify’ apps is becoming more and more prevalent, with hundreds of teachers having seen images created by pupils, often of their peers. They report that a new poll of 4,300 secondary school teachers in England, carried out by … Continue reading The rise of deepfake pornography in schools
NAHT loses appeal against Ofsted judicial review refusal
This Schools Week article reports on the outcome of the NAHT appeal against Ofsted. The new Ofsted inspection regime is highly unpopular amongst educators - they report that the renewed framework is increasing the burden on senior staff. The new inspections, which began this month with volunteer schools, involve settings being judged with one of … Continue reading NAHT loses appeal against Ofsted judicial review refusal
The Importance of Local Education Partnerships
A new Area-based Education Partnership Alliance (AEPA) report – Belonging and Excellence: The Importance of Local Education Partnerships - describes how place-based, school-led partnerships are reconnecting schools, academies and communities to deliver improvement, inclusion and belonging. You can download it here.
Reading for Pleasure Inquiry
The number of children reading for pleasure is declining rapidly. This new government inquiry will look at the reasons behind this decline and what can be done to reverse this trend. They are currently calling for evidence for more detail about the inquiry. You can submit evidence until 23:59 on 9 January 2026. Details here.
Budget 2025: Everything schools need to know
Schools Week have provided a useful summary of what's in the Chancellor's autumn budget for education. Here is the link.
Therapists warn of dangers as children turn to AI for mental health advice
A survey from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) reveals that more than a third (38%) of therapists working with under 18s have clients seeking mental health guidance from AI platforms and that nearly one in five therapists (19%) reported children receiving harmful mental health advice from AI. The Mindometer survey, which gathered … Continue reading Therapists warn of dangers as children turn to AI for mental health advice
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