The DfE has announced that local areas will begin increasing access to speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and educational psychologists from September 2026. More children and young people with SEND will get specialist support without needing a diagnosis, as the government begins rolling out a new Experts at Hand service across England backed by new £1.8 … Continue reading Local areas prepare new Experts at Hand teams
Category: Department for Education
Information sharing duty statutory guidance
The DfE is seeking views on draft statutory guidance on the information sharing duty introduced in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act. You can respond on their website, here.
PE and sport premium to be replaced
The DfE have announced major funding to support new PE and school sport, with targeted support to ensure all children can access equal opportunities for activity, in a scheme that replaces the existing arrangements. Backed by £580 million and set to be fully up and running from Spring 2027, the Network will replace the existing … Continue reading PE and sport premium to be replaced
Delivering the children’s social care reset: an implementation plan for local partners
The DfE have published Delivering the children’s social care reset, provides the government’s implementation plan for reforming children’s social care in England. It follows the keeping children safe, helping families thrive policy paper. The plan outlines how local partners can: deliver improved early help strengthen support for family networks ensure stable, registered and high‑quality placements … Continue reading Delivering the children’s social care reset: an implementation plan for local partners
Key changes introduced in Working together to safeguard children 2026
This Department for Education (DfE) Statutory guidance on multi-agency working to help, support and protect children. sets out what organisations and agencies who have functions relating to children must and should do to help, protect and promote the welfare of all children and young people under the age of 18, including unborn children, in England. … Continue reading Key changes introduced in Working together to safeguard children 2026
Working lives of teachers and leaders: wave 4
The DfE's fourth report on teacher wellbeing finds that some things are improving, e.g. flexible working and lower working hours, and compared with previous years, there was an increase in the proportion of teachers and leaders who agreed that their workload was acceptable. Although the last point is good, it should be noted that almost … Continue reading Working lives of teachers and leaders: wave 4
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 is now law. It gives the government the power to introduce new requirements. Schools doen’t need to make any changes immediately – some of the guidance is still being consulted on or finalised, and we’re awaiting secondary legislation. Some of the key changes to come include: Allergy safety … Continue reading The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026
Experts at Hand & Local Authority SEND Transformation Fund
The Department for Education has announced the funding for local authorities 2026 to 2027 for the new Experts at Hand & Local Authority SEND Transformation Fund. You can find details on their website, here.
Getting children ready for reception
‘Getting children ready for reception’ offers guidance from the Department for Education on how to support early, joined-up, inclusive transition practice. It includes case studies, with practical examples from both schools and early years settings. You can download it here.
School Food Standards: updating the legislative framework
The Department for Education is seeking views on updating the School Food Standards, so that every school is supported with the latest nutrition guidance. This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 12 June 2026. To take part, follow this link.
Relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education
From September 2026 all schools have to implement the updated guidance from the DfE on the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum. This includes having an updated policy. There are various provisions at both primary and secondary level. For example there is stronger focus on physical and digital safety, the use of accurate anatomical … Continue reading Relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education
Every child achieving and thriving
The long-awaited education policy white paper was published on 23 February. Entitled Every child achieving and thriving, The Forward notes: This white paper is our plan to build a system that matches the ambition we have for our children, a system that works for the children neglected for too long, that stretches every child further, … Continue reading Every child achieving and thriving
RISE team evaluation published
The Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) team programme has been found to be positive, collaborative and beneficial according to the government’s interim evaluation report investigating the first cohort of schools identified as requiring targeted support. You can download the report here.
10-year plan to revitalise schools and colleges for every child
The government will put an end to this cycle of patching and mending buildings that have already deteriorated, as the Education Secretary unveils today (Wednesday 11 February) a 10-year plan to transform the education estate so that children and young people across the country have the high-quality classrooms that are fit for purpose and resilient … Continue reading 10-year plan to revitalise schools and colleges for every child
How suspensions in school can help tackle behaviour and boost pupil support
This DfE blog article sets out advice regarding internal versus external suspensions and notes that guidance will be published shortly.
dsga.org.uk 