The DfE have published non-statutory guidance to support schools and colleges to design and deliver a high-quality enrichment offer for all pupils and students. While the guidance is non-statutory, it will be a reference point for Ofsted from September 2026, meaning enrichment will increasingly be seen through the lens of how purposeful, broad and inclusive … Continue reading The enrichment framework for schools and colleges
Category: Department for Education
Inclusive education estates
The DfE have published guidance on design adaptations to support an inclusive and accessible environment in mainstream education settings. This is supported by investment of £3.7 billion over five years enabling local areas to make education estates more accessible and inclusive, delivering a transformational expansion of inclusion bases in mainstream settings and expansion of special schools where … Continue reading Inclusive education estates
Inclusive mainstream fund: 2026 to 2027
The government have issued an update to the Inclusive mainstream fund: 2026 to 2027. They sate that over time they aim to re-balance funding for SEND, directing much more of it into core budgets for schools and colleges. This will allow planning for provision, employing staff and delivering interventions, without having to go through lengthy … Continue reading Inclusive mainstream fund: 2026 to 2027
School attendance: annual and one-off events driving short-term absences
A report published on 9 June by the DfE showcases a number of different scenarios and their association with pupils’ school attendance. These are illustrative examples: we know each local community will have its own unique circumstances and that there are similar annual and occasional events all across the country taking a variety of forms. … Continue reading School attendance: annual and one-off events driving short-term absences
Record numbers of children with mental health support in schools
A new press release dated 10 June from the DfE states that the government is on track to meet its manifesto promise that every school and college will have access to mental health support teams by the end of 2029. Read more here.
Communicating with parents about school attendance
The DfE has published information and resources to help schools communicate well with parents and carers to support improved attendance. You can find it on their website, here.
Local areas prepare new Experts at Hand teams
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
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.
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