Although these recordings of webinars are from 2023 they are still very relevant and useful. From Department for Education subject experts, they cover Low Level Concerns, Single Central Record, Sexting/Online Harms and Safeguarding Partners. They are available here.
Category: News
Mobile phones in schools
New guidance from the Department for Education covers how to implement a policy that prohibits the use of mobile phones throughout the school day. The guidance can be downloaded from their website, here.
Parent guide to school complaints
In response to rising complaints by parents and carers, Parentkind has puiblished a guide that aims to help parents and carers deal with issues before they become complaints, and to understand the difference between rasing issues and making (formal) complaints. The guidance is available here, on their website,
Generative AI: product safety standards
The Department for Education has published updated guidelines for AI that developers and suppliers should incorporate for educational products. The guidelines are available on their website, here.
£200 million SEND teacher training programme
Acting on the feedback from parents shared through the national conversation on SEND, the government is making sure that children in every classroom will benefit from brilliant teachers trained in supporting a wide range of needs. So the Department of Education announced, on January 16th, new SEND courses available to all teaching staff to deepen … Continue reading £200 million SEND teacher training programme
Use of reasonable force in schools
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.
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
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