In response to the recent Public Accounts Committee report on the Government's handling of SEND, the DfE published their intentions on 9 May. In it they respond to the 7 conclusions that the PAC had published: The SEN system is inconsistent, inequitable and not delivering in line with expectations, which inevitably undermines parents’ confidence in … Continue reading Support for children and young people with special educational needs
Tag: DfE
Animated guide to Working Together to Safeguard Children
The DfE have produced a colourful animated guide to Working Together to Safeguard Children - you can find it on YouTube here. An accompanying PDF document suitabloe for children and families is on their website, here.
DfE Sustainability and climate change strategy
The DfE's Sustainability and climate change strategy for schools is availbale from their website, here.
Education Secretary keynote speech at Festival of Childhood
Here is the full transcript of Bridget Phillipson's address at the Festival of Childhood from 3 April 2025. Among other things she mentioned the government's investment of over £8bn in Early Years, funding for 300 primary schools to expand their nurseries and set up new ones, uplift in the early years pupil premium for disadvantaged … Continue reading Education Secretary keynote speech at Festival of Childhood
Education and Skills Funding Agency transfer into the Department for Education
As of 1st April 2025 the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) transferred into the Department for Education. A letter from its outgoing CEO David Withey was published on March 31st to accounting officers in academy trusts and colleges. You can read it here.
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024: policy summary
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill aims to change the law to better protect children and raise standards in education. The bill and its supporting documents are available on the UK Parliament website. The policy summary contains information on the measures within the bill. It sets out: what the government aims to achieve through each … Continue reading Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024: policy summary
No child left behind in plans to narrow the digital divide in education
The DfE, alongside the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, have today (21 March 2025) launched a consultation on their plans to make digital standards a requirement for all schools, alongside £45 million investment to improve connectivity. The press release states: "Schools across the country are being supported by the government to close the digital … Continue reading No child left behind in plans to narrow the digital divide in education
Curriculum and Assessment Review: interim report
The DfE published its independent review of the curriculum and assessment system in England, with statistical analysis on 18 March 2025. In July 2024, the Government commissioned Professor Becky Francis CBE to convene and chair a panel of experts to conduct the Curriculum and Assessment Review. This is their first interuim report. The evidence shows … Continue reading Curriculum and Assessment Review: interim report
Serious youth violence research programme
The DfE has put up a web page with links to reports which explore how systems of support may protect young people from, or expose them to, involvement in serious youth violence. These reports are from the serious violence research programme, which is co-led by the Department for Education and Youth Endowment Fund. You can … Continue reading Serious youth violence research programme
School accountability reform
In tandem with Ofsted's new consultation on inspection, the DfE has launched a consultation on school accountability principles, school profiles and a stronger approach to school improvement. It runs from 3 February to 28 April 2025. You can respond to it on the DfE website, here.
SEND: guidance for school governing boards
The DfE have updated their guidance on SEND for Governing Bodies. They state that the purpose of this guidance is intended to: support school governing boards’ understanding of their role and responsibilities in relation to children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities; empower governors and trustees to hold their schools to … Continue reading SEND: guidance for school governing boards
Breakfast clubs early adopter guidance
The DfE has published new guidance for early adopters of the free breakfast clubs scheme (the new breakfast club offer). Benefits of the scheme should include: Free universal breakfast clubs give children a supportive start to the school day, ensuring they are ready to learn and make the most of the opportunities schools offer. Schools … Continue reading Breakfast clubs early adopter guidance
Disadvantage gap: 9 things DfE told MPs
Here is a useful article from TES that summarises what happened when the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) quizzed Department for Education officials on its strategy to close the disadvantage gap, as well as on how it allocates funding and ensures money is well spent. Read the article here.
Delay to Key stage 4 performance announcement, 2024
The DfE has released a notice stating that the publication of Key stage 4 performance, 2024 is delayed due to quality issues in data submitted by an awarding organisation which were identified in the “Check Your Performance Measures Data” exercise. The information won't be available until November - December 2024, which is after the date … Continue reading Delay to Key stage 4 performance announcement, 2024
Working lives of teachers and leaders
The working lives of teachers and leaders is an annual DfE survey of teachers and leaders in state schools in England. The survey explores teachers and leaders’: workload, wellbeing and flexible working arrangements attitudes to pay experiences of professional development future career intentions This summary presents headline findings from wave 2 of the survey, carried … Continue reading Working lives of teachers and leaders
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