Articles
Gender-questioning children under draft KCSIE 2026: a safeguarding perspective
24 Feb 2026The draft 2026 revision of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), if adopted, would introduce significant statutory changes in relation to gender-questioning children. Most notably, the Department for Education wishes to embed this content directly within KCSIE itself, rather than issuing standalone guidance.
New guidance for parents: communicating positively and building supportive relationships with schools
05 Feb 2026The Department of Education has led the curation of new guidance with Parentkind, to help parents provide feedback, communicate concerns and raise complaints clearly and respectfully to schools. This guidance has been developed in collaboration with Ofsted and members of the Improving Education Together Board. Schools are encouraged to share this guidance with parents and to make it readily accessible to promote positive communications.
New guidance on mobile phones and AI could impact school regulation
05 Feb 2026The Department for Education (DfE) and Ofsted are introducing new measures that could significantly impact schools' regulatory obligations. The proposed measures focus on mobile phone policies and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools, placing emphasis on safeguarding, wellbeing, and accountability in educational settings.
Children and Wellbeing Bill: Proposed MAT-Level inspections and expanded intervention powers
05 Feb 2026The Children and Wellbeing Bill continues its passage through Parliament. Newly tabled clauses would, if enacted, introduce a statutory framework for inspection and intervention at multi-academy trust (“MAT”) level. These proposals represent a notable development in the accountability regime for academy trusts and reflect an increasing policy focus on trust-wide performance, leadership and capacity.
Preparing for the new rules on restrictive interventions in Academies
05 Feb 2026From 1 April 2026, Academies will be subject to new legal requirements on the use of restrictive interventions, including reasonable force, seclusion and non-force related restraint.
Avoid penalties, protect your registration: Understanding the new profit cap & oversight regime for children's social care providers
29 Jan 2026As the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill (CWSB) moves closer to royal assent, children’s social care providers are preparing for one of the most significant regulatory shifts in recent years. Two areas in particular that demand attention are the proposed profit cap and the new provider oversight regime. Both measures signal a clear intention from government to tighten control, increase transparency, and drive-up standards across the sector.
