Articles
- Articles
Free breakfast clubs and SEND: what should schools consider?
13 Oct 2026The rollout of free breakfast clubs is creating a new practical challenge for some schools: what happens when a pupil wants to attend, but needs significant additional support to do so safely?
This is an issue we are increasingly seeing schools grapple with, particularly where pupils require 1:1 supervision or support with complex medical needs. Schools may already be struggling to staff their existing wraparound provision and may find that support funded during the school day does not extend to breakfast club.
Can a school simply say that it cannot accommodate the pupil? The answer requires careful consideration.
- Articles
Inclusion strategies: a new requirement for academies and maintained schools
13 Oct 2026The DfE has published new non-statutory guidance to assist academies and maintained schools to manage their use of the Government's new Inclusive Mainstream Fund (IMF).
Mandatory conditions of the IMF grant include:
Investing the school's IMF allocation in accordance with the 7 principles of inclusion
Publishing on the school's website an inclusion strategy setting out how the school is identifying and meeting commonly occurring and predictable needs within their pupil cohort and embedding inclusive practice
The first strategy must be published on each school's website by 31 December 2026.
- Articles
Severance and executive pay: the key employment law changes in the Academy Trust Handbook 2026
13 Oct 2026The Department for Education's (DfE) new Academy Trust Handbook 2026 (Handbook) took effect on 1 October 2026. We looked at the headline changes across the Handbook in our briefing on 29 July 2026. In this follow-up we focus on two particularly important areas from an employment law perspective: severance payments and executive pay.
- Articles
DfE land transaction guidance: what Academy Trusts need to know about the 2026 refresh
13 Oct 2026The Department for Education has just updated its guidance on school land transactions. We've summarised what has changed and why it matters.
- Articles
MAT mergers: five top tips for trusts
13 Oct 2026MAT mergers are increasingly forming part of the strategic conversation for trusts considering how best to build resilience, strengthen school improvement capacity and create sustainable organisations for the future. We are seeing more trusts explore whether combining their resources, expertise and infrastructure could deliver greater benefits for the schools they serve.
- Articles
What is my claim worth? How the Courts value a claim
12 Oct 2026Making a personal injury claim can be stressful and confusing. One of the most common questions we are asked is, "What is my claim worth?"
While no two cases are the same, the courts follow a structured process to ensure claims are valued fairly. Here’s a simple overview of how compensation is assessed.
