Articles

The Government has published a Schools White Paper entitled "Every child achieving and thriving" and accompanying SEND reform consultation: Putting children and young people first, setting out what would represent the most significant restructuring of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system since the Children and Families Act 2014.

The Department for Education (DfE) has launched its consultation on draft Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 (KCSIE) statutory guidance. The final version is expected to be published on 1 September 2026 and to be in force from the start of the 2026/27 academic year.

The 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.

The 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.

The 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. 

The Employment Rights Act 2025 represents a programme of reform that will unfold over the next two years. For school employers, the focus is now firmly on timing, prioritisation and forward planning.