Off-rolling adding to pressure on local children’s services Cuts to school budgets, the practice of “off-rolling” problem students, along with a decade of huge policy change within education, are among the reasons why local authority children’s services are struggling to cope with demand.
Cut-backs and recruitment problems hit deaf education A “deepening crisis” is facing deaf children’s education as on-going cut-backs hit the provision of specialist teachers.
Charity urges Ofsted to focus on wellbeing An open letter has been delivered to Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman calling for wellbeing and mental health to be given greater priority when the Common Inspection Framework is updated next year.
Unions to consult members over Autumn Budget response Three education unions are to consult their members on the next steps for action after last week’s Autumn Budget.
Workforce study offers tips to boost teacher retention Boosting job satisfaction and promoting part-time working opportunities have been identified as among the most effective teacher retention strategies. Pete Henshaw reports
Schools prepare for January consultation over Ofsted plans The chief inspector has set out plans for a proposed new ‘quality of education’ judgement, marking a shift in focus away from headline data and towards curriculum breadth and quality. A consultation is planned for launch in January. Pete Henshaw reports
A quarter of CAMHS referrals are rejected More than 55,000 children were refused mental health treatment in 2017/18 as providers of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) rejected as many as one in four referrals.
Domestic abuse: Operation Encompass given government funding for school link work A charity supporting children who attend school following domestic abuse incidents has been awarded £163,000 in Home Office funding.
Ofsted chief: ‘We have not placed enough emphasis on the curriculum’ Inspection can play a key role in providing a “more rounded picture of the curriculum” being taught in schools, Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman has said.
Air pollution: A low parent priority, despite latest evidence There are more than 2,000 schools and nurseries situated close to roads with illegal levels of air pollution in England and Wales. However, survey data from Friends of the Earth shows that pollution is not high on parents’ list of priorities when choosing a school.
‘Opportunity hoarders’ block social mobility for poor pupils The prospects for social mobility in Britain are “bleak” with the country’s poorest and richest likely to remain entrenched on their respective rungs of the income and social ladder for successive generations.
DfE’s teacher grant will not cover complete pay rise costs There was frustration this week after it was revealed that the government’s teachers’ pay grant will not cover the full costs of this year’s pay rises.
‘Without fear or favour’ – MPs urge Ofsted chief to speak out more MPs on the Committee of Public Accounts have said that Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman is too ‘reluctant’ to comment on wider issues and have called for her to speak-out ‘more freely’. Pete Henshaw reports
HSE issues warning over asbestos-containing gauze School science departments are being asked to urgently check their supply of gauze mats and verify that they do not contain asbestos.
Commission proposes new subject of religion and worldviews to replace outdated RE Religious education should be adapted to reflect social changes so that the subject better prepares young people for “living in an increasingly diverse world”. The subject’s name should also be changed to “religion and worldviews”.
DfE budgeting advice sparks angry reaction from NEU A toolkit offering support and advice to help reduce school running costs has been published by the Department for Education (DfE).
One in six children are vulnerable and face risks to their wellbeing An estimated 2.1 million of England’s 11.8 million children – one in six – are living in families where there are risks so serious that some level of intervention or help is necessary.
More details emerge ahead of new inspection framework Curriculum, data, behaviour, school gradings – Ofsted's chief inspector this week revealed more details of her vision for the new-look inspection framework, due to come into effect in September 2019. Pete Henshaw takes a look
Schools urged to be on FGM alert as ‘cutting season’ nears Teachers are being urged to stay alert to signs of pupils at-risk of undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM) as the so-called “cutting season” approaches.
Free resources aim to help children spot fake news Only two in every 100 children have the critical literacy skills they need to spot if a news story is real or fake.
Air pollution worse inside some London classrooms than outside London’s most polluted primary schools are being given access to a new £1 million fund in a bid to make immediate improvements to protect pupils from toxic air inside classrooms. Pete Henshaw reports
‘Pinball kids’ at higher risk of exclusion, gangs and grooming The children's commissioner issues a clear warning about the children in care who are ‘pinging’ around the education system with frequent changes to home, school and social workers. Pete Henshaw reports
Free school project hijacked by MATs as parent role diminishes The government’s free schools programme has strayed from its original purpose, with the majority of new schools being set-up by multi-academy trusts (MAT) rather than by parent or community groups.
Every school day, 183 pupils are referred to CAMHS Overall referrals continue to soar, with at least 35,000 last year. However, one-third of pupils referred to CAMHS are being turned away and declined specialist treatment. Pete Henshaw reports
Positive reaction to QTS and induction reforms The induction period for new teachers is to be extended to two years as part of a number of measures aimed at supporting teacher recruitment and retention. 1 comment
