Alongside our best practice section, Headteacher Update features regular news and news analysis articles to keep school leaders up-to-date with the latest policy and sector developments. Our news pieces attempt to tackle issues of direct relevance to primary school educators and offer something different to the mainstream media.

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Child poverty hits 4.2 million amid coronavirus impact fear

Levels of child poverty in the UK have risen once again, as has the proportion of these children who are living in working families. It comes amid fears that the coronavirus crisis will hit these families and their children the hardest, while also pushing many more into poverty.

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Ofsted urged to "build faith" in inspection complaints process

Ofsted’s proposals to reform the way it handles complaints about inspection are welcome but do not go far enough, school leaders have said.

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Coronavirus: National free school meal voucher scheme launches

Schools can now provide every child eligible for free school meals (FSM) with a weekly voucher worth £15 to help them cover the cost of meals while they are being home schooled.

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Home-schooling: Union advice urges no more than three hours' work a day for pupils

This is not “business as usual” and teachers should not be expected to deliver a full school timetable to pupils at home during the coronavirus closures.

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'A defining moment' for schools: Praise for phenomenal coronavirus response

The first week under coronavirus lockdown has gone relatively smoothly for schools, although there have been reports of headteachers having to challenge some parents over the definition of “key worker”.

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Government issues new social distancing advice for preventing coronavirus spread in schools

Staggering lunch times, preventing parents from gathering at the school gate, and protecting vulnerable staff members are among the social distancing actions schools are being asked to take as they remain open for a minority of pupils.

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Coronavirus: 'Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be'

The government is urging all key workers who can keep their children at home to do so in a bid to ease the pressure on schools during the coronavirus emergency. ?The same message is being given to the parents of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (ECHP).

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Coronavirus: 'On the edge of safety' – How schools have handled the most difficult of weeks

The pressure for a blanket closure of UK schools has been building for days and the decision to shut down finally came yesterday. Dorothy Lepkowska looks at how schools and others have been reacting throughout a very difficult week in education

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Coronavirus: School leaders face up to 'enormous task' as schools close to majority of pupils

Schools across the UK are getting to grips with the “enormous task” now facing them as they shut their doors, plan for continuation of learning, and meet government demands to support key workers and vulnerable learners.

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Coronavirus: Emergency Bill includes powers to force schools to stay open

Emergency coronavirus legislation will give the government powers to force schools and childcare providers to stay open.

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Coronavirus: Vulnerable staff urged to stay away as schools remain open under 'intolerable pressure'

The National Education Union (NEU) is advising its members who are particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus infection COVID-19 to stop attending schools from Monday at the latest.

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Coronavirus: Staff shortage schools will be forced to close, ministers are warned

School leaders are holding on-going talks this week with the Department for Education (DfE) as pressure builds over the government’s refusal to close schools in the face of the coronavirus emergency.

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Coronavirus: Ofsted suspends all routine school inspections

Ofsted has suspended all routine school inspections after coming under pressure to act in light of the growing coronavirus emergency.

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Coronavirus: Ofsted halts inspections for the rest of the week

Ofsted has suspended all school inspections planned for this coming week and is in discussions with the Department for Education (DfE) about the “longer term picture”.

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Baseline goes ahead amid criticism from teachers

A highly critical report against Reception Baseline Assessment has made little impact on the Department for Education, which has confirmed that national roll-out will go ahead this September. Pete Henshaw reports

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Research reveals CPD's impact on student outcomes

The impact that quality CPD can have on improving pupil outcomes is an under-researched field, but emerging evidence shows that the two are closely linked. Chris Parr reports

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Schools in disadvantaged areas more likely to rely on teaching assistants

Schools in working disadvantaged areas have a much higher pupil-to-teaching assistant ratio than those in more affluent areas.

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Coronavirus: Schools on alert after half-term

The Department for Education (DfE) has updated its coronavirus guidance for schools in light of the continuing spread of COVID-19 across Europe. It comes as schools in Cheshire take precautionary action following half-term trips to Italy.

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Early prevention hit as funding is diverted to support children at immediate risk

Children’s social care budgets have been overspent by more than £3 billion in the last five years in a bid to keep up with demand and support those in immediate danger.

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#PauseOfsted: NEU backs headteacher-led 'quiet revolution'

The National Education Union (NEU) has put its support behind a headteacher-led grassroots campaign to disrupt Ofsted’s school inspection programme.

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Sex abuse in families: Poor prevention work and staff training is letting down victims

Children who are being sexually abused by family members are going “unseen and unheard” because of a lack of prevention work and poor awareness among professionals.

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Bulk of £7.1 billion funding injection will disappear with rising costs and teacher pay rises

There will only be £14,000 per-school left from the £7.1 billion funding injection once existing government commitments, rising pupil numbers and other costs are paid for.

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School counselling key in mental health battle

The children’s commissioner wants to see more funding and incentives for in-school counselling and other low-level mental health support. Pete Henshaw takes a look

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Minimum per-pupil funding law welcome, but financial challenges remain

While welcoming the news that minimum per-pupil funding levels are to be enshrined in law, school leaders have warned that this will not end the funding crisis.

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Schools urged to listen to pupils' views in period poverty roll-out

The views of students should be taken into account when schools decide how to distribute free period products, the government has said.

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