Questions raised as DBS modernisation plan overuns Modernisation of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is running more than three-and-a-half years late and the new DBS update service has not seen the take-up or the cost savings originally anticipated by the Home Office.
Child poverty warning as benefit freeze bites There are some areas of the UK where more than half of children are growing up in poverty.
STRB under pressure to take a stand against pay austerity With the recruitment crisis continuing, the STRB is being urged to call for an end to years of real-terms pay cuts for teachers. Pete Henshaw reports
Government pledges pilot projects to tackle holiday hunger The government has promised to introduce a series of pilot projects to deliver meals and activities to poor children during the school holidays.
Mental health charities merge Two mental health charities offering support for children and families have merged.
'A cut disguised as kindness’ – concerns over free school meal reforms Despite Department for Education claims, campaigners fear that thousands of families will lose out on free school meals under planned Universal Credit reforms. Pete Henshaw reports
Headteachers given 101 suggestions to help manage the pressure of Ofsted Schools should avoid “mocksteds”, remove Ofsted banners from the school gates, and protect staff from increased workload.
Many school catering staff are facing low pay and debt A quarter of school catering staff have had to take out loans just to make ends meet, while 40 per cent are in debt because of low pay.
Children’s services get 1,770 referrals a day A child was referred to local authority children’s services every 49 seconds last year.
Ofsted signals focus on curriculum Chief inspector Amanda Spielman has praised the quality of the education system in Ofsted’s annual report, but with a new inspection framework looming the document also set out some clear priority areas...
Protection pledge for pupils on free school meals as Universal Credit switch approaches School leaders have welcomed government plans to protect Pupil Premium students who are at risk of losing out because of the change to Universal Credit.
ADHD stigma plagues half of young sufferers, research says Experts have issued a stark mental health warning for ADHD sufferers as a new report reveals long diagnosis delays and a lack of recognition from frontline staff. Pete Henshaw takes a look
School leaders call for PSHE to be given statutory status alongside RSE Following the decision to make relationships and sex education (RSE) a statutory subject, the government must also give PSHE similar status, school leaders have urged.
Mental health: Three in four children miss out on support Phase 1 of government mental health review has revealed a fragmented system, long waiting times, and a majority of young people who do not get the help they need. Pete Henshaw takes a look
Large increase in child protection interventions Further evidence has emerged of a dramatic increase in the number of children at risk of harm and in need of child protection intervention.
Chartered Teacher programme pilot open for applications Applications have opened for the pilot cohort of the new Chartered Teacher programme in England.
Treasury letter signals end of one per cent teacher pay cap In a letter to the School Teachers’ Review Body, the Treasury recognises that more pay flexibility ‘may be required’ in light of recruitment challenges. Pete Henshaw takes a look
Will Ofsted’s latest plan create an unofficial fifth school rating? Under new Ofsted proposals, ‘good’ schools may face a two-year wait if their short inspections are converted to a full Section 5. Pete Henshaw takes a look at the proposals and reaction from the profession
MPs call for evidence in alternative provision inquiry An inquiry into alternative provision for pupils who drop out of mainstream education has been launched by MPs.
New CPD £75 million fund unveiled A £75 million Teaching and Leadership Innovation Fund, set up by the government to deliver “skills and knowledge-based training” to teachers, has issued its first round of grants.
Education Select Committee to investigate social justice and ‘productivity’ Social justice and “productivity” will be among the priorities for the new-look House of Commons Education Select Committee.
Workload campaign in Wales publishes dos and don’ts pocket guide Teaching unions have welcomed a new campaign to advise teachers in Wales how to manage their workload.
Increasing numbers of children are not ready for school From speech and language problems to social and emotional issues, increasing numbers of children are arriving at primary school not ready to learn. Pete Henshaw looks at the findings of new research into the causes of this growing problem
Playground plea: ‘As safe as necessary, not as safe as possible’ Schools are being urged to “take the benefits of risk” into account when planning and managing their school grounds.
Falling school nurse numbers raise fears over pupils with health conditions ?The “accelerating” loss of school nurses is putting children with conditions such as asthma, epilepsy and diabetes at risk in the classroom, it has been warned.
