This week I report on the publication of two new EYFS research reports from Ofsted, the resumption of procurement of £7 million worth of funding to tackle antisemitism in schools, colleges and universities and the reinstatement of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body to ensure all school staff have access to fair pay and conditions.

Ofsted EYFS research reports released
This week Ofsted has published two new research reports about early years education, emphasising its importance as a foundation for children’s future learning and development. The first report focuses on ‘Strong foundations in the first years of school’, covering how schools secure the knowledge and skills pupils need by the end of KS1. The other report is the third and final part of ‘Best start in life: a research review for early years’, which began in November 2022. It considers the four specific areas of learning of learning outlined by the EYFS statutory framework: literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design.

Resumption of procurement for tackling antisemitism in Education
The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson has announced that the Government is resuming the procurement of £7 million worth of funding to tackle antisemitism in schools, colleges and universities.

The commitment comes after the number of incidents of antisemitic abuse nationwide more than doubled in the first five months of 2024, compared to the same period a year earlier. The funding will aim to educate people about antisemitism and better equip schools, colleges and universities to stamp out antisemitic abuse.

Reinstatement of the SSSNB
The Education Secretary has announced that the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB), which was abolished in 2010 by the previous government, is to be reinstated in recognition of the vital role support staff play in the workforce and young people’s education.

Support staff make up over half the school workforce and include a wide range of roles including teaching assistant, administrative staff, catering staff or caretakers. To ensure all school staff have access to fair pay and conditions the SSSNB will apply to support staff in both local authority maintained schools and academies.

Legislation to re-establish the body through the Employment Rights Bill was introduced in Parliament yesterday and will now pass through the legislative process. As part of this the government will consult on the detail of the legislation, including the right definition of support staff.