This week I report on the redesign of the Free School Meals check system to boost take up and the publication of a NFER Report that indicates the development of essential employment skills, starting from the early years, is key to meeting future workforce needs.

Redesign of Free School Meals check system to boost take-up
The Government is redesigning its system for checking free school meals eligibility to allow parents and schools to use it independently of local councils.

Early Education Minister, Stephen Morgan, made the announcement at a committee hearing on Tuesday where the Government’s children’s wellbeing and schools bill was debated. Backbench MPs had tried to amend the bill to introduce automatic enrolment across the country, amid fears the opt-in system currently used is excluding around 250,000 eligible children.

At present, the Government’s “apply for free school meals” service simply points users to their local council’s website. Councils then have access to a digital portal to check their eligibility based on the benefits their families claim. The DfE hasn’t provided any details yet on what this will entail.

Curriculum review urged to look at employment skills
The Government’s review of curriculum and assessment should explore how more emphasis could be placed on schools developing skills essential for employment, according to a new report published by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) yesterday.

The report says these skills should be developed alongside knowledge acquisition, as part of the teaching of core curriculum subjects. That providing sustained skills development from early childhood is key to meeting future workforce needs, which will change due to technological advances and demographic and environmental differences.