This week I highlight new SEND guidance which has been added to the School Governance Guides, a new short course for secondary school staff to support readers at all levels, the expansion of the DfE’s new Rise Teams and progress on proposed laws regarding branded school uniform.

Updates to the School Governance Guides
On Wednesday the DfE updated both the Academy Trust and the Local Authority Maintained Governance Guides with new guidance (SEN and disability duties: guidance for school governing boards) in the ‘Safeguarding, SEND and pupil wellbeing’ section. It aims to help governors and trustees with their role and responsibilities in relation to pupils with SEND and to empower them to hold their schools to account.

New short course for secondary school staff to support readers at all levels
A new short course for secondary school staff and for leaders to support readers at all levels has been developed for the DfE by Professor Jessie Ricketts of Royal Holloway, University of London. It can be completed in around an hour, either individually or in groups and both pathways include a series of videos, guidance and a workbook for reflecting and making notes.

DfE to expand RISE teams
The DfE has announced that more than 200 schools are now set to receive support from the DfE’s Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) teams, as the school improvement programme expands. The number of RISE advisors is also increasing, bringing the total to 65. These advisors will support schools that have received consecutive poor Ofsted judgments and eligible schools may also receive up to £100k to help improve the quality of education for children and young people.

DfE to cut school uniform costs
Schools will only be able to have three branded items (excluding ties) under proposed laws currently passing through the House of Lords. Analysis shows these changes could reduce the cost of uniform for families by £50 a year.