This week I report on new DfE resources to support effective governance, the Government’s pledge that every primary school in England will have a library and confirmation that the free primary school breakfast clubs programme is set to expand from April next year.

Effective governance resources
The DfE has put together an expert advisory group which has identified areas for governing bodies and academy trust boards to focus on to develop and maintain effective governance. This information was created in collaboration with the NGA, the Confederation of School Trusts, Trust Governance Professionals, the National Association of Governance Advisory Services, the Catholic Education Service, the National Society for Education, Governors for Schools and the National Black Governors Network.

Each document provides principles of good practice and practical resources that governing bodies, leaders and governance professionals (clerks) can use to support sustainable and effective governance.

Government pledges a library in every primary school in England
The Government has pledged to ensure every primary school in England has its own library, through a scheme unveiled by Rachel Reeves at the Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool on Monday.

The scheme will create new libraries in 1,700 primary schools that currently do not have them. Over £10 million had been committed to the scheme which would leave each of the 1,700 schools with just under £5,900. It is unclear if the schools would get additional money to staff the new libraries.

Free breakfast clubs set to expand
The DfE has announced that from April 2026, an additional 2,000 schools will join the Government’s free breakfast club programme alongside 750 schools already running the scheme. Free breakfast clubs are among several initiatives aimed at improving early years support, including the expansion of government-funded childcare and Best Start Family Hubs.