This week I report on the publication of the SEND and AP Improvement Plan, the potential staff pay increases for next academic year and updated statutory guidance on forced marriage.

SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan published
The SEND and AP Improvement Plan was published by the DfE yesterday. It confirms investment in training for thousands of workers so children can get the help they need earlier, alongside thousands of additional specialist school places for those with the greatest needs. There will be new national SEND and AP standards, new guides for professionals to help them provide the right support in line with the national standards and education health and care plans will be digitised to speed up the process.

Staff pay proposals for 2023/24
Looking ahead to next year’s budget the DfE has published its evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) for the 2023/24 pay award. Recommendations include a 7.1% increase to the minimum of the ‘Rest of England’ pay scale and a 3% increase for teachers on the upper and leadership pay ranges.

An offer of a pay increase of at least £1,925 from 1 April 2023 has been made by the LGA for support staff pay for 2023/24 and this will now be discussed between unions and the LGA.

Statutory guidance on forced marriage
Following the implementation of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022, which raised the minimum legal age someone can marry to 18, the government has released an updated version of its statutory guidance on forced marriage.

This week I report on the DfE’s consultation on how reasonable force and restraint are used in schools and new guides for parents/carers and pupils regarding area SEND inspections.

Consultation on how reasonable force and restraint is used in schools
The DfE is asking for schools’ views on how reasonable force and restraint are currently used in schools. Responses will be used to inform future amendments to the current guidance and the consultation is open until 11 May 2023.

Information about area SEND inspections published
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission jointly inspect local area partnerships at least once every 5 years to see how well they work together to improve the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND.

From January 2023, all local area partnerships will receive an inspection under the new area SEND framework and new guides for parents/carers and pupils have just been published outlining the process. North Tyneside’s last inspection took place in November 2021.

This week I report on the review of the government’s anti-radicalisation programme (Prevent), the publication of new DfE guidance on mental health and attendance and plans to broaden UCAS to include apprenticeship opportunities as well undergraduate degrees.

Prevent to be overhauled following review
This week the Home Secretary Suella Braverman has revealed plans to overhaul Prevent, the government’s anti-radicalisation programme. She confirmed that all 34 of the recommendations in the recently published Independent Review of Prevent carried out by William Shawcross will be implemented. This has an implication for schools and further advice will be published in due course.

New guidance on mental health and attendance and a report on children’s wellbeing over 2021/22
The DfE has published new guidance on mental health and how to support school attendance where a pupil is experiencing social, emotional or mental health issues that have caused increased absence.

The DfE has also a released a report on children’s wellbeing over 2021/22 which looked at trends in mental health and wellbeing. The findings presented a mixed picture, suggesting an inconsistent recovery of children and young people’s mental and physical health towards pre-pandemic levels. That children and young people’s subjective happiness and life satisfaction had recovered to pre-pandemic levels and anxiousness among both primary and secondary aged pupils appeared to have increased and was higher than in 2020/21.

Apprenticeships boosted under plans to broaden UCAS
The DfE has announced that apprenticeship opportunities will be advertised to prospective students alongside undergraduate degrees in plans to broaden UCAS. From this autumn UCAS will expand their service so that young people can see more personalised options, including apprenticeships. From 2024, students will then be able to apply for apprenticeships through UCAS alongside an undergraduate degree application.

This week I highlight a series of free safeguarding related DfE webinars, publication of an Ofsted report into the science curriculum, publication of KS4 and 16-18 performance data for last academic year and the launch of consultations on reforming children’s social care.

Free DfE safeguarding related webinars
The DfE, working alongside safeguarding experts, is hosting a series of free, safeguarding-related webinars for anyone in Education to attend. The first two sessions take place next week as follows:

• Monday 6 February – Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) Low-level Concerns at 4:00pm for an hour.
• Tuesday 7 February – KCSIE Single Central Record (SCR) at 4:00pm for an hour.

You can register to attend any or all of them using this link.

Ofsted report into the science curriculum
Ofsted has published a report on the quality of science education in primary and secondary schools, which found that schools’ science curricula and the delivery of education is improving and developing, despite pressures following the coronavirus pandemic.

Publication of KS4 and 16-18 performance data for 2021/22
The DfE has published its performance data on the attainment of pupils in KS4 and in 16-18 education, which shows the number of students who finished these phases of education by the end of last academic year and the types of qualifications they received. The DfE discourages the use of this data to draw direct comparisons on performance compared to earlier years, due to the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Consultations on children’s social care
The DfE has launched three new consultations around the topic of reforming children’s social care. All the consultations close at 11:45pm on 11 May. You can access them through the links below:

• ‘Children’s social care: Stable Homes, Built on Love’ consultation
• ‘Child and family social worker workforce’ consultation
• ‘Children’s social care national framework and dashboard’ consultation

This week I highlight updated DfE guidance on handling strike action in schools, publication of a NFER report on transitioning to a MAT led system, confirmation that all schools in England without a defibrillator will receive one by the end of this academic year and publication of a parents guide to the government’s national music plan.

DfE guidance on handling strike action in schools
The DfE guidance has been updated to ask schools to prioritise vulnerable children and young people, children of critical workers, and pupils due to take public examinations and other formal assessments where they have no option but to restrict attendance due to strike action. Other updates include changes to regulation on engaging with agency staff, providing remote education where practical and reasonable to do so, and best practice on managing staff shortages.

NFER Report on transitioning to a MAT led system
A new report was published this week by The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) exploring the evolution of the schools system over recent years, looking at the progress and implications of a MAT-led system.

The findings highlight regional disparities, with some areas still minimally academised, and the overall picture of academisation slowing, advocating for a “slower transition” than currently envisioned, with support for LAs to establish their own MATs. This comes as the Labour shadow education secretary, speaking at the Schools North East academies conference, said that while she wasn’t interested in ‘wholesale structural reform’, the current system was ‘fragmented, opaque, and over-complex’ and a ‘mix and match landscape of maintained and academy schools’. As such, Labour would seek to ‘smooth the differences’ between academy and maintained schools.

All schools in England to have a defibrillator by the end of the school year
The DfE has announced that all state-funded schools in England, currently without a defibrillator will receive one by the end of the academic year. The rollout will supply over 20,000 defibrillators to nearly 18,000 schools. To give schools the tools and knowledge they need to use their new defibrillators including how to make them available to the community, leading charities have supported the creation of updated guidance. Awareness videos are being provided to show how simple defibrillators are to use, and schools are being encouraged to share these videos in staff meetings and assemblies.

Information for parents on the government’s national music plan
The government published its national plan for music education back in June last year. The DfE has now released a guide for parents which sets out what the plan means for children, how children can get involved in music in and out of school, and where parents can access support. The DfE has said that schools and music hubs might want to share the guide with parents and pupils.

This week I highlight the upcoming NEU union strike action and the Schools North East Governance conference.

NEU teachers going on strike
Teacher members of the National Education Union (NEU) have voted in favour of strike action over pay. Strike days are proposed throughout England on 1 February and 15 and 16 March, and in certain regions on the 28 February and the 1 and 2 March.

The decision to open, restrict attendance, or close a school will almost certainly be taken by the Headteacher, as their direct or delegated responsibility. DfE guidance makes clear that it expects headteachers to take all reasonable steps to keep the school open for as many pupils as possible. Headteachers should consult with their whole Governing body before deciding whether to close, however given the urgent nature of the issue, consultation with the chair is acceptable.

Schools North East Annual Governance Conference
This year’s virtual event is taking place on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 February 2023 from 4-6pm. With some key notes speakers including the NGA’s Chief Executive and a range of breakout sessions.

The cost for a Partner School is £120 for a whole school ticket (£72 single delegate ticket) and £144 for a Non-Partner School for a whole school ticket (£96 single delegate ticket). Use this link to the website to book your place.

This week I highlight updated guidance on teaching online safety in schools, the results of teachers unions ballots on possible strike action and the implications of the new Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, the announcement of a new primary school careers programme, confirmation of an Energy Bills Discount Scheme that will replace the current Energy Bill Relief Scheme and plans from the Prime Minister for young people to continue to study some form of maths up to the age of 18.

DfE updates online safety guidance
The non-statutory Teaching online safety in schools guidance has been updated for the first time in almost four years. The guidance is for school leaders, teaching staff and governors to support pupils in acting responsibly and staying safe in online spaces.

Teachers unions ballots on strike action
A number of education unions have been formally balloting their members for strike action since Autumn last year. The NASUWT confirmed yesterday that it hadn’t reached the turnout threshold of 50% for strike action, despite broad support from those who did vote. The results of the NAHT and NEU’s ballot are expected on Monday.

The government has announced a new Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill which will ensure that specific crucial public services such as rail and ambulance services maintain a minimum level of service during times of industrial action. The Bill also states that the government have the power to step in and enforce minimum levels of service if parties within the Education sector cannot negotiate reasonable levels of service. Teaching unions have threatened legal action if the law is passed, and the Labour Party has said it will repeal the law if it wins the next election.

Primary school careers programme announced
The DfE has announced it is to set up a new careers programme that it says “will open primary school children’s eyes to the world of future job possibilities and challenge stereotypes”. The scheme is backed by £2.6 million of funding and will be rolled out across 55 disadvantaged areas where school outcomes are the weakest.

Government announces Energy Bills Discount Scheme to replace previous scheme
On Monday, the Treasury announced that the current Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which is due to end on 31 March, will be superseded by the Energy Bills Discount Scheme from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. The new scheme will be for everyone on a non-domestic contract, which includes schools.

Plans for young people to study maths up to age 18
Last week the Prime Minister outlined plans for all pupils to study “some form of maths to age 18”. No new qualifications are immediately planned and a government spokesperson said the government is exploring expanding existing qualifications as well as “more innovative options”. Mr Sunak is expected to begin working on the plan in this Parliament, with the intent to finish it after the next general election.

As I am on holiday tomorrow this is our last update of 2022. Only a couple of items to highlight – the latest governance update from the DfE and confirmation of the cost of RPA for 2023/24.

DfE December Governance update
The latest governance update provides information on increased funding for schools as outlined in the autumn statement, an evaluation of the National Leaders of Governance programme, additional capital funding to help schools to become more energy efficient, strengthened provider access legislation to ensure schools provide pupils with access to providers of technical education and apprenticeships, a video message from Baroness Barran marking the launch of the NGA’s career pathway for governance professionals.

RPA costs for 2023/24
This risk protection arrangement is an alternative to commercial insurance for schools. The DfE has confirmed that the cost next academic year will rise from £21 per pupil to £23 per pupil, regardless of whether it is a maintained school or an academy.

This week I highlight updated DfE guidance on what schools must publish online and the publication of Ofsted’s annual report for 2021/22.

Updated DfE guidance on what schools must publish online
The DfE has updated its guidance on ‘What maintained schools must publish online’ and ‘What academies, free schools and colleges must or should publish online’ with example wording which schools can use to show that the most recent KS2 performance measures are for the 2018/19 academic year.

Ofsted Annual Report for 2021/22
Ofsted has published its annual report for 2021/22, the first academic year in which inspections were mostly unaffected by Covid since 2019. Key headlines include:

• 64% of schools had not had a graded inspection in the last five academic years, and 14% had not had one in 10 years. This was due to most inspections of ‘good’ schools since 2015 being ungraded, and because ‘outstanding’ schools were previously exempt from inspection completely. It was also due in part to the pandemic.
• 70% of previously ‘requires improvement’ schools inspected last year improved to ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’, up from 56% in 2019/20. Of 220 schools that were previously ‘inadequate’, 2% became ‘outstanding’ and 63% became ‘good’, while 29% went up to ‘requires improvement’, 5% remained at the bottom grade, compared to 8% in 2019/20.
• There was anecdotal evidence that part-time timetables were being used more regularly in schools.
• Whilst Multi-academy trusts could not be inspected directly, Ofsted had carried out “summary evaluations” based on batch visits to several schools in the same chain. Ofsted conducted five evaluations last year and would continue to develop this programme with 12 other MAT ‘events’ this year to improve its methodology and understanding of the MAT sector.
• Some children were still being educated in unregistered schools in England where they were exposed to “misogynistic, homophobic and extremist materials that are contrary to British values” and some were operating in unsafe and inappropriate premises.
• Placements in registered state-funded alternative provision fell by 16% to but the number of placements in independent schools and unregistered providers continued to rise.
• The SEND system had “significant weaknesses” and the number of independent special schools continued to grow.

This week I report on the scrapping of the Schools Bill, additional funding for schools for energy efficiency upgrades, DfE plans to check pupil capacity in secondary and special schools and a new DfE blogpost containing information on Strep A and scarlet fever.

Scrapping of the Schools Bill
This week the Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, announced that the Schools Bill would not progress in the third session of parliament. This means that nearly all of the new proposed legislation relating to academies has been shelved including the requirement that all schools should be in discussions to or have joined a Multi Academy Trust by 2030.

The government still hopes to introduce powers and duties over home, private and illegal schooling, teacher misconduct, council attendance work and pupils not in school. It will also seek to revive plans removing barriers to faith and grammar schools joining multi academy trusts and push national funding formula reforms without legislation.

DfE announces funding for energy bills and budgets
The Autumn Statement confirmed that public sector organisations such as schools would not be eligible for further support from the Energy Bill Support Scheme which is due to come to an end in April next year. However it was also announced that schools would receive an extra £2 billion funding for next year and the year after. This new money would be allocated between mainstream schools and high needs funding.

On Tuesday the DfE announced that schools and colleges in England will be allocated a share of £500 million to spend on energy efficiency upgrades, helping to save on bills during the winter months and manage energy consumption. New energy efficiency guidance was also published focusing on how to reduce energy use for heating, hot water, lighting, technology and equipment, and how managing energy usage efficiently can help alleviate pressure on the budget.

Plans drawn up for the DfE to check pupil capacity in secondary and special schools
Ministers plan to send capacity checkers into all secondary schools to assess whether schools have the capacity to admit more pupils and this information would then be used by the LA to update potential pupil numbers.

Government officials believe the checks would help to boost funding, as schools could take in more pupils and relieve the pressure to build new schools to meet any rise in pupil numbers. A pilot check involving “net capacity assessment” (NCA) visits in more than 200 mainstream schools found 6,000 potential extra places. The DfE plans to carry out two years of assessments at 4,500 secondary and special schools from May 2023.

Information regarding Strep A and scarlet fever
Following an increase in the number of Group A streptococcus (Strep A) the DfE has released a blogpost containing information on Strep A and scarlet fever and their symptoms.