Please see below Important Updates on School Guidance

Consultation about new guidance for EOTAS; closes on 18-9-26. Proposals include: that all children on EOTAS should be on the roll of a school and, where there are specialist needs, the school should be named in the EHCP and be a specialist provision; where the school then seeks to make significant change to the EOTAS for there to be an appeal to the LA (but not to a tribunal), for any of primary age there must be a review of where EOTAS is needed by year 6 and additional requirements around online tuition which should be time-limited unless exceptional circumstances.    https://consult.education.gov.uk/accountability-and-special-schools/send-reform-education-other-than-at-school/        

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 Latest iteration of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KSIE) guidance, for implementation from Sept 2026. There are significant updates following the passage of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act and as a result of the violence against women and girls review. There are also updates about multi-agency working and sharing of information, and on support or pupils who are gender questioning and identify as LGB, plus updates reflecting the requirements for schools on the management of mobile phones.   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2

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Headline KS2 attainment data for 2026, with 63% of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, up 1% from last year and individual subjects report either no change or small increase in attainment. Likewise there has been a small reduction to 28% in the proportion of pupils not meeting standards in English, maths and science. There have been technical issues with the systems run by Pearsons for marking and an independent review has been commissioned by the DfE.    https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/key-stage-2-attainment-national-headlines/2025-26 

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Latest national pupil projections estimate that pupil numbers in England will fall further and faster than previously: primary pupils are forecast to fall from 4.4 million today to 3.9 million by 2031 and secondary numbers are at their peak (3.2 million) and set to fall by 8% to just under 3 million by 2031.   https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/national-pupil-projections/2026 

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Statutory guidance for schools on managing allergies in pupils, with expectations for staff training plus a template for an individual healthcare plan and for a school allergy safety policy, that all schools are now expected to have published. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/allergy-safety-in-schools    

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Validated data about exclusions and suspensions for the 2024-25 academic year. Both have reduced overall since 2023-24, however, primary suspensions are the exception with a continued increase across England. Pupils eligible for FSMs and/or with SEND continue to be significantly more likely to be subject to exclusion or suspension.   https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/suspensions-and-permanent-exclusions-in-england/2024-25   

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Guidance for schools about the prevention of bullying and harassment of school staff. The documents include information about definitions and support organisations / resources, plus flow-charts to guide responding to bullying or harassment whether at school or online.  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying-and-harassment-of-school-staff