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• Ofsted Response to the Coroner's Prevention of Future Deaths Report

  Monday, January 22, 2024

  Ofsted’s response addresses the coroner’s recommendations following the inquest into Ruth Perry's death. Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver said that Ofsted will re-evaluate its internal policies and procedures to identify where changes need to be made. The response sets out what Ofsted has done, what it is doing and what they intend to do in the future. The formal response is available to read here.

• Ofsted to Respond to Ruth Perry Inquest Coroner’s Report

  Friday, January 19, 2024

  Today, Ofsted will publish its detailed response to the prevention of future deaths report released by the coroner, after it was found that an Ofsted inspection contributed to Ruth Perry’s death.
  
  Following the inspectorate’s response and the completion of mental health awareness training by inspectors, inspections will resume on Monday, 22 January 2024.

• Further Outbreaks of Measles as Cases Rise Across England

  Thursday, January 18, 2024

  Cases of measles have risen by more than 30% in less than a week in the West Midlands. The region has had the largest rise in cases outside of London. The surge comes amid recent data which shows uptake of the MMR vaccine is at its lowest in over a decade. Experts are urging unvaccinated people to get vaccinated, and for parents to check the vaccination status of their children.

• School Digital and Technology Standards Update

  Wednesday, January 17, 2024

  The DfE updated its guidelines for setting up and maintaining schools' digital infrastructure, planning and using technology. New information has been added on digital leadership and governance standards, and laptop, desktop and tablet standards

• New Measures to Tackle Teacher Recruitment and Retention Crisis

  Tuesday, January 16, 2024

  The DfE has announced a number of measures, including a £1.5 million funding injection to deliver a 3 year wellbeing package for school leaders, aiming to provide supervision and counselling to 2,500 leaders. The government has also pledged new guidance this Spring on the prevention of bullying and harassment of school staff. The steps were announced following consultation with school staff on keeping the profession attractive and rewarding.

• Ruth Perry: Ofsted and DfE Have 56 Day Deadline for Action Plan

  Monday, January 15, 2024

  Ofsted and the government have been given 56 days to set out actions to be taken in response to a prevention of future deaths report following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry. Senior coroner, Heidi Connor, concluded earlier this month that Perry died in January by suicide, contributed-to by an Ofsted inspection.

• DfE EYFS Statutory Framework: Minor Update

  Sunday, January 14, 2024

  The update was to clarify early years providers’ responsibilities on paediatric first aid training, but it has not changed requirements. You can read the requirements in full in paragraphs 3.29 to 3.32 of the EYFS framework for settings.

• DfE Webinar on Workload Reduction

  Saturday, January 13, 2024

  The DfE is asking teaching staff to register for a webinar on Tuesday, 23 January at 4.00 pm to share their views on workload reduction in marking, planning, and data management.
  
  The session will allow teachers to provide feedback on the findings, practical implementation and continued relevance of the 2016 and 2018 independent workload review groups’ reports.

• Teaching Regulation Agency Changes Policy on Publishing Teacher Misconduct Cases

  Friday, January 12, 2024

  From 9 January, all decisions with a finding of serious misconduct, but no prohibition order imposed, will be automatically removed from GOV.UK 2 years after it was published. The details of these cases will not be accessible to employers when completing safer recruitment checks. The decision follows the issue forming part of a legal challenge - NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman stated that cases of less serious misconduct should not be public for more than 2 years due to its disproportionate impact on employability.

• DfE Pledges up to £4,000 per School to Fund Prior RAAC Surveys

  Thursday, January 11, 2024

  Schools that had a survey completed between 30 August 2023 and 1 November 2023 with the primary purpose of identifying RAAC can make a claim for up to £4,000, including VAT, from the DfE.