Changes at the DfE

During the summer a new Secretary of State for Education came into post – Lucy Powell MP replaced Bridget Phillipson MP. There was also a change in other ministers within the department:

• Georgia Gould remained as Minister for School Standards including SEND.
• Baroness Smith of Malvern remined as Minister for Skills
• Josh MacAlister OBE MP became Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Children and Families)
• Paul Waugh MP became Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Early Education)

Every child achieving and thriving and SEND consultation supporting information – Updated 25^th August

This guidance contains a series of documents setting out the key information and proposed reforms in the schools white paper and SEND consultation document for parents and those working in the sector.

These are  short, simple documents that provide more information about the schools white paper and SEND consultation. They are for:

• parents
• schools
• colleges
• local authorities

CONSULTATION: SEND reform: education otherwise than at school

The DfE are seeking views on how to strengthen arrangements for children  and young people receiving special educational provision through:

• an education otherwise than at school (EOTAS) arrangement
• not attending school and receiving alternative provision because of health reasons
• receiving alternative provision in accredited online education providers

The consultation closes on 18^th September

Inclusive mainstream fund: best practice for schools – 7^th August

This guidance offers information on the inclusive mainstream fund which  will help support mainstream schools in the transition towards a reformed education system that is inclusive by design.

Inclusive mainstream fund: support for school leaders – 7^th August

This document contains guidance and best practice to support school leaders to use inclusive mainstream funding to strengthen inclusive practice and develop an inclusion strategy. It also contains an Inclusion Strategy Template. This needs to be in place by 31^st December 2026.

I am going to be delivering some half-day training with EDUK on Developing your School Inclusion Strategy.

Identifying and supporting the needs of children with SEND in mainstream settings – 30^th July

This document contains the findings from a series of rapid evidence assessments on what works to identify and support the needs of children and young people with SEND in mainstream and early years settings.

They include:

• Behavioural and social communication interventions for children and young people with SEMH and autism
• Cross-cutting themes in identifying, supporting and collaborating for children and young people with SEND
• Identifying and supporting children and young people with cognition and learning needs
• Identifying and supporting children and young people with sensory and/or physical needs
• Identifying and supporting children and young people with social, emotional and mental health needs
• Identifying and supporting children and young people with speech, language and communication needs
• Identifying and supporting the needs of autistic children and young people
• Identifying and supporting the needs of children and young people with SEND
• Supporting stammering, speech, and language needs in the early years

Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework – Updated 17^th July

A new statutory framework will come into force on 1^st September 2026. The main changes are:

1. Safer sleep requirements become part of the EYFS – review your sleep policy, staff knowledge, risk assessments and records, particularly for babies and younger children.
2. New requirements around children’s screen use – Providers to have regard to the new guidance on screen use in early years settings.
3. Stronger safeguarding requirements

There are several important changes :

• Providers must notify Ofsted of allegations of “harm” rather than only allegations of “serious harm”,

• The wording around information staff must disclose about matters affecting their suitability to work with children has been strengthened.
• Enhanced criminal record checks are required for volunteers, including supervised volunteers.
• New employees cannot start work before their required criminal record check has been received. 

4. Banned dog breeds

A significant new safeguarding requirement is that registered childcare cannot be provided from premises where a banned dog breed is kept or present. 

5. Additional requirements for childcare on domestic premises

For group and school-based providers offering childcare on domestic premises, there is a new requirement to notify Ofsted about changes to people aged 16 or over who live or work at the premises. 

6. Level 2 English requirements clarified

The Early Years Qualifications Requirements and Standards document is also being updated from 1 September 2026, including clarification of the Level 2 English requirement.

7. Mostly clarification rather than a new curriculum

Importantly, there isn’t a wholesale rewrite of the EYFS curriculum. The DfE describes the other changes as mainly minor clarifications to make existing requirements clearer. 

School suspensions and permanent exclusions – Updated 26^th July

This statutory guidance on the suspension and permanent exclusion of pupils from local-authority-maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units has been updated. This became effective from 26 July 2026.

Keeping children safe in education – Updated 7^th July

This statutory guidance for schools and colleges on safeguarding children and safer recruitment has been updated and comes into effect on 1^st September. A summary of the changes can be found in Annex C.

RISE support for inclusive mainstream education – 6^th July

This guidance contains Regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) support and professional development for improving inclusivity in mainstream schools.

Allergy safety in schools – 6^th July

This statutory guidance contains information about the support that pupils with allergies must receive in schools.

School uniforms: guidance for schools – Updated 6^th July

This guidance on how schools should develop their uniform policy and procure uniform supplies has been updated to reflect the new limit on branded items of uniform and PE kit which come into force on 1 September 2026.

Cost of school uniforms – Updated 6^th July

Inclusive mainstream fund: 2026 to 2027 – Updated 1^st July

This guidance contains information about the funding for schools and 16 to 19 providers for 2026 to 2027 through the inclusive mainstream fund.

Inclusive education estates – 25^th June

This guidance contains design adaptations to support an inclusive and accessible environment in mainstream education settings.

Statistics: special educational needs (SEN) – Updated 25^th June

Statistics on pupils with SEN, including information on educational attainment, destinations, absence, exclusions and characteristics.

Education, health and care plans: England 2026 – Updated 25^th June

Data on the number of children and young people with an education, health and care (EHC) plan in England.

SEN units and resourced provision: insights from expert interviews – 25^th June

A report presenting insights from academic experts on the impact of special educational needs units and resourced provision, and features of effective practice.

Inclusion bases in schools – 25^th June

This guidance is  to help schools and local authorities deliver high-quality provision in inclusion bases.

Local areas prepare new Experts at Hand teams – Press Release 17^th June

More children and young people with SEND will get specialist support without needing a diagnosis, as the government begins rolling out a new Experts at Hand service across England backed by new £1.8 billion investment.

Every local area will now begin expanding access to speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, specialist teachers and educational psychologists who will work directly alongside mainstream schools, early years settings and colleges, helping staff identify needs earlier and put support in place more quickly.

Experts at Hand & Local Authority SEND Transformation Fund: funding for local authorities 2026 to 2027 – 5^th June

This funding is for investment in services that individual EY settings, schools and colleges cannot commission alone, such as specialist health and education support, to improve the quality of inclusive education for children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND), in line with the 2026 Schools White Paper and SEND consultation document.  

Experts at Hand: what those leading and working in mainstream settings need to know – 5^th June

This guide is to support those working in or leading a mainstream setting, plus childminders, to understand the Experts at Hand offer.

The EEF Guide to Inclusive Teaching – 6^th July

The EEF’s Guide to Inclusive Teaching contains advice about supporting every child to participate and succeed in school, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, and recognising that many pupils face multiple barriers to learning.

Accompanying the guide, the EEF has released a set of scenario-based training resources.

Universal SEND Services from Whole School SEND and Nasen

Please take a look at the free, DfE-funded training, support and resources to help schools and colleges strengthen inclusive practice and improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

The Muddy Puddle Teacher Podcast Practical Ideas to Support SEND Children in the Classroom

I recently recorded a Podcast with Sarah Seaman, the Muddy Puddle Teacher about what meaningful inclusion looks like in everyday school life. You can listen to the webinar here.