Policy
The latest news, analysis and advice on government policy and legislation. Find a breakdown of new documentation, case studies from leaders and comment from high-profile educators
Thursday
25th Jun 2026
What a strong inclusion base can achieve
With the government publishing guidance on setting up an inclusion base, one school cited by the DfE as delivering the type of provision it wants to see shares insights on its approach to improving outcomes for all
DfE sets out how it expects schools to run SEND inclusion bases
Guidance reveals detailed plans for support and specialist inclusion bases in schools – but heads’ leaders fear the funding falls short
3 critical shifts for SEND reform success in EYFS
Structural reform to the SEND system will only make early years provision more inclusive if the plans are backed up by these key changes in practice, writes Julian Grenier
Wednesday
24th Jun 2026
Badenoch calls Phillipson ‘spiteful class warrior’ over private school tax
Education secretary accuses Conservative leader of ‘comparing me to a Gestapo officer’ after heated clash in the Commons
Schools caught in ‘standoff’ over falling pupil rolls
Lords’ inquiry into falling pupil numbers also hears warnings about mixed-age classes, as well as a proposal that teachers could be retrained to work across different phases
The fall of Finland: what happened to the world’s ‘best’ schools?
Once considered one of the top education systems in the world, Finland’s performance in international league tables has recently taken a nosedive. But is this decline all that it seems? Ellen Peirson-Hagger investigates
A data litigation wave is hitting schools - here’s how to respond
People’s growing awareness of their data rights, coupled with the increasing use of AI to launch complaints against schools, poses a legal risk that leaders need to get to grips with, say these experts
Poorer primary schools see pupil numbers fall twice as fast
DfE urged to assess the impact of falling numbers on disadvantaged pupils and increase funding for affected schools
Tuesday
23rd Jun 2026
The next PM should let education stick to the plan
A new prime minister could mean new priorities – but education has a vision that makes sense, says NAHT chief Paul Whiteman, so let’s see it through
Schools set to close amid rare red warnings of extreme heat
Scores of schools across England announce they will close or finish early over the next few days as record-breaking temperatures predicted
Monday
22nd Jun 2026
Unions seek urgent clarification on teacher pay after Starmer resignation
Unions warn timing of pay announcement has already been ‘knocked off course’ by political events, leaving teachers facing uncertainty and schools unable to budget
Phillipson doing ‘bad job’ as education secretary, NEU members say
Biggest teaching union calls for ‘new leadership’ at the DfE, with members rating Bridget Phillipson even lower than Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister