The Department for Education (DfE) has published an evaluation report examining the implementation of the £12m Family Hubs Transformation Fund across 13 local authorities in England from 2022–24. The report identifies progress in integrated partnerships and operational practice, with early positive outcomes reported for families accessing services. However, it notes sustainability concerns due to time-limited funding. The evaluation aimed to develop evidence on how local authorities could effectively transition to a family hub model. DfE has confirmed £69m additional funding to continue delivering the network of family hubs from 2025–26.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published an evaluation report on the early implementation of the Families First for Children Pathfinder (FFCP) programme across ten local authorities. Covering the period from December 2023–February 2025, the report assesses the progress of reforms in multi-agency safeguarding, family help services, and child protection teams. Key findings include strong strategic alignment with existing children's social care initiatives, enhanced multi-agency collaboration and positive early feedback regarding the Lead Child Protection Practitioner roles. However, the evaluation has also identified challenges, including funding uncertainty and data-sharing constraints.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published its guide on free meals in further education funded institutions for the 2026–27 academic year. The guidance confirms that from the start of the academic year all students from households in receipt of Universal Credit will be entitled to a free meal. The minimum funding rate will match the 2025–26 rate of £2.61 per student. Transitional protections for free meals will end at the close of the 2025–26 academic year, after which eligibility must be met in full to access support. The guide states that students or their families must satisfy the eligibility criteria to receive meals for 2026–27 and institutions must monitor ongoing eligibility through annual rechecks.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published its education and skills funding agreements and contracts for 2026–27, including extensions to the 2025–26 agreements and procured contracts, such as the contract for services for procured non-levy apprenticeships, education and training. The agreements and contracts set out the obligations of education and training providers in return for receiving public funding, as well as the circumstances in which the department may intervene in cases of educational, financial or other provider failure. The funding period runs until 31 March 2027, and the contract for services covers matters including funding and payment, service delivery, quality assurance, data submission and protection, and the circumstances in which funding may be withheld, suspended, repaid or terminated.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published the government’s response to the independent review of social work professional regulation in England. The response, which applies, accepts the review’s central conclusion that sustained improvement is required and sets out action for Social Work England, government and sector partners. It identifies fitness to practise as the most urgent priority and expects Social Work England to produce, within six months, an externally supported end-to-end improvement plan, revised forecasts, key performance indicators and strengthened oversight.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance explaining Prevent to staff and students in higher education. The guidance is targeted at those with a responsibility for ensuring compliance with the Prevent duty in higher education and higher education Prevent leads. The DfE has said that the guidance will help to explain the purpose of Prevent to staff and students and access additional support and resources.

On 9 January 2025 the Department for Education published guidance for local authority chief finance officers regarding the submission of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) assurance statement and note to the accounts for the 2023 to 2024 financial year. The guidance, applicable to England, outlines the process for confirming proper use of DSG funds. Local authorities are required to submit two online digital forms via a DfE Sign-in portal by 5pm on 7 February 2025. The submission is mandatory even if the local authority's accounts audit is incomplete. A separate guidance document is provided to assist with the technical aspects of form completion and DfE Sign-in account setup.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance on safety expectations for generative AI products and systems in educational settings, aimed at edtech developers and suppliers to schools and colleges. This guidance forms part of a broader initiative to modernise the education sector through technology, as announced by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson at the Bett Show. The plans include the development of an AI Product Safety Expectations in Education framework, with commitments from leading tech firms to make AI tools safer by design. Additionally, the DfE is introducing measures to enhance teacher training on AI and assistive technology, as well as services to help schools invest in appropriate technology. These initiatives aim to harness the benefits of AI to transform teaching, reduce workload and improve outcomes for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance requiring initial teacher training (ITT) providers intending to deliver specified ITT further education courses to register before the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year. The registration process requires providers to submit their organisation's legal name, UK provider reference number, details of intended specified ITT further education courses, Ofqual qualification numbers for Level 5 qualifications and information regarding validating or franchising agreements. The guidance implements the Further Education (Initial Teacher Training) Regulations 2026, SI 2026/382, which came into force on 15 April 2026 and have legal effect from the 2026 to 2027 academic year onwards. The guidance applies to England and follows the same sequence of questions set out in the registration requirements for providers of specified further education initial teacher education courses.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance on the regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) attendance and behaviour hubs programme, a national initiative designed to support schools in improving pupil attendance and behaviour. The programme, led by schools with strong practice, offers two support pathways: regional support providing light-touch assistance including structured continuing professional development and termly open-day events, and enhanced support providing 10 days of leadership support over three terms for schools requiring more intensive intervention. Enhanced support involves partner schools completing attendance and behaviour self-assessments, full-day deep-dive exercises, joint development of action plans, and ongoing training and guidance from lead schools. Schools seeking to participate can register their interest through an online form provided by the DfE.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance aimed at school governing boards regarding their role and responsibilities in supporting pupils with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. The document is designed to assist boards in understanding their duties and to empower governors and trustees to hold their schools to account for the provision of effective support to pupils with SEN and disabilities. The guidance emphasises the importance of governing boards playing an active role in both supporting and challenging their schools to ensure the delivery of appropriate and effective support for these pupils.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance to help educational institutions comply with the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s Law. This legislation mandates that premises with a capacity of 200 or more implement public protection procedures. However, all early years, primary, secondary and further education settings are automatically classified under the standard tier, regardless of capacity.