The Department for Education (DfE) has published non‑statutory guidance on delivering the kinship allowance as part of the Kinship Zones pilot programme, which will run from 1 April 2026. The guidance sets out the policy framework for participating local authorities, including eligibility rules for kinship carers, payment structures, interaction with other benefits and funding and assurance arrangements. It states that under the pilot, eligible kinship carers with a special guardianship order or who lives with child arrangements order will receive a regular, tax‑free and non‑means‑tested allowance paid at the national minimum fostering allowance rate, with the aim of improving placement stability and reducing financial barriers to permanent kinship care.

The Department for Education (DfE) has released non-statutory guidance on the implementation of an experience-based route for early years staff. This new pathway, set to come into force on 3 March 2025, will enable suitable and experienced staff without full and relevant qualifications to be included in staff: child ratios at level 3, following a period of supervised practice. The guidance, published ahead of the statutory instrument, outlines the recommended approach for early years providers interested in utilising this route. It includes an initial and final check form for assessments and record-keeping. The DfE emphasises that while not yet law, this early publication aims to give providers and practitioners time to familiarise themselves with the process. DfE has also concluded its consultation on a proposed experience-based route for early years practitioners. The consultation, which ran from 22 April to 20 May 2024, sought feedback on a new pathway allowing experienced early years staff to gain approved status to work within staff to child ratios at level 3. This initiative, first proposed in the 2023 consultation on changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, aims to recognise the practical experience of long-serving practitioners. The DfE has now published its response, confirming its intention to proceed with implementing this change, and has released guidance for providers and practitioners on the new route.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance to assist local authorities in navigating the intersection between the Procurement Act 2023 and the Children and Families Act 2014. The guidance specifically addresses the procurement of education placements and services for children and young people with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans or those requiring alternative provision. It aims to clarify which educational settings fall within the scope of the new procurement legislation, effective from 24 February 2025 and how local authorities should approach commissioning decisions in light of these changes. This update is crucial for local authorities to ensure compliance with the new procurement rules when securing specialised educational services.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance for schools in England on optimising non-staff expenditure through effective procurement practices. It emphasises aligning procurement with strategic goals, focusing on outcomes such as improved learning environments and community engagement, and embedding procurement expertise to enhance decision-making. Schools are encouraged to benchmark expenditure, challenge assumptions, and use procurement as a strategic enabler for innovation, social impact, and sustainability. Compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 and utilising frameworks are highlighted, along with the importance of robust procurement infrastructure and stakeholder collaboration. Tools such as financial benchmarking, self-assessment checklists, and frameworks like the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) are recommended to support procurement excellence.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published non-statutory guidance for schools and academy trusts educating primary-school aged children, about supporting parents’ access to wraparound childcare. The guidance includes the expectation of schools and trusts delivering wraparound advice, on supporting parents’ access, monitoring and managing costs, and the overall benefits of wraparound childcare.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published an investigation outcome report finding that Park Education & Training Centre breached apprenticeship funding rules by failing to hold adequate evidence to support funding claims made between the 2020–24 academic years. Following an investigation launched by the Education & Skills Funding Agency in August 2024, the DfE concluded that the provider could not demonstrate compliance with requirements relating to apprentice eligibility, off-the-job training, employment status and core documentation, including apprenticeship agreements and training plans. The DfE identified an overpayment of £1,203,085.89, which is being recovered, and confirmed that the provider has since taken corrective action to strengthen its procedures and compliance arrangements.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published the maintained schools governance guide for strategic leadership and governance of local-authority-maintained schools. The guidance is non-statutory and replaces the governance handbook 2019. The document collates essential information on the governing body’s roles and legal responsibilities. The guide provides information on: effective governance; strategic leadership; accountability and several other key sections.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance explaining how funding reductions will be applied for the 2027–28 financial year following the decrease in Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) employer contribution rates from 28.6% to 17.6% from April 2027. The guidance outlines how funding reductions will be calculated and applied across mainstream schools, special and alternative provision schools, early years providers and local authority centrally employed teachers. A funding adjustment calculator is also available to help academies estimate deductions to their general annual grant (GAG) allocations from April–August 2027.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published a report on the national review of higher education student suicide deaths conducted by the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH) during the 2023–2024 academic year. The review identified 107 suspected suicide deaths and 62 incidents of non-fatal self-harm, with 104 serious incident reports analysed. Findings revealed that mental ill-health, academic pressures and stressors such as financial difficulties, relationship issues and social isolation were significant contributing factors. The report makes 19 recommendations including mandatory mental health training for student-facing staff, improved information sharing protocols and introducing a duty of candour for the higher education sector.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published a policy paper outlining the role and regulatory framework of childminder agencies (CMAs) in England. CMAs are authorised to register and quality assure childminders and providers of childcare on domestic premises, offering an alternative to Ofsted registration. They are responsible for monitoring standards, providing professional support, and managing concerns such as suspensions and cancellations. Established under the Children and Families Act 2014, CMAs operate independently, set their own fees, and are subject to Ofsted inspection once they have registered providers. These inspections assess compliance with regulatory requirements, not the quality of childcare. Childminders registered with CMAs may access government funding schemes, including early education places and support through Tax-Free Childcare and Care to Learn.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published a policy paper setting out the intended scope and content of the regulation-making powers for multi-agency child protection teams (MACPTs) set out in clause 3 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Clause 3 introduces a new duty for safeguarding partners to establish MACPTs and enables the Secretary of State to use regulations to prescribe MACPT functions, qualification and skills requirements for members and relevant agencies that safeguarding partners may approach to support MACPT operations. The policy paper addresses concerns raised in the House of Lords regarding the operation of MACPTs and the level of prescription in regulations. To inform development of the regulations, the DfE intends to: (1) engage with relevant sectors; (2) draw on existing evidence of effective multi-agency working; (3) consider emerging evidence from the Families First for Children pathfinder areas and (4) use evidence from the national rollout of the Families First Partnership programme. The regulations will be subject to consultation and parliamentary scrutiny, with the aim of them coming into force in late 2027, subject to Royal Assent.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published a policy paper, outlining the ‘Maximising Value for Pupils’ programme. The programme aims to address systemic barriers and support schools and trusts in allocating resources effectively across four pillars: commercial, assets, workforce and developing capability, including digital and commercial elements. The paper details current initiatives, future plans and practical tools intended to help schools and trusts secure better deals, optimise budgets and reinvest savings.