The Department for Education (DfE) has published the interim findings of its Curriculum and Assessment Review, led by Professor Becky Francis CBE. Based on over 7,000 responses from stakeholders, the review identifies four priority areas: ensuring high standards for all students, addressing subject-specific challenges, responding to technological change, and improving post-GCSE pathways. The review panel confirms that while many aspects of the current system are effective, improvements are needed to address attainment gaps for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The review will conduct detailed analyses of these areas before publishing final recommendations during Autumn 2025.

The Department for Education (DfE) has reported new regulations that will require every state school in England to share their daily attendance registers across the education sector. This includes sharing pupil attendance with the DfE, councils and trusts. The DfE has said that these regulations are the next stage in the government’s drive to reduce pupil absences in schools. The DfE has also announced that parent fines for unauthorised absences will be brought under a national framework and increased in value. This is to ensure that fines are issued appropriately and that parents are aware of when they might face a fine.

The Department for Education (DfE) has reported on the rollout of the first phase of the government's plan to help families by providing childcare. The first stage will be implemented from 1 April 2024 and provides for working parents of two year old children to access 15 hours of government-funded childcare per week. DfE reports that the full rollout of the expansion plan will be completed by September 2025 and will provide access to 30 hours of government-funded childcare from the end of maternity leave until the child starts school.

The Department for Education (DfE) has reported that new age limits are to be introduced on Relationships, Sex and Health (RSHE) lessons being taught in schools. The aim of this change in guidance is to ensure that content on sensitive topics is factual, appropriate and that children will have the capacity and maturity to understand what they are being taught. In addition to this, teaching materials used in these lessons will be made available to parents.

The Department for Education (DfE) has reported that the next phase of its attendance drive in England, will enable provision of new data for schools to allow them to spot trends in pupils’ attendance, therefore allowing schools to intervene at an earlier stage. The new data tool, launched by DfE on 10 May 2024, will allow schools to address areas of concern and help drive improvements in attendance. This follows the statutory guidance for schools, published in May 2022, titled ‘Working together to improve school attendance’.

The Department for Education (DfE) has written to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) requesting an independent review of the English early years childcare market. Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, said that the review would support the government’s wider Childcare Review and assess whether the childcare market was operating effectively for children, parents and providers, while supporting employment and economic growth. She said that, despite the expansion of funded childcare hours benefiting more than 500,000 children, some families continued to face difficulties accessing affordable, high-quality childcare, particularly in less affluent areas and for children with additional needs.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published correspondence from Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, to the Chair of the Education Select Committee, Helen Hayes, responding to the Committee's report ‘Solving the SEND Crisis’. The letter outlines DfE’s support measures being invested in for special educational needs and disability (SEND) provisions and details a planned engagement period to test future policy options with parents, educators, SEND experts and representative organisations. The correspondence also sets out DfE's five principles for SEND reform.

The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a consultation on proposed amendments to the guidance on the use of reasonable force and other restrictive interventions in schools on 4 February 2025. The consultation aims to update the 2013 guidance and introduce new statutory requirements for schools to record and report significant incidents involving the use of force, effective from September 2025. Responses are sought by 29 April 2025.

The Department for Education (DfE) has tabled an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to introduce inspection of multi-academy trusts. The amendment implements the government's manifesto commitment to bring multi-academy trusts into the inspection system. Trust inspections will focus on leadership, governance and impact, including how effectively trusts improve schools, provide education, support staff, use resources and promote pupil wellbeing. The Bill will introduce new powers of intervention when trusts fail to meet acceptable standards, including moving academies to stronger trusts, while providing recognition for trusts that transform pupil outcomes. The measure aims to ensure decisions made by academy trusts, which educate most pupils in England, are subject to independent scrutiny while supporting strong trusts and celebrating excellence across the system.

The Department for Education (DfE) has updated its guidance on financial support for 16-19 education, following the closure of the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) on 31 March 2025. The update includes revised guidance links regarding the following: 2025-26 academic year covering the 16-19 Bursary Fund, Care to Learn scheme, Residential Bursary Fund and Residential Support Scheme. All ESFA activities have transferred to the DfE, which will now oversee these support programmes directly.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published updates to the T Level funding guide introducing new funding rates for the 2025-2026 academic year. The guidance modification follows DfE's absorption of Education and Skills Funding Agency responsibilities from 31 March 2025. The update applies to institutions delivering T Levels for students aged 16-19 and those up to age 25 with education, health and care plans.

The Department for Education (DfE) has updated its guidance on academy transfers with two new commercial transfer agreement models. The models address scenarios where the outgoing trust either ceases or continues operations after transfer. The guidance provides comprehensive information for trusts managing academy transfers, including templates for trust agreements, service level agreements and financial documentation. This updates the existing framework last modified in December 2022 regarding stakeholder engagement procedures.