SEND

Spending watchdog defends SEND budget forecast

OBR official says it was 'reasonable' to illustrate the potential impact on the schools budget

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
Ofsted

Ofsted: Too many pupils ‘out of step with expectations of school life’

The watchdog's chief inspector also warns social media and smartphones are also partly responsible for disruptive behaviour

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
SEND

Three councils allowed to breach minimum school funding rules

North Tyneside, Bracknell Forest and – for the third year in a row – Kent all 'gained approval to...

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
SEND

Budget bedlam: £20bn SEND black hole prompts DfE row with spending watchdog

Former adviser says Treasury is 'trying to force the pace' of reforms

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
Schools

EYFS: Rise in ‘school ready’ pupils – but government way off target

More reception pupils achieve 'good level of development' this year, but improvement rate below what's required to hit 75%...

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
SEND

Budget 2025: Government faces £6bn SEND shortfall once override ends

Spending watchdog warns 'no savings have been identified' to offset pressure on government coffers of end to council budgeting...

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth and Freddie Whittaker
SEND

Council facing £183m SEND deficit warns of ‘devastating consequences’

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council demands 'urgent action' ahead of budget - including using high needs cash to cover...

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
Behaviour

Schools say classrooms are calmer, but no change in behaviour disruption

The government's national behaviour survey shows an improving picture, but seven minutes are still lost to behaviour for every...

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth
School funding

Delayed 2026 school funding allocations to be published ‘shortly’ says Phillipson

Education secretary partly blames June's spending review for the delay to national funding formula guidance and allocations, which are...

Samantha Booth
Samantha Booth