• Use existing Covid cash for educational psychologist boost, councils told

    Councils will have to use existing funding to pay for extra educational psychologists to help pupils readjust to school. The Department for Education this week called for recently retired educational psychologists, or those still working but with capacity, to make themselves known to councils to assist with pupil wellbeing as schooling resumes. However, when pressed…

    5.00 Sep. 13th, 2020 | News

  • Ofsted's autumn SEND 'visits' could prompt school inspections

    Inspections of local area SEND provision could prompt emergency visits to individual schools if “serious concerns” emerge, Ofsted has said. In July it was announced that full SEND inspections, normally conducted across whole council areas by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission, would not go ahead in the autumn. Interim visits would be carried out…

    5.00 Sep. 12th, 2020 | News

  • The rebel councils: Government's schools plan in doubt as 27 town halls raise safety concerns

    The government’s determination to begin the phased return of pupils to England’s schools on June 1 looked in serious doubt this week after as many as 27 councils said the move threatened the safety of pupils and staff. Seven have advised schools not to allow more pupils back on the preferred date, while a further…

    22.30 May. 21st, 2020 | News

  • The lost generation: Are we failing England's deaf children?

    Deaf children in England fall a whole grade behind their peers at GCSE, according to new analysis that has prompted warnings of a “lost generation” of young people. The National Deaf Children’s Society analysed Department for Education data, and found that deaf children achieved an average GCSE grade of 3.9, historically a grade D, while…

    0.01 Feb. 13th, 2019 | News

  • Investigation: The schools that slip through the council finance net

    Thousands of council schools have not had their finances independently scrutinised for more than five years – three of which were last audited by their local authority nearly 20 years ago. Schools Week can also reveal that council schools have been breaking rules over tax checks, issuing contracts and unauthorised pay rises for staff. And…

    5.00 Dec. 14th, 2018 | News

  • Councils urged to claw back cash as 'excess' school surpluses top £500m

    Councils are being urged to claw back cash from schools holding “excess” surpluses – as new figures show the total amount stored away by cash-rich schools was nearly £600 million. Department for Education figures published on Thursday show a worsening financial position for council-maintained schools – with more than three in ten secondary schools now…

    7.00 Dec. 8th, 2018 | News

  • Investigation: SEND funding crisis pits parents and schools against councils

    Council bosses say pressure on their SEND budgets leaves them at risk of not being able to deliver core services – which would result in the government imposing emergency spending controls. Dave Hill, executive director of children, families and learning at Surrey County Council, this week told the education select committee that councils have been…

    7.00 Nov. 30th, 2018 | News