Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Local Authorities”
Fixing the SEND Crisis – Solutions That Can’t Wait As has been widely documented and reported on – the SEND crisis is at breaking point. With rising costs, limited provision, and stretched local authority resources, too many children are missing out on the education and support they not only need, but deserve. We were proud to submit evidence to the …
Kreston Reeves Academy Benchmarking Report 2025:Key Insights on the State of Trust Finances The Kreston Reeves Academies Benchmarking Report 2025 provides a critical analysis of the financial health, funding trends, and operational challenges facing Academy Trusts across England. With increasing financial pressures, shifting government policies, and changing pupil demographics, the report offers essential insights for MAT leaders, school finance professionals, …
DfE Alternative Provision Guidance 2025: What Schools, Trusts, and Local Authorities Need to Know The Department for Education (DfE) has published its updated alternative provision (AP) guidance, replacing the 2013 version. With new policies, statutory expectations, and a stronger focus on reintegration, this guidance provides critical updates for local authorities, MATs, and schools arranging alternative provision for students. In this …
Federations: What you need to know The introduction of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill into the House of Commons signals a significant shift in England’s education policy. It offers, prima facie, a renewed focus on collaboration, equity, and local governance. By empowering local authorities to open schools, ending the automatic academisation of failing schools, and the ‘concept of a …
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill:A Transformative Shift in English Education Policy The UK government this week unveiled its Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, a legislative proposal that has sent shockwaves of sorts through the sector, designed to reshape the landscape of education governance, teacher pay, school admissions, and children’s welfare in schools. Containing significant changes aimed at promoting equity, …
Unregistered Alternative Provision: Challenges, Reforms, and the Future What is Unregistered AP? Unregistered AP typically caters to students who are unable to thrive in mainstream education settings due to behavioral issues, special educational needs, or other challenges. However, the absence of regulation and consistent standards has led to systemic weaknesses that place vulnerable children at risk. Unlike registered schools, …
Ofsted’s New Look On 16 September 2024, significant changes to the Ofsted school inspection framework came into effect, aimed at increasing transparency and reducing pressure on school leaders. These changes were designed to address long-standing concerns about the inspection framework and to create a more supportive environment for school leaders and staff while maintaining accountability following widespread debate and feedback, …
Bridget Phillipson Faces First Education Questions from MPs Bridget Phillipson and her ministerial team faced their first round of questions from MPs yesterday after Labour’s victory in the July election. The topics, centered around some of the most pressing issues in education today, included SEND education, the ongoing funding challenges, private schools, and the relationship between the government and teachers’ …
The Growing SEND Budget Crisis Councils across England are facing alarming shortfalls in their SEND budget, critical for supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The BBC recently uncovered that councils predict a deficit nearing £1 billion in funds allocated for these students. This shortfall is exacerbated by increasing demands and mounting financial pressures on local authorities.Escalating Deficits …
Revolutionising School Funding in England In a thought-provoking and timely report released by the Confederation of School Trusts (CST) this month, the educational landscape in England is poised for a transformative shift through proposed reforms to school funding. Titled “Funding Futures”, this detailed document underscores the urgent need for a funding system that is both fair and sufficient, amidst a …