Will creative contractual strategies help deliver resilience in schools?
The road ahead may be challenging, but with bold, innovative thinking, schools can position themselves to thrive in an unpredictable future.Schools and multi-academy trusts face a challenging...
View ArticleDfE introduces new 'Form N' to streamline consent process for academies to...
This is the result of the recent Labour push to make nursery places available, and the introduction of funding by the Department for Education (DfE) to facilitate this.How can third party nurseries...
View ArticleEducation policy changes: accountability reform
The Labour government has introduced several significant policy changes with the aim of improving educational outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged and vulnerable children.These early initiatives...
View ArticleEmployment Rights Bill: recent amendments and where we are now
Since being introduced in October 2024, the Employment Rights Bill has undergone significant amendments, introducing new provisions and revising existing ones to enhance worker protections and clarify...
View ArticleQ & A: Offsite directions, managed moves and dual registration - 21 January...
SectionsA. Off-site directionsB. Alternative provisionC. Managed movesD. Managed moves as alternatives to PExE. Dual registration F. Pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans A. Off-site directions...
View ArticleUpdated support and intervention guidance
Prior to the publication of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill on 17 December 2024, the DfE had already updated its guidance entitled 'Schools Causing Concern' guidance as part of its wider...
View ArticleNew Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill introduced - what are the...
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (the Bill) was introduced to the House of Commons on 17 December 2024.The Bill contains 38 measures which aim to deliver the Labour Party's 2024 commitments...
View ArticleThe School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document 2024: key changes
The Department for Education has published the 2024 School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document, which will come into force on 8 November 2024. The key updates focus on performance-related PPA time,...
View ArticleEducation Policy update for Academies and Maintained Schools
The Government started the new school year with an announcement about changes to the Ofsted grading system. From 2 September 2024 all schools in England will no longer receive Ofsted single headline...
View ArticleNew law on sexual harassment to come into force in October
Under the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, schools will be under a new duty from 26 October 2024 to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of staff in the...
View ArticleHandling confidential information in schools: key lessons from a recent case
A recent judicial review brought by a headteacher sacked for sharing sensitive information, has underlined the importance of maintaining confidentiality in schools. Background In the case of Aquilina...
View ArticleMaking it compute - top tips for starting a successful IT system procurement...
When procuring a new IT system, much of your success and avoidance of problems arising later on, will depend on how you approach the early days of the project - the tips below should help you to...
View ArticleEducation Policy update
Schools will be aware of the rather late publication of KCSIE 2024 on 2 September 2024. Most of the changes are light touch, however Schools will still need to be mindful that some of the content...
View ArticleMeet Jo Lake - a new legal director in our data protection team
Jo Lake joined VWV in May 2024, and in this feature we will be finding out a little more about her role and how she supports academies and schools.What is your role at VWV?I am a legal director in the...
View ArticleA recent Ombudsman case concerning a school admission appeal decision
The Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman recently published a decision finding fault with East Riding of Yorkshire Council as the 'admission authority' for a school responsible for appointing...
View ArticleChanges to legal duties on schools regarding pupil registration and attendance
At the end of February, the DfE announced a number of changes to the law relating to pupil registration and attendance. The changes will come into effect on 19 August 2024 and are set out in three new...
View ArticleNew guidance for mobile phone use in schools
The DfE published guidance in February 2024 to help schools develop and implement policies to prohibit mobile phone use, along with other similar smart technologies, throughout the school day,...
View ArticleDeveloping School Land - new guidance from LocatED
Are you making the most of your school land? The Department for Education's property company, LocatED, recently published advice to bodies with responsibility for school land and buildings about...
View ArticleTop 10 tips for effective complex complaints handling in schools
Since the pandemic, many schools and academy trusts have seen an exponential growth in parental complaints which can be complex and protracted in nature. In response to this, we present our Top 10...
View ArticlePart-year and irregular hours holiday entitlement to be pro-rated from next...
Following consultation earlier this year, the Government has now confirmed significant changes to holiday entitlement for part-year and irregular hours workers.Since the Supreme Court handed down its...
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