Education
Councils and unions demand SEND funds from minister
Dozens of councils have united to demand more Government funds for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Rogers appointed interim Jersey director
A new face has been brought in to head States of Jersey’s new department for children, young people, education and skills.
Burnham in plea for further education devolution
The mayor of Greater Manchester has made a plea for skills training to be devolved after giving a scathing assessment of Government education policy.
In high need of a funding solution
Over the last few years, much progress has been made to highlight the growing pressures in both children’s services and schools funding for councils.
Edinburgh lashes out at partner managing schools
Edinburgh City Council’s chief executive has lashed out at a partner for failing to address safety concerns two years after schools in the city were gripped with fear about faulty construction.
Andy Street: Championing the West Midlands
Mayor Andy Street believes the West Midlands is experiencing an economic revival, but if all communities are going to share in that success, he needs more support from the Government. Sam Clayden reports.
Scottish Government accused of 'deflection tactics'
Councils have accused the Scottish Government of using ‘deflection tactics’ after a top minister urged them to get on board with childcare plans.
Getting children back into mainstream education
Little is known about just how many children are missing from mainstream education. Debbie Barnes argues for stronger legislation and national guidance to help local authorities identify and support these children.
4 wheel drive woman
Tarquin, stop swinging your schoolbag round in the car, darling, you could take mummy’s eye out with that toggle.
Don't take away our authority over schools, Scottish councils warn
Scottish councils have warned the Scottish Government against attempts to strip them of authority over schools, in a response to a consultation on the Education Bill.
Collaborate with businesses and schools to address skills gap, MPs tell councils
Local authorities, local enterprise partnerships, businesses, schools and colleges should come together to discuss the skills gap, MPs have urged.
Cabinet Office: Interserve not going to be another Carillion
The Cabinet Office has denied rumours it is concerned infrastructure firm Interserve is headed in the same direction as failed Carillion.
Councils lack PFI management skills
Local authorities lack the skills necessary to manage Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts and risk not getting the best value for money, new research has warned.
Corridors of power
Conservative Party special advisers Simon Fortescue-Smythe and Julian Ponsonby are speculating about next year’s spending plans over a bottle of bubbly…
Ofsted to move away from passing judgments
Ofsted wants to change its relationship with local authorities by having annual conversations with them instead of only passing judgments, the regulator has said.
Children's commissioner adds to calls for Universal Credit pause
The children’s commissioner Anne Longfield will ask the Treasury to pause the rollout of Universal Credit (UC) for families with children.
‘Vary funding as required’
Local authorities have been told to vary the Government’s funding formula for schools if they feel the need to do so, the Department for Education’s top official has said.
£20m for sector-led kids’ services
The Department for Education (DfE) has signalled a major policy shift with a £20m investment for a new programme of sector-led improvement for children’s services.
Funding review ‘a priority’
The local government fair funding review is a priority and could be implemented by 2020/21, Whitehall insiders have suggested.
Sector’s ethnicity under government scrutiny
Councils have been warned they must ‘explain or change’ their record on ethnicity despite fresh data highlighting the sector’s strong performance in recruitment.