Summer Term | 27 June 2025
King's Birthday Honours List 2025
The King's Birthday Honours List 2025 was published on 13 June, with an honour awarded in Devon for Services to Education.
Cheryl Weyman, Chief Executive Officer, The Academies for Character and Excellence Trust (ACE) was awarded an MBE for services to Education. ACE is a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) with 17 schools across Devon and Somerset. On behalf of colleagues at DSLS, we extend our warmest congratulations to Cheryl on this prestigious honour.
 DSLS Working Group Representatives
To ensure that the voice of schools is heard, Devon school leaders attend numerous statutory boards and working groups across the county.
Each year, representation on these groups is reviewed and the following representatives were agreed for 2024-25: DSLS Working Group Representatives.
Additionally, the Schools Leadership Group (SLG) (formally Schools Executive Committee) (DSLS SLG Membership 2024-25) acts as a conduit for two-way communication to regularly update schools with key messages and on work being undertaken at local authority groups. See the updates from the various autumn/spring term meetings below.
Please see the working group summary for agenda content, minutes and feedback from groups attended by DSLS representatives.
 Read more about the Devon Education Forum (DEF) objectives, terms of reference, minutes and agendas HERE.
 Read more about the Schools Finance Group (SFG) objectives, terms of reference, minutes and agendas HERE.
 Read more about the Schools Organisation, Capital and Admissions (SOCA) objectives, terms of reference, minutes and agendas HERE.
 DCC Maintained Schools - Bromcom and Unit4 Issues
Jack Newton, Deputy Director and Head of Inclusion and Learning acknowledges recent challenges following the migration to Bromcom. Ongoing support through Scomis is available. Read more.
Thank you to those who have already responded to the DSLS follow-up survey. For those who have not yet completed it, please can you do so by close of play today, Friday 27 June. The survey can be accessed here.
DSLS will be escalating concerns to Jack Newton ahead of the Schools Finance Group on 9 July.
Inclusion & Learning Redesign - Services traded to schools
Jack Newton, Deputy Director and Head of Inclusion and Learning reports that work is ongoing on the rollout of the redesign, including a review of the services Devon offers to schools. Please be aware that there may be temporary disruptions to service delivery during this period.
Academy and Multi-Academy Trust partners are asked to place service orders for 2025/26 as promptly as possible. Read Schools Leadership update 11 June 2025.
Free School Meals
Starting from the 2026/27 school year, the current earnings threshold for FSM eligibility will be removed so that all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals. Read more.
Meet your new DCC Cabinet Members
At the first full council meeting since the elections last month, councillors decided who will be Devon County Council's new Leader, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Members. Read more about the roles, who's who and what they're doing.
 Ofsted confirms September publication for consultation response, ahead of new-look education inspections from November
Ofsted recently consulted on changes to education inspections and the introduction of a new report card. Read more.
Inspection reform
Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, updates the Education Secretary on feedback received from the consultation about proposed changes to education inspections. Read more.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson's letter about inspection reforms responding to His Majesty's Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver. Read more.
AI in education: how schools and further education colleges are making it work
A new report published today by Ofsted shares insights into how ‘early adopter’ schools and further education (FE) colleges across England are integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) into teaching, learning, and administration. Read more.
How Ofsted looks at AI during inspection and regulation
How inspectors consider the use of AI by providers, children and learners during inspection and regulation. Read more.
Ofsted to strengthen inspections through new team structures
Following feedback from last year’s Big Listen and the recent consultation on inspection reform, Ofsted has today announced a new structure for inspection teams in schools and further education, focused on improving consistency. Read more.
 DfE Weekly Newsletters
Read the latest information and actions from the Department for Education about funding, assurance and resource management, for academies, local authorities and further education providers here.
Revised direction issued to Devon County Council: June 2025
A revised statutory direction issued to Devon County Council due to poor performance in children’s services. Read more.
AI revolution to give teachers more time with pupils
- Government driving forward AI tools to deliver excellence everywhere for every child, as part of Plan for Change. Read more.
- Support materials to help schools and colleges use AI (artificial intelligence) safely and effectively. Read more.
- Free support materials for school and college leaders about using AI (artificial intelligence) effectively and safely. Read more.
- Free support materials to help all staff in schools and colleges use generative AI (artificial intelligence) safely and effectively. Read more.
Pupil premium
Information on pupil premium funding, how school leaders can use it effectively and pupil premium strategy statements. Read more.
Reception improvement offer
Professional development resources for improving teaching and leadership of reception years. Read more.
Impact of UK climate change risk on the delivery of education
In response to an independent assessment, the Department for Education (DfE) has reviewed how climate change risk could impact education delivery. Read more.
Thousands of children with SEND to benefit from assistive tech
Government launches innovative pilot with up to £1.7m available to help children with SEND achieve and thrive at their local school. Read more.
Letter to accounting officers in academy trusts: 25 June 2025
Letter from Andrew Thomas, Director of Funding and Financial Oversight at the Department for Education, to accounting officers in academies. Read more.
Universal infant free school meals (UIFSM): 2025 to 2026
Published allocations and conditions of grant for the 2025 to 2026 academic year. Read more.
Academy trust handbook
For academy members, trustees, accounting officers, chief financial officers and auditors. Read more.
 SEND deficit 'statutory override' extended until the end of 2027-28
SEND deficit 'statutory override', which was due to end 31 March 2026, has been extended until the end of 2027-28. The override means high needs spending deficits are not part of councils’ general balance sheets.
Statement made by Jim McMahon MP, Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution
The government has confirmed it is reforming services for children with special educational needs and disabilities, including ensuring councils are properly funded to help support and protect the most vulnerable children. While these reforms are underway, the dedicated schools grant statutory override, which helps councils manage SEND costs, will stay in place until the end of 2027-28. Additionally, it has confirmed it will introduce a bespoke formula to recognise home to school transport costs.
Consultation Fair Funding Review 2.0
A consultation on the government’s proposed approach to local authority funding reform through the Local Government Finance Settlement from 2026-27. The Fair Funding Review 2.0. The consultation on the Fair Funding Review 2.0 will be open for eight weeks, closing on 15 August 2025.
 |
|
Education at the Crossroads: Shaping a system that works for everyone
England’s education system is at a crossroads. What would it take to build a future where every learner belongs, the workforce is trusted and supported, and schools collaborate instead of compete? National Education Futures 2025 sets out a bold, practical path to get there. Read more.
|
 Pupils in Okehampton to lead a Roundtable Discussion in Westminster
Eight students from Okehampton College* in Devon will travel to London for a special parliamentary event in July. Along with pupils from two schools in Cumbria, they will be leading a Roundtable Discussion on matters of religion and belief. The event will be held in the House of Lords and will be attended by parliamentarians, including local MP, the Rt Hon Sir Mel Stride. The students will also take a tour of the Houses of Parliament, hosted by Lord and Lady Singh. Read more.
 Safeguarding Newsletter - Summer Term 2 |June 2025
Read key updates including:
- Summer term considerations and questions - DSL and Safeguarding Team
- Inset day, start of September jobs
The QARSS mailboxes are changing from 23 June
From Monday 23 June 2025, please use the following new area mailboxes:
The current four locality mailboxes will remain active until 31 December 2025. During this transition period, any emails sent to the old mailboxes will be automatically redirected to the appropriate new mailbox. An out-of-office message will also notify senders of the updated contact details.
If you have any questions please contact:
 
Request for Access to SEND support
‘Requests for Access’ (RfA) for guidance and advice from both the Communication & Interaction Team (C&I) and the Social Emotional and Mental Health Team (SEMH) have now closed. Read more.
Devon’s Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision Update
Read here the update from Hannah Chammings, Service Lead for Schools, Education, Quality and Inclusion and Rachel Hearn, Head of Educational Psychology and Specialist Support
Read key updates including:
- Update from Claire Merchant-Jones - Devon's new Head of SEND Operations
- EHCP Annual Review training dates
- Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision - invitation to complete the survey on impact to date
Read more about the Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision progress update 18 June 2025.
 Do you receive the latest news and updates from the Early Years and Childcare Service?
Keep up to date:
Contact: Fran Butler Early Years and Childcare Sufficiency Lead, DCC. E-mail: fran.butler@devon.gov.uk
 |
|
Click here to read the latest news from DiAS
|
 |
|
DAG Newsletter
Click here to view the latest newsletter from DAG.
|
|
