For action
Action for all education settings: Security and emergency planning guidance for education settings
We are aware of several recent malicious email threats to education settings in a number of local authority areas. The police have said these incidents are malicious communications and there has not yet been a credible threat. We recognise that threats of this nature are very upsetting and can be disruptive to the calm learning environments you strive to create.
Education settings are not advised to initiate a lockdown unless it is actively recommended by the police, or you are satisfied that it is a proportionate response to an immediate physical threat on-site.
If your education setting receives a threat, alert the police immediately and follow their advice and guidance. You should also engage your local authority as the management responsibility for school security is shared between local authorities, governing bodies, proprietors and headteachers. Local authorities also have established links with police and local resilience forums.
The department had published guidance to support settings in planning against security related risks and incidents. The School and college security guidance and the Emergency planning and response for education, childcare, and children’s social care settings guidance also covers agency responsibilities, and the robust plans and measures settings should have in place to protect their students and staff.
All education, childcare, and children’s social care settings should have emergency plans in place. Your plan should explain how you would respond if you needed to take any temporary actions in the event of an emergency. The aim of an emergency plan is to help you and your staff plan for and respond effectively to an emergency.
- Your emergency plans should be generic enough to cover a range of potential incidents including those happening during, and outside, normal working hours including weekends and holidays.
- Education settings should have a competent person or persons to lead in health and safety, and security including online or cyber security attacks. This may or may not be the same person and this role will sit alongside the designated safeguarding lead.
Action for all settings: Share information on Measles / MMR vaccination
Measles cases are rising across the country, with over 102,000 children starting primary school in England being at risk of catching the disease. We are asking education settings to share key messages from the NHS about MMR / measles and how to get vaccinated.
The Back to school MMR Guidance from the NHS includes information to share, as well as example social media posts which can be found here: NHS Vaccine Poster and NHS MMR Poster.
Measles is highly infectious and if left unvaccinated nine out of ten children in a classroom can catch the disease if just one child is infectious. Please share these resources with colleagues, parents, and where suitable, community organisations to increase awareness and encourage parents to get their children vaccinated.
Action for all education settings: Support children and young people to take part in The Big Ambition survey
The Children’s Commissioner for England has recently launched ‘The Big Ambition’ to hear directly from children, young people, and parents across the country.
This is an opportunity to hear from all children, in every part of the country and in every setting. The survey will be used to encourage policymakers to think about children and young people’s needs, to ensure children’s voices are reflected in the decisions that will affect them in years to come.
Education settings play a critical role in enabling us to hear from as many children and young people as possible. That is why we are encouraging all settings in England to take part and let their pupils have their say on what is important to them!
To find out more head to The Big Ambition page. To take part in The Big Ambition survey visit: www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigambition.
Action for schools and local authorities: Access the most recent attendance data and compare pupil attendance
We have updated the free attendance tools with the latest data for the current academic year.
Schools can access the 'Monitor your school attendance' tool and use the ‘Compare your attendance’ dashboard to compare with other schools in the local authority. Recent updates show data for the current academic year. Use it to compare absence and unauthorised absence for your school, as well as special educational needs and free school meals pupils.
Schools, local authorities and trusts can view and compare Pupil attendance and absence in England with the latest data for the 2023 to 2024 academic year.
Data collection principles outline how DfE uses the data it collects. We have made some minor updates to our data collection principles which will enable more effective use of the data to better support schools, trusts and local authorities with school attendance.
Action for schools and local authorities: Recruit an academic mentor to maximise your NTP funding
The National Tutoring Programme (NTP) grant can be used cover 50% of your school’s tuition costs. To make the most of your funding, we can help you recruit an academic mentor who will join your staff and work alongside teachers to provide one-to-one and small group tutoring. Academic mentors can reach a large number of pupils and help embed tutoring within your school.
Watch how Crewe Technical College is using an academic mentor to support students with low reading ages.
For more information, read our guide to academic mentors or email tutoring.support@service.education.gov.uk.
Action for schools: Access free financial education training for teachers and school leaders
The Money and Pensions Service is working with partners to offer free financial education training for teachers and school leaders between now and March 2024.
A range of options are available to help education settings deliver quality learning about money. Follow the links to find out more about:
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