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Schools 2 months ago

School Smartphone Bans "Overly Simplistic" and Punitive, UCL Study Finds

A new University College London report warns that outright bans on smartphones in schools are regarded as "punitive" by young people and may have unintended negative consequences. The research, published as statutory guidance enforcing phone-free schools takes effect in England, suggests pupils do not support blanket restrictions.

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SEND Training in Focus: Building Capacity for System Reform
SEND Jun 30, 2026

SEND Training in Focus: Building Capacity for System Reform

As the Government prepares to reform special educational needs and disability policies, demand for specialist training is rising sharply. New courses are equipping education and care professionals with the expertise needed to navigate the evolving landscape and deliver improved outcomes for children and families.

Early Years Safety Warning: Regulation Reform 'Should Have Preceded' Funded Hours Roll-out
Policy Jun 30, 2026

Early Years Safety Warning: Regulation Reform 'Should Have Preceded' Funded Hours Roll-out

Early years practitioner Michael Pettavel has warned that reforms to sector regulation, qualifications and pay should have been implemented before the expansion of government-funded childcare hours. Speaking about the national rollout, he cautioned that safety has not been prioritised, leaving the sector facing significant challenges around workforce standards and sustainability.

Sam Smethers: Reforming separation to protect survivors of economic abuse
Safeguarding Jun 30, 2026

Sam Smethers: Reforming separation to protect survivors of economic abuse

Sam Smethers argues that current legal reforms present a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make separation processes fairer and safer for survivors of economic abuse. This article explores how recognising financial coercion within family breakdown can strengthen local safeguarding and early help services.

Working with Parents: Why Boredom Benefits Early Development
Early Years Jun 30, 2026

Working with Parents: Why Boredom Benefits Early Development

Resisting the urge to hand a child a screen when they complain of boredom opens up valuable opportunities for imaginative play and meaningful social interaction. This approach supports the cognitive and emotional foundations that prepare children for lifelong learning and school readiness.

Teenager Jailed for Four Years Over Stafford College Bomb Threats
Safeguarding Jun 29, 2026

Teenager Jailed for Four Years Over Stafford College Bomb Threats

A teenager has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for manufacturing homemade gunpowder and issuing bomb threats at Stafford College. The case highlights critical safeguarding concerns within further education settings and the serious consequences of threats to student safety.

Burnham confirms 'No 10 North' in Manchester to 'rewire' UK governance
Policy Jun 29, 2026

Burnham confirms 'No 10 North' in Manchester to 'rewire' UK governance

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has outlined plans to establish a 'No 10 North' in Manchester as the nerve centre of what he describes as a 'rewired Britain'. The proposal aims to deliver the biggest rebalancing of power the country has ever seen, with significant implications for how local authorities interact with central government on service delivery.

Burnham's FE Speech: Groundhog Day Rhetoric Masks Radical Devolution Shift
Policy Jun 29, 2026

Burnham's FE Speech: Groundhog Day Rhetoric Masks Radical Devolution Shift

Andy Burnham's latest further education speech promises parity but signals a potentially radical transfer of power from Whitehall to local combined authorities. FE colleges face a narrow window to influence how devolution reshapes post-16 skills provision in Greater Manchester and beyond.