AI-Curated News

Children's News Feed

Automatically curated from DfE announcements, education news, and sector updates.

Andy Burnham urged to establish cabinet-level children and families unit

A think-tank founded by former Children’s Commissioner Baroness Anne Longfield has called on the new Prime Minister to create a dedicated cabinet-level unit for children and families. The proposed unit would focus on tackling childhood vulnerability and supporting disadvantaged children across England.

Read Summary

Policy Jul 27, 2026

Council Leaders Demand Enhanced Powers to Reverse Declining Childhood Vaccination Rates

Local government leaders are pressing for expanded commissioning powers to tackle falling childhood immunisation rates. The calls come amid concerns that current NHS-centric arrangements limit councils' ability to ensure vaccine uptake among young children and protect community health.

Read Summary

Schools Jul 27, 2026

Reform UK overseas worker levy 'would damage schools and social care'

Experts warn that Reform UK's proposed 'migrant worker surcharge' would exacerbate staff shortages in schools and children's social care, whilst pushing universities into financial difficulty. The policy would require employers to pay higher national insurance contributions for all non-UK passport holders except those with Irish passports.

Read Summary

Social Care 6 days ago

Andy Burnham urged to establish cabinet-level children and families unit

Read Summary

Policy 6 days ago

Council Leaders Demand Enhanced Powers to Reverse Declining Childhood Vaccination Rates

Read Summary

Schools 6 days ago

Reform UK overseas worker levy 'would damage schools and social care'

Read Summary

More News

Policy Jul 26, 2026

Oxbridge Dominance in Burnham's Cabinet: Social Mobility Success or Persistent Inequality?

Analysis of the Prime Minister's team reveals a concentration of Eton and Oxbridge alumni, prompting debate over whether this represents widening access to elite education or entrenched class barriers. The journey of Kanishka Narayan, who rose from a Cardiff council flat to Balliol College via scholarship, illustrates the complex pathways through Britain's stratified education system.

Education Jul 25, 2026

Year 10 Work Experience: How One Week Changed Three Teenagers' Career Outlooks

Three 15-year-old students have shared how a week-long work placement transformed their perspectives on future careers. The BBC spoke to the Year 10 pupils about the invaluable insights gained from stepping into the world of work.

Family Support & Early Help Jul 24, 2026

Five Tips for an Affordable and Enjoyable Summer Break with Children

The summer holidays offer families a valuable opportunity to spend quality time together without breaking the bank. From exploring local parks to utilising council-run family hubs, there are numerous ways to keep children engaged and supported. Discover practical approaches to balancing fun and affordability during the six-week break.

Social Care Jul 24, 2026

Care-Experienced Young People Invited to Shape Social Care Inspections

The Children's Commissioner is recruiting care-experienced young people aged 16-18 to participate in a two-day project in London this summer. The initiative aims to give those with lived experience of the care system a direct voice in shaping how children's social care services are inspected.

Youth Services Jul 24, 2026

Indian Students Lead Mass Protests in 'Cockroach Movement'

Tens of thousands of young people have taken to the streets across India as part of the Cockroach Janta party protests. Guardian South Asia correspondent Hannah Ellis-Petersen describes the student-led movement as unprecedented in scale, marking the largest demonstrations the country has seen in years.

Policy Jul 23, 2026

India's Exam Leak Protests: What UK Youth Policy Can Learn from Student Movements

What began as isolated anger over examination paper leaks has evolved into India's most significant student mobilisation in decades, revealing the power of digitally savvy youth collective action. The movement highlights critical tensions in exam integrity, educational equity, and governmental accountability that resonate beyond national borders. For UK local authorities, the protests offer crucial insights into how young people organise in the digital age and why transparent governance in assessment matters profoundly to student populations.

Early Years Jul 23, 2026

Professor Cate Carroll: The UK should support a right to early childhood education globally

The professor of education and pedagogy, who is one of 161 academics to sign a letter to the new foreign secretary calling for him to back strengthening the right to education under international law, explains why the Government needs to use its diplomatic power to elevate the status of early childh...

Policy Jul 23, 2026

Early Education Minister Olivia Bailey departs in cabinet reshuffle

Olivia Bailey has stepped down as early education minister as part of Prime Minister Andy Burnham's cabinet reshuffle. The departure signals potential shifts in early years policy and departmental leadership affecting local authority childcare responsibilities.

Policy Jul 23, 2026

Early Years Leaders Call for Extension of Business Rates Cuts to Nurseries

Early years leaders have urged the Prime Minister to extend business rates cuts to nurseries and pre-schools, ensuring England aligns with Scotland and Wales where providers already receive reduced rates. The campaign aims to ease financial pressures on early years settings and support the sustainability of childcare provision across the country.

Policy Jul 23, 2026

Academics Urge Foreign Secretary to Strengthen Early Childhood Education Rights

A coalition of 161 early childhood academics has written to Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband calling for UK backing of a new protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The proposed measures would strengthen the right to education under international law, enhancing legal protections for young children's learning and development.

Early Years Jul 23, 2026

DfE Publishes Revised Early Years Practitioner Occupational Certificate Content

The Department for Education has published revised content for the new Level 2 Early Years Practitioner Occupational Certificate after consultation feedback revealed only limited confidence in the original materials. Just over half of respondents felt the previous content fully or mostly enabled students to achieve the qualification's aims, prompting updates designed to better prepare early years professionals.

Policy Jul 22, 2026

Legal challenge to Home Secretary's ban on study visas for overseas students

Students are mounting a legal challenge against the Home Secretary's decision to halt study visas for applicants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan. Shabana Mahmood imposed the suspension in March, claiming some individuals were exploiting the student visa route to abuse the asylum system.

Children's News Feed

Categories

More News