New or updated DfE guidance
At the beginning of a new academic year, the following information about new or updated DfE guidance may be useful. This list is probably not exhaustive!
We have also included reminders of policies that schools are required to review annually.
New statutory guidance and updates
- Keeping children safe in education has been updated as of 1 September 2023. Bear in mind that it is a requirement that all members of governing boards, trusts and local committees are given up-to-date training in safeguarding. Staff should also be alerted to any changes in part 1 of the document that affect them. A list of changes is included in annex F to the document.
- Guidance on suspensions and exclusions. This document has been updated as of 1 September 2023 and there are two new requirements which are listed in the document.
- The latest academy trust handbook came into use on 1 September 2023.
- New statutory guidance concerning early careers teachers came into force on 1 September 2023.
- The new statutory framework for the early years foundation stage came into effect from 4 September 2023.
- Updated guidance The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation was published on 7 September 2023.
Ofsted
- Revised Ofsted framework and handbooks came into operation as of 1 September 2023.
Documents to keep updated on a continuous basis
- Admission and attendance registers.
- Single central record.
- Register of business interests of the headteacher and governors/trustees.
- Statutory website information.
Documents to be reviewed annually–- therefore during 2023/24
- Trust schemes of delegation.
- Governors’ skills audit.
- Staffing structure.
- Teachers’ pay policy and appraisal arrangements (in order to clarify the approach to making performance based pay decisions).
- Admission arrangements.
- Child protection policy and procedures.
- SEND.
- Health and safety.
- There is also a range of policies that the government recommends that schools review annually, but the actual frequency of reviewing is up to governing boards to decide. See the DfE guidance document Statutory policies for schools and academy trusts March 2022.
Documents to be reviewed every three years
- Accessibility plan.
Documents to be reviewed every four years
- Public sector equality duty.
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