Education

Indefinite ban on puberty blockers to be introduced The ban on giving puberty blockers to under-18s questioning their gender identify is to be made permanent, Health Secretary Wes Streeting says. Streeting told the House of Commons he was making the temporary ban currently in place indefinite across the UK, following a consultation and advice from … Read more

How working parents can get 15 and 30 hours free childcare The government is offering a cash incentive of £600 to those who become childminders (or £1,200 for those joining via an agency). The Department for Education does not yet have figures for the numbers who have signed up, but says childcare staffing rose by … Read more

Nurseries warn of rising fees ahead of childcare expansion Getty Images Early years experts say the government’s uplift will not cover wage and National Insurance increases Nurseries say parents could face higher fees and even nursery closures due to insufficient funding ahead of an expansion in the provision of free childcare. On Tuesday, the government … Read more

Devon council plans to fine schools £21k for each child exclusion A council is planning to fine schools £21,000 for each child that is excluded. Conservative-run Devon County Council believes it could raise more than £5m a year as part of its plan to deal with a massive overspend in education. According to a council … Read more

I tried everything to get my daughter to go to school BBC Ashly says her daughter Hannah missed most of her primary school education Hannah is one of thousands of children across Scotland who have been regularly missing school. Some are absent for days, others for years. Twelve-year-old Hannah missed most of her primary school … Read more

Free school meal funding ‘not enough’ – Manchester catering director says BBC Adam Curtis, of Dolce School Catering in Manchester, says the 5p rise is very low A 5p rise in government funding paid to schools to provide free school meals is “not enough” amid rising food costs, a catering director has said. The Department … Read more

Teesside University wants 27 staff to take voluntary redundancy Getty Images Teesside University wants 27 members of staff to take voluntary redundancy A university is cutting teaching staff because of a drop in the number of international students signing up for its courses. Teesside University wants 27 academic staff to take voluntary redundancy after student … Read more

Nearly quarter of Bristol pupils regularly absent, warns Ofsted Getty Images Ofsted says Covid lockdowns damaged the “social contract” that children must go to school Almost a quarter of children in Bristol are persistently absent from school, according to Ofsted. Figures published on Thursday revealed 23.5% of students are missing at least 10% of school … Read more

Storm Darragh: La Houguette Primary School closed due to storm A primary school on the west coast of Guernsey will be closed on Monday due to damage sustained during Storm Darragh. The States of Guernsey said the upper roof of La Houguette Primary School had “significant” damage resulting in leaks in several rooms and debris … Read more

Shifnal: Idsall School head’s battles for change BBC Michelle King said she was shocked when Ofsted rated Telford’s Idsall School inadequate, in 2022 When head teacher Michelle King was told her school was inadequate she said she was not ashamed to say it left her “shocked, surprised and seriously concerned”. Used to Ofsted inspectors delivering … Read more