Tag: Department for Education

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 26 May 2026.

Education Secretary writes to the CMA to examine the childcare market and launches a free tool helping families find childcare and budget for costs.

Government is standing up for parents facing eye-watering childcare costs including non-refundable deposits and basics like nappies and suncream. 

The Education Secretary has written to the independent Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as part of new government action to tackle hidden childcare fees hitting families. 

While funded hours are meant to be free, too many parents report being asked to pay extra to secure a place including upfront deposits, compulsory add-ons, or additional hours to access their entitlement. 

These practices undermine the value of 30 hours of free childcare and add to the pressure on working families. Nearly three quarters (72%) of parents say they are using savings to cover extra charges, while more than one in four (27%) say cost remains the biggest barrier to accessing the childcare they need. 

A new free cost of living tool will also help parents make the most of the childcare offer, from finding local provision to planning and getting exactly what they are entitled to. 

Government support is already massively reducing costs, with eligible families saving an average of £8,000 a year per child and more than 500,000 families now benefiting from funded hours. 

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: 

I grew up in a family that knew what it meant to count every penny. I am so proud of the crucial difference that 30 hours funded childcare makes to family finances, saving £8,000 a year per child on average. 

The vast majority of nurseries and childminders have been brilliant in helping us deliver, but I will not accept the small minority letting families down and stopping them get what they were promised.

The government has also asked the CMA to do more to investigate the role private equity and other ownership models are playing in the childcare market, including whether they are working in the interests of families or driving up costs and creating risks for those who depend on their local nursery. 

The new cost of living tool also includes a trial of a new map of local childcare. Launching first in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset, the map will help families find funded childcare near them while promoting local nurseries and childminders to more parents. Families nationwide will be able to use it later this year. 

This work sits alongside a wider government drive to make life simpler and more affordable for families. The newly launched GOV.UK Chat – a new AI tool that allows parents to ask questions in plain English and get instant answers about what support they could have – means help is now available at any time of day. 

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 20 May 2026.

£96 million to be allocated to create tens of thousands of placements on building sites across the country to plug skills gaps and boost housebuilding.

Tens of thousands of placements will be created for aspiring construction workers in a £96 million boost to train new talent and build more homes.  

Funding is set to be allocated across the country on Friday (22nd) to provide hands-on learning and boost employability for learners who start their construction courses from this September.  

The construction industry is facing significant shortages, with the latest Office for National Statistics figures showing that there are over 35,000 job vacancies – over half of which are due to a lack of required skills. 

It comes as the government hits a major milestone in helping to bring vocational education on par with academic. It has published a plan to support schools and colleges to transition from legacy qualifications at the same level, including BTECs, to a  clearer  system of V Levels, T Levels and A Levels from 2027 as options after GCSEs, along with two new qualifications for lower attaining students to support them to progress beyond GCSEs. 

New subjects have been announced for the second year of delivery in 2028 that will help to address skills shortages and boost key industries such as housebuilding. These subjects include construction design, bricklaying and plumbing. The plan also includes detailed rollout timelines, and advice on content development to help providers transition. 

Together, these plans  are central to the Prime Minister’s ambition to ensure two thirds of young people are in a gold standard apprenticeship, higher  training or university by the age of 25, boosting priority sectors including housebuilding, and driving economic growth as part of national renewal.  

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said:  

We’re removing the snobbery from hands-on learning and putting it on par with academic to break down barriers for young people to get rewarding jobs. 

Our landmark vocational  qualifications and placements  will  create  a strong pipeline of workers  by  equipping  young people with the real-world skills that employers need and that will fuel the jobs of the future.

Announced in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, V Levels will sit alongside A levels and T levels. Equivalent to one A Level, they will allow students to mix and match academic and vocational subjects if they do not yet know where they want to specialise.  

For 16-year-olds who are not ready to progress beyond GCSEs due to lower attainment, there are two new qualifications: 

• Occupational Certificates: two-year courses for those who want to get into work or an apprenticeship but need support to achieve English and Maths GCSEs. 
• Foundation Certificates: one-year courses for students who want to progress to A-Levels, T Levels or V Levels but need extra support to pass their GCSEs. 

New subjects available from 2028 include: 

• V Levels in construction design, engineering design and engineering manufacturing. 
• Two new T Levels in sport and social care – part of the largest expansion for students who want to specialise in sector-facing studies since the qualifications began. 
• Occupation Certificates in bricklaying, painting, plumbing, accounts and finance, and adult care worker. 
• Foundation Certificates in engineering, health, legal services, and social care. 

A new sector-led group, ‘Qualification Practitioners’, has been created to lead the way for the sector, shaping and sharing best practice as providers transition to the new qualifications. Providers will be required to have robust transition plans to support staff, students, and employers through the change. 

New guidance has also been published removing the red tape around T Level industry placements. This includes scrapping the limits on the percentage of remote hours a student can do or how many employers they work with. This helps more young people to access premium placements and empowers businesses to offer placements that work for everyone.   

East Lancashire Learning Group is one of the Qualification Pioneers. Principal and CEO Lisa O’Loughlin said: 

These Post 16 qualification reforms are one of the greatest steps forward our sector has seen in decades, and I am incredibly proud that we are helping to lead the way as a Pioneer college.  

I believe these reforms will be transformational. They will create clearer pathways, stronger links with employers and a far more responsive education system that reflects the needs of our economy and communities.  

Most importantly, they will give learners the confidence, skills and opportunities they deserve to succeed.

Post-16 and Skills Specialist at ASCL Claire Green said: 

We welcome this implementation plan which provides colleges and sixth forms with much-needed detail in preparing for these major changes to the qualification system over the next few years.

We’re very pleased that the new system retains vocational qualifications – now clearly badged as V levels – alongside A levels and T levels. This was vital in providing students with a choice of pathways and maximising post-16 opportunities.

The timelines outlined bring valuable clarity as the sector navigates the transition to the reformed system and signal the government’s commitment to working collaboratively with providers and sector experts. The challenge now is to make sure that the new system works well for all our learners, fills skills gaps, and ultimately reduces the number of young people who are not in education, employment, or training.

Chief Executive of Land based Colleges & Universities Aspiring to Excellence Alex Payne said:

We welcome the timetable set out for the development of these ambitious reforms. It is positive to see the breadth of engagement with the sector and to see views shared by members reflected in this document.

We look forward to continuing to work with the department to deliver a robust offer for the sector.

CEO of The Careers & Enterprise Company John Yarham said:

We welcome the Government’s implementation plan, which provides vital clarity and direction on 16–19 qualifications. Careers education is the gateway to the skills system, and the plan rightly recognises the fundamental importance of ensuring that educators and careers professionals are equipped to support young people in understanding, engaging with, and confidently pursuing the opportunities available to them.

It is also important to recognise the vital role employers play in shaping these reforms and in inspiring young people to take up different pathways. We look forward to continuing to work with Government and partners nationally and locally through our network of Careers Hubs to help ensure every young person can take their best next step.

Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges David Hughes said:

It’s good to see this plan offer a lot of detail about the implementation of the new qualifications system for young people.

It’s a complex change process for colleges and their staff over the next few years, and this plan will help colleges to make more informed decisions about what is right for their students and communities.

We all want to make this new system work for every young person, giving them the choice of options which motivate and inspire them and lead onto further learning and great lives and careers.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 18 May 2026.

Education Secretary calls on global leaders to join International Alliance to deliver opportunity for all children with SEND.New international alliance to support children with SEND.

Children and young people with special educational needs were at the forefront of discussions at the launch of the Education World Forum today, as the Education Secretary launched a new International SEND Alliance.

She called on countries to join a new alliance of nations to share experiences and proven approaches, and agree clear action plans with a shared mission to deliver opportunity for all children with SEND.

The government has always been clear in its ambition to put inclusion and high standards at the heart of a decade of improvement to education in England, and in Bridget Phillipson’s opening speech, she set out her plan to take this beyond British shores.

This comes on the final day of the government’s consultation on its own bold reforms for children with SEND – backed by £4 billion to ensure every child gets the right support, in their local school, at the earliest possible stage, without having to fight for it.

In her speech, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

I am proud to announce that I will convene an International SEND Alliance in 2027, a coalition of countries, coming together across a series of summits, to chart a common path forward. 

Under a shared mission to deliver opportunity for all children with SEND around the world, 

[…] our countries will compare experiences, share what works, and agree clear action plans that governments can take forward. 

So, I urge all countries here today to join us, let’s come together on this shared challenge, so we can learn from one another, and build education systems of excellence and inclusion, fit for the 2030s and beyond.

The alliance will meet at major UK-hosted international education events including Bett in January, the next Education World Forum in May, and the International Summit on the Teaching Profession to chart a path forward by learning from one another.

Already, countries across the world are taking innovative approaches to support children with SEND.

For example, in Norway, early intervention is written into law – teachers are trained to spot and respond to needs before problems escalate, keeping children who can thrive there in mainstream classrooms.

Here in England, the Education for All Bill, announced in this week’s King’s Speech, will deliver high-quality education, health and care in every community from 2029 – including a new legal duty to put an Individual Support Plan in place for every child with SEND.

The Education Secretary continued:

In this government we see inclusion and high standards as what they are, not enemies but friends, not in conflict but in concert, one strengthening the other. 

We are building a system in which children grow up together, go to their local school together, achieve and thrive together […] Because all children benefit from that inclusive approach, not just children with SEND.

And our country will benefit too. By drawing from a deeper and wider pool of talent, we’ll make our country not just fairer but stronger. 

By sending our children to school together, we’ll make our country not just stronger but kinder […] Because we can’t have a strong and inclusive society without a strong and inclusive education system.

The new legislation will focus on:

• Providing early support, strong protections and fairness and ensuring children get the support they need quickly through new legal duties to put an Individual Support Plan (ISP) in place for every child and young person with SEND and National Inclusion Standards.
• Clearer protections for children with the most complex needs through reformed EHCP processes, Specialist Provision Packages and stronger oversight of Independent Special Schools.
• Managing a smooth transition to the new system that is centred on fairness through clear transitional protections, including a triple lock to ensure no child loses effective support as the system changes. 

When a Bill is announced in the King’s Speech, this is confirming the government’s intention to legislate, it is not the introduction of legislation – and the government is clear this process will not get ahead of the development of reforms through its landmark public consultation.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 15 May 2026.

Government announces first 130 universities and colleges approved to offer new bite-sized courses, with applications opening this September.

Adults balancing responsibilities such as work and childcare will now have a new route into university and college thanks to radical reforms to create a new, more flexible student finance system.

From September 2026, for the first time ever people will be able to access student finance for shorter, flexible, bite-sized courses, known as “modules”, as well as traditional university degrees. 

Today the government has confirmed the first 130 universities and colleges approved to offer the new smaller courses through the system, which people will be able to apply for this September. 

The change is part of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, as set out in the government’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper last year, with people now able to see the universities and colleges across the country where they will be able to use the new funding system.

Traditionally, higher and further education has been built around full-time degrees and qualifications taken straight after school or college. But that doesn’t work for the many people who need to fit study around life commitments or want to return to learning later down the line to upskill.

The funding of these new smaller courses mean people can gain qualifications over time, rather than needing to complete a rigid three-year full-time degree in one go, which previously locked thousands of people out of learning. 

The modules on offer will focus on subjects that will tackle skills shortages, including economics and computing, engineering and architecture, as well as health and social care.

These plans are central to the Prime Minister’s ambition to ensure two‑thirds of young people are in a gold‑standard apprenticeship, higher training or university by the age of 25, helping to close skills gaps, cut the number of young people not in education, employment or training, and drive economic growth as part of our national renewal. 

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said:

Financial support should be available whether you want to do a degree, take a short course, or retrain later in life. Our changes will make that happen, with the option to access student finance in any stage of life.

Whether it’s fitting study around a job, retraining for a completely new career, juggling childcare, or getting qualifications later in life, the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement will open up new opportunities for thousands more people to build the careers they want and get on in life.

Applications for student finance will open in September 2026, for anyone starting courses or the new modules from January 2027.

Under the new system, people will be able to access funding equivalent to four years of post-18 study, currently worth up to £39,160. 

This money can be used flexibly across the new modules, shorter courses or full degrees over the course of their working lives. 

Eligible students will also be able to apply for maintenance support to help with living costs and funding will be provided in smaller amounts linked to the size of the course being studied, rather than only through full academic years.

People who already have a degree may still be able to access the new funding, either if they have remaining student finance available in their pot or want to retrain in certain priority subject areas. 

Alex Stanley, National Union of Students Vice President said:

Everyone should be able to study in the way that works best for them. For some that is going to university at 18, for others a changing job market might mean getting new qualifications at 40.

We welcome the flexibility that the Lifelong Learning Entitlement allows, especially through the modular study. Higher education plays a vital role in our society, and we hope that this funding shift will allow more people study, gain new qualifications and invest in their future.

Professor Dave Phoenix, Vice-Chancellor of The Open University, said:

As pioneers of flexible learning, The Open University has long focused on reaching learners where and how they need to study. The Lifelong Learning Entitlement provides a real opportunity to deliver a post-18 education system for the 21st Century, one that better reflects how people, live learn and work today.

It has the potential to truly stimulate lifelong learning, by enabling institutions to build more flexible, modular pathways both into and through higher education, enabling people to train, retrain and upskill throughout their lives.

Realising that potential will depend on ensuring the system works in practice for learners, employers, and further and higher education providers alike and require providers to challenge themselves as to what the future could look like.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 14 May 2026.

New fund aims to make fostering more accessible and support more people to become carers, as part of wider drive to create 10,000 new foster places.

Thousands more children and young people will benefit from stable, loving homes as the government launches a new £12.4 million Fostering Innovation Fund to make foster care more accessible and inclusive across England.

The Fund will help fostering around modern lifestyles and household structures, by updating models of foster care, which set out how care should be delivered. 

For too long, foster care has been provided on the assumption that people need to be in traditional, married relationships with only one carer working full time to be successful. The Department for Education reforms aim to attract a younger and more diverse mixture of carers as well as improving the experience of fostering for existing carers.

The new fund will support the modernisation of the foster care system, enabling more flexibility in how care is provided, without compromising on safeguarding standards. Fostering helps to give vulnerable young people the best possible start in life, breaking the link between background and opportunity.

The funding will be allocated to Regional Care Co-operatives and fostering hubs, which are operated by Local Authorities. They will be collaborating with a range of partners, potentially including children’s charities and commercial providers to develop and trial innovative new models of foster care 

Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister said:

Every child deserves the chance to grow up in a safe and loving home, and I’ve been truly inspired by the foster carers I have met who make that happen.

This investment will help us bring fostering into the 21st century, moving on from outdated assumptions about who can foster and how care should be offered and opening it up to a wider range of people.

This will help us recruit more carers, and change more children’s lives by giving them a stable home.

Innovation in the fostering sector is already being driven forward in many parts of England. For example, a foster carer with four years’ experience in Manchester was previously limited to one placement due to space constraints in her home. With a £7,800 grant provided through the local Room Makers scheme run by Greater Manchester Combined Authority, she reconfigured her home and will soon welcome siblings.

Other new forms of care being trialled by some organisations include respite or weekend-only fostering, whereby children spend time with foster carers at weekends or for shorter periods during a week. This can support other forms of long-term care, such as a child in a residential care home or being looked after by extended family members.  

These innovative approaches can improve outcomes for children and families and make fostering more appealing to a wider range of people.

Launched during Foster Care Fortnight, the Fund will help Fostering Hubs and Regional Care Cooperatives to expand successful fostering programmes and trial new ways of supporting foster families and children.

This includes opportunities to form partnerships between organisations so they can more effectively test and develop new approaches.

Sara Fernandez, CEO at NOW Foster, said:  

At Now Foster, we believe fostering should be something many more people can see themselves being part of. Children in care need safe, stable and loving homes, and they also need a village of trusted adults who can stay alongside them as they grow up. We love seeing people step in as Weekenders, building long-term relationships with children when they might not otherwise be able to foster full-time.

These relationships can bring consistency, joy and love to children, while also offering vital support to full-time carers. They also give people a way to build their confidence, skills and understanding of fostering, should they want to foster more in the future. By making fostering more flexible and accessible, we can open the door to more people offering the kinds of enduring relationships that can change a child’s life.

Andy Elvin, CEO of TACT, said:  

TACT is delighted by the investment the government are making in foster care. We are equalled thrilled by the attention the Minister is paying fostering and the pace at which he is acting to address longstanding issues in the sector which have been largely ignored in the past decade. Fostering is more than providing a home, it is about providing a future, about showing up when it matters most & about being there for the long term.

Fostering is a commitment and it is heartening that the commitment shown by tens of thousands of foster carers day in , day out in the UK, is now being matched by the Government. This is not just about investing in fostering, it’s about investing in the children in our communities who need it the most.

Dame Carol Homden, Coram CEO, said:  

This investment is a timely and clear acknowledgment of the strength and potential of a fostering sector that is already rich with creativity, commitment and practical innovation.

What is particularly encouraging is the opportunity this fund creates for local authorities, independent fostering agencies and wider partners to work together more intentionally, as collaboration is essential if we are serious about improving outcomes for children in care. 

The investment forms part of the government’s wider plans to reform and expand foster care, creating 10,000 additional foster care places over the course of this Parliament.

The fund was first announced in February as part of the government’s Fostering Action Plan, which set out measures to make fostering more flexible, improve support for carers, and update local authority decision-making processes on who can become a foster carer.

The funding will support projects designed to improve outcomes for children and young people, including initiatives aimed at preventing children from entering residential care unnecessarily and helping them remain in family-based settings wherever possible.

The launch forms part of wider activity planned during Foster Care Fortnight, to raise awareness of fostering and encourage more people to consider becoming foster carers.

Successful applicants to the fund are expected to be announced later this summer following the close of the application process.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 16 April 2026.

New government guidance and practical advice launched on primary school offer day to help families get children ready for school, backed by language support.

Families will receive new support from today to help children prepare for school, as the government rolls out a package of measures from primary school offer day through to the first day in September.

The move comes as over a third (37%) of children are starting school without the basic skills they need for the classroom, with teachers and charities finding many children arriving in Reception unable to use the toilet independently, communicate clearly or follow simple instructions.

As part of the government’s mission to get a record number of children school ready, the guidance published today – on primary school offer day – will provide parents with a clear idea of what good support looks like from schools and early years settings to help their child transition into Reception.

For the first time, new guidance sets out how schools, nurseries, and childminders should work together as one system around families to get children ready for Reception – making clear that Offer Day is the starting gun for children beginning their school education.

It sets three key building blocks for a smooth start: strong relationships with families, close partnership working between schools, nurseries and childminders, and early identification of children’s needs, including SEND.  It includes practical examples to follow, like home visits and stay and play sessions, giving families the opportunity to visit their new school, or for teachers to visit children in their early years setting.

The package is backed by continued investment in the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme until 2029, and comes as a new national campaign, fronted by award-winning teacher and rapper MC Grammar, gives parents simple ways to practise key skills at home.

Minister for Early Education Olivia Bailey MP said:

Starting school is a huge milestone – for children and parents. I remember getting my own children ready for their first day, excited and hoping they’d walk through the door feeling confident.

From the moment families receive their school place, they should feel supported with simple, practical ways to help their child build confidence, independence and the skills they need for the classroom.

By bringing schools, nurseries, childminders, and families closer together, we can make sure every child gets off to a strong start – arriving at school feeling settled and ready to learn.

The NELI programme helps children who need extra support with speech and language to catch up during Reception. It has already been shown to deliver strong results, with an evaluation finding that it boosts language skills by an additional four months for children on the programme compared to those that aren’t, or up to seven months for children from more deprived backgrounds.

The new campaign shows that school readiness is about everyday skills like communication, independence and confidence – not just uniforms or academic ability. It features a new ‘Steps for School’ song by MC Grammar highlighting key skills from getting dressed and using the toilet to listening, speaking and following instructions.

Jacob Mitchell, known as MC Grammar, said:

As a former teacher and a dad with children already at school – and one starting next year – I know how much practicing simple skills early can boost confidence when it’s time to start Reception.

With our new ‘Steps for School’ song, we’re giving families a fun, memorable way to build those everyday skills that will help set children up for a smooth start in September.

Lee Parkinson, primary school teacher and education content creator Mr P, said:

Preparation for school is about those small, meaningful interactions that begin at home.

I’ve seen first-hand the difference these everyday routines can make alongside the care and learning children get in childcare and early years settings, giving them the reassurance they need to thrive.

I always remind parents it’s never too early to start. Even families with 2–3-year-olds can build confidence and independence through everyday chatting, playing and reading.

With family life getting more challenging for many, this work forms part of a wider push to make life easier for parents and give children the best start.

This government is bringing together support from pregnancy through to starting school, including through the rollout of Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority, offering parenting advice, health services and help with children’s development, alongside the first ever guidance to help families manage screen time at home.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 12 April 2026.

High-sugar and deep-fried food taken off the menu in new plans to overhaul school dinners amid health crisis facing children, helping to tackle obesity.

Millions of children will benefit from healthier, more nutritious, tasty meals at school as the government today [Monday 13th April] sets out its plans to overhaul the School Food Standards for the first time in over a decade.

One in three children are leaving primary school overweight or obese, while tooth decay from diets high in sugar is the leading cause of hospital admissions for kids aged 5 to 9 – all while sugary treats and deep-fried food continue to feature on school menus.

The move comes after parent polling revealed three quarters are concerned by the food their children are eating. The government is tackling this head on – with our proposals including limiting food and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar and putting more fruit, vegetables and wholegrains on every child’s plate.

Today’s consultation launches as over 500 new Free Breakfast Clubs begin to open their doors this month, offering places up to 142,000 children. We have already rolled out free breakfast clubs in 750 schools – helping save parents up to £450 a year and gaining up to 95 hours precious time back a year.

The new standards have been developed alongside nutritionists and public health experts and will apply to all breakfasts and lunches served by schools. Under the plans, schools will no longer be able to offer unhealthy ‘grab and go’ options like sausage rolls and pizza every day, while deep fried food will be banned completely. Fruit will also need to be served instead of sugar-laden treats for the majority of the school week.

Sample menus include a colourful range of tasty, health-packed meals – including spaghetti Bolognese, Mexican style burritos, cottage pie with root-veg mash, jerk chicken with rice and peas and roasted chickpea, vegetable and mozzarella wrap.

The government has today launched a nine‑week consultation on the healthier options with parents and children, alongside a new national enforcement mechanism to monitor the new standards and ensure they are applied consistently.

These changes are supported by food campaigners, charities and nutritional experts including Bite Back, Tom Kerridge, Chefs in Schools, Emma Thompson and Henry Dimbleby. Many schools are already leading the way with delicious, nutritious meals that children love – proof that higher standards are both achievable and popular. But while many are already serving healthy school dinners, these new standards level the playing field so that every child – no matter where they live – gets good-quality food at school.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

Today we are launching the most ambitious overhaul of school food in a generation, and it is long overdue.

Every child deserves to have delicious, nutritious food at school that gives them the energy to concentrate, learn and thrive – meals that children will actually recognise and enjoy, backed by robust compliance so that good standards on paper become good food on the plate.

From our Free Breakfast Clubs to extending Free School Meals to over half a million more children, this means good-quality food from the moment children arrive at school to the end of the day.

Health Minister Sharon Hodgson said:

Children are consuming twice the recommended amount of free sugar and offering more nutritious meals at school is a great way of ensuring they eat healthier food.

We’re determined to reduce the child obesity epidemic and the new School Food Standards represent another piece in a jigsaw of measures designed to help raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

This delivers on change parents and campaigners have been calling for. New polling shows 74% of parents have at least one concern about their child’s nutrition – from too much sugar (43%) and too many fatty foods (24%), to not enough fruit and vegetables (30%).

The new School Food Standards also include new dedicated breakfast standards to ensure every child begins their day with food that sets them up to learn and thrive.

To ensure schools follow the new standards, the government is committed to developing a robust national enforcement system including monitoring schools’ compliance. Full details will be announced this September, with enforcement in place from September 2027.

The government also wants every school to appoint a lead governor to be responsible for school food, as well as asking every school to publish their food policy and menus online. With 50% of parents in England saying they don’t get enough information about what their child is being served, this means parents, pupils and communities can hold schools to account.

Dame Emma Thompson, Actor and Food Foundation Ambassador said:

I am absolutely thrilled that the government is changing the School Food Standards to make sure that every child has delicious, nutritious school food that they deserve.

School meals are a golden opportunity to support children’s health, learning and wellbeing — and getting this right means children across the country can truly thrive. This is a landmark moment for families, for the NHS, and for the future of our young people.

Jamie Oliver, Chef and Campaigner said:

Twenty years ago, dog food had higher standards than school dinners. I’ve been banging the drum ever since because I refuse to accept our kids being fed anything less than proper, nourishing meals.

School food is the UK’s most important restaurant chain. From September, during term-time schools will provide two-thirds of a child’s daily diet – a massive opportunity to improve health at scale. My Good School Food Awards prove that world-class meals are possible right now, and every child deserves that same quality.

So, I’m delighted this government is now updating and enforcing these standards.

Henry Dimbleby, former government food tsar, author of the Independent National Food Strategy and co-founder of Bramble Partners and Leon, said:

Today we have a rare chance to reset school food: wider access to free school meals, higher standards – with proper monitoring to help schools improve what ends up on the plate. September can mark the start of a new normal, where every child can count on a lunch that is both delicious and nutritious, and every parent can have real confidence in what’s being served.

Done right it will boost children’s health, their academic outcomes and their chances of success in later life. But it will only work if the government sticks to the timetable set out today – and if schools and caterers are backed to deliver, and held to it.

Naomi Duncan, Chief Executive at Chefs in Schools, one of the lead partners of the School Food Project said:

We are pleased to see the first update to school food standards in over a decade, and a commitment to monitoring that means these measures will have real impact. Suggested changes will see a shift towards more freshly prepared and delicious meals that are packed full of nutrition. More fruit and veg and fibre will be served so that young people get all the goodness they need to grow up healthy and thrive.

To make the most of this opportunity and ensure our young people are getting the lunch they deserve, we’re also hugely excited to announce the philanthropy funded School Food Project. This coalition of the UK’s leading food and education organisations, including Bite Back, Chefs in Schools, Jamie Oliver Group, School Food Matters and The Food Foundation have joined forces to offer schools practical support to transform school food and improve food education.

There will be a phased approach for some changes in secondary schools – giving schools time to develop recipes, update menus and train staff. However, schools who are ready to adopt the new standards are encouraged to do so straight away.

Hilary Priest, Headteacher at The Grove School in Devon, said:

At The Grove, we believe a healthy mind and a healthy body go hand in hand, and that starts with what children eat.

We’re incredibly proud to be the first school in Devon to partner with Chefs in Schools, who are doing remarkable work to transform school food across the country. Every meal here is freshly prepared on site, with a daily choice of main or alternative, a varied salad bar, fresh fruit and water always available.

We’re changing our whole school culture around food — from the curriculum to the kitchen garden, where children will grow produce for their own meals and meet the local producers who supply us. By offering healthy, tasty meals every day, we’re showing children that good food is something to enjoy, explore and be proud of.

Today’s announcement builds on the government’s extension of Free School Meals to every child from a household in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026 — reaching over half a million more children and lifting 100,000 out of poverty. Together, these reforms represent the biggest expansion of school food provision in a generation.

Additional supportive commentary:
Anna Taylor, Executive Director, The Food Foundation, said:

With government announcing higher school food standards, which will also be monitored, and rolling out universal breakfast clubs and wider access to free school meals, the huge potential of school food to nourish and energise the next generation is finally being recognised. This must be the moment the whole sector pulls together to make school food delicious and nutritious, and embed food education into the school day. We have a unique opportunity to initiate a seismic shift in child health, and we are excited to drive this forward with our partners at the School Food Project.

Stephanie Slater MBE, Founder and Chief Executive of School Food Matters:

This is a truly exciting moment for school food. Government’s move to update the school food standards will strengthen the extension of free school meals and the continued roll-out of universal primary breakfast clubs. This has the potential to revolutionise access to delicious, nutritious and sustainable food for children and young people across the country.

We’re proud to be part of the School Food Project, working in partnership to help schools turn government ambition into reality. Through our Young Marketeers programme, we’ll introduce children to the joys of growing fresh fruit and vegetables, and our Nourish programme will support schools to take a whole school approach to food, creating lasting change in school food culture and putting children’s nutrition and wellbeing first.

Thomasina Miers, Wahaca co-founder, Masterchef winner, and Chefs in Schools Trustee said:

In the schools I’ve visited, I’ve seen children eagerly eating food that would hold its own in any restaurant — made from scratch, with skill and care, on a school budget. This is not a pipe dream. It’s happening right now. The School Food Project exists to make sure every child gets that — not just the lucky ones. Kids are our future. Let’s feed them like it.

D’Arcy Williams, CEO of Bite Back, said:

We welcome this consultation — it’s a long-overdue step towards improving the food young people rely on every day. But the scale of the challenge cannot be ignored. It is deeply worrying that so many children are consuming too much sugar, and that three quarters of parents are concerned about what their children are eating.

The reality is that the system hasn’t been working. We have standards that are meant to protect children’s health, but without proper monitoring and accountability, they haven’t been consistently enforced. That’s allowed a grab-and-go culture to take hold in many schools — where speed and convenience often come at the expense of nutrition.

Our recent Grab and Go research shows how this plays out in practice. With short lunch breaks, long queues and limited healthier options, young people are being pushed towards quick fixes that leave them hungry, tired and unable to focus in lessons.

The government’s ambition to create the healthiest generation ever is the right one. But it will only be achieved if these new standards are properly implemented and enforced, and if the reality of how young people eat during the school day is fully addressed. This is a real opportunity to reset the system — and we must get it right.

Head chef, Russ Ball, at Pokesdown Community Primary School in Bournemouth said:

I’ve always believed that great school food doesn’t have to cost the earth – by cooking seasonally from scratch and buying smart, we serve over 300 fresh, nutritious and delicious meals that the children love every day, within budget.

For me, it’s never just about what’s on the plate. It’s about taking children on a journey with food – from growing it in the garden to learning about the food and eating together and encouraging each other to try new things. In the five years of being a chef here, we have seen uptake in school lunches triple, with pupils more energised to learn and excited to try new foods.

That is why I am delighted to welcome these new school food standards – every child deserves food that fuels them, excites them and teaches them something along the way.

Katharine Jenner, Executive Director, Obesity Health Alliance:

Schools should be a place that actively supports children’s health. Strengthening school food standards, so children can enjoy affordable, tasty and nutritious meals, is a vital and welcome step.

Right now, children are surrounded by unhealthy food at almost every turn — not just at school, but also online, on the high street, at home and beyond. Action cannot stop at the school gates — it is needed across the wider food environment to truly give every child the best start in life.

Brad Pearce, Chair of The School Food People said:

The School Food People welcome’s the Governments review of the School Food Standards. Our members are focussed on creating the healthiest generation ever and this can only be achieved by having robust standards, which are monitored and funded appropriately to support and protect sustainable services. We will work with Government to ensure the views of providers, suppliers, schools, and MATs are understood – so that we can support a system that focusses on children’s health, wellbeing and readiness to learn.

Frank Young, Chief Executive of Parentkind said:

There should be no place for junk food in schools. We monitor what happens in the classroom because we have high expectations for learning so we are right to take the same approach with healthy meals. That’s why parents overwhelmingly back this approach.

Taking tough action to stamp out junk food will help children to learn and tackle widespread childhood obesity.

Barbara Crowther, Children’s Food Campaign Manager for Sustain said:

Current school food standards have reached their use-by date. They no longer reflect the scientific evidence on the harms of high sugar, low-fibre diets and risks associated with high consumption of meat and ultra processed foods both for children’s health and the planet. This consultation is a golden opportunity to raise the bar. We urge government and schools to be bold and ambitious in setting new standards, so that our schools can become beacons of a healthier and more sustainable food system, and our children can grow up healthy wherever they live and learn.

Sustain’s parent ambassador, Mandy Mazliah (she/her). Parent of 3 children, 15, 14 & 10. Based in East Cambridgeshire.

I’m pleased the government is reviewing school food standards. As a mum of three, I’ve been shocked by how often options like doughnuts, sausage rolls and sugary or ultra-processed foods dominate. This is a real opportunity to improve what children are eating by cutting sugar and ultra-processed foods while increasing vegetables, whole foods and plant-based options. Our children need good quality food to fuel their learning and ensure that they can live healthy lives.

Sustain’s parent ambassador, Gemma Mcfarlane (she/her). Parent of 2 children, 17 and 14. Based in East Sussex.

I welcome the School Food Standards consultation, it’s a positive and much-needed step. Parents are frustrated that it’s still too easy for students to fill up on less healthy options like tray bakes and fizzy drinks instead of balanced meals. I’d like to see limits on these, alongside more sustainable options and better support in schools to help children make healthier decisions. Families see first-hand how food impacts children, so it’s vital our voices are heard. I really hope the government will listen to parents like me.

Emma Balchin, Chief Executive, National Governance Association:

NGA welcomes the proposed updates to the school food standards, recognising the vital importance of ensuring every child has access to high-quality and nutritious food during the school day. We know that our schools and trusts play an instrumental role in supporting pupils to develop healthy habits and behaviours that extend into adulthood, with good nutrition underpinning both wellbeing and readiness to learn.

We also welcome the role these standards play in addressing issues of food insecurity in England, which currently affects millions of children in this country. This comes alongside government rollout of free breakfast clubs and expansion of free school meal eligibility – initiatives NGA have championed, as part of a joined-up approach to improving children’s health, wellbeing and access to education.

Governing boards have long been ensuring the food standards are met as part of their crucial compliance role, and we will be engaging with the Department throughout this consultation to further explore how boards can best support this worthy ambition.

Reema Reid, Headteacher Hollydale Primary school, Southwark, said:

For many children, a nutritious meal at school is not simply an addition to their day—it is a necessity. Free school meals ensure that pupils arrive in classrooms ready to learn, able to concentrate, and supported in both their physical and emotional wellbeing. Without this provision, too many children face the barriers of hunger, reduced focus, and diminished educational outcomes.

In communities where families are experiencing financial hardship, free school meals act as a safeguard. They help to reduce inequality, remove stigma, and provide every child with a fair opportunity to succeed. Importantly, they also support families under pressure, offering reassurance that their children will receive at least one healthy, balanced meal each day.

From my 25 years’ experience in education, I have seen first-hand how access to nutritious food directly impacts behaviour, engagement, and attainment. Schools such aat Hollydale that prioritise food provision are not only nurturing healthier pupils but are also creating environments where children can truly thrive.

Investing in free school meals is, therefore, an investment in equity, in education, and in the future of our multicultural society.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 7 April 2026.

Interest on Plan 2 and 3 student loans will be capped at 6%, instead of RPI+3%, to provide borrowers with certainty in an uncertain world.

The government is capping the maximum interest rates on Plan 2 and 3 student loans at 6% from 1 September, for the 2026/27 academic year, delivering stability and protections for graduates from escalating student loan interest. 

This measure will protect students and graduates in England and Wales from the potential of inflation pressures due to the situation in the Middle East. Graduates will not pay the price for a war which the UK has no direct involvement in. 

This reform removes the risk of any temporary increase in inflation causing loan balances to compound at an unsustainable rate and is in line with actions taken in the past to secure stability in the student finance system. 

Graduates with Plan 2 loans currently pay interest rates of between RPI and RPI plus 3%, depending on their earnings. Current students on Plan 2 and Plan 3 also attract an interest rate of RPI +3% while they are studying.

Interest on Plan 2 and 3 student loans will be capped at 6% instead of RPI+3% to protect borrowers. This will ensure no Plan 2 or Plan 3 borrower faces an interest rate of above 6%, protecting them from any short-term increase in RPI due to global shocks, such as temporary spikes in oil prices, outside the government’s control. The government is clear this is not our war and the UK will not be dragged into conflict, but the impacts will affect the future of our country. 

It follows changes this government has already made to the student finance system we inherited to improve it and make it fairer for students, graduates and taxpayers. This includes increasing the repayment threshold for Plan 2 loans to £28,470 in April 2025 – its first increase since 2021 – and we have increased it again on 6 April this year, to £29,385.

The government is continuing work to make the student finance system fairer for students, graduates and taxpayers. 

Minister for Skills, Jacqui Smith, said: 

We know that the conflict in the Middle East is causing anxiety at home, and while the risk of global shocks is beyond our control, protecting people here is not. 

Capping the maximum interest rate on Plan 2 and Plan 3 student loans will provide immediate protection for borrowers, supporting those who are most exposed within this already unfair system. 

We’re acting now to defend against the consequences of far-away conflicts in an uncertain world. More broadly, we’re bringing back maintenance grants and continuing to look at the broken Plan 2 system we inherited, and the wider student finance system, to make it fairer for students, graduates and taxpayers.

The Prime Minister has outlined plans to protect the UK public from the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East, including cutting energy bills, extending the cut to fuel duty, supporting those exposed to heating oil rises and taking back control of our energy security, by investing in clean British energy. 

The government is making this change ahead of student loan interest rates being confirmed for the coming 2026/27 academic year. The interest that applies to student loans is fixed by academic year, from 1 September to 31 August the subsequent year, using the RPI value for the year to March prior (in this case, March 2026). 

The student finance system also protects lower-earning graduates, with repayments determined by incomes and outstanding loans and interest being written off at the end of repayment terms. This write-off is a deliberate investment in our people and the economy.

Since 2024, we have been committed to supporting the aspiration of anyone who can and wants to attend higher education. We have reintroduced targeted, means-tested maintenance grants from the 2028/29 academic year, providing students from low-income households with up to £1,000 extra support that will not need to be repaid to ensure those from the poorest families receive more support without increasing their debt. We have also set an ambitious target of two thirds of young people taking a gold standard apprenticeship, higher-level training or heading to university by the age of 25.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 26 March 2026.

Right to maintain contact with siblings to be strengthened in law for children in care via amendment to Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Children in care will be better supported to build and maintain relationships with their brothers and sisters under new measures brought forward in law by the government, making life better for vulnerable children and ensuring they have the opportunity to get on in life.

All local authorities in England and Wales will be required to promote and facilitate contact for children in care who are separated from their siblings. This change puts sibling contact on an equal footing with parental contact —recognising the vital role these relationships play in providing stability, continuity and emotional support.

Currently, sibling relationships are not prioritised as much as parent relationships for children in care by local authorities. Many care-experienced people have talked about the difficulties of losing contact with siblings as a result of being placed in care, and the long term impact this can have.

The new legislation will ensure that local authorities will do all they can to provide sibling contact, even if, for instance, they are living a long way away from each other. This includes half and step siblings.

It will apply unless it is not in children’s best interests, such as in cases of violence or abuse or where social workers have other concerns about wellbeing.

Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister said:

It’s a travesty that children in care can end up losing contact with their brothers and sisters when they go into care, and we want that contact to be maintained wherever possible for the sake of their emotional stability and their futures.

Every child’s circumstances are different, but this amendment is aimed at making life better for more vulnerable children and giving them the best possible start in life.

Chris Hoyle, who was in the care system as a child, said:

After being initially separated, being reunited with my brother in the same foster placement changed my life. My brother is the longest relationship I have ever had, by some distance. How do you define the value of that? How do you put a price on still being in contact with the person who loved you first? I can’t. 

Jonny is a rock in my life. A 6’2 rock who supports the wrong football team. He keeps me grounded in my identity and provides a safety net that has lasted a lifetime.

The Department for Education once called us ‘The Hoyle Brothers’. We are a package deal thanks to the bravery of senior staff who decided that sharing a bedroom was not worth losing something that cannot be bought.

Wherever it is safe and possible, the relationships of siblings in care should be a priority. Those relationships can last a lifetime and are priceless.

Parice, who has experienced the care system, said:

Sibling relationships are often built on a strong foundation of support, offering both emotional reassurance and practical help throughout life.

For those who have experienced the foster care system, these bonds can be especially significant, providing a vital sense of belonging in times of uncertainty. Shared history and memories create a unique connection, alongside similarities that can feel unlike any other relationship.

The amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill was welcomed in the House of Lords on Wednesday 25 March, following continued discussions with stakeholders and parliamentarians. Final confirmation is expected following further debate in the House of Commons after Easter.

This change forms part of the government’s wider work to reform children’s social care and ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a stable, loving environment.

This includes work to reduce care placements far from home, and allocating £10.8 million for an expansion of Regional Care Co-operatives to enable better placement planning for children in care.

The DfE is also supporting more siblings in care to stay together with ambitious plans to create 10,000 more foster care places, backed by a total investment of £88m, including £25m to expand existing foster carers’ homes so they can foster more children, including sibling groups. 

This is on top of £2.4 billion of investment in the Families First Partnership Programme to help keep families together through early intervention, a pilot for financial support for kinship carers, and reforms to support for adoptive families.

Cathy Ashley, Chief Executive of Family Rights Group, said:

Growing up alongside brothers or sisters is a fundamental part of childhood that so many of us take for granted. Yet, for too long, our care system has overseen a quiet injustice that the wider public rarely sees: breaking the links between siblings, often when they need one another the most. 

By tabling this amendment, the Government is finally righting this historic wrong. When we provide young people with the right scaffolding, we set them up for a lifetime of success, and sibling bonds are the very foundation of that support. This is a victory for care-experienced young people to ensure our system actively protects the relationships that matter most.

Anela Anwar, Chief Executive of Become, said:

We’re delighted the government has agreed to change the law to better protect relationships between children in care and their siblings.

Too often, children are separated from their brothers and sisters, with little done to maintain those relationships. This change will strengthen duties on local authorities to keep siblings connected and better protect these vital bonds.

The amendment is part of the government’s landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill which is the most transformative piece of child protection legislation in a generation and will put children at the centre of education and social care.

The government will continue working with the sector to support implementation, share best practice, and ensure children across the country benefit from stronger, more stable care arrangements.