The Key

This week’s top sector stories 📰

📄 DfE has published the Schools White Paper, Every child achieving and thriving

4️⃣ A new consultation on KS4 performance measures and RISE intervention

🤒 Pupil absence rose 50% during the latest flu season

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What schools can learn from Ofsted report cards | The Key We’ve analysed 206 report cards, published on Ofsted’s Find an inspection report website between 12 January and 10 February. Read on to find out what patterns we’ve seen, and what these early insights...

We’ve analysed 206 Ofsted report cards from Jan–Feb and patterns are emerging 👀

What might inspectors prioritise during your next inspection and what can leaders learn from these early reports?

Read our full analysis to explore the key themes and what they could mean for your school 👇

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Schools white paper 2026: summary | The Key Leaders Read our summary of the schools white paper, which includes proposed reform to the SEND system. Find out what the proposals might mean for your school or trust and how to respond to the DfE's consulta...

The schools white paper is here.

There’s no immediate action required, but there’s a lot to digest.

We’ve unlocked our clear, practical summary so anyone can access it. Key changes, what they mean, and what leaders need to know.

Read it here 👇

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Every child achieving and thriving (HTML version)

The schools white paper has landed.

There’s no immediate action required for schools ✅

We’re reviewing the detail and will shortly publish a clear, practical summary on what’s changing and what it means for leaders.

In the meantime, you can read the full paper here 👇

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DfE launches consultation on changes to KCSIE | The Key Leaders The proposed changes include new guidance on supporting gender-questioning children, updates on managing mobile phones and AI in school, and a new expectation that all staff read part 1 of KCSIE in fu...

Free to access for all - DfE launches consultation on changes to KCSIE 🔓

The proposed changes include new guidance on supporting gender-questioning children, updates on managing mobile phones and AI in school, and a new expectation that all staff read part 1 of KCSIE in full 👇

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This week’s top sector stories 📰

📚 Pupils who feel in control of their learning make ~2 months’ extra reading progress

✅ In-school SEND pilot successfully reduces exclusions

📝 DfE to introduce new guidance on internal exclusions

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This week’s top sector stories 📰

💷 Strong governance helps schools prepare for Ofsted, says new NGA report

📵 38% of teachers have dealt with WhatsApp-related pastoral issues this year

📝 DfE writes to 2,000+ schools about its universal RISE offer

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This week’s top sector stories 📰

💷 DfE announces a £200m investment to boost to boost SEND expertise

📵 Updated mobile phone guidance for schools (with more to come)

📝 New guidance urges parents to be clear & respectful in complaints

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Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots: parent and staff factsheets | The Key Safeguarding

Did you know around two-thirds of children aged 9–17 are now using AI chatbots?

New research shows how quickly chatbots have become part of everyday life - from homework help to virtual friends.

Share our AI chatbot factsheet with staff and parents/carers 👇

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Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: a summary | The Key Leaders Get to grips with the key headlines in the government's proposed legislation, which aims to better protect children and raise standards in education.

Earlier this month, the government tabled an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill on establishing a legal framework for routine Ofsted inspections of multi-academy trusts.

Get to grips with this here👇

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This week’s top sector stories 📰

❌ NEU warns it will “absolutely strike” to protect the 1,265-hour teacher workload limit

📋 Ofsted publishes first report cards under the new framework

📱 Government to release first screen-time guidance for under-5s

Sign up: key.sc/signupnews

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This week’s top sector stories 📰

📃 Updated DfE guidance on the use of reasonable force in schools

💷 £11m investment from the Home Office & DfE to tackle misogyny and keep girls safe

📱 New DfE app to deliver exam results to pupils’ phones

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Emergency school closures: guidance | The Key Leaders Understand when you can close your school in an emergency. Find out how and when to contact your local authority and parents, and how to request an Ofsted inspection deferral due to emergency closure.

Need to close your school because of Storm Goretti? 🌧️❄️

Our emergency school closures guidance helps you understand when and how you can close, how to communicate with your local authority and parents/carers, and considerations like remote learning and inspection deferrals 👇

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DfE publishes new guidance on restrictive interventions, including use of reasonable force | The Key Leaders The guidance, which includes a new legal duty to record and report incidents involving restrictive interventions to parents/carers, comes into effect on 1 April 2026.

The DfE has published new guidance on restrictive interventions following its consultation on it earlier this year.

You don't need to make any changes right now, but we’ve summarised the changes that come into effect on 1 April 2026 in our latest need-to-know 👇

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There’s still time to #ShareSomeJoy before Friday ✨

Sprinkle a little festive magic into the final week of term and thank the people who’ve helped make this year brighter!

#ShareSomeJoy here: sharesomejoy.thekeysupport.com

YouTube video by The Key “Ofsted Must Help, Not Hinder” - Sir Martyn Oliver on the New Inspection Framework

What will @ofstednews.bsky.social be looking for when it comes to how schools support their most vulnerable pupils?

Watch here: youtu.be/FwO4Ah8aDtQ

Or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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YouTube video by The Key “Ofsted Must Help, Not Hinder” - Sir Martyn Oliver on the New Inspection Framework

"Getting help to those children that are struggling is the right thing to do"

Hear Sir Martyn Oliver explain why disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils are at the heart of the new Ofsted framework.

Watch here: youtu.be/FwO4Ah8aDtQ

Or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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This week’s top sector stories 📰

📉 Many secondary pupils feel demotivated by their learning, says new DfE data

💷 Unions call for SBL pay to match other senior staff

📋 Ofsted report says too many pupils are “out of step” with school expectations

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YouTube video by The Key “Ofsted Must Help, Not Hinder” - Sir Martyn Oliver on the New Inspection Framework

NEW: Sir Martyn Oliver joins us to talk about the new Ofsted framework 🎙️

A special bonus episode covering belonging, context, the new grades - and his ambition for a more “humane and fairer” system.

Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwO4...

Or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

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The Ofsted nominee role: who should take it on and how to prepare | The Key From November 2025, every school can choose to appoint an Ofsted nominee – a senior member of staff who supports planning, communication and liaison with inspectors throughout the inspection process. ...

Have you heard about the new Ofsted nominee role but still aren't really sure what it is? 🤔

Read our blog to find out what the role involves and how to prepare with your nominee so you both feel confident when your school gets the call 👇

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✨ It’s the most wonderful time of the year… ✨

1st December = time to #ShareSomeJoy!

Spread some light this festive season by adding a message of appreciation to our #ShareSomeJoy noticeboard.

Add your message here: sharesomejoy.thekeysupport.com

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The Key: New and updated - November 2025 | The Key A selection of new and updated features and content from across The Key that our members accessed in November 2025, including the spring safeguarding briefing, details on the new ABIEs and a new oracy...

Take a look at a selection of the new features and resources that our members gained access to in November, including:

✅ Single sign-on for Microsoft users

✅ New training-management tools & improved personal training history view

✅ Bulk staff-list upload & streamlined onboarding

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This week’s top sector stories 📰

⚖️ NAHT loses appeal over judicial review on new Ofsted report cards

🗳️ NEU considers strike action over ‘continued underfunding’

⏸️ Ofsted pauses NPQ inspections for the rest of this academic year

Sign up for all stories: key.sc/signupnews

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Last chance to join our Ofsted webinar! 🚨

There’s still time to book your place but spaces are filling fast.

Hear directly from Ofsted deputy directors as they explain the key changes in the 2025 framework and take your questions live.

Register now: cloud.resource.thekeysupport.com/ofstedwebinar

This week’s top sector stories 📰

🏫 Education secretary introduces new minimum attendance expectations

⚖️ Schools to face legal duty to record and report non-disciplinary seclusion to parents

❤️‍🩹 New report shows staff wellbeing at lowest level since 2019

Sign up for all stories: key.sc/signupnews

Safeguarding in the new Ofsted framework: what you need to know and do | The Key Ofsted’s new inspection framework came into effect on 10 November 2025, with safeguarding still at the centre of every inspection. For the first time, it’s being assessed as its own evaluation area. H...

For the first time, safeguarding is being assessed as its own evaluation area under the new Ofsted framework.

Read our latest blog to find out what this means in practice and how you can make sure your school is inspection-ready 👇

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Still have questions about the new Ofsted 2025 framework?

Join Ofsted deputy directors Sue Morris-King & Helen Matthews for a live Q&A.

✔️ Understand what’s changing
✔️ Ask Ofsted your questions
✔️ Build confidence for inspection

Sign up: cloud.resource.thekeysupport.com/ofstedwebinar

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The new Ofsted 2025 framework is here - but what does it really mean in practice?

Join our free webinar with Ofsted’s deputy directors to get clarity and ask your questions live.

📅 26 Nov | 4.30–5.30pm | Online

Sign up: cloud.resource.thekeysupport.com/ofstedwebinar

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From grades to report cards: how Ofsted will share inspection outcomes | The Key Big change ahead: from November 2025, Ofsted will no longer give schools a single overall grade. Instead, every inspection will end with a detailed report card of your school’s performance – covering ...

Ofsted is moving from grades to report cards - but what does that actually mean for schools? 📋

Our new blog explains how they’ll work, what they’ll include, and what leaders need to know 👇

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Curriculum and assessment review: summary of the government's response | The Key Leaders Get up to speed with the government's plans for curriculum and assessment, including a reformed National Curriculum from 2028, removing EBacc performance measures and a new statutory reading test in y...

Want to know more about what the government's plans for curriculum and assessment are?

Get up to speed here 👇

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