In the news: your weekly round-up

Top stories

DfE reveals its strategy to close the disadvantage gap. It includes plans to continue to review the early years pupil premium and to follow up with schools’ pupil premium plans [Tes Magazine - subscription required].

Save time by reading our summary of the pupil premium in just 1 page. Download a copy to share with your governing board.

Education secretary makes her first appearance in front of the education committee to discuss the national funding formula (NFF) review, Ofsted reforms and academy pay freedoms [Schools Week].

Get an overview of what you need to know about the NFF, so you’re clear on how your school or trust is funded.

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are to carry out new visits focusing on pupils with SEND who are missing education. This includes children not registered at any school, as well as those being flexi-schooled or on a part-time timetable [GOV.UK].

As a governor or trustee, you need to challenge the movement of children in and out of your school/trust to assure yourself that off-rolling isn’t taking place. Find out more about off-rolling in our article.

This week's headlines

• Pupil absence fell last term, but more work is needed [Tes Magazine – subscription required]
• Review of national professional qualifications (NPQs) to include SEND, executive leadership and workload reduction skills [Schools Week]
• Former Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) chief, Sir Kevan Collins, appointed to lead DfE non-executive board [Schools Week]
• Experts offer their views on what the priorities of the NPQ and early careers framework (ECF) reviews should be [Tes Magazine – subscription required]

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