Weekly e-newsletter 16/1/2026
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This week, we’ve been making sure your voice is heard in key conversations with policymakers. Our Chief Executive met with Georgia Gould, Minister for School Standards, as part of the Department for Education’s Improving Education Together working groups, talking about the future of SEND policy. We’ve also been feeding into the Department’s National Conversations on SEND reform and will join F40 discussions on funding next week. At the same time, we’re keeping a close eye on new Ofsted reports under the updated framework, making sure your perspectives help shape our engagement.
In the rest of the newsletter, you’ll find updates on the National Year of Reading, new data on school-based nurseries, and plans to modernise how young people access their GCSE results.
National SEND training announced as part of additional funding package
This week the government announced a £200 million national SEND training programme, as part of a wider additional funding package to be confirmed in the forthcoming Schools White Paper.
The new training programme will ensure every teacher and member of education staff receives support on SEND and inclusion, addressing long-standing gaps in confidence and consistency. Online and in-person training will cover areas such as adapting teaching, assistive technology and working with parents.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said the government is “equipping staff across every stage of education with more training on SEND and inclusion than ever before”, as part of its mission to reform the SEND system.
In NGA’s recently published SEND policy report, we identify staffing capacity in mainstream schools as a central priority, and call on the government to ensure teachers across all levels are sufficiently supported to identify needs early.
DfE launches new GCSE exam results app
From this summer, year 11 students will be able to view their GCSE results on an app, following a successful regional pilot.
Whilst pupils will still go into school to receive their results, the app aims to modernise how young people access their exam results once they have left school, making it easier to enroll in post-16 destinations and enabling employers to verify education history. It is also expected to save schools an estimated £30 million per year in administrative costs.
National Year of Reading launched
As part of the National Year of Reading, the Department for Education (DfE) and the National Literacy Trust have launched the ‘Go All In’ campaign, encouraging people of all ages to rediscover reading for pleasure. This follows data revealing only one in three 8 to18 year olds saying they enjoy reading.
The campaign aims to bring together families, schools, libraries, businesses and other community organisations to connect reading with everyday passions such as football, music, food, film and gaming. Activities will include national events, local community programmes, volunteer opportunities and new resources for parents and schools.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Reading unlocks so much of children’s education, which is why reversing the decline in reading for pleasure must become a national mission.”
DfE data reveals schools increasingly provide early education
Recent DfE survey data reveals a 15% rise in the number of school-based nurseries, from 8,600 in 2018 to 9,900 in 2025. This is alongside a 39% reduction in the number of registered childminders and suggests that schools are now playing a bigger role as childcare and early education providers.
The data also indicated a higher level of school-based provision in deprived areas, more SEND pupils in attendance and a significantly higher staff qualification level when compared to other settings.
Have you completed your financial self-assessments?
This term, all maintained schools and academy trusts will complete and submit the schools financial value standard (SFVS) and school resource management self-assessment checklist (SRMSAC), respectively. These self-assessments provide governing boards with assurance that their organisation is meeting the basic standards of good financial health and resource management.
Read NGA’s guides to help you get the most out of these tools, ensuring the effective oversight and management of resources:
Share your views on RISE
Has your school or trust been involved with the Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) programme? NGA is looking for member feedback on the targeted intervention being offered by RISE teams.
If you are interested in contributing to live sector discussions, tell us what you think. Alternatively, you can email your views to fariha.choudhury@nga.org.uk.
The DfE has also confirmed that data on the effectiveness of RISE teams will be published in the coming months.
Tell us what you think about RISE
External reviews of governance for trusts: a strong foundation for the future
An external review of governance (ERG) is a valuable opportunity for trusts to reflect on board effectiveness, strengthen practice, and gain independent assurance. The DfE recommends that trusts undertake an ERG every three years.
NGA’s ERG framework is aligned with the Trust Quality Descriptors and informed by our consultants’ decades of experience supporting MAT governance. Reviews focus on what works well, where governance can be strengthened, and how boards can demonstrate impact.
As national arrangements for trust inspection develop, effective governance review will form an important part of how trusts evidence strong leadership and accountability.
To discuss an ERG for your trust, contact consultancy@nga.org.uk or book a meeting with our head of consultancy.
Strengthen your financial governance this spring
With ongoing funding pressures, falling rolls and rising costs, strong financial governance has never been more important. This February, join us for two expert-led finance events designed to help you ask the right questions and make informed, sustainable decisions.
Webinar | 5 February | 12.30pm to 1.15pm
Financial governance: balancing the budget in times of challenge
Explore how you can navigate budget setting and three-year planning in difficult financial circumstances. Hear insights from a school resource management advisor (SRMA) and NGA consultant on managing deficits, declining reserves and staffing pressures, alongside tools, questions and approaches to support effective oversight.
Governance Leadership Forum | 10 February | 4.30pm to 6pm
Making financial efficiencies in schools and trusts
This interactive forum dives deeper into delivering value and impact. Learn from ISBL’s Operational Excellence Model and hear real-world examples from CFOs and school business leaders on streamlining processes, optimising resources and sustaining educational quality.
Tes SEND Show North returns to Manchester this March