Weekly e-newsletter 23/1/2026
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Newsletter in brief
Policy and influence
NGA attends the DfE Winter Ministerial Reception with Deputy CEO Sam Henson, hearing from Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson on priorities for governors and trustees. The team also engages at Bett, with sessions on SEND, governance and AI safety.
Fairer school funding
CEO Emma Balchin joins f40 discussions on SEND funding ahead of the Schools White Paper. NGA partners with f40 on a national campaign, inviting governors and trustees to write to their MP using a model letter.
Mobile phone guidance
DfE publishes new non-statutory guidance on mobile phone use in schools. Ofsted inspections will place greater emphasis on policy implementation, alongside a consultation on restricting children’s access to social media.
Parental complaints guidance
New Parentkind guidance, developed with DfE, Ofsted and NGA, sets out a five-step approach to handling parental complaints, aiming to rebuild trust and reduce escalation.
AI safety standards
DfE announces strengthened AI safety standards for schools at the UK AI for Education Summit, alongside a £23m investment in AI and edtech pilots starting September.
Learning Link update
A new Learning Link platform launches 1 April 2026, improving navigation, access and visibility of progress. Members should complete in-progress learning by 29 March and download certificates. Short downtime expected.
School readiness
New survey finds 37% of reception children were not school ready in 2025, with challenges in toileting, emotional regulation and language skills impacting schools.
Events and networks
Local Associations Network (9 Feb), Martyn’s Law webinar (11 March), National Governance Conference (10 July), and NAHT Regional Roadshows this spring, with NGA speaking nationwide.