Catch up on the latest education, teaching and recruitment news below:

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• Secondary Schools to Introduce Dedicated Inclusion Bases for SEND Pupils

  Wednesday, February 11, 2026

  The Government has announced that secondary schools in England will be required to introduce dedicated inclusion bases to support pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and those who are neurodiverse. The proposal forms part of a wider £3.7 billion investment intended to create up to 60,000 additional specialist places within mainstream schools. The policy is expected to be outlined in the forthcoming schools’ white paper and represents a significant development in the Government’s approach to inclusive education.

• Flourish Education partners with National College to deliver CPD for active candidates

  Wednesday, January 21, 2026

  Flourish Education has partnered with National College to offer free CPD training to all candidates actively working with us. This gives supply teachers, teaching assistants and support staff access to over 600 accredited online courses covering safeguarding, curriculum content, SEND and more. New candidates will also receive access as soon as they begin an assignment. This benefit supports our commitment to professional development and raising standards in schools across the West Midlands and beyond.

• Ofsted Publishes First School Report Cards Under New Inspection System

  Wednesday, January 14, 2026

  Ofsted has published the first full set of school report cards, marking a major change in how schools in England are inspected and how outcomes are communicated to parents, carers and the wider education community. The new report cards replace the long-standing single overall judgement, such as Outstanding or Inadequate, with a more detailed and balanced picture of school performance across a range of important areas.

• Snow Days and Supply Teaching: Top Tips to Stay Prepared

  Tuesday, January 6, 2026

  Snow days bring a unique set of challenges for supply teachers, whether it’s cancelled placements, travel disruption or schools making decisions at the last minute. But with a bit of preparation and the right mindset, you can stay in control when the weather takes a turn. Here are five key tips to help supply teachers navigate snow days confidently.

• Flourish Education Achieves 100% in APSCo Audit for Fifth Year Running

  Thursday, December 11, 2025

  We are incredibly proud to share that Flourish Education has achieved a 100% score in our APSCo Compliance+ audit for the fifth year in a row. This outstanding result reflects our unwavering commitment to safeguarding, quality assurance, and excellence in education recruitment across the West Midlands.

• Initial Teacher Training Census 2025/26 Shows Strong Growth in Teacher Recruitment, but Challenges Remain

  Thursday, December 4, 2025

  The 2025/26 ITT Census reports strong increases in trainee teachers, especially in STEM and primary teaching. Discover how this year’s recruitment trends affect school staffing, teacher shortages and future workforce planning across England.

• Autumn Budget 2025: What Schools and Educators Need to Know

  Thursday, November 27, 2025

  The 2025 Autumn Budget brought a mix of support and concern for schools. Key updates include £5 million for secondary school libraries, £18 million for playgrounds, and the decision to scrap the two-child benefit cap, a move expected to lift 450,000 children out of poverty. However, the government will also take on rising SEND costs from 2028, a financial shift that could create pressure on mainstream budgets if not matched by sustainable funding. With no additional revenue funding announced for schools, many leaders will need to plan cautiously and prepare for rising demand.

• Celebrating Our Flourish Champions of the Autumn Term

  Thursday, November 20, 2025

  Each term, Flourish Education celebrates the exceptional contributions of its supply staff through the Flourish Champions initiative. For Autumn Term, Debbie, Natasha and Sheila were recognised for their outstanding dedication, positive attitudes and the meaningful impact they’ve made in their schools and nurseries. Nominated by school leaders across the West Midlands, each Champion has gone above and beyond to support pupils and colleagues. This recognition highlights Flourish Education’s commitment to valuing its educators and the vital role they play in shaping young lives.

• DfE Suspends AI Attendance Reports Following Data Accuracy Concerns

  Tuesday, November 18, 2025

  The Department for Education (DfE) has temporarily suspended its newly launched AI-powered school attendance reports just days after their release. This decision follows widespread concerns over data accuracy, mismatched comparisons and usability. The reports were intended to support schools in meeting Attendance Baseline Improvement Expectations (ABIEs) as part of the government’s wider Plan for Change to reduce persistent absence.

• Teacher Wellbeing Index 2025: What the Latest Report Reveals About Mental Health in Education

  Tuesday, November 18, 2025

  The Teacher Wellbeing Index 2025, published by Education Support, reveals that the majority of UK education staff continue to experience poor mental health due to work-related stress. Key findings include 77% reporting symptoms of poor mental health, 46% struggling with sleep, and significant concerns over pupil behaviour and parental interactions. While there’s been a slight improvement in perceptions of workplace culture, the report calls for urgent and systemic change across the education sector.