Department for Education

Open Consultations

Music education: call for evidence

We are seeking views on music education, to inform our proposals for the refresh of the National Plan for Music Education. More

Closes 13 March 2020
Subcontracting post-16 education and training with Education and SKills Funding Agency (ESFA) funding

We are seeking views from providers who have an interest in subcontracted delivery to inform our thinking about reforms to subcontracting arrangements. More

Closes 17 March 2020
Reforms to unregulated provision for children in care and care leavers

Children in care and care leavers are some of the most vulnerable children and young people in society. Every child and young person should have access to a stable and secure placement in accommodation that can meet their needs and, most importantly, keep them safe. We need to work together to... More

Closes 8 April 2020
Keeping children safe in education: proposed revisions 2020

We are seeking views about proposed changes to Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) statutory guidance. More

Closes 21 April 2020
Regulating Independent Educational Institutions

This consultation seeks views on a number of proposals for legislation. A commitment to consult on the first proposal was included in a statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the School System, Lord Agnew, in March 2018. In summary, the proposals are: Expanding... More

Closes 8 May 2020

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Closed Consultations

Ofsted inspection: removal of the outstanding exemption

We're seeking views on the removal of the exemption for outstanding schools, colleges and other organisations delivering publicly-funded education and training. More

Closed 24 February 2020
Fees and frequency of inspection regulations 2020 to 21

The aim of this consultation is to seek views of key stakeholders on proposed changes to the Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) (Children's Homes etc) Regulations 2015. More

Closed 11 February 2020
Early Years Foundation Stage reforms

We are seeking views on proposed changes to the statutory framework for the early years foundation stage. More

Closed 31 January 2020
Revised arrangements for the Dedicated Schools Grant

We're seeking views on changing the dedicated schools grant. More

Closed 15 November 2019
Online Schools Accreditation Scheme

We are seeking views on a proposal to establish a voluntary accreditation scheme for online schools. More

Closed 8 November 2019

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We Asked, You Said, We Did

Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes.

Approving the development of new Apprenticeship Standards July 2016

We Asked

We asked for your views on proposals from employer groups to develop new Apprenticeship Standards, to help ensure that any new Standards taken forward for development are viable, high quality, and widely supported. In particular we wanted to know whether the proposed Apprenticeships were in recognised occupations requiring at least 12 months of training, and whether the Standard would duplicate any others already in existence.

You Said

We received a wide range of responses across all bids, including from, employers, universities, Trade Association, Federation, Royal Marines, Royal Navy, Theatres and schools. All comments were considered as part of the overall review of proposals carried out by the department.

We Did

We approved the following Apprenticeship proposals for development:

Digital User Experience Professional
Express Delivery Manager
Financial Services Professional
Senior Leader
Science Industry Process/Plant Engineer
Motor Finance Specialist
Power Networks Engineer
Puppet Maker
Stone Mason

A summary of comments received was included in the feedback to each proposal. The Department will now support the successful employer groups to develop their Standards.