Open Consultations
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Setting up the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB)
This consultation is for anyone with an interest in the set up of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB), which will have a remit for pay, conditions, training and career progression for school support staff in England.
Closes 18 July 2025
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Out-of-School Settings Safeguarding: Call for evidence
The Department for Education is calling for evidence to help shape future safeguarding policy for the Out-of-School Settings (OOSS) sector. This diverse sector includes providers such as tuition centres, sports and arts clubs, youth groups (e.g. Scouts and Brownies), holiday camps/activity centres,...
Closes 21 August 2025
Closed Consultations
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Space requirements in early years childcare settings in England
We are seeking views on options for amending the indoor space requirements in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory frameworks.
Closed 11 July 2025
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Children’s social work post-qualifying standards and induction
The Department for Education is consulting on a new set of post-qualifying standards (PQS) for child and family social workers and setting out proposals to enhance early career support to help the transition from initial education and support social workers to stay in practice. Through...
Closed 28 May 2025
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Narrowing the digital divide in schools and colleges
This consultation sets out the Department for Education’s long-term vision for narrowing the digital divide in schools and colleges, focusing on proposals for the future of the digital and technology standards . The document is split into three sections, outlining proposals and gathering...
Closed 23 May 2025
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National Professional Qualifications (NPQs): call for evidence
We are seeking recent, relevant and high-quality research that may inform updates to the evidence-base underpinning 3 NPQ frameworks. This call for evidence is seeking research that may inform changes to the following frameworks only: Headship (NPQH), Senior Leadership (NPQSL) and Executive...
Closed 16 May 2025
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Revised use of reasonable force and other restrictive interventions in schools guidance
We're seeking views on the revised ‘Use of reasonable force and other restrictive interventions in schools’ guidance.
Closed 29 April 2025
We Asked, You Said, We Did
Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes. See all outcomes
We asked
The Department for Education published a consultation on our long-term vision for narrowing the digital divide in schools and colleges. The consultation asked for feedback on our long-term ambition for all schools and colleges to meet the following core digital and technology standards by 2030:
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Broadband internet
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Wireless networks
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Network switches
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Digital leadership and governance
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Filtering and monitoring
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Cyber security
You said
A total of 210 responses were received. Of those who responded to the consultation, 72% of schools and colleges reported that they are already meeting or could meet the broadband internet, wireless networks, network switches and digital leadership and governance standards by 2030.
Of those who responded to the consultation, 93% of schools and colleges reported that they are already meeting or could meet the cyber security standards by 2030 and 98% reported that they already meet the filtering and monitoring standards fully or to some extent.
Some respondents identified specific areas of the standards that may be prohibitively expensive to meet.
We did
Based on the responses to the consultation, we will continue with our long-term ambition for all schools and colleges to meet the six-core digital and technology standards by 2030.
We will review specific elements of the standards where respondents said the requirements may be difficult to meet. We will consider whether the standards need to be adjusted in these areas to ensure they are achievable and provide value for money. This will be balanced alongside the need to ensure all schools and colleges have reliable and safe technology.
We will continue to develop our plan technology for your school support service, focusing on the core six standards and additional functionality to support Responsible Bodies in their strategic role.
We asked
This call for evidence asked respondents to submit research that may inform updates to the evidence-base underpinning 3 NPQ frameworks.
You said
The department received 159 individual submission responses. The 159 submission responses included 200+ different insights, which included a range of evidence studies and other sources of information. The department is appreciative and thankful to all individuals and organisations who took the time to formally respond and submit research for consideration.
We did
Please read the response document included on gov.uk for further information about the evidence that was received and the next steps for its use.
The department is now working closely with EEF and external experts to review the evidence and inform decision making when updating the frameworks. The department is openly engaging in multiple forums to ensure a wide range of views are considered when reviewing and updating the NPQ suite.
If you have any insights to share, or would like further information on potential opportunities for engagement, please contact npq.insights@education.gov.uk.
We asked
The Department for Education published a consultation asking for views on the proposed draft regulations to make changes to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) member contribution rates, Fair deal provisions and a few minor miscellaneous amendments to ensure the TPS regulations remain up to date.
You said
A total of 187 responses were received from individuals and organisations.
We did
The Department has looked closely at all the comments raised and the draft regulations will now form the basis of the final regulations. The draft regulations have been laid in Parliament and will be implemented on 1 April 2025.