Cyber response plan: guidance and template | The Key Leaders Learn what your cyber response plan needs to include and what to prepare, so you can be ready for any cyber incident. Download our template to create a plan that helps you stay calm and respond quickl...

6 in 10 secondary schools experienced a cyber attack or breach last year.

Make sure you’re prepared. Learn what to include in your cyber response plan and download our ready-to-use template 👇

#edusky

This week’s top sector stories 📰

🍎 DfE reviewing School Food Standards

🗓️ 2 in 3 teachers working an extra day weekly

📉 Secondary school vacancies at 9-year low

Sign up 👇

#edusky

Safeguarding after the Easter holidays: issues to be aware of and signs to look for | The Key Leaders Get to grips with the safeguarding risks that may have occurred over the Easter break and know the signs to look out for when pupils return to school.

During the school holidays some pupils might have faced difficult situations that impacted their wellbeing and safety.

Use our article to get to grips with the safeguarding risks that may have occurred, and know the signs to look out for when pupils return to school 👇

New and updated resources from The Key: March 2026 | The Key A round-up of the latest guidance, consultations, leadership insights and practical resources from The Key in March 2026. Plus, new podcast episodes.

Take a look at a selection of the new content that our members gained access to this month, including:

🚧 Removing barriers to learning and wellbeing: staff briefing

📄 Restrictive interventions policy: model

🎙️ The 9-day fortnight: flexible working that works

See more here 👇

#edusky

This week’s top sector stories 📰

🛸 35% rise in pupils saying misinformation is an issue in schools

💷 Average primary will receive £14,000 and secondaries £48,000 next year

👎 Sixth forms raise concerns over 0.5% funding rise

Sign up 👇

#edusky

Restrictive interventions, including reasonable force: staff training | The Key Leaders Use our training session to help staff understand how to use restrictive interventions safely and minimise the need for them. The presentation takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to deliver and covers the ...

New guidance on restrictive interventions comes into effect from 1 April 2026 and we want you to feel prepared.

Use our ready-to-run training session to help staff understand how to use restrictive interventions safely and minimise the need for them 👇

#edusky

This week’s top sector stories 📰

📈 Complaints to Ofsted up 5% year-on-year

📚 English hubs expanding to secondary schools from Sept

🏫 6 in 10 leaders report racial harassment in schools (ASCL)

Sign up 👇

#edusky

Attainment and progress: know the difference | The Key Leaders When measuring pupil performance, it can be easy to confuse attainment and progress. Understand the difference between attainment and progress in schools.

When it comes to measuring pupil performance, it can be easy to confuse attainment and progress.

Understanding the difference is key to making sense of your school’s performance data and spotting what’s really happening beneath the surface 👇

#edusky

How to minimise the need for restrictive interventions | The Key Leaders Understand how to use whole-school and individual approaches to minimise the need to use restrictive interventions. Find out how to identify pupils' triggers and behaviour hotspots, and initiate de-es...

How can you minimise the need for restrictive interventions in your school?

Find out how to identify pupils' triggers and behaviour hotspots, and initiate de-escalation techniques early to prevent an incident from happening👇

#edusky

Restrictive interventions policy: model | The Key Leaders Download and adapt our model restrictive interventions policy, which includes reasonable force and seclusion, to help you comply with the latest DfE guidance.

From 1 April 2026, all schools should have a policy on the use of restrictive interventions.

Download and adapt our model restrictive interventions policy, which includes reasonable force and seclusion, to help you comply with the latest DfE guidance 👇

#edusky

Online toxic masculinity: parent/carer factsheet | The Key Safeguarding

Louis Theroux’s new documentary 'Inside the Manosphere' explores online communities promoting misogyny and influencing some boys and young men.

We’ve unlocked our factsheet to help parents/carers understand the issue and talk to young people 👇

#edusky

Supporting pupils with medical conditions and allergies: consultation summary | The Key Leaders The DfE is consulting on changes to statutory guidance about supporting pupils with medical conditions and allergies. Read our summary of the proposals, and find out how to respond to the consultation...

The DfE is consulting on changes to statutory guidance about supporting pupils with medical conditions and allergies.

Read our summary of the proposals, and find out how to respond to the consultation which you'll need to do by 1 May 👇

#edusky

This week’s top sector stories 📰

🏫 DfE asks David Bell to review antisemitism in schools and colleges

❌ 1 in 5 school support staff may leave the sector in the next year, DfE research finds

📈 Government aims to improve teacher diversity and flexible working

Sign up 👇

#edusky

This week’s top sector stories 📰

📄 DfE has published the Schools White Paper, Every child achieving and thriving

4️⃣ A new consultation on KS4 performance measures and RISE intervention

🤒 Pupil absence rose 50% during the latest flu season

Sign up 👇

#edusky

What schools can learn from Ofsted report cards | The Key We’ve analysed 206 report cards, published on Ofsted’s Find an inspection report website between 12 January and 10 February. Read on to find out what patterns we’ve seen, and what these early insights...

We’ve analysed 206 Ofsted report cards from Jan–Feb and patterns are emerging 👀

What might inspectors prioritise during your next inspection and what can leaders learn from these early reports?

Read our full analysis to explore the key themes and what they could mean for your school 👇

#edusky

Schools white paper 2026: summary | The Key Leaders Read our summary of the schools white paper, which includes proposed reform to the SEND system. Find out what the proposals might mean for your school or trust and how to respond to the DfE's consulta...

The schools white paper is here.

There’s no immediate action required, but there’s a lot to digest.

We’ve unlocked our clear, practical summary so anyone can access it. Key changes, what they mean, and what leaders need to know.

Read it here 👇

#edusky

Every child achieving and thriving (HTML version)

The schools white paper has landed.

There’s no immediate action required for schools ✅

We’re reviewing the detail and will shortly publish a clear, practical summary on what’s changing and what it means for leaders.

In the meantime, you can read the full paper here 👇

#edusky

DfE launches consultation on changes to KCSIE | The Key Leaders The proposed changes include new guidance on supporting gender-questioning children, updates on managing mobile phones and AI in school, and a new expectation that all staff read part 1 of KCSIE in fu...

Free to access for all - DfE launches consultation on changes to KCSIE 🔓

The proposed changes include new guidance on supporting gender-questioning children, updates on managing mobile phones and AI in school, and a new expectation that all staff read part 1 of KCSIE in full 👇

#edusky

This week’s top sector stories 📰

📚 Pupils who feel in control of their learning make ~2 months’ extra reading progress

✅ In-school SEND pilot successfully reduces exclusions

📝 DfE to introduce new guidance on internal exclusions

Sign up 👇

#edusky

This week’s top sector stories 📰

💷 Strong governance helps schools prepare for Ofsted, says new NGA report

📵 38% of teachers have dealt with WhatsApp-related pastoral issues this year

📝 DfE writes to 2,000+ schools about its universal RISE offer

Sign up for all stories 👇

#eduksy

This week’s top sector stories 📰

💷 DfE announces a £200m investment to boost to boost SEND expertise

📵 Updated mobile phone guidance for schools (with more to come)

📝 New guidance urges parents to be clear & respectful in complaints

Sign up for all stories 👇

#edusky

Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots: parent and staff factsheets | The Key Safeguarding

Did you know around two-thirds of children aged 9–17 are now using AI chatbots?

New research shows how quickly chatbots have become part of everyday life - from homework help to virtual friends.

Share our AI chatbot factsheet with staff and parents/carers 👇

#edusky

Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: a summary | The Key Leaders Get to grips with the key headlines in the government's proposed legislation, which aims to better protect children and raise standards in education.

Earlier this month, the government tabled an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill on establishing a legal framework for routine Ofsted inspections of multi-academy trusts.

Get to grips with this here👇

#edusky

This week’s top sector stories 📰

❌ NEU warns it will “absolutely strike” to protect the 1,265-hour teacher workload limit

📋 Ofsted publishes first report cards under the new framework

📱 Government to release first screen-time guidance for under-5s

Sign up: key.sc/signupnews

#edusky

This week’s top sector stories 📰

📃 Updated DfE guidance on the use of reasonable force in schools

💷 £11m investment from the Home Office & DfE to tackle misogyny and keep girls safe

📱 New DfE app to deliver exam results to pupils’ phones

Sign up for all stories 👇

#eduksy

Emergency school closures: guidance | The Key Leaders Understand when you can close your school in an emergency. Find out how and when to contact your local authority and parents, and how to request an Ofsted inspection deferral due to emergency closure.

Need to close your school because of Storm Goretti? 🌧️❄️

Our emergency school closures guidance helps you understand when and how you can close, how to communicate with your local authority and parents/carers, and considerations like remote learning and inspection deferrals 👇

#edusky

DfE publishes new guidance on restrictive interventions, including use of reasonable force | The Key Leaders The guidance, which includes a new legal duty to record and report incidents involving restrictive interventions to parents/carers, comes into effect on 1 April 2026.

The DfE has published new guidance on restrictive interventions following its consultation on it earlier this year.

You don't need to make any changes right now, but we’ve summarised the changes that come into effect on 1 April 2026 in our latest need-to-know 👇

#edusky

There’s still time to #ShareSomeJoy before Friday ✨

Sprinkle a little festive magic into the final week of term and thank the people who’ve helped make this year brighter!

#ShareSomeJoy here: sharesomejoy.thekeysupport.com

“Ofsted Must Help, Not Hinder” - Sir Martyn Oliver on the New Inspection Framework YouTube video by The Key

What will @ofstednews.bsky.social be looking for when it comes to how schools support their most vulnerable pupils?

Watch here: youtu.be/FwO4Ah8aDtQ

Or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

#edusky

“Ofsted Must Help, Not Hinder” - Sir Martyn Oliver on the New Inspection Framework YouTube video by The Key

"Getting help to those children that are struggling is the right thing to do"

Hear Sir Martyn Oliver explain why disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils are at the heart of the new Ofsted framework.

Watch here: youtu.be/FwO4Ah8aDtQ

Or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

#edusky