LA Education Weekly Update

12th January 2026

Dear Colleagues,

This bulletin is for all settings that educate Hillingdon children, maintained, academies and independent.

Please forward this email to the leads in your settings or team members who might be interested in the content, so they can follow up the relevant offers. Thank you in advance.

Reminders:

Useful Links:

Please contact education@hillingdon.gov.uk with any queries 

Hillingdon LEAP can be accessed for information and guidance for all settings 

Critical Incident Notification can be found here

Emergency closures of all schools must be reported to education@hillingdon.gov.uk 

Education Services Contacts can be found here 

Education & SEND Policies can be found here 

EYES/Establishment Portal information can be found here

Governors can access LA training here 

Hillingdon Learning Partnership 

Schools' Forum meeting papers can be accessed here. If anyone would like to attend meetings, they are welcome to do so.  

All Schools/Settings:

New Ofsted Framework Session for Headteachers & Deputies

We are pleased to invite you to our second online session on the New Ofsted Framework. This will be delivered again by Noeman Anwar, Senior HMI London.

On: Friday 6^th February 2026 at 10 am - 12 pm. No need to sign up beforehand, just click this link to join: Click here to join the meeting

Useful links:

This Ofsted blog covers aspects of timings for future inspections, inspection grades the role of the nominee, the planning call, case sampling, small school contexts, the role of governors and inspecting selective education/grammar schools. School inspections: frequently asked questions - Ofsted: education

When Ofsted notifies a school that it is about to be inspected, the inspector will send a letter than can be shared with parents and carers on our behalf. That letter includes details of the changes to the report card and a link to our video 'New Ofsted report cards and grades: a guide for parents', which explains the changes in more detail for parents.

'Achievement' evaluation area and how we use data: what schools need to know (webinar about the use of the IDSR)

YouTube link (when can schools expect their next inspection)

LA Governor Training Spring Term 2025 - please share

Understanding Governor Responsibilities when Handling Complaints - Monday 26th January 2026 at 6 pm online Click here to register

Understanding Responsibilities for All Governors for SEND & Inclusion Provision within Schools - Tuesday 24th February 2026 at 6 pm online Click here to register

Understanding School Performance Data for Governors - Monday 23rd March 2026 at 6pm Click here to register

Videos and slides used in previous training sessions can be found here: LA Training for School Governors

Hillingdon SACRE

Please see latest edition of the SACRE Newsletter here.

The next RE Subject Leader's Professional Learning Network is on Wednesday 25 March from 2 - 4 pm at Guru Nanak Sikh Academy. Registration details are in the newsletter.

UFSM Programme Additional Funding Change

All requests from local authorities for claiming additional funding will now be submitted and reviewed at a single point within the academic year. This includes claiming additional funding for high uptake (above 87% take-up); Special Schools and for exceptional circumstances.

Further details and updated guidance will be shared shortly. The data collection periods for claiming higher uptake will move slightly later in the year, to:

• w/c 9 February - First collection period for schools to submit higher uptake data
• w/c 16 March - Second collection period for schools to submit higher uptake data

RISE Attendance & Behaviour Hubs Programme

Please find attached below a letter from Simon Blake, Deputy Director for Attendance at the DfE, which sets out next steps for the RISE attendance and behaviour hubs programme and the lead schools that have been appointed.

RISE A&B Hubs LA letter (PDF, 141 KB)

Attendance and Behaviour Hubs: Expression of Interest - Fill in form 

Separated Parents Guidance

Schools are reminded of this guidance: Hillingdon Separated Parents Guidance For Schools

Targeted Programmes: These are fun, free sessions and workshops for 8 to 24-year-olds who live, learn or earn in Hillingdon and may benefit from additional targeted support.

• Being Me - Programme for children aged 8 to 17-years-old who have witnessed domestic abuse to explore self-esteem, healthy relationships and personal safety.
• BOUNCE - Group programme to build resilience, communication and self-esteem for 8 to 11-year-olds.

Please make referrals here: Targeted programmes | Hillingdon Council

AXIS Newsletter

The latest edition can be found here.

Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP) Back Payments Policy

Please see Policy which sets out clear procedures and timeframes for schools to claim back payments related to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), ensuring consistency, transparency, and accountability in the management of EHCP funding. 

Schools should practice good financial management and review their payments monthly as part of their budget monitoring processes. Regular monitoring helps schools identify discrepancies early, avoid delays in EHCP funding claims, and maintain financial accountability. Proactive checks ensure that any issues are addressed promptly, reducing the risk of significant backlogs or financial strain on the school.

Whole School SEND Webinar Series - Leading Specialist Spaces in Mainstream 

This webinar series is free-to-access via the DfE's Universal SEND Services contract, and aimed at teachers, SENDCos and school leaders at all levels.

The Leading Specialist Spaces in Mainstream series will cover different components of leadership, curriculum, specialist pedagogy, assessment, and the experience of children with complex SEND profiles who are learning in separate, internal spaces in mainstream schools. 

The registration link for each of the sessions are below:

Thursday 22 January 2026 at 4 - 5:45 pm - Leading Specialist Spaces in Mainstream: Critical Foundations

Tuesday 27 January 2026 at 4 - 5:45 pm - Leading Specialist Spaces in Mainstream: Specialist Pedagogy in Practice

Tuesday 10 February 2026 at 4 - 5:45 pm - Leading Specialist Spaces in Mainstream: Assessment, Voice, and Partnerships

NASEN Training

FREE training can be booked here: Get Ready for 2026: Your Must-Have CPD Calendar Awaits!

SEND Reform National Conversation

The DfE want to hear from everyone - from parents to those working in schools, colleges and early years - to help shape the system our children and young people deserve. Last chance to share your views as this link closes on Wednesday 14 January 2026.

SEND reform national conversation - Department for Education

Primary Schools:

KS2 Assessment & Moderation Briefing Session 2 for Year 6 Teachers

Please join us on Thursday 5 February 2026 at 10.30 am - 12 pm for an online session on STA guidance and requirements for KS2 writing, focusing on EXS and GDS standards. Please register to attend HERE.

Primary & Junior Applications

This is a reminder that the deadline for parents/carers to submit their starting Primary/Junior school application is midnight on Thursday 15 January 2026. The School Placement and Admissions teams will continue to share lists with schools, identifying those who have yet to apply. 

We kindly ask that you follow up with parents of your Nursery/Year 2 (Infant school only) pupils who haven't submitted their application, reminding them to do so before the deadline. Please send as many reminders as possible. 

If any pupils on the spreadsheet you receive from the Admissions team have left your school, please inform us so we can update our records. Likewise, if any new starters are missing from the list, let us know so we can ensure they apply on time. 

For any questions, please contact the School Placement and Admissions team at admissions@hillingdon.gov.uk. 

Wraparound Care - SEND & Transition Session

We would like to invite you to attend an online drop-in session on Tuesday 27^th January at 9.30 - 10:30 am designed to help us gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and successes of transitioning children with SEND and transitioning in general within your wraparound provision.

This continues to be an important and sometimes challenging area within wraparound provisions. We truly value the incredible work you do in delivering high-quality childcare and want to create a space where you can share your experiences and insights. The aim of the meeting is to gather feedback and work together, to explore ways to develop approaches that provide the best opportunities for families, including those with SEND.

Please use the link below to register your space and if you have any further questions, please contact Melanie Southby at msouthby@hillingdon.gov.uk

Register here - Wrapround SEND & Transition session

OIT Breakfast Club Research

The Open Innovation Team, on behalf of the DfE, are inviting schools to complete an online survey on primary school breakfast clubs. This is a chance for schools to share views on staffing for breakfast club and to feed into policy design. All responses are anonymous, and no individual school will be identified. The survey is open to all primary school staff, whether you are involved in running a breakfast club or not. You can also sign up for focus groups and 1-1 interviews, but this is completely optional.

They are particularly keen to hear from teaching assistants and other school support staff, so please pass onto any team members who would be interested in sharing their views. Deadline for completion is Friday 30 January 2026.

RISE Reception Quality in Schools Webinars

During the 2025 autumn term, the DfE delivered a series of six regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) webinars on reception quality led by sector experts, including the Education Endowment Foundation, Ofsted and English Hubs (which offer a range of support to primary schools to improve the teaching of early language and reading).

The aim of these free webinars is to support schools, trusts and council leads to increase the number of children who achieve a good level of development at the end of their first year in school.

Secondary / FE:

Please share with students/parents/carers

Exciting New Youth Opportunities - Specialist & Accredited Programmes

We're excited to share that we have some fantastic new programmes running in our youth sessions this term:

• AQA Unit Award Scheme is a flexible recognition programme designed to celebrate learners' achievements in small, topic-focused units. It formally acknowledges their skills, knowledge, and personal development with certificates for each unit completed. This term includes Circuit Training, DJing, and Jewellery Making.
• CREST Awards - A UK-wide STEM recognition programme for young people. Projects can cover any STEM topic, including environmental protection, sustainability, biodiversity, and climate change. This term's focus is on the environment, offering amazing STEM learning opportunities for Year 7-13. 

At our Ruislip Young People's Centre, we're also supporting the This Girl Can campaign by offering girls-only fitness sessions in our sports hall. These sessions aim to help young girls build confidence and enjoy fitness.

Of course, our main young people's sessions will continue to include a variety of mixed-gender activities for everyone to enjoy, they will also be offering AQA Units and CREST.

For more information, please visit our website Specialist and accredited programmes - Hillingdon Council or email us at youthoffer@hillingdon.gov.uk

Regulating On-screen Assessment

Ofqual is consulting on its proposed approach to the regulation of on-screen assessment in GCSEs, AS and A levels. The consultation closes on Thursday 5 March 2026.

Regulating on-screen assessment - GOV.UK

Warm regards, 

Abi Preston 

Director of Education & SEND 

Children's Services, London Borough of Hillingdon, 4E/07, Civic Centre, Uxbridge UB8 1UW