Be connected: Schools and academy trusts, February 2026

05 February 2026

Welcome to Be connected, our update for schools and academy trusts. This edition brings you the latest legal updates, sector insights and expert guidance from our team of education lawyers and HR consultants.

#PositivePurpose campaign.
New policy and sector developments.
Legal and regulatory updates.
Support and guidance.
Events and training.
And more…

#PositivePurpose: Schools at the heart of communities

We’re proud to support The Elliot Foundation, a charitable multi-academy trust running 36 primary schools across the West Midlands, East Anglia and London. Their impact extends far beyond the classroom – transforming lives through community hubs, collaborative support programmes, and partnerships.

Find out how they’re providing weekly food and hygiene boxes for vulnerable families, creating dedicated spaces where third-party organisations can offer vital services for free and where they’re going next. In this video we showcase how schools don't just educate – they anchor communities.

Watch now

New policy and sector developments

Latest views on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is currently being debated in the House of Lords, having progressed through the House of Commons over the past year.

There have been some notable amendments to the draft legislation during its passage through Parliament so far, so we’ve updated our views on the potential implications for schools, including:

View our insights hub

Under-16s social media ban under consultation

The government will be considering a social media ban for under-16s after recently launching a consultation. This will examine evidence from other countries that have implemented such policies, including Australia, to understand whether a ban would be effective and how to make it work.

We share our views and consider how this might work in practice and the implications for schools.

SEND Tribunal appeals hit record: 2024/25 analysis

SEND Tribunal registrations reached 25,000 for the first time – an 18% increase – with 99% of decided cases favouring parents. Disability discrimination claims against schools also rose 12%, crossing 400 claims.

New school complaints guidance published

The Department for Education, in partnership with Ofsted and ParentKind, has published new guidance for schools and parents on how to make and respond to complaints.

We welcome this development as formal guidance has been lacking in this area, despite the significant increase in parental complaints since the pandemic and the more recent rise in AI-generated complaints. Hear our views on the new guidance and what it means for schools.

DfE guidance update: A step closer to phone-free schools

The government's updated guidance makes clearer the expectation that schools should be phone-free. While non-statutory, Ofsted will now consider mobile phone policies as part of inspections.

New data protection changes make sharing information with police easier

The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 introduces a new lawful basis for sharing pupil information with police – no legitimate interests assessment needed. Learn how these changes affect your school and our top tips for compliance.

Stay up to date on employment rights

The Employment Rights Act represents the most significant overhaul of UK employment law in a generation.

From changes to unfair dismissal rights and restrictions on zero-hours contracts to enhanced protections around fire-and-rehire practices, these reforms will fundamentally reshape workforce management across the sector.

Find out more

Support and guidance

The 20-day rule: When can schools remove pupils from the register?

Schools often ask us whether they can delete the name of a pupil who has been absent for 20 or more days under Ground I. In this guide, we explore the requirements for this to be lawful.

Discover more

New resources and training to manage SEND processes and provision

Managing SEND provision in schools has never been more challenging, with rising EHCP numbers and limited resources. Our SEND support pack offers ready-to-use templates, guidance notes and tribunal resources to help you meet legal obligations efficiently while reassuring parents you’re doing everything possible to support their child.

For those seeking deeper expertise, our new six-month CPD course equips headteachers and SENDCOs with practical legal knowledge from specialist education lawyers, covering everything from the SEND framework to tribunal preparation.

Access support now

Why MATs are choosing to grow – and top tips to make it work

We share tips, advice and considerations for growing trusts based on our experience supporting some of the nation’s largest MATs and collaborating with the National Governance Association (NGA) on MAT mergers and growth.

Lessons from Liberia to the classroom

Edward Vitalis from Invictus Education Trust shares his journey from accountant to trust CEO in the latest episode of our EdInfluence podcast, discussing resilience, innovation, and why collaborative leadership matters.

Listen and subscribe via your preferred podcast channel to hear how Edward’s financial expertise transformed his approach to education, or read our blog to learn more.

Special educational needs: Practical guidance for schools

11 February 2026, 2pm – 3pm

Navigate the biggest challenges in supporting pupils with special educational needs. We'll share practical solutions on placement decisions, reasonable adjustments, funding and local authority responsibilities. Join us to gain expert advice and access resources that will make you make efficiencies and improve effectiveness.

#EdCon2026

10 - 26 March 2026

Registrations are now open for #EdCon2026, our annual virtual conference.

Gain valuable insights from leading education lawyers and HR experts on the sector’s key developments, with practical solutions to the biggest challenges you face, including safeguarding, data and AI, SEND, trust growth, governance and more.

Training and development

The latest cohorts of our popular continuous professional development (CPD) programmes are coming up with limited places remaining. These courses are delivered online over six months by our leading education lawyers and HR experts. Register now to avoid disappointment: