UK education policy: What frameworks and guidance can UK educators expect in 2026-2029?
UK educators have been hit with a whole suave of updates from whitepapers, to proposed SEND reforms to plans for the new National Curriculum. It’s a lot to keep up with and while some of these items may seem a way off with a 2029 timetabling, there are often smaller items on the agenda leading up to them.
So we wanted to pull together a timetabled summary of some of the new frameworks, guidance and updates you can expect. Plus, any open consultations where you have the opportunity to have your say and inform some of these proposals.
Timetable
2026
Updated KCSIE guidance
Keping Children Safe In Education is currently under open consultation with the final version due to be published in 1st September so this may be subject to change but new and updated items in the consultation draft includes: the explicit inclusion of AI and generative AI technology, updates to mental health and serious violence sections, tightened filtering and monitoring expectations, expectations for how schools manage cover for DSLs, expanding and clarifying Child-on-child abuse (including harassment and violence), commitment to tackle violence against women and girls including mentions of misogyny, substantial updates to mental health and serious violence, updates on expectations of trainee teachers, a rewrite of child-on-child sexual harassment and sexual violence and updates for safer recruitment.
Additionally, it is expected that a section on supporting gender questioning children will be added to the 2026 KCSIE guidance.
RSHE guidance must be followed from September
The Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education guidance that was published in July 2025 must be followed by all schools in England from the 1st September. This includes requirements such as schools having a written policy for relationships or relationships and sex education, compulsory content schools must tech, and information about parent withdrawal rights.
New enrichment framework
The government have said they will publish the Enrichment framework this year which will set benchmarks for the new enrichment entitlement for all children. Additionally, Ofsted’s updated inspection toolkits (taking effect from September 2026) will take into account these new benchmarks. The framework will also include case studies, self-assessment tools and further resources. We do not know what these new benchmarks will be but we know that ‘minimum, every school should deliver an enrichment offer that provides access to civic engagement; arts and culture; nature, outdoor and adventure; sport and physical activities; and developing wider life skills.’
Every Child Achieving and Thriving whitepaper
Statutory guidance for supporting children and young people with medical conditions and allergies
Replacing non-statutory guidance to give stronger protections for children and young people with medical conditions and allergies. This includes requirements for schools from September 2026 including: a comprehensive policy for supporting children with medical conditions, ensuring children with medical conditions have Individual Healthcare Plans – where allergy management plans should be recorded, allergy training must be provided to all staff, and that schools must stock spare adrenaline auto-injectors for emergencies.
Stronger protections for children with allergies in school
2026 – 2029
SEND reforms
The proposed SEND reforms are planned to be implemented in phases from 2026-2029. Which will include the publication of new guidance such as National Inclusion Standards, guidance in Individual Support Plans, specialist provision packages, reasonable adjustments, guidance of SEND in early career teaching materials and of course the publication of the final SEND reform document (following the open consultation).
SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First
2027 – 2028
National Curriculum
The National Curriculum will be published in Spring 2027 for schools to use from September 2028. At this time the new digital version of the curriculum should also be available. The new curriculum will include aspects such as: citizenship in primary education; triple science entitlement; removal of EBACC; inclusion and enhancement of climate and sustainability education, financial literacy, digital literacy and media literacy; individual subject improvements; new statutory reading test for year 8s and more.
Government response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review
Oracy Framework
Additionally, the Government has said it will focus on improving young people’s oracy by publishing an oracy framework for primary pupils and a combined oracy, reading and writing for secondary pupils. There is no mention of when this will be published, so we would assume for now that it will be released alongside the new national curriculum.
New curriculum to give young people the skills for life and work
Other updates
It has also been mentioned in the Every Child Achieving and Thriving whitepaper that guidance such as ‘Families as Partners’ and Behaviour in Schools’ will be published in either the 2025-2026 academic year or 2026-2027 academic year.
Open Consultations
Here are some of the current open DfE and parliament committee consultations where you may want to have your say.
- AI and EdTech in education – Closing date: 10th April 2026
- KCSIE 2026 – Closing date: 22nd April 2026
- Medical conditions at school: Statutory Guidance – Closing date: 1st May 2026
- Proposed SEND reforms – Closing date: 18th May 2026
- 16–19 Level 1 English and Maths Qualifications – Closing Date: 2nd June 2026
We hope that has helped clarify some of the new guidance that you can expect and when it will come into effect! Let us know if there are any updates or consultations we missed on social media.