In a House of Commons debate on the reopening of school sport facilities, Sir Robert Goodwill, Conservative MP for Scarborough and Whitby, asked whether Claire Coutinho, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for children, families and wellbeing, acknowledges that "many independent schools recognise their responsibility to the wider community and have people coming to use their facilities". Sir Robert asked: "Does [the minister] further agree that Labour’s curmudgeonly plan to charge VAT on those schools might jeopardise that very community-minded spirit that many independent schools have?"

In response, Ms Coutinho said that many independent schools are "real hubs in their communities" and added: "I also have a personal viewpoint on this, because a lot of independent schools are specialist schools and are providing amazing provision to children with special educational needs—I have seen some of them in action." Hansard.

Gillian Keegan has written to teaching unions inviting them to “formal talks on pay, conditions and reform” on the condition that next week's planned industrial action is called off. Union leaders have spoken of being “pleased” to be invited by the education secretary to further discussions over pay, although the National Education Union (NEU) has said “there is nothing substantial” in the letter to suggest the strikes should be cancelled. By PA reporters, The Independent.

Ministers have said that public sector workers should receive a pay rise of 3.5 per cent next year. The figure emerged last night in official submissions to the independent pay review bodies released by government departments and relating to the salaries of doctors, nurses, teachers and police officers in 2023-24. By Daniel Martin, Laura Donnelly and Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

A three-day walkout in the constituencies of politicians close to the dispute over teachers' pay is being held by members of the Educational Institute for Scotland (EIS). Schools are affected in areas represented by first minister Nicola Sturgeon, her deputy John Swinney, Greens MSP Ross Greer and education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville. BBC News.

Ministers on the Education Select Committee have heard that cost pressures faced by nurseries and childminders and the "emotional demands" of childcare roles are likely to mean more providers will have to close. By Poppy Wood, iNews.

A study to assess whether strict behaviour rules boost attendance in English secondary schools is one of three projects being launched by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) examining the impact of various school practices on attendance and exclusions. By Callum Mason, Tes.

The Government has confirmed that at least 39 state schools in England were forced to close either partially or entirely in the last three years as one or more buildings were deemed unsafe. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

Writing in Tes, researcher Ros McLellan considers the effectiveness of school wellbeing initiatives abroad and how they might offer solutions to the problems faced by schools in the UK. Ros McLellan is associate professor in teacher education and development and pedagogical innovation at the University of Cambridge.

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