Education Legislation

Laws governing educational institutions, curriculum standards, student finance, higher education, and educational quality assessment.

The Education (Free School Lunches in Maintained Nursery Schools) (Universal Credit) (England) Order 2026

This Order establishes free school lunch eligibility for registered pupils at maintained nursery schools in England if their parent receives Universal Credit and they do not already qualify under existing legislative criteria.

It directs school authorities to treat these pupils as eligible persons under section 512ZB(4A) of the Education Act 1996.

The provisions apply specifically to the education sector in England and involve parents who are recipients of Universal Credit.

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The Inter-authority Recoupment (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

These Regulations amend the Inter-authority Recoupment (England) Regulations 2013 to establish new procedures for how local authorities in England reimburse one another for the cost of educating looked after children.

The instrument mandates that for education provided from 1st September 2026, a child's 'home' authority must pay a 'providing' authority for costs associated with a child who has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan or attends a special school.

If authorities cannot agree on a figure within six months of a claim, the home authority must pay the total expenditure incurred by the providing authority, including transport costs but excluding Dedicated Schools Grant funding.

The Regulations apply to local authorities in England and Wales but specifically govern the financial relationship between English home and providing authorities.

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The Public Service Pension Schemes (Rectification of Unlawful Discrimination) (Tax) Regulations 2026

This instrument modifies the tax treatment of public service pension schemes to facilitate the rectification of unlawful discrimination as required by the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022.

It amends previous regulations to allow members to submit 'scheme pays' notices digitally via HMRC, extends deadlines for reporting increased tax liabilities, and provides specific tax frameworks for Armed Forces, judicial, and local government pension schemes.

The regulations apply to scheme administrators, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), and members of public service schemes—including judges and teachers—who are eligible for a discrimination remedy.

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The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 (Commencement No. 4) Regulations 2026

Published: Fri 19th Jun 26

This statutory instrument brings into force specific provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 according to a staggered timeline. It directs the Office for Students to implement a free speech complaints scheme starting September 1, 2026, specifically for staff, non-student members, and visiting speakers at registered higher education providers in England.

The regulations also authorize the enforcement of mandatory freedom of speech registration conditions starting April 1, 2027, though they exclude certain requirements related to students' unions and student-initiated complaints from this commencement phase.

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The Education (Information About Individual Pupils) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

These Regulations amend the Education (Information About Individual Pupils) (England) Regulations 2013 to expand the scope of data that schools in England must provide to the Secretary of State.

The document directs maintained schools, Academy schools, pupil referral units, and non-maintained special schools to collect and report new information regarding pupils in kinship care, eligibility details for free school meals, and daily attendance records for free breakfast clubs.

Furthermore, it mandates the reporting of "managed moves"—where a pupil transfers institutions by agreement to avoid exclusion—and detailed tracking of the exclusion process, including cancellations and reinstatement decisions by governing bodies or review panels.

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The Power to Award Degrees etc. (New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering) (Amendment) Order 2026

Published: Tue 16th Jun 26

This Order extends the period during which the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) is authorized to grant taught degrees.

It amends a 2023 Order to change the expiration date of these powers from 30 November 2026 to 30 November 2027.

The Order applies to the Office for Students and NMITE, following a review of the provider's educational standards and quality.

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The Diocese of Salisbury (Educational Endowments) (Shaw Church of England Primary School Teacher’s House) Order 2026

Published: Fri 12th Jun 26

The Department for Education makes this Order, effective June 12, 2026, to address the endowment funds associated with the former teacher's house at Shaw Church of England Primary School in Wiltshire, whose premises are no longer used for that specific religious education purpose; it appoints the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education as the trustee for the net sale proceeds (£55,260 plus income) and mandates that these assets be consolidated with the Diocese of Salisbury Consolidated Educational Endowments, to be administered under the Uniform Statutory Trusts benefiting relevant Church of England schools within the Diocese.

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The Education (Student Support for Postgraduate Provision) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Published: Thu 4th Jun 26

This instrument amends the regulatory framework for postgraduate Master’s and Doctoral loans in England to restrict which franchised courses qualify for government student support.

It directs that courses starting on or after 1 September 2028 are only designated for finance if the teaching provider is either registered with the Office for Students (OfS), is a specific exempt public body, or is an unregistered "below-threshold" provider with fewer than 300 students.

The regulations apply to higher education providers in England and the Secretary of State, establishing a system for determining student populations, issuing status notices, and managing appeals.

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