SERA Poverty and Education Network

"The two-child limit really has been quite an awful experiment, causing real hardship for children and families across the UK"

'An awful experiment': Cash boost for families as two-child limit scrapped The nine-year policy that capped financial help at two children has been removed.

Lived Experience as Expertise: Learning to reframe persistent absence and school exclusion using community partnership to support schools

Along with the Poverty and Education Network, the Health and Wellbeing Research in Education Network (HREN) is delighted to invite you to our next online seminar, which builds on a previous session where we asked: “What does health and wellbeing look like when we start from the strengths, values and creativity of diverse communities?” In this follow-up event, Amanda Corrigan (University of Strathclyde) and Mark Breslin (University of Glasgow) reflect on what can be learned by working alongside young people and adults with experience of persistent absence and school exclusion.​

Drawing on collaborative, community-based and asset-focused research, the speakers will explore how prioritising the voices of those who are often marginalised can deepen schools’ understanding of children who are missing from education and inform more relational, place-based approaches to engagement, attendance, emotional regulation and belonging. The session will begin with an overview of their respective research projects, followed by space for questions, dialogue and discussion of the practical and policy implications for schools and wider systems.​

Date: 25 March 2026
Time: 5:00pm–6:15pm (online)​

More information is available in the attached flyer. Please feel free to share this invitation across your networks and with colleagues who may be interested.
Register here:

forms.office.com

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2jy74895eo

Mahmood to stop study visas from four countries due to 'abuse' The government will end study visas from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, due to what she says is abuse.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62gzl2yl24o

Young people out of work, training and education edges closer to one million People at the start of their careers are particularly affected by the UK's weak job market.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20j12pw851o

Scotland's attainment gap wider than before the pandemic, figures show Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said the government had already invested £1.75bn but admitted that the new data showed there was more to do.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clygnnz6d9lo

Government aims to halve attainment gap for disadvantaged students The measure is part of a new Schools White Paper, which will be published in full on Monday.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgz1wqpv0po
Some tough thinking and decisions ahead.

Free tuition under threat without revenue boost, report warns Scotland's more generous benefits and public policies may have to be reconsidered, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd6zqqgv9yeo

Why this school in Derby will ditch a shirt, tie and blazer from its uniform The school says the move is practical - but it echoes a wider debate over the role of uniforms.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr7jgjgyl45o

Voluntary student loan repayments rise in England Campaigners have criticised the terms of loans that were issued in England and still exist in Wales.

Tough times for pupils, teachers and schooling in Northern Ireland

NI Education reforms: Fewer schools and 'cashless' school meals The Department of Education plans will be presented to MLAs for approval.