Dot.Gov | June 2026

Our regular update on developments in government and related bodies of interest to the education and skills sector

The Kings Speech to Parliament sets out new legislative priorities

The Government’s 2026 King’s Speech sets out a legislative programme centred on public service reform and economic growth, with several measures directly relevant to providers, suppliers and investors in the education and skills sector and what the developments might mean to your business.

Here are some highlights from the speech with our take on impact particularly on businesses working within the education and skills sector:

• ‘Education for All’ Bill (this is regarded by DfE as a flagship schools/SEND reform initiative and follows on from the education white paper from earlier this year)

o Can be expected to introduce wide ranging reforms to the special educational needs and disability system, alongside a broader drive to raise school standards;

o The bill is expected to have emphasis on earlier intervention, greater inclusion in mainstream settings and increased school level responsibility for SEND provision;

o The bill when implemented is likely to create new demand for specialist services, workforce development, and support solutions from private and third sector providers.

• Continued focus on apprenticeships and workforce participation

o The government reaffirmed its commitment to investment in apprenticeships and tackling youth unemployment, linked to wider welfare reform.

o There will be continued development of policy based initiatives that will support the reform of vocational pathways and skills delivery.

o Employers and training providers will be encouraged to shape and expand skills pipelines, though detail on funding and incentives remains limited for the time being.

• Stronger emphasis on vocational education and parity of esteem

o Once again there is recognition of the role government can play in seeking to address the “lack of respect for vocational education” syndrome. More initiatives in this area can be expected.

o There are potential implications for T Levels, alternative pathways, and employer led provision, supporting market growth in applied skills training.

• Wider children’s services and education reforms

o SEND reform sits alongside broader children’s wellbeing and multi agency support agenda, reinforcing integration between education, care and safeguarding systems.

o With increased expectations on schools and local authorities opportunities can be expected to arise in areas that include outsourcing, partnerships and digital solutions.

• Limited immediate focus on higher education legislation

o Interestingly, Universities were not a central focus of this Speech, with further HE reform expected further down the line as the government continues to focus on the development of its policies supporting the sector.

Online Advertising Regulation – ICO has its say on personal data impact

In response to the government’s proposal to reform regulation 6 of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (“PECR”) ICO has submitted recommendations to guide the government in its final decisions on the reform. Notable is ICO’s concern that the digital economy should not be overburdened by one size fits all regulation – explained in this extract from an ICO blog on the subject:

We’ve heard from many organisations across the advertising ecosystem that they want to do things differently and explore alternatives to more intrusive behavioural advertising models. While new privacy enhancing technologies offer opportunities to do things differently, many told us they were getting stuck. This is in part because regulation 6 applies consent requirements regardless of the level of privacy risk involved, limiting incentives to invest in and adopt lower risk approaches. While this is by no means the only obstacle to the adoption of such approaches, we often hear that it is a regulatory barrier.

The government is expected to make final decisions on this opportunity for valuable reform in the coming months. At Freeths we are monitoring and will report on further developments. The blog can be read here.

What’s been happening in the Parliamentary all parties education select committee?

The closing date has now passed for the request for evidence relating to the application of AI technology in the education sector. Public hearings can be expected in the coming months – increasing the level of political awareness of how strategies are developing in the use of AI within schools and particularly in the classroom. Find out more here.

Ofsted to increase frequency of early years inspections

In response to the government’s Best Start in Life Strategy, Ofsted announced in late March its plan to increase the frequency of inspections of early years settings. The current six year period between inspections is to be reduced to four years and with all registered settings to be inspected by March 2030. More detail in the Ofsted announcement can be found here.

World Education Forum consider AI impact and other workforce challenges

The World Education Forum (WEF) 2026, held in London in May, convened education ministers, policymakers, and sector leaders from over 100 countries to examine shared challenges and priorities for global education systems. The event focused on how systems can adapt to rapid technological, economic, and demographic change while maintaining equity and quality.

A central theme was the growing role of digital technology and artificial intelligence in education. Discussions explored the potential of AI to personalise learning, improve assessment, and support administration, alongside concerns around data protection, safeguarding, and unequal access.

Workforce challenges were another key focus. Many countries reported difficulties in recruiting and retaining teachers, prompting discussion of strategies to improve pay, professional development, and career pathways. There was also a strong emphasis on aligning education systems with labour market needs, particularly through technical education, skills reform, and lifelong learning.

Issues of equity and inclusion featured prominently, including closing attainment gaps and improving access for disadvantaged groups and those affected by conflict or economic instability. Climate and sustainability education also received increased attention as part of broader curriculum reform.