From September, six important new school regulations will come into force across England under Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s administration, aiming to improve attendance, safety, and support for families.
The Department for Education will introduce attendance targets for every state school to address the persistent concern of absenteeism, with nearly one in five pupils having missed at least 10 per cent of schooling during the 2025/26 academic year. Schools will also be encouraged to offer more clubs and activities on Fridays to improve attendance toward the end of the week.
A significant update will limit the number of branded school uniform items schools can require to a maximum of three, helping parents save potentially around £50 on uniform costs. Secondary and middle schools may request four items if a tie is included. Schools must also provide access to second-hand uniforms and publish information about purchasing them on their websites. Families struggling to afford uniform or PE kit are advised to contact their headteachers for available support.
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In addition, free school meals will now be extended to all children in families receiving Universal Credit, a policy initially announced by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This change is expected to benefit over half a million pupils and save families approximately £495 per year. Parents can check eligibility and register online via the government’s Free School Meals page or through local councils.
Significant progress will also be made on allergy safety in schools, following the passing of Benedict’s Law in February 2026. The Department for Education will publish mandatory, statutory guidance on allergy awareness, prevention, and emergency response by summer 2026, with implementation from September. Schools will be legally required to adhere to these guidelines, ensuring consistent and life-saving measures across all schools in England.
Another new measure involves smartphone use: from September 2026, it will become law for headteachers to enforce ‘smartphone-free environments by default’ in schools, supporting children’s wellbeing. This follows guidance encouraged earlier this year and is now part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act passed in April.
Additionally, from 1 September 2026, volunteers who frequently teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children will require an Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List check, regardless of supervision by staff members. This removes the previous exemption where supervision by a regulated individual meant barred list checks were not mandatory. The change enhances child safeguarding measures by ensuring comprehensive background checks for all relevant volunteers.
Education Minister Paul Waugh emphasised that attendance targets will be tailored to each school’s local context but stressed that every institution has a responsibility to improve attendance. These new regulations collectively represent a significant step forward in promoting educational engagement, safety, and affordability for families across England.