Pupil health & wellbeing

Be clear on what checks need to be carried out on members, trustees – including chairs – and local governors when they join your academy trust.

DBS checks don't expire – it's for the school or trust employer to decide if you need a new check. Find out when you might be asked for a new one, and how the DBS Update Service can help you keep your certificate current.

Save time by reading our summary of the rules on Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for governors and trustees in just 1 page. Download a copy to share with your colleagues.

Schools and trusts have specific duties under the Equality Act 2010. Learn what's required of you, and of your school/trust.

Understand your role in making sure your school complies with its obligations to pupils and their parents under the Equality Act, and learn what you can do to prevent discrimination.

Understand how your school must provide reasonable adjustments for pupils, staff and parents/carers with disabilities - including for school trips and after-school clubs.

Your governing board or trust board is responsible for making sure pupils with medical conditions are supported in school. This includes being administered any medicines they need. Find out how this works in practice, including staff roles and pupils self-administering medication.

Understand what the food standards are and how you can monitor compliance, including what questions to ask. Plus, get to grips extra requirements for the early years, and with Natasha's Law and allergen labelling requirements.

Be clear on what EHC plans are, what they contain and how pupils with special educational needs (SEN) receive one. Also understand when you might see one as a governor.

Learn about governors' duties in relation to education for children with SEND. We run through the rules set out in key guidance and legislation.

Use this summary as a starting point to understanding some key parts of the SEND Code of Practice, so you can comply with this statutory document.

Understand the requirements around childcare disqualification, including who it applies to and what your school's responsibilities are.

The proposed changes to statutory safeguarding guidance include information on supporting gender-questioning children, and updates on managing mobile phones and AI in school.

Find out about teachers' mandatory duty to report female genital mutilation (FGM), what others in your school community should do, and how to monitor FGM prevention as part of your school's safeguarding provision.