CONTENTS


Dear Reader, Welcome to the latest issue!


Spring is here – and what seemed like a long winter came to a close last month with the publication of the government’s schools white paper, Every child achieving and thriving. It outlines some major reforms to the education system, focused on inclusion, SEND, and closing the disadvantage gap in schools – all with the intention to ‘rewire education’ and transform life chances for children across the UK. Spring intentions don’t come much bigger and better than this. We’ll be paying close attention to how these plans unfold – and our contributor Emma Sanderson gives her take on things in her column this month. We have a feature-packed issue for you and first up is Recruitment – with Penny Swain, Partnerships Director at Supporting Education Group, telling us why schools need to reconsider their recruitment and retention strategies – and the steps they can take. In our Smart Procurement Strategies feature, Michelle Walker, Director of Procurement at YPO, shares some crucial insights on what the Procurement Act 2023 means for SEND provision; while our Classroom Technology feature sees Mark Cunningham, Head of Public Sector at TalkTalk Business, making the case for why connectivity and resilient networks are fundamental to modern education.


In our regular Buildings, Maintenance & Refurbishment feature, Morgan Sindall Construction’s Area Director in Essex, Ryan Liversage, shares his thoughts on how schools can help build communities. Meanwhile, in our Computing & IT feature we take a look at what Cyberis’ Sophie Vingoe has been doing to inspire pupils to pursue a career in IT; and we explore TechnologyOne’s new AI-powered product, Guide. You’ll also find all the usual news and views – and please don’t hesitate to get in touch via email or @ EdTodayMag on X.


Charlotte Westwood Managing Editor


On the cover...


Business Director: Carl Hearnden Managing Editor: Charlotte Westwood Artwork Editor: Kirsty Hood Secretary: Tracey Ballard Published by:


Datateam Business Media Limited, London Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8LY Tel: 01622 699128 (Advertising) Tel: 07969 141997 (Editorial) Fax: 01622 757646 Email: education@datateam.co.uk Circulation: Curwood CMS Ltd datateam@c-cms.com Tel: 01580 883844 Fax: 01580 883849 Subscription Prices 2020 Number of editions per year: 11 UK: £52 Overseas: £132


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Education today


MARCH 2026


Education procurement, simplified with Viking


• Recruitment • Smart Procurement Strategies • Classroom Technology • News & Views


With over 35 years’ expertise partnering with educational set- tings, directly and through approved OJEU-compliant frameworks, Viking is one of the UK’s leading on- line suppliers of workplace supplies and stationery. From classroom essentials and staffroom catering to facilities management and furniture, you can rely on Viking for quality products at competitive prices, with next day delivery.


viking-direct.co.uk/schools-shop u viking-direct.co.uk/schools-shop In this issue... 4-12 NEWS


The latest from across the sector 14 WELLBEING


With Mark Solomons, creator of Welbee 16-17 CONTRIBUTORS


With Emma Sanderson, Bauhaus Education, and Sal McKeown


18 BESA CORNER


With The Literacy Company and Deesha AI 19 VIEWS


With LGfL and Stephen Kilgour 20 SEND


With Dr Freya Spicer-White and Lucie O’Brien 22-23 VIEW FROM THE CLASSROOM


With The Magna Carta School’s Alicia Blanvillain


24-29 WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY Views and opinion from across the sector


30-31 FEATURE: RECRUITMENT


With Penny Swain at Supporting Education Group


32-33 FEATURE: SMART PROCUREMENT STRATEGIES


With YPO’s Michelle Walker


36-37 FEATURE: CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY


With Mark Cunningham at TalkTalk Business


38-39 FEATURE: BUILDINGS, MAINTENANCE & REFURBISHMENT


With Morgan Sindall’s Ryan Liversage 40 FEATURE: COMPUTING & IT


With Cyberis and The King’s Church of England Academy 42 FEATURE: COMPUTING & IT


With TechnologyOne


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