Source: Department for Education published on this website Monday 23 March 2026 by Jill Powell

How to make a whistleblowing disclosure about an academy or post-16 provider. Updated March 2026 as written:

What whistleblowing is

You can make a whistleblowing disclosure to report any wrongdoing that’s in the public interest.

Read whistleblowing for employees to find out about:

• what counts as whistleblowing
• how you will be protected by law if you make a disclosure

Who can make a disclosure

You can make a disclosure direct to the Department for Education (DfE) if you are:

• an employee
• a volunteer who has knowledge of the academy or post-16 provider – for example, if you are a trustee in an academy trust

Only employees are protected by law if they make a disclosure directly to their employer. Disclosures made to DfE by volunteers may not receive the same protections. However, DfE will always protect the identity of any whistleblower.

More information on how we handle whistleblowing disclosures is available.

What to include in a disclosure

Give us the full details of your academy or post-16 provider, so we can investigate. Make sure you provide us with its:

• full name, especially if it’s a common name, such as ‘St Mary’s’
• address and postcode

Make a disclosure

You can either make:

• a disclosure direct to your academy or post-16 provider
• a disclosure to DfE

Make a disclosure about an academy

To make a disclosure about an academy, with the option to remain anonymous, use the customer help portal. If you wish to submit a complaint anonymously, use the ‘guest’ option.

Make a disclosure about a post-16 provider

To make a disclosure about a post-16 provider, either:

• use the customer help portal – if you wish to do so anonymously, use the ‘guest’ option
• write to:

Customer Service Team
Department for Education
Cheylesmore House
Quinton Road
Coventry CV1 2WT

What happens after you make a disclosure to DfE

Once we receive your disclosure, we’ll:

• send you an acknowledgement, if you shared your contact details
• confirm that we’ll not contact you unless we need further information for any investigation

We’ll not enter into a conversation with you once we’ve started a formal investigation. This is to ensure we:

• protect your confidentiality and anonymity
• do nothing that could potentially undermine the legitimacy of the outcome of any investigation

Source: Department of Health and Social Care published on this website Thursday 19 March 2026 by Jill Powell

Patients and residents in care homes, hospitals and hospices will no longer be cut off from their loved ones unless in exceptional circumstances, under a government drive to strengthen visiting rights and end blanket bans.

Families and friends play a vital role in care, wellbeing and dignity - yet too many people have still faced unnecessary barriers to visiting, including being excluded from key decisions about their care.

Health and care providers are required to make sure those in health and care settings can see their families and loved ones, but a government review has revealed that many people continue to face barriers in visitation.

Particular concerns were raised about blanket restrictions and family members being denied access to vulnerable patients, as well as residents and families being cut out of decisions around care or visitation.

In recognition of these issues, and as part of a push to deliver cultural change and compliance across all health and care settings, the government will distribute comprehensive guidance and resources to make visitation rights clear.

To make sure people’s rights are being protected, the government will work closely with the CQC to monitor compliance and intervene where necessary.

Resources that health and care settings will receive include:

• an explainer sheet or poster for people that details their visiting ‘rights’ under Regulation 9A and routes to complain if they feel these are not being followed
• draft advice for care homes, hospitals, and hospice providers to use to explain any necessary restrictions to residents, patients, and family members
• a public-facing decision-making process map which sets out important considerations for providers when making decisions about restrictions.

These will be co-produced with people who have experience of the system so they reflect the real needs, and we will work closely with the CQC to make sure visiting is a core part of its reform and improvement programme.

Ministers are exploring bringing forward proposals for legislating visiting rights as part of wider reform work. This would further strengthen the framework around visiting rights - embedding a culture of open visiting and reinforcing the right to be supported by loved ones in setting across health and social care.

Care Right’s UK CEO, Helen Wildbore said:

“We should all be able to have the support of our closest friends or family when we need them. We continually support older people who have access to their trusted loved ones restricted, limiting vital practical support they offer, and causing serious detriment to wellbeing and dignity.  

“We welcome the news that ministers are exploring legislative change to promote the importance of family and carers as equal partners in care. The legal right to a Care Supporter would ensure everyone has access to their trusted loved one when they most need support.”

Source: Department for Education published on this website Friday 20 March 2026 by Jill Powell

Working Together to Safeguard Children March 2026 and a Working Together Summary of the Changes made have been published

The updated version

Clarifies that the guidance applies to all children, including:

• those living with their birth or extended family
• those in kinship care, including special guardianship
• adopted and looked‑after children in foster or residential settings

It also makes clear that practitioners should consider help, support and protection for unborn children where there are concerns.  

Source: UK Health Security Agency published on this website Wednesday 18 March 2026 by Jil Powell

Update 18 March

The UK Health Security Agency is continuing to investigate an outbreak of meningococcal disease in Kent. As of 5pm on 17 March, 9 laboratory cases are confirmed and 11 notifications remain under investigation, bringing the total to 20. Six of the confirmed cases are confirmed to be group B meningococcal disease.

Sadly 2 people have died, with no further deaths since the last update.

One individual who had resided in Kent presented to a London hospital with no community contacts in London. All those affected who are currently linked to the outbreak are young adults. UKHSA is aware of a baby with confirmed Meningococcal group B infection who is not currently linked to the outbreak but UKHSA will continue to investigate this case. 

This is a rapidly evolving situation and there may be further cases as those with symptoms are encouraged to seek medical advice.

Antibiotics remain the most effective treatment to limit the spread of invasive meningococcal disease. So far, over 2,500 doses have been given to students, close contacts and others including some of those who attended Club Chemistry between 5 and 7 March.

GPs across the country will today be advised to prescribe antibiotics to anyone who visited Club Chemistry between 5 and 7 March and to University of Kent students, if they have been asked to seek preventative treatment. This is so that anyone who has travelled home, or away from Kent, can easily access this important preventative treatment close to them. 

Given the severity of the outbreak, and as an additional precautionary measure, a targeted vaccination programme will begin, starting with students that are residents of the Canterbury Campus Halls of Residence at the University of Kent who will be contacted directly. Initially, it’s expected that up to 5,000 students will be contacted and offered the vaccine. UKHSA will continue to assess ongoing risk to other populations and the programme may be extended.

UKHSA also continues to advise anyone who visited Club Chemistry on 5, 6 or 7 March to come forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a precautionary measure. This can be collected from the following sites, which remain open whilst people are still coming forward for the preventative treatment:

1. Gate Clinic, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road, Canterbury, CT1 3NG - open from 8.30am to 7.30pm.
2. Westgate Hall, Westgate Hall Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2BT- open from 8.30am to 7.30pm.
3. Carey Building, Thanet Hub, Margate Northwood Rd, Westwood, Broadstairs, CT10 2WA - open from 8.30am to 7.30pm.
4. Senate Building at University of Kent, CT2 7NZ – open from 9am to 8pm.

Meningococcal disease can progress rapidly. Signs and symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia can include a fever, headache, rapid breathing, drowsiness, shivering, vomiting and cold hands and feet. Septicaemia can also cause a characteristic rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass.

Early symptoms can often be confused with other illnesses such as a cold, flu or hangover and students are particularly at risk of missing the early warning signs. If you or anyone you know develops any of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately by contacting a GP, calling NHS 111 or dialling 999 in an emergency. Knowing the signs and taking early treatment can be lifesaving.

UKHSA is coordinating a national response to the outbreak. This does not mean a national NHS incident has been declared. A national incident is a formal operational status used when the health service is under significant system-wide pressure, which is not the case with this outbreak. NHS services continue to operate as normal.

Background

Meningococcal disease (meningitis and septicaemia) is an uncommon but serious disease caused by meningococcal bacteria. Very occasionally, the meningococcal bacteria can cause serious illness, (inflammation of the lining of the brain) and septicaemia (blood poisoning), which can rapidly lead to sepsis.

The onset of illness is often sudden and early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are vital.

Early symptoms, which may not always be present, include:

• a rash that doesn’t fade when pressed with a glass
• sudden onset of high fever
• severe and worsening headache
• stiff neck
• vomiting and diarrhoea
• joint and muscle pain
• dislike of bright lights
• very cold hands and feet
• seizures
• confusion/delirium
• extreme sleepiness/difficulty waking

Young people going on to university or college for the first time are particularly at risk of meningitis because they newly mix with so many other students, some of whom are unknowingly carrying the bacteria at the back of their nose and throat.

There are numerous strains of the meningococcal infection. The MenACWY vaccination gives good protection against MenA, MenC, MenW, and MenY and is routinely offered to teenagers in school Years 9 and 10. However, this vaccine does not protect against all forms of meningococcal infection. Other strains such as MenB can circulate in young adults, which is why it’s important to know how to spot the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia as early detection and treatment can save lives. 

Further information on meningococcal disease

• Meningitis - NHS
• The Meningitis Research Foundation
  Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
  UK: 080 8800 3344
  Republic of Ireland: 1800 41 33 44
• Meningitis Now
  0808 80 10 388
  (9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 1pm Friday)