A smooth September sets the tone for the year ahead. From welcoming new colleagues into your school to mapping out the academic calendar, we’ve pulled together 5 essential areas for school leaders like you to focus on this back-to-school season.
1. Get up to speed on the latest sector changes
Keeping on top of sector updates can feel overwhelming – and this year is no exception. A new Ofsted inspection framework comes into force in November, teacher pay rises have come into effect this September, and the latest KCSIE update includes new online risks and changes in how you teach safeguarding. Our summary pulls all the changes together in one place, with practical next steps to help you plan ahead.
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE): September 2025 changes
Did you know safeguarding training now needs to cover emerging risks such as misinformation, disinformation and generative AI? KCSIE 2025 makes clear that leaders should build these topics into their annual updates so staff feel confident recognising and responding to them. Remind staff to be alert to these as pupils return, and use our full guidance to stay up to date with the key safeguarding priorities this September.
2. Navigate your September responsibilities to staff and pupils
Staff induction: your step-by-step guide
A well-planned induction helps new colleagues feel part of your school community from day one. Preparing essentials like logins, safeguarding information and a clear timetable means staff can focus on settling in. Spreading induction over several days gives space for conversations, questions and reflection, so colleagues feel supported rather than overwhelmed. With our induction tool, you will be able to keep the process structured, welcoming and rooted in your school’s culture.
Safeguarding after the summer holidays: issues to be aware of and signs to look for
The long summer break can heighten risks for some pupils. Encourage staff to look out for changes in behaviour, appearance or attendance as pupils return, and remind them it’s always better to raise a concern than overlook it.
3. Check your policies and documents are compliant
School improvement plan: template, checklist and monitoring guidance
A clear improvement plan keeps everyone focused on what matters most. Share it early, review it regularly, and track actions against clear objectives. Building this rhythm into staff meetings or governor updates keeps priorities visible and momentum going, even when day-to-day pressures take over.
Schools need to keep on top of their statutory requirements – whether its annual updates of school policies on everything from safeguarding and behaviour to SEND and health and safety, or knowing what key information you must publish on your website. For instance, maintained schools must complete the annual Schools Financial Value Standard, while all schools need to publish key information on their website. The compliance hub lets you quickly access guidance on what you need to do to be compliant – so you can check you’re covered in all the key areas.
4. Stay organised for the autumn term and beyond
School year planner for 2025/26: template
September often feels like a race just to keep up, and it’s easy for longer-term goals to slip down the list. Mapping out statutory deadlines, awareness days and key school events at the start of the year gives you a clearer picture of what’s ahead and helps your team stay focused once the term is in full swing. Don't forget to add your own internal deadlines, whether that’s your school’s review cycle or reports for your governing board and committee meetings, as well as annual tasks like publishing your pupil premium strategy statement by 31 December.
Assembly planner for the year ahead (2025/26)
Assemblies are often the only time the whole school comes together, so the topics you choose really shape your community. Planning ahead helps you balance the calendar, from celebrations of diversity to reminders about wellbeing, so you can make sure no important themes are overlooked. For example, World Book Day falls on Thursday, 5 March 2026, a perfect time to spark reading celebrations and literacy connections.
In the first weeks of term, there’s International Literacy Day, Black History Month, World Space Week and World Teachers’ Day — just a snapshot of the many significant dates schools may want to mark. With a busy school schedule, it’s easy for key moments to slip by unnoticed. Stay on top of the year by building important dates into your diary now, before the term takes over. That means not just national awareness days, but also religious festivals, census days and statutory deadlines. Subscribe to our calendar to get a clear picture of the year ahead, to help you plan assemblies, communications and curriculum links with less last-minute stress.
5. Understand the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence (AI) in schools: staff factsheet
Did you know AI tools can generate lesson ideas or quiz questions in seconds, helping to cut down workload — but they can also produce biased or inaccurate content if left unchecked? Used well, they can be a useful starting point, but schools need to set clear boundaries for when and how pupils and staff should use them. Our factsheet breaks down the basics and shows leaders how to get the benefits of AI while avoiding the pitfalls.
Schools are free to decide how they use AI, but you must still meet statutory duties like safeguarding and data protection. For example, if an AI tool processes personal data, you may need to complete a Data Protection Impact Assessment. The hub brings together guidance to help you set clear, safe guidelines for your school.
Looking for even more support this term?
For more guidance, training and practical tools to get the year off to a smooth start, explore your Ready, set, September! resource hub. It brings together handpicked resources – from induction checklists and statutory policy templates to assembly planners and safeguarding updates. Find everything you need in one place to set the right tone for the year ahead.
New to The Key? A free trial gives you the chance to explore our resources, from policy templates to training materials, and see how they can support you and your team through the busy year ahead. Your free trial also gives you full access to all of the articles and guidance we’ve mentioned above.