Skills, Support and AI in Education

Thursday, 29 October 2026 — From workforce challenges to AI skills frameworks, here’s what matters now

Top Stories

Leadership

Where will qualified teaching assistants come from? ↗

England’s schools added over 6,000 teaching assistants last year while teacher numbers fell, raising questions about recruitment and training pipelines. This matters because support staff are critical for classroom success and inclusion, yet the supply looks uncertain.

Source: FE News
AI

Skills England’s new framework gets AI right ↗

Skills England’s new Employability Skills Framework includes AI literacy among 13 key skills for young people’s first jobs. It’s practical and grounded, focusing on real-world problem-solving and leadership alongside tech know-how.

Source: FE News
Policy

Government plans aim to boost education for young people on health-related benefits ↗

Nearly a million young people face barriers to education and work due to health issues. New government proposals aim to improve participation and support, a vital step for reducing long-term disadvantage.

Source: FE News
Policy

Budget 2026: More funding for skills and apprenticeships ↗

The Chancellor confirmed £100 million to expand apprenticeship brokerage and a rise in the National Living Wage. This funding boost could help colleges and employers work together better to meet skills demand.

Source: FE News
Al's Take
We’re seeing some clear signals this week about where schools and colleges need to focus. Staffing remains a real challenge, especially for teaching assistants, so planning early is crucial. Meanwhile, AI is moving from buzz to basics – it’s about practical skills that help young people get jobs, not sci-fi stuff. Also, support for young people with health-related barriers can’t be ignored if we want to boost participation. In practice, it’s all about combining strategy with day-to-day realities.

Number of the Day

6,200
The number of full-time equivalent teaching assistants added in England's schools in the year to November 2025, highlighting a critical growth area amid falling teacher numbers. (FE News)

Jobs Spotlight

Depute Principal Educational Psychologist - Citywide
City of Edinburgh Council · Edinburgh, Scotland · £87,456
Early Years Team Leader - Early Learning Unit
South Lanarkshire · Hamilton, Scotland · £39,856 - £40,995
Principal Psychologist - Waverley Court
City of Edinburgh Council · Edinburgh, Scotland · £93,975
Deputy Headteacher - SEMH Hub
Wittering Primary School · Cambridgeshire

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Worth a Read

Young people, learning, and generative AI: A rapid literature review and implications for PreK-12 education ↗

by Dr Matthew Hill

This review cuts through the hype and gives a clear-eyed view of how generative AI is impacting young learners and what educators need to consider now.

Coming Up

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← 28 October 2026
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