In an open letter to ministers, academics and union leaders have criticised a government decision not to honour a pledge in last year's Early Years Workforce Strategy. By Helen Ward, Tes. Steven McIntosh, Save the Children UK’s director of UK poverty policy, has also written in Tes about this issue.

The Sunday Politics North West Show questions whether free schools are a threat to independent schools in the North West region. Sue Hincks, headmistress at Bolton School Girls' Division is interviewed.

Watch from 57:19.

Laura McInerney argues that the reason behind the re-brand of 'relationships (and sex) education and health education' is "pure politics". The Guardian.

International researchers have identified more than 1,200 differences in genes which help account for different levels of educational achievement. The Independent.

Cath Murray looks back at her most memorable profile interviews of 2017-18 and explains why schools invite journalists to visit. Schools Week.

A report from the Legatum Institute has linked the rise in mental health problems to high social media use among young people. By Greg Hurst, The Times.

The Government has announced a 3.5% pay rise for state school teachers in response to the 2018 report of the School Teachers’ Review Body, which makes recommendations on teacher pay. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

Further information can be found on the Department for Education's (DfE) website.

Chris McGivern, a teacher at Southgate Primary School in London, has been integrating gaming into his curriculum for much of his teaching career. By Rhiannon Williams, iNews.

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