There is something delicious about the August Bank Holiday falling on the 31st of August.

For those of us who love a fresh start, a long to-do list, and of course a new notebook, the 1st of September this year feels like a second New Year’s Day. It’s a day that inspires big ambitions - hitting the gym, swearing off the staffroom biscuits, and setting those lofty objectives for the year ahead.

And while the corridors are still quiet and the classrooms are unnervingly tidy, I hope that every primary school teacher, head teacher, and support staff member has managed to grab a moment of genuine rest. Because we all know what’s coming. The great stampede of tiny trainers and oversized backpacks is just days away.

So, what does the 2026/27 landscape look like?

If you have been keeping one eye on the DfE updates over the summer, you will know that this year brings more than just a new cohort of Reception children. We are staring down the barrel of some significant structural changes:

• The mandatory free breakfast club rollout is officially on the horizon, changing the rhythm of our mornings forever.
• Get ready for stricter school food standards and a menu overhaul to cut down on sugar.
• Citizenship is becoming compulsory at KS1 and KS2, and RE is joining the National Curriculum, which means a fresh look at how we teach media literacy, financial know-how, and democracy.
• The limits on branded items mean policing parents' interpretation of what is acceptable.

It sounds like a lot. And it is. But we are looking a literal blank page and we have the chance to approach these changes as opportunities.

The Daily Jigsaw (and a thought on safety)

As we prepare to welcome back our existing families and meet a whole new group of parents and carers, there is one daily routine that we, of course, want to mention: the end of the day.

With new families arriving at the gates, and extended networks — grandparents, childminders, older siblings — coming to collect, it can feel like a logistical puzzle. In the chaos of a playground full of chatter and eager children, how do we ensure every single child gets to exactly the right person?

After the summer break, the faces are new and the routines are rusty. With so many new adults circulating, the simple act of a safe handover feels more critical than ever. We want to offer that quiet, non-negotiable peace of mind that comes from knowing who is picking up whom. In the whirlwind of implementing new government policies and adjusting to new budgets, the daily, human act of safely handing a child over at the end of the day remains our most important job.

So, as you sharpen your pencils and label your trays, take a moment to enjoy the silence while it lasts. Smile at the new parents lingering nervously by the gate. And give yourself some grace — you are about to do something extraordinary.

Here’s to the blank page, the fresh start, and a wonderful 2026/27 academic year.