Following the EU referendum result, there has been some media speculation on how this could negatively impact schools and pupils.
The Guardian and BBC Online recently reported that some European Union (EU) pupils are worried about being forced to leave Britain, and that they fear there could be a potential rise in racism and community conflict. This follows a letter the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) general secretary Russell Hobby, wrote to the Prime Minister, calling for a government statement to reassure EU pupils.
Other online coverage has questioned how departmental business will operate following the vote to leave the EU and whether this could delay existing reforms from being implemented.
We have published advice to reassure schools, pupils, parents and teachers that makes clear the government will continue to deliver on its manifesto commitments, and will continue taking forward the important legislation set out in the Queen’s Speech.
The usual business of government will also continue - ensuring a high-quality school place for every child, recruiting and training the best teachers, tackling underperformance wherever it occurs, and keeping children safe.
As the Prime Minister has already set out - there will be no immediate changes in the circumstances of European citizens living, studying or working in the UK - current arrangements will continue to apply to European pupils and their families, and to teachers, early years and social work professionals and all others who work with children.
We are clear that no child should live in fear of racism or bullying, and by law all schools must have a behaviour policy with measures to tackle bullying. Where bullying, including racism, outside of school is reported to teachers the government's advice is that the report should be investigated and acted on. If the bullying develops into a hate crime the government expects the school to take immediate action and if an incident constitutes a criminal offence it should be reported to the police.
To support them we are providing charitable organisations £3.3million in 2015-16 on top of the £4m pledged the year before to deliver training, support and expertise in tackling bullying.