The following are live consultations:

Ofsted: The new framework for the inspection of independent schools - A consultation (Ofsted)
Launch Date: Tuesday 24 January 2012

Closing Date: Tuesday 17 April 2012

This consultation seeks views on proposals for a revised framework for the inspection of independent schools. Changes proposed for September 2012 are intended to raise expectations for further improvement in the performance of these schools, for the benefit of children, parents and carers.

Children’s Safeguarding Performance Information Consultation (Department of Education)
Launch Date: Monday 23 January 2012

Closing Date: Monday 16 April 2012

This consultation asks for views on the proposed children's safeguarding national performance information dataset, how the data is published and how the locally held information (published December 2011) is used.

Consultation on the Raising the Participation Age (RPA) regulations (Department of Education)
Launch Date: Friday 20 January 2012

Closing Date: Friday 13 April 2012

From summer 2013 all young people will be required to participate in education or training until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17, and from summer 2015 onwards until their 18th birthday. Participating in education or training brings benefits for young people, and also for the economy and wider society. This consultation seeks views on elements of how RPA will work in practice - by consulting on the policies that will form the secondary legislation. It covers aspects such as the definition of residency; the definition of full-time education; any wider ways of working that (when combined with part-time study) could be considered as participating, and the amount and use of any fines.

Removing the duty on maintained schools to follow the information and communication technology (ICT) Programmes of Study, Attainment Targets and statutory assessment arrangements (Department of Education)
Launch Date: Wednesday 18 January 2012

Closing Date: Wednesday 11 April 2012

As part of the Government's broader vision for technology in schools, and as a way of removing barriers to innovation and stimulating change in schools, we are seeking views on the proposal that the existing ICT Programmes of Study and associated Attainment Targets should be disapplied at all four key stages, along with the statutory assessment arrangements at Key Stage 3, from September 2012. ICT will remain a compulsory subject at all key stages, pending the outcome of the current review of the National Curriculum in England. This consultation is being conducted under section 96 of the Education Act 2002.

Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) Standards Review (Children's Workforce Development Council)
Launch Date: Monday 16 January 2012
Closing Date: Friday 23 March 2012
This consultation seeks views on the proposed draft early years professional status standards. The aim is to produce a revised set of standards for implementation by training providers' delivering the early years professional status from September 2012.

Consultation On Proposed Changes To The School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009 To Require Governing Bodies To Share Information With Prospective Employers About Whether Head Teachers And Teachers Have Been In Capability Procedures (Department of Education)
Launch Date: Friday 13 January 2012

Closing Date: Friday 24 February 2012

This consultation asks for views on proposed changes to the School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009 to introduce new requirements on governing bodies in maintained schools to share information about whether a teacher or head teacher at their school has been in capability procedures, when asked to do so by a prospective school employer.

Inspection of adoption support agencies (Ofsted)

Launch Date: Tuesday 10 January 2012

Closing Date: Tuesday 3 April 2012

This is a consultation on proposals for a revised framework for the inspection of adoption support agencies. Ofsted seeks the widest possible range of views from those who have an interest in, or expertise relating to, adoption to ensure that the inspection framework takes proper account of the needs and circumstances of all interested parties.

Proposals for a revised framework for the registration, inspection and enforcement of registered early years provision (Ofsted)

Launch Date: Monday 9 January 2012

Closing Date: Friday 6 April 2012

The Government is publishing a revised Early Years Foundation Stage and accompanying regulations to take effect on 1 September 2012. We must develop new regulatory and inspection arrangements to take account of the revisions.

The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation: Determination of Turnover for Monetary Penalties (Department of Education)
Launch Date: Thursday 22 December 2011

Closing Date: Thursday 15 March 2012

Amendments to the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 introduced by the Education Act 2011 give Ofqual the power to impose a monetary penalty on a recognised awarding organisation if it appears to Ofqual that the organisation has failed to comply with a condition to which the recognition is subject. The monetary penalty must not exceed 10% of the organisation's turnover and the purpose of this consultation is to determine the turnover on which the limit is based. Ofqual will consult separately on its policy for imposing a monetary penalty, and other related changes, in January 2012. The views expressed as part of this consultation will inform the secondary legislation which will determine turnover and so set the maximum monetary penalty Ofqual may impose on an awarding organisation. We expect the secondary legislation to be put before Parliament in spring 2012.

A consultation on revised statutory guidance and regulations for exclusions from schools and pupil referral units in England (Department of Education)
Launch Date: Friday 16 December 2011

Closing Date: Friday 17 February 2012

The purpose of this consultation is to gather views on the Department's revised exclusion guidance document and regulations relating to exclusion. This includes proposals for how regulations will be applied to Academies, including Free Schools. The guidance is aimed at head teachers, governing bodies, local authorities, independent review panel members, clerks and special educational needs experts. However, in addition, we would welcome responses from parents, pupils, voluntary/community organisations and representative organisations of the above groups.

In both the guidance and this consultation ‘head teacher' applies equally to the teachers in charge at a pupil referral unit (PRU) and Principals of Academies. ‘Governing body' applies equally to a PRU management committee and ‘governor' to member of a management committee. Apart from where specifically stated, the duties of a local authority to arrange an independent review panel also apply to Academy Trusts.

We welcome suggestions for brief inserts and/or revisions to the new guidance. However, our aim is to increase the effectiveness of the guidance by ensuring that it is concise and directly relevant to the exclusion process. It is not the intention to widen the scope of the document or lengthen it considerably. New guidance on the use of alternative provision will be released next year and the exclusion guidance will be updated to cross-refer where appropriate.

The consultation will last nine weeks. This is to enable the Department to publish the finalised regulations and guidance in sufficient time for the new exclusion process to begin in September 2012.

Supporting Families in the Foundation Years: Proposed Changes to the Entitlement to Free Early Education and Childcare Sufficiency (Department of Education)
Launch Date: Friday 11 November 2011

Closing Date: Friday 3 February 2012

This consultation sets out proposals on the new entitlement for two year olds from September 2013, including which children will be eligible. It also includes proposals on the quality and flexibility of the entitlement for two, three and four year olds.

Link to live consultations on the Department of Health website