Created by a serving primary headteacher for busy school leaders. A practical, editable 15-page September leadership toolkit for primary headteachers and SLT. Covers safeguarding, attendance, SEND, curriculum, premises, governance, staff briefing, first-week monitoring and Autumn 1 planning. Updated August 2026. Start September 2026 with a clear, practical leadership plan. The Primary Headteacher’s September Checklist 2026/27 is a 15-page editable leadership toolkit designed to help primary school leaders organise the essential checks, conversations and actions needed at the beginning of the academic year. Created from a practical school-leadership perspective, this is designed to be a working document rather than another policy to read and file away. Use it before pupils return, during the first staff day, throughout the first week and again at the end of September. Included in the toolkit: Start Here guide with a simple September leadership sequence Safeguarding & safer recruitment Attendance, admissions & pupil movement People, SEND & inclusion Curriculum, RSHE & behaviour Premises, safety & operations Governance, policies & website Data, cyber, finance & leadership systems Parents, pupils & communication First staff day: 30-minute briefing First Week Leadership Walk 30-Day Leadership Dashboard Autumn 1 Action Planner Sources & guidance links Each checklist gives leaders space to identify owners, dates, actions and status, helping turn start-of-year priorities into something manageable and visible. The toolkit also contains clickable links to relevant official national guidance, making it easier to check the source document when needed. Ideal for: primary headteachers, executive heads, deputy and assistant headteachers, DSLs, school business leaders and SLT members. You will receive: an editable Word version and a print-ready PDF. Updated: August 2026 Designed for primary schools in England Please note: this resource is a practical leadership aid and does not replace statutory guidance, legislation, local authority procedures or professional advice. Requirements may vary according to school type and circumstances.