National Curriculum Review – A Vital First Step Toward Lifelong Financial Confidence for Every Child
Just Finance Foundation (JFF) warmly welcomes the news, as set out in the government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review final report, to make financial education a compulsory part of the primary curriculum in England through Citizenship from 2028.
This is a landmark moment for financial education and an important first step towards making sure this essential life skill is a core part of every child’s learning. Learning about money early in life helps children to build the knowledge, confidence and decision-making skills they’ll need as adults – from understanding the difference between wants and needs to saving habits and developing financial confidence.
It’s encouraging to see the Review highlight life skills as a core part of learning. Embedding financial education within Citizenship gives schools a clear opportunity to make sure every child, whatever their background or ability, can develop the knowledge and confidence they need to manage money well.
Sarah Wallace, Director at JFF, said, “This news is a really positive step forward. Financial education is a life skill every child deserves and making it compulsory in primary schools sends a strong message that learning about money matters. Starting early helps children form healthy habits and confidence that will stay with them for life.”
Helping schools to deliver
This change is an important milestone, but success depends on how it’s brought to life in classrooms. Teachers need time, training and trusted support to make money learning engaging and meaningful for their pupils – especially in a busy and high-pressure curriculum.
Laura Halloran, Head of Financial Education at JFF, said, “We have been working with teachers for years, and we know how committed they are to preparing children for life. Our focus now is on giving schools the practical tools, guidance and confidence to teach financial education in ways that work for them through free resources, training and tailored support.”
Our resources are cross-curricular and designed to support areas schools are already prioritising, such as oracy and critical thinking, making it easier to integrate financial education into existing lessons while reinforcing key skills across the curriculum.
We believe financial education should be accessible to every child, including those who learn differently or need extra help with numeracy or confidence. Every pupil should have the chance to understand and manage money in ways that feel relevant, achievable and empowering.
For this policy to have real impact, it’s important to measure more than just what children know. We need to understand how confident they feel using their learning in real life. Building confidence, attitudes and practical skills is what makes financial education meaningful. We would welcome a clear outcomes framework – one that helps schools and policymakers measure progress in confidence, attitudes and real-world application.
As a UK charity dedicated to helping children build financial confidence, JFF will continue to support schools every step of the way. We’ll keep providing free, practical resources, teacher training and expert advice to help schools embed financial education effectively and sustainably.
“This is a moment to celebrate but also a moment to make sure we get it right for every child,” said Sarah Wallace, Director of JFF. “We’re proud to play our part in helping schools turn this policy into lasting, life-changing learning.”