COVID-19 Latest

15TH DECEMBER 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Coronavirus testing for schools and colleges from January

Today we have announced that from January teachers and pupils will have access to rapid testing to help keep schools and colleges open throughout the spring term.

From January, and starting with secondary schools, including all special schools and alternative provision, the education workforce will be eligible for weekly on the spot tests. This will help identify asymptomatic cases – which make up a third of all cases – limiting the spread of the virus. This will be backed up by daily testing for staff who have been in close contact with a positive case therefore eliminating the need for self-isolation; allowing them to continue to come into school or college.

Students and pupils will be eligible for daily testing if they have been in close contact with a positive case.

You can read the press notice and a detailed Q&A for parents, but here is a summary of the key details of the announcement:

Teachers and pupils will have access to rapid testing from January.
Staff who are in close contact with cases will be eligible for daily testing, eliminating the need for immediate self-isolation. Only if a daily test returns a positive result will the staff member need to isolate.
Testing will roll out as rapidly as possible from January, starting with staff and moving quickly on to serial testing of students.
It is the decision of the individual school or college when they would like to begin accessing this new dedicated testing capacity.

Detailed operational guidance and training materials are available to secondary schools and colleges so they are able to use the new testing capacity from the first week of the spring term.

1st October 2020

Guidance on use of face covering when travelling to school or college

Children aged 11 and over are legally required to wear a face covering on public transport in England, unless exempt for health, age or disability reasons.

In accordance with advice from Public Health England, we recommend that local authorities advise children and young people aged 11 and over to wear a face covering when travelling on dedicated school transport, unless they are exempt. Coronavirus (COVID-19) usually spreads by droplets from coughs, sneezes and speaking. When used correctly, wearing a face covering may reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) droplets in certain circumstances, helping to protect others.

Schools should support local authorities in promoting the use of face coverings when travelling to and from school, and help them to resolve any issues of non-compliance where appropriate.

The ‘Hands. Face. Space.’ campaign urges everyone to continue to wash their hands, cover their face and make space to control infection rates. The NHS has released a ‘Hands. Face. Space.’ video that may be a useful resource when communicating the importance of wearing a face covering on transport directly to children and young people.

Further information on face coverings can be found in our guidance on transport to school and other places of education: autumn term 2020.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline

The Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline is available to answer questions about coronavirus (COVID-19) relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline by calling:

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

30th September 2020

Updated guidance on the public health arrangements for autumn exams

We have updated our guidance on the public health arrangements for autumn exams. This guidance is for school and college senior leaders, heads of exam centres, and staff involved in exam delivery. It sets out the expectation that schools and colleges will run autumn series exams, including schools or colleges who are only open for smaller student groups. We also expect schools and colleges in areas under local restrictions to run exams.

This guidance provides information on what schools or colleges should do if:

they are located in areas of local restrictions
a candidate misses exams in the autumn series
a candidate tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19

This guidance should be read alongside:

We are offering two school-led webinars on remote education to help share good practice with school leaders in primary and secondary schools. During these webinars school leaders will be sharing what has worked for them in getting their schools set up to deliver remote education. They will last for 45 minutes and presenters will also answer questions from the audience.Remote education webinars for primary and secondary school leaders – today and tomorrow

Schools can attend the webinars using the Microsoft Teams links below:

Each webinar is limited to a capacity of 10,000 viewers, however if you are unable to attend, recordings of each webinar will be available to watch after the live events through the Department for Education YouTube channel.

Ordering additional coronavirus (COVID-19) tests

An online portal is now live for schools and further education providers to order additional coronavirus (COVID-19) test kits if they have run out, or are running out, of their initial 10 kits supplied for use in line with our guidance.

You will be able to make a new order for test kits 21 days after you receive a delivery confirmation email telling you that your previous supply of test kits has been sent. These kits are only for those who develop one of the symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) and face significant barriers to accessing a test. In particular, they will help schools and colleges get their symptomatic staff who test negative back to work as soon as they feel well enough, to ensure the continuity of education for pupils and students. It is for schools and further education providers to determine how to prioritise the distribution of their test kits in order to minimise the impact of the virus on the education of their pupils or students.

The unique organisation number (UON) for ordering new test kits was emailed to schools and further education providers by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 September. If you have not received your UON you can now look it up using your unique reference number (URN) or your UK provider reference number (UKPRN) or by calling the Test and Trace helpdesk on 119.

Your delivery will be made by 4pm, and someone must be on site to receive it. Otherwise, Royal Mail will leave a calling card so that you can arrange re-delivery or collect it from your local sorting office.

Tests conducted at a testing site will deliver the fastest results. Individuals must book a test in advance or they will not be given a test. People can also order home test kits to be sent directly to them. These routes remain the primary channels for people displaying coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms to get a test.

Information education settings should have to hand when they call for advice on a positive case

Public Health England’s (PHE) dedicated advice service, delivered by NHS Business Services Authority, is available to early years settings, schools, colleges and out of school settings. The service is for those needing support on the action they should take when they have been informed of a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in their setting (i.e. a pupil or staff member testing positive).

It can be reached by calling the Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline on 0800 046 8687 and selecting option 1 to report a positive test within your setting. This option will take you through to a dedicated team of NHS Business Services Authority advisors who will work through a risk assessment with you to identify close contacts, and will inform you what action is needed based on the latest public health advice. Advisors will be responsible for referring more complex cases to the PHE regional health protection team, as necessary, following a triaging of your circumstances during the call.

Phone: 0800 046 8687 – option 1 to report a positive test within your setting

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm

When you call for advice, please have the following information to hand relating to the positive coronavirus (COVID-19) case in your setting as you will need to discuss this with the call adviser:

the number of positive cases in your setting, whether the person who tested positive is displaying symptoms and if so, the date of the onset of the symptoms (if known)
the dates that the person who tested positive was in attendance at the setting so that we can identify if the person was infections whilst on site
for key stage 2, 3, 4 and 5, the seating plan for all lessons, and (where relevant) the timetable, for the person who has tested positive. This will help to support identification of close contacts with that person
for key stage 2, 3, 4 and 5, if the person who has tested positive is a member of staff, records of any instance of close contact with other members of staff or students
if the person who has tested positive is a pupil, records of any definite face to face contact with the individual and details of their friendship group within the setting

We recognise that some local authorities have put more detailed local arrangements in place for their education settings with their local authority health protection team. Where those local arrangements are available and working, you can continue to receive support through that route to take action in response to a positive case.This dedicated advice service is designed to expand the options available for support to education settings, and we would expect that most education settings would contact this service in the first instance. This approach will free up capacity of PHE’s regional health protection teams to deal with more complex cases and outbreaks. You should continue to inform your local authority of a positive case in your setting.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

29th September 2020

Personal protective equipment deliveries to schools and further education colleges

Schools and further education colleges have been sent a small amount of personal protective equipment (PPE). This one-off distribution of PPE was provided free of charge by the Department of Health and Social Care to help build resilience across the education sector to respond to any suspected cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) arising in schools and colleges. The PPE should be used strictly in accordance with guidance on safe working in education, childcare and children's social care settings, and should not be re-purposed or used for non-coronavirus (COVID-19) related situations.

If your school or further education college has not received the PPE delivery, please check for undelivered parcels at your local Royal Mail depot.

Following this, you can notify the Department using this online form. The online form will be available until 6pm tomorrow, Wednesday 30 September.

Please keep your Get Information About Schools (GIAS) contacts up to date

Please take this opportunity to review all of your contact information in Get Information About Schools (GIAS). Keeping your details up to date will ensure that you continue to receive the most up to date information from the Department for Education and from the Department of Health and Social Care who are providing schools and colleges with coronavirus (COVID-19) testing kits. For academy trusts, this will also ensure compliance with the Academies Financial Handbook.

To update your record, please go to the GIAS home page, “Sign in” using your “DfE Sign-in” credentials and select GIAS from your available services

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

Advice service for nurseries, schools and colleges to respond to a positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19)

Public Health England (PHE) has introduced a new dedicated advice service, delivered by NHS Business Services Authority, for nurseries, schools and colleges. The service is for those needing support on the action they should take when they have been informed of a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in their setting (i.e. a pupil or staff member testing positive).

It can be reached by calling the Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline on 0800 046 8687 and selecting option 1. This option will take you through to a dedicated team of NHS Business Services Authority advisors who will work through a risk assessment with you to identify close contacts, and will inform you what action is needed based on the latest public health advice. Advisors will be responsible for referring more complex cases to the PHE regional health protection team, as necessary, following a triaging of your circumstances during the call.

Phone: 0800 046 8687 – option 1

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm

28th September 2020

New legal duty to self-isolate comes into force today

From today, people in England will be required by law to self-isolate if they test positive or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace. This law has been introduced to ensure compliance with self-isolation rules and to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Fines will also be introduced from today for those breaching self-isolation rules, starting at £1,000, in line with the existing penalty for breaking quarantine after international travel. This could increase to up to £10,000 for repeat offences and the most serious breaches, including for those preventing others from self-isolating.

Employers who force or allow staff to come to work who they know should be self-isolating will also be liable for fines of up to £10,000.

Remote education webinars for primary and secondary school leaders

This week, the Department for Education is offering several school-led webinars on remote education to help share good practice with school leaders in primary and secondary schools. This is to support schools that are looking for help to improve the quality of their remote education provision in line with the expectations set out in the actions for schools during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak guidance.

School leaders will be sharing what has worked for them in getting their schools set up to deliver remote education. The webinars will last for 45 minutes and presenters will also answer questions from the audience.

Schools can attend the webinars using the Microsoft Teams links below:

October school census

Every school in England has a statutory duty to complete the school census each term. Schools must provide pupil level data for pupils who are recorded on the school admission register as at census day (Thursday 1 October), irrespective of whether they attend school on that day. Therefore, pupils who are absent from school on census day, whether the absence is coronavirus (COVID-19) related or for other reasons, should be counted in your school’s census return in the usual way.

Current funding allocation through the national funding formula (NFF) and the pupil premium is calculated based on the number of pupils on roll and is not affected by pupil non-attendance on census day. However, the universal infant free school meals funding stream is dependent on whether a pupil attends school on census day.

The universal infant free school meals funding stream uses the variable ‘school lunch taken’, which is collected in relation to pupils in years reception, years 1 and 2 (or aged 4-6 in year group X) and indicates whether a pupil has taken a school lunch on census day. If your school has coronavirus (COVID-19) related absences and the ‘school lunches taken’ number is affected, you can substitute this for a day and time when the situation is regarded as normal. You can use the next normal day, an earlier day in census week or another day that reflects the normal situation. Where other days or times are used, you must record these for audit purposes.

There are some scenarios which do not qualify as an unusual circumstance and therefore pupils must be recorded as NOT having taken a school lunch:

if the school kitchen is closed and the school has not offered any alternative provision
pupils who have changed their preference to bring a packed lunch
pupils are absent for other reasons not connected to coronavirus (COVID-19)

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

Advice service for nurseries, schools and colleges to respond to a positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19)

Phone: 0800 046 8687 – option 1

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm

25th September 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium provisional allocations

In July, the government announced a one-off universal £650 million catch-up premium for the 2020 to 2021 academic year to ensure that schools have the support they need to help all pupils make up for lost teaching time. The coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium funding is available for all state-funded mainstream and special schools, and alternative provision.

The Education and Skills Funding Authority has published details of the provisional allocation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium and the conditions of the grant for the academic year 2020 to 2021. The first payment is worth 25% of the provisional allocation, rounded to the nearest £10, and will be paid to:

Local authorities on 30 September 2020
Academies on 8 October 2020
Non-maintained special schools in November 2020

Further details on how the coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium is allocated and how it can be used can be found in the coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium guidance.

Letter to share with parents on coronavirus (COVID-19) testing

Public Health England has produced a letter for schools and colleges to share with parents which explains when a child requires a coronavirus (COVID-19) test and what the symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are.

The intention of the letter is to support parents and carers in identifying when their child needs to self-isolate as a result of displaying coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms and answer some of the questions parents may have around testing. We ask that you share this letter with parents and carers of children at your school or college.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

Advice service for nurseries, schools and colleges to respond to a positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19)

Phone: 0800 046 8687 – option 1

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm

Please keep your GIAS contacts up to date

For academy trusts, this will also ensure compliance with the Academies Financial Handbook.

To update your record, please go to the GIAS home page, “Sign in” using your “DfE Sign-in” credentials and select GIAS from your available services

14th September 2020

Rule of six applies from Monday 14 September

From today, new laws prohibiting social gatherings of more than six people come into effect in England. The new ‘rule of six’ simplifies and strengthens the rules on social gatherings, making them easier to understand and easier for the police to enforce. It means that – apart from a set of limited exemptions including education and work – any social gatherings of more than six people indoors or outdoors will be against the law.

The approach schools, colleges and other educational settings should continue to follow is set out in our detailed guidance:

Responding to those with coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

It is vital that educational settings only ask children or staff to self-isolate and recommend they get a test if they develop symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). Those sent home to self-isolate, having been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, should only get tested if they develop symptoms themselves. The symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. Testing capacity is the highest it has ever been, but there is a significant demand for tests. Booking is essential for drive in and walk in test sites, and under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

In line with our guidance, the home test kits supplied to schools and colleges must be reserved for those who face significant barriers to accessing a test and would not otherwise get tested. Schools and college can order additional test kits if they have run out, or are running out, of test kits. From 16 September, you can order additional tests kits via an online portal. Kits will be supplied in boxes of 10. The number of boxes available to each school or college will be proportionate to their size. You will be able to make a new order for test kits 21 days after you receive a delivery confirmation email telling you that your previous supply of test kits has been sent. You will need a Unique Organisation Number (UON) to place orders for test kits. This will be emailed to you by Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on, or before, 16 September. After this date, please call the Test and Trace helpdesk on 119 if you have not received your UON.

Guidance on the actions an early years provider, school or college should take when responding to a child with symptoms or a positive case can be found in:

Schools and further education institutions receiving a delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE)

Schools and further education colleges have received a delivery of a small amount of personal protective equipment (PPE). This one-off distribution of PPE contains clinical face masks, aprons, gloves and visors, as well as the hand sanitiser needed to put on and take off PPE. The PPE has been provided free of charge by the DHSC to help build resilience across the education sector to respond to any suspected cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) arising in schools and colleges. Deliveries, which began on 26 August, have been packaged by Clipper and delivered by Royal Mail. Visors have been sent as a separate delivery from the rest of the PPE.

Schools and colleges that have not received their deliveries of free PPE can notify the Department for Education using an online form. The form is available until 30 September. Before completing this form, we ask that you first contact your local Royal Mail office to check for any undelivered parcels.

As set out in our guidance on safe working in education, childcare and children's social care settings, PPE is only needed if a child, young person or other learner becomes ill with coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms in school or college, and only then if a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained. The symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Exam Results Helpline now available until 18 September

The Exam Results Helpline, delivered by the National Careers Service, has been extended and will now be available until 18 September to provide additional support to students and their parents as they consider their next steps. Callers to the helpline will have direct access to experienced careers advisers who can advise on the different options available to them including T levels, A levels, GCSEs, BTECs, apprenticeships and other vocational options. Support will also be available on topics such as clearing, university, gap years and the autumn exam series.

Phone: 0800 100 900

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 8am to 10pm

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

11th September 2020

What to do if a pupil is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)

We have published a list of actions that early years, schools and further education colleges must follow in the event that a child or young person displays symptoms or if they confirm they have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). The action lists are sector specific and print friendly. They can be accessed using these links:

action list for schools
action list for early years and childcare providers
action list for further education colleges

If anyone in your early years setting, school or college confirms that they have had a positive test for coronavirus (COVID-19), you should notify your local health protection team immediately. The health protection team will work with you to carry out a rapid risk assessment and identify the appropriate next steps.

Updated guidance on providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

In April, we temporarily extended free school meals eligibility to include some groups who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF). This temporary extension will continue as schools return for the autumn term and covers both pupils who are attending school and who are unable to attend if they are required to self-isolate or if local lockdown arrangements are in place.

Further information on the eligibility criteria can be found in the guidance for the temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups.

Educational psychologists: support for coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery

We are inviting educational psychologists to express an interest in providing temporary support for children and young people returning to schools, colleges, and other educational settings. This opportunity is available to fully qualified educational psychologists and will last for up to 13 weeks.

To express an interest, contact the relevant local authority using the contact details listed in our guidance on how to express an interest in providing temporary support for coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery. The closing date for expressions of interest is 30 November 2020.

Most families have experienced upheaval in their daily lives during the pandemic. With children and young people now back at school or college, the new Public Health England (PHE) Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign provides NHS-endorsed tips and advice to help children and young people’s mental wellbeing, and equip parents and carers with the knowledge to support them.

The new advice available on the Every Mind Matters website has been developed in partnership with leading children and young people’s mental health charities, including Young Minds, The Mix, Place2Be and The Anna Freud Centre. It is designed to help parents and carers spot the signs that children may be struggling with their mental health and support them, and also provides advice that can help maintain good mental wellbeing. The site also provides tools to help young people build resilience and equips them to look after their mental wellbeing.

Reminder to submit the daily online educational settings status form to the Department for Education

We would like to thank those schools and colleges that have completed the daily return to date and ask you to please continue to provide information on your educational setting’s status. Please complete the educational setting status form by 12 noon daily.

Further guidance on completing the educational setting status form can be found in the guidance on recording attendance during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Exam Results Helpline now available until 18 September

Phone: 0800 100 900

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 8am to 10pm

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

10th September 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Hands, Face, Space campaign

A new public information campaign has been launched ahead of winter to highlight how everyone can help to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Yesterday the Prime Minister launched the ‘Hands, Face, Space’ campaign urging the public to continue to wash their hands, cover their face and make space to control infection rates and avoid a second peak. In line with this we have produced a communications toolkit for universities in England, but which may be of wider interest. Consistent adoption of these behaviours is particularly important in places outside of educational settings which do not implement the wider protective measures in the system of controls set out in our detailed guidance:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an easy virus to kill when it is on skin. It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Schools and other education settings must ensure that staff and pupils clean their hands regularly, including when they arrive, when they return from breaks, when they change rooms and before and after eating.

Responding to those with coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

It is vital that educational settings only ask children or staff to self-isolate and recommend they get a test if they develop symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). Those sent home to self-isolate, having been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, should only get tested if they develop symptoms themselves. The symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. The capacity of the NHS Test and Trace system must be protected for those with symptoms of the virus. Booking is essential for drive in and walk in test sites, and under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

In line with our guidance, the home test kits supplied to schools and colleges must be reserved for those who face significant barriers to accessing a test and would not otherwise get tested. The Department of Health and Social Care is emailing all schools and colleges with details of how to access additional test kits. An order may be placed each month for a number of kits proportionate to the number of pupils or students at your school or college.

No one with symptoms should attend their nursery, school, college or university. If anyone in your early years setting, school or college confirms to you a positive test for coronavirus (COVID-19), you should notify your local health protection team immediately. The health protection team will work with you to carry out a rapid risk assessment and identify the appropriate next steps.

Important information for schools on when to contact DfE’s helpline and when to contact your local Health Protection Team

Our guidance for full opening of schools sets out the process for managing confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) amongst the school community. If, after reading this guidance you need further information about coronavirus and school guidance, you can contact DfE’s coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline on 0800 046 8687. You can also contact this helpline if you have a general query about coronavirus (COVID-19) in your school or education setting.

To keep Public Health England’s local health protection team phonelines free for nurseries, schools, colleges and universities dealing with current or suspected outbreak situations, please only call your local health protection team when your setting becomes aware that someone who has attended has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).

The local health protection team will advise what action is required. Usually, closure will not be necessary, but some groups may need to self-isolate.

Schools and further education institutions receiving a delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE)

Schools and further education colleges have been receiving a delivery of a small amount of personal protective equipment (PPE). This one-off distribution of PPE contains clinical face masks, aprons, gloves and visors, as well as the hand sanitiser needed to put on and take off PPE. The PPE has been provided free of charge by the Department of Health and Social Care to help build resilience across the education sector to respond to any suspected cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) arising in schools and colleges. Deliveries, which began on 26 August, have been packaged by Clipper and delivered by Royal Mail. Visors have been sent as a separate delivery from the rest of the PPE.

From today, schools and colleges that have not received their deliveries of free PPE will be able to notify the Department for Education using an online form. The form will be available from 10 to 30 September. Before completing this form, we ask that you first contact your local Royal Mail office to check for any undelivered parcels.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Exam Results Helpline now available until 18 September

Phone: 0800 100 900

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 8am to 10pm

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

9th September 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Updated guidance for special schools and other specialist settings

We have updated our guidance for special schools and other specialist settings to provide information on the support available to schools when sourcing supply teachers and information on the framework for supporting transport to and from schools.

It also provides information on the measures to take when teaching music, the performing arts, sports and physical education, the use of face coverings and the provision of wraparound care and extra-curricular activities.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Exam Results Helpline now available until 18 September

Phone: 0800 100 900

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 8am to 10pm

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

8th September 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

What to do if a pupil is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Joint Biosecurity Centre has also published Action Cards to provide the latest instructions for anyone responsible for businesses or organisations on how to identify, report and respond to coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. This includes action cards for the education sector, with more detail about what information your local health protection team may ask you.If anyone in your early years setting, school or college confirms to you a positive test for coronavirus (COVID-19), you should notify your local health protection team immediately. The health protection team will work with you to carry out a rapid risk assessment and identify the appropriate next steps.

Department of Health and Social Care webinars on coronavirus (COVID-19) testing

This week, the Department of Health and Social Care is hosting webinars that will focus on coronavirus (COVID-19) testing, specifically the testing routes available, when to allocate home testing kits and how these should be used. These sessions are available to all schools and further education colleges and can be booked through this online portal.

Schools and further education colleges have been receiving an initial supply of 10 home test kits in line with the commitment we made in July. Deliveries, which began on 26 August, have been made by Royal Mail. Email notifications were sent two days before delivery.

If schools or further education colleges have not received their test kits by the start of their term, they should contact the NHS Test and Trace helpdesk on 119.

You should only offer a home test kit to individuals who have developed symptoms while at school or college (or to their parent or carer if the child is under 18) in the exceptional circumstance that you believe they may have barriers to accessing a test elsewhere, and that giving them a home test kit directly will therefore significantly increase the likelihood of them getting tested. This will help you to take swift action to protect students and staff in the event of a positive test result

Further information on when to provide a test kit can be found in the guidance on home test kits for schools and further education providers.

Reminder to submit the daily online educational settings status form to the Department for Education

Further guidance on completing the educational setting status form can be found in the guidance on recording attendance during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Ofqual announces changes to the assessment and awarding of Vocational, Technical and other General Qualifications in 2020 to 2021

Yesterday, Ofqual confirmed the changes awarding organisations will be required to make to assessment and awarding of Vocational, Technical and other General Qualifications in 2020 to 2021.

The Government’s expectation is that assessments will take place during 2020 to 2021. Awarding organisations are therefore being allowed to adapt assessments to enable them to better cater for any disruption. It is therefore not necessary to permit awarding organisations to offer calculated results for assessments taken in 2020 to 2021.

Full details of the changes that will be made can be found in Ofqual’s consultation decisions on the assessment and awarding of Vocational, Technical and other General Qualifications in 2020 to 2021.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Exam Results Helpline now available until 18 September

Phone: 0800 100 900

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 8am to 10pm

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

27th July 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Guidance for schools on the winter flu programme

On Friday, the Department for Health and Social Care announced details of its expanded winter flu programme to protect vulnerable people and support the NHS, which includes:

a free vaccine to be made available for people aged 50 – 64 later in the year
households of those on the Shielded Patient List becoming eligible for free flu vaccinations
the school programme expanded to the first year of secondary schools for the first time

Public Health England has published guidance on the expansion of the school programme and what this means in practice. This guidance has been produced to assist all school staff and headteachers with any questions about the nasal spray flu vaccination being offered to children during the autumn term 2020 and includes frequently asked questions. It is for school teaching and support staff and headteachers. It is not intended for children, parents or guardians, who will receive their own dedicated information at the appropriate time.

Guidance on the coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium

In June, we announced a £1 billion catch-up package to support pupils who may have fallen behind due to lost teaching time as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This package includes:

a one-off universal £650 million catch-up premium for the 2020-21 academic year to ensure that schools have the support they need to help all pupils make up for lost teaching time. This funding will be available for all state-funded mainstream and special schools, and alternative provision.
a £350 million National Tutoring Programme to provide additional, targeted support for those children and young people who need the most help.

Guidance on the 16 to 19 tuition fund

Full details on eligibility, funding allocation, payments and use of the funds can be found in the guidance on the coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium.

As part of the National Tutoring Programme, the Education and Skills Funding Agency have published guidance on the 16 to 19 tuition fund available for schools, colleges and other 16 to 19 providers during the 2020-21 academic year. This additional funding is available for one-year and is to be used to support tuition activity above and beyond the programmes of education already planned for the 2020-21 academic year.

Local lockdowns: guidance for education and childcare settings

On 18 July, all additional lockdown restrictions were lifted in areas outside of Leicester City, Oadby and Wigston. This includes Charnwood and Blaby which are no longer in the local lockdown zone. Those areas outside of Leicester City, Oadby and Wigston will now return to national social distancing guidelines and educational and childcare settings in these areas that would normally be open over the summer period can continue to operate in line with national guidance.

From 24 July, some relaxation of restrictions will be allowed in Leicester City, Oadby and Wigston. We have updated our guidance for nurseries, childminders, schools and colleges in light of these continued restrictions.

Use of free early education entitlements funding during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

We have updated the guidance on the use of free early education entitlements funding during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to provide information on funding for local authorities and early years providers in the autumn term 2020 and when to use funding flexibility.

Until the start of the autumn term 2020, our guidance to local authorities continues to be that, in exceptional circumstances and as a last resort, they may choose to redirect early years dedicated schools grant (DSG) funding from providers that are closed, in order to ensure provision of childcare for vulnerable children and children of critical workers. However, in the autumn term 2020, we expect the demand for childcare to increase. Our advice on how local authorities should use their existing powers to distribute early years DSG funding will therefore change for the autumn term 2020.

Guidance on assessment processes for selective school admissions

We have published guidance on the assessment processes for selective school admissions for the 2021-22 school year. This guidance is for state-funded selective schools and recommends approaches to conducting aptitude and ability tests whilst following coronavirus (COVID-19) protective measures.

Guidance for admission authorities on faith school admission arrangements

We have published guidance for admission authorities on faith school admission arrangements for the 2021-22 school year. This guidance sets out how schools with a religious character can change their admission arrangements to account for the period where access to places of worship and/or to communal worship has been restricted as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Updated guidance on awarding qualifications in summer 2020

Ofqual has updated their guidance on awarding qualifications in the summer 2020 to include content from Ofqual’s Summer Symposium, held on Tuesday 21 July 2020 and a factsheet and video for centres on awarding grades in summer 2020.

Prepare for the return to school with Mentally Healthy Schools

Although some children have returned to school already, for many, the new autumn term will be their first time stepping into a classroom since lockdown began. Understandably, this may be a strange or worrying time for some children, parents and carers, and schools.

Mentally Healthy Schools is a primary school website that has produced a new toolkit of resources for schools and families, all focused on making sure the return to classrooms in the autumn is a mentally healthy one.

Covid Summer Food Fund

The Covid Summer Food Fund will enable children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals to be supported over the summer holiday period. Schools were asked to place their orders at least a week before their summer term finished.

This is the final chance to check that orders have been processed correctly – please look out for emails from Edenred with further advice.

Feedback survey on the coronavirus (COVID-19) update emails now closed

Thank you to all those who completed our feedback survey. We received a huge number of responses and are grateful for your feedback. We will be looking closely at your responses and use them to improve future updates.

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline

The Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline is available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care.

Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline by calling:

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education at the start of the autumn term

The guidance for the full opening of schools, early years and colleges at the start of the autumn can be found here:

17th July 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Recruitment and planning for September resourcing

As set out in our guidance on the full opening of schools, we recommend that schools continue to recruit remotely over the summer period if required.

To help schools to find newly qualified teachers (NQTs) who are seeking roles, we have developed a specific page on the Teaching Vacancies service where NQTs can sign up to receive job alerts when suitable jobs are posted matching their search criteria. We are working with initial teacher training (ITT) providers to share this information with their NQT network. To reach this NQT audience, hiring schools should tick the ‘suitable for NQTs’ box on Teaching Vacancies when listing a role.

We have also developed a page where schools and NQTs can find information to support them when preparing for induction. This page clarifies the expectations of schools and further education colleges, and provides advice based on user research that we carried out in April 2020.

Use of supply teachers

Schools considering their supply teacher needs can get one to one support from Crown Commercial Services on how to use the agency supply deal to secure great value teachers. Email the team with your school’s details and your contact details, and an expert will be in touch.

Recruiting teachers and other skilled workers from overseas: becoming a visa sponsor

You may need to become a visa sponsor if you want to employ teachers or other skilled workers from anywhere outside the UK and Ireland from 1 January 2021. You can apply to become a sponsor now.

All overseas nationals arriving in the UK from 1 January 2021, including those from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, will come under the UK’s new points-based immigration system.

If you are planning to employ someone from overseas on another immigration route, such as the youth mobility scheme route, you may not need to become a sponsor.

If you are planning to employ an EEA or Swiss citizen who is living in the UK by 31 December 2020 then you will not need to become a sponsor if they gain settled or pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme.

Adoption and children regulations

We are seeking views on proposed changes to the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 that were introduced to provide local authorities and children’s social care providers with temporary flexibilities during coronavirus (COVID-19).

The amendments are temporary and will expire on 25 September 2020. We are proposing to extend a small number of these to manage future challenges.

The consultation closes at 11:45pm on 5 August 2020.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education at the start of the autumn term

The guidance for the full opening of schools, early years and colleges at the start of the autumn can be found here:

Covid Summer Food Fund

The Covid Summer Food Fund will enable children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals (FSM) to be supported over the summer holiday period. All vouchers for the summer holidays must be ordered at least one week before your school’s summer term ends. The costs will be met centrally by the Department for Education.Covid Summer Food Fund

Please read the guidance in full before ordering to ensure your orders are processed correctly.

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when utside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

Please see the latest guidance and video on handwashing from the NHS.

The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene. E-Bug has published posters on hand hygiene, and covering coughs and sneezes, to display in bathrooms, classrooms and shared spaces.

16th July 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Deadline for claiming exceptional costs associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak approaching

The deadline to submit an application form to claim for exceptional costs associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is 21 July 2020.

Please ensure all applications are received by this date as there will be no opportunity to request an extension to this deadline. For costs relating to the summer holidays that are not covered by the Covid Summer Food Fund, schools will be able to claim for this in the autumn.

Instructions on how to claim for exceptional costs, which include a short film, can be found in the guidance on claiming exceptional costs associated with coronavirus (COVID-19).

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline – change to opening hours

The Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline is available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care.

Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline by calling 0800 046 8687.

From Monday 27 July, the helpline will be closed on weekends. We will continue to be available to answer your calls Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.

School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme

Today, the Government has confirmed that the school fruit and vegetable scheme, which was paused during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, will resume as normal in autumn when all children return to school. This scheme provides daily fresh produce for pupils in key stage 1 and helps every child have a healthy, happy start to life.

10 top tips to encourage children to read in support of Reading Together Day

To support the very first Reading Together Day, we have published tips for parents and carers of primary-aged children to help them encourage and support their children to read. They contain ideas on how to plan reading opportunities at home and make reading enjoyable and engaging, including during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Barnardo’s ‘See Hear Respond’ service

See Hear Respond is a service provided across England by Barnardo’s and other national and local community-based organisations in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The programme has been created to help children and young people in England who are experiencing harm and increased adversity during this period by providing support to those who are not being seen by social care or other key agencies.

Working with its partners, Barnardo’s aims to reduce the likelihood of harm and ensure other support and protective networks are in place.

See Hear Respond accept referrals from any source either through the Freephone number 0800 151 7015 and via the online referral hub.

Information for schools and newly qualified teachers (NQT) preparing for NQT inductions from September 2020

We have published guidance for schools and newly qualified teachers (NQTs) who are preparing for NQT induction from September 2020. This guidance clarifies the expectations of schools and further education colleges when supporting the 2020-21 NQT cohort.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education at the start of the autumn term

The guidance for the full opening of schools, early years and colleges at the start of the autumn can be found here:

Covid Summer Food Fund

Please read the guidance in full before ordering to ensure your orders are processed correctly.

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

Please see the latest guidance and video on handwashing from the NHS.

16th July 2020

We have updated our risk assessment for the return of students in September. You can find the risk assessment here

15th July 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Change in frequency of the coronavirus (COVID-19) email updates from Monday 20 July

From Monday 20 July, we will be reducing the frequency of email updates from every weekday, to one email per week which will be sent on a Monday for the duration of the summer holidays. We plan to resume sending daily updates from Monday 24 August in preparation for the start of the autumn term.

Feedback survey on the coronavirus (COVID-19) email updates from Department for Education (DfE)

We began sending a daily email update to schools and further education providers, and local authorities to cascade to early years providers and children’s social care providers, in March 2020 to share information on the Government’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

We would be pleased to hear your feedback on the daily email update to help us improve it. Please spare 2 minutes to complete our short feedback survey.

Pausing of the educational settings status form over the summer holidays

After this week, we will no longer be asking schools and colleges to complete the daily return of the educational setting status form. The final day for completion of the form will be Friday 17 July. Thank you for taking the time to complete this daily return over the past few months. We will advise of any data return requirements from September in the coming weeks.

Temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to no recourse to public funds (NRPF) groups

In April, we temporarily extended free school meal eligibility to include some children of groups who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF). The extension of free school meal eligibility to these groups will continue while the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak impacts upon schools, including for the duration of the summer holidays.

Further information on eligibility criteria, the time period that this covers and completing an application can be found in the temporary extension to free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups guidance.

Updated guidance for initial teacher training providers

We have updated our guidance for initial teacher training (ITT) providers to include information on compliance with the ITT criteria (2020-21), ITT trainee consumer protection advice and the changes to the requirement for 120 days in schools as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Updated guidance on providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

We have updated our guidance on providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak confirming that providers can now make arrangements for 19+ apprentices to return to on-site delivery, where this can be safely accommodated. We also confirm that the temporary flexibility suspending the funding rule requiring level 2 apprentices to study towards, and attempt, level 2 functional skills assessments has been extended until 31 December 2020.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education at the start of the autumn term

The guidance for the full opening of schools, early years and colleges at the start of the autumn can be found here:

Covid Summer Food Fund

Please read the guidance in full before ordering to ensure your orders are processed correctly.

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

Please see the latest guidance and video on handwashing from the NHS.

14th July 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Additional funding for free meals in further education

Due to the unprecedented nature of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we are providing additional funding to enable further education funded institutions to continue to provide meals over the 2020 summer holiday to students eligible for free meals in further education in the 2019/20 academic year.

Institutions should continue to provide meals using their existing arrangements over the summer for students who were eligible and claiming for free meals in further education during the summer term. Institutions need to confirm arrangements and support with eligible students before the end of the summer term.

Further information on this funding can be found in the guidance on free meals in further education funded institutions in 2019/20.

Guidance on taking exams during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

We have updated the guidance on taking exams during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to include more information on the GCSE, AS and A level autumn exam series and a new section on the arrangements and timing of summer 2021 exams.

Funding available for expert help to get set up on a digital platform

We are offering free, expert technical support for schools to get set up on an accredited digital education platform. You can apply to get set up on one of two free-to-use digital education platforms: Google’s G Suite for Education or Microsoft’s Office 365 Education.

Education platforms can support children at home, but also help you support children when they are attending school, for example by improving parent-teacher communications and making homework more interactive. The platforms are purpose-built for remote education. Adopting these platforms now will unlock new ways of working to enhance educational outcomes and school operational efficiencies.

Schools and trusts can apply via The Key, which also provides feature comparison and case studies on how schools are making the most of these platforms. It also provides impartial advice on which platform is right for your school.

Support with remote education

We have launched the EdTech Demonstrator programme, a network of schools and colleges funded to provide peer-to-peer support on making the best use of technology.

The EdTech Demonstrator programme provides advice, guidance and training on ways technology can be used effectively to support education, reduce teacher workload and improve communication. This includes training on how to use education platforms such as Google G Suite for Education and, Microsoft Office 365 effectively. Support can be tailored to the needs of your school or college and will be based on your start point, confidence in technology practices and the time available to senior leaders to engage in this continuing professional development offer.

You can find out more about the programme and register your interest in receiving free support.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education at the start of the autumn term

The guidance for the full opening of schools, early years and colleges at the start of the autumn can be found here:

Covid Summer Food Fund

Please read the guidance in full before ordering to ensure your orders are processed correctly.

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

Please see the latest guidance and video on handwashing from the NHS.

13th July 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Guidance on the protective measures for holiday or after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

We have updated the protective measures for holiday or after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings guidance with more information on group sizes and the considerations that need to be made, and the opening of indoor sports facilities from 25 July, including indoor gyms, sports courts and fitness and dance studios.

If your school or college operates outdoors, you should also refer to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s guidance for the public on the phased return of outdoor sport and recreation in England.

Free school meals over the summer period for pupils leaving their current education setting

The Covid Summer Food Fund will enable children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals to be supported over the summer holiday period. This includes providing support where needed for year 6, year 11 and year 13 pupils who were confirmed as eligible and claiming benefits-related free school meals during the summer term, regardless of whether they remain registered with the school.

Where applicable, the school that the pupil is leaving is responsible for ordering the pupil’s free school meals for the Covid Summer Food Fund at least one week before the end of the school term.

Please read all emails from Edenred to ensure that your orders have been processed correctly.

Guidance on the exceptional costs associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

We have updated the guidance on the exceptional costs associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Schools will be able to claim for costs relating to the summer holidays that are not covered by the Covid Summer Food Fund in the autumn.

Where schools are ordering alternative vouchers for the summer holidays, these orders must be placed one week before the school summer term ends.

If schools arrange food parcels in the summer holidays, these can only be ordered for children in receipt of free school meals and orders must be placed before the summer holidays begin.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education at the start of the autumn term

The guidance for the full opening of schools, early years and colleges at the start of the autumn can be found here:

Covid Summer Food Fund

Please read the guidance in full before ordering to ensure your orders are processed correctly.

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

Please see the latest guidance and video on handwashing from the NHS.

10th July 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Recording of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s address to school leavers

Today, 43,000 people joined the Prime Minister’s live address to all school leavers congratulating them on reaching the end of their final year at school. A recording of the address is now available to view on Facebook and YouTube.

Behaviour and attendance checklist for school leaders to support full opening

We have published a behaviour and attendance checklist to assist school leaders and staff in preparing to welcome back all pupils full-time from the beginning of the autumn term. It is a tool for schools to support the re-engagement of pupils and the return to orderly and calm environments in which all pupils can achieve and thrive.

School leaders can use the checklist to develop their own plans, in a way that works for their pupils’ needs and school context.

The tool is intended for mainstream schools and has been developed by the Department for Education with input from the Department’s Lead Behaviour Adviser, Tom Bennett, and the behaviour adviser team.

Updated guidance on the financial support for education, early years and children’s social care

We have updated our guidance on the financial support available for education, early years and children’s social care to provide information on the changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).

Ofsted guidance on phased return to inspections

Ofsted has published guidance for nurseries, childminders, schools and colleges about their phased return to inspection. On Monday, Ofsted announced that they will be carrying out a phased return to inspection, starting with an interim period of visits during the autumn term. Ofsted intend to resume full inspections in January 2021, and are keeping the exact timing under review.

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have announced that they will visit local areas to help improve their special education needs and disabilities (SEND) systems following the disruption of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Ofsted and CQC will work collaboratively with local areas to understand the experiences of children and young people with SEND and their families during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, and to support local areas to prioritise and meet their needs.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education at the start of the autumn term

The guidance for the full opening of schools, early years and colleges at the start of the autumn can be found here:

Full opening of schools from the start of the autumn term

Covid Summer Food Fund

Please read the guidance in full before ordering to ensure your orders are processed correctly.

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

Please see the latest guidance and video on handwashing from the NHS.

9th July 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Updated guidance for further education colleges and providers

We have updated our guidance on what further education colleges and providers will need to do from the start of the 2020 autumn term and confirmed that they can now make arrangements for learners aged 19+ to return to onsite delivery from 13 July, where this can be safely accommodated.

You should prioritise post-19 learners for return onsite as soon as is practical in the following priority order:

Learners who have had their assessments delayed and were due to complete level 2 or 3 programmes between March and July 2020
Apprentices
Learners participating in level 1 and below learning

Community education provision

Investment in traineeships and apprenticeships for young people announcedYou should assess how many learners can safely attend while observing the summer term protective measures requirements.

Investment in traineeships and apprenticeships for young people announced

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced that businesses will receive a cash payment for every apprentice they hire, with a payment of £2,000 per apprentice under the age of 25, and a payment of £1,500 for apprentices aged 25 and over. These payments are in addition to, where appropriate, the existing £1,000 payment made to employers who employ a 16 to 18 year old apprentice or an apprentice aged under 24 with an Education, Health and Care Plan.

Businesses offering new traineeships in England will also receive a £1,000 bonus per new trainee, with triple the number of places available.

Over £100 million is also to be invested in providing more places on level 2 and 3 courses to help 18 to 19 year olds leaving school or college to find work.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson to address all school leavers

On Friday 10 July at 10am, the Prime Minister will be giving an address to all school leavers which will be broadcast on Facebook and YouTube.

Please encourage your final year students to tune in!

A recording of the address will be available to view on both platforms.

Plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education at the start of the autumn term

The guidance for the full opening of schools, early years and colleges at the start of the autumn can be found here:

Covid Summer Food Fund

Please read the guidance in full before ordering to ensure your orders are processed correctly.

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

Please see the latest guidance and video on handwashing from the NHS.

6th July 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Case studies on plans for schools opening to all children in autumn

United Learning has worked with a range of schools to publish some useful case studies on how they're planning to re-open in the autumn term.

These case studies draw on examples from head teachers as to how they will implement the Department’s guidance for the return to school in September.

The guidance for the full opening of schools, early years and colleges can be found here:

Ofsted autumn plans as schools and colleges prepare to open to all children

Ofsted has announced its plans for the autumn as schools and colleges open to all children. Routine inspections will remain suspended for the autumn term, with a plan to resume in January 2021. In the autumn term, Ofsted will be carrying out ‘visits’ to schools and colleges, not inspections. These will look at how schools and colleges are getting pupils back up to speed after so long at home and will not be graded.

PE and Sport Premium funding for schools

The Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, announced yesterday that schools in England will benefit from £320 million from the PE and Sport Premium during the academic year 2020-21. The PE and Sport Premium is designed to help children get an active start in life, supporting primary schools to improve the quality of their PE and sport provision so that pupils experience the benefits of regular exercise – from becoming healthier both mentally and physically, to improved behaviour and better academic achievement.

We have also confirmed that any PE and Sport Premium funding from the current academic year (2019-20) that schools were unable to use as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be brought forward to use in the next academic year, giving head teachers an opportunity to develop or add to their existing provision, or to make improvements that will benefit pupils joining the school in future years.

Covid Summer Food Fund

Please read the guidance in full before ordering to ensure your orders are processed correctly.

Extension to the Breakfast Clubs programme

We confirmed on Friday that the charity coordinators of the National Breakfast Club Programme, Family Action and Magic Breakfast, will work closely with schools in disadvantaged areas so that the children most in need can continue to get a healthy breakfast in July and August.

Children from more than 1,800 schools in England who are currently part of our Breakfast Clubs programme will now be offered healthy breakfasts over the summer. The extension of the Breakfast Clubs programme will help to support families on low incomes who, as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, may be finding it hard to provide healthy food for their children outside of the school term.

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

The hand and respiratory hygiene posters and other educational resources can be found here:

https://e-bug.eu

3rd July 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Ofqual consultation on 2021 exams and assessments

Yesterday, Ofqual published its consultation proposals on arrangements for GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2021. The deadline for responses to the consultation is 16 July.

Ofqual is also working with the sector to agree approaches for vocational and technical qualifications (VTQ). On 2 July Ofqual published their factors and principles shaping the operation and regulation of vocational and technical qualifications’ assessments for 2020/21, and will set out, in the coming weeks, the measures it expects awarding organisations to take.

The consultation proposal and the VTQ position paper can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ofqual-launches-consultation-on-2021-exams-and-assessments

Ofqual has also updated their guidance on Summer 2020 grades for GCSE, AS and A level, Extended Project Qualification and Advanced Extension Award in maths to reflect the autumn 2020 consultation decision outcomes.

Plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education at the start of the autumn term

Yesterday, the Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, announced our plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education at the start of the autumn term.

We published the supporting guidance yesterday that provides schools, colleges and nurseries with the details to plan for a full return. The guidance, listed below, has been developed in close consultation with sector stakeholders and medical experts from Public Health England.

The guidance for the full opening of schools from the start of the autumn term can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak

The updated guidance on actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures

The new guidance for the full opening of special schools and other specialist settings from the start of the autumn term can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-full-opening-special-schools-and-other-specialist-settings

The new guidance on what further education colleges and providers will need to do from the start of the 2020 autumn term can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-further-education-provision

The guidance for what parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges in the autumn term can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

The hand and respiratory hygiene posters and other educational resources can be found here:

https://e-bug.eu

2nd July 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education at the start of the autumn term

The Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, announced our plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education at the start of the autumn term in Parliament today.

We have published the supporting guidance that provides schools, colleges and nurseries with the details to plan for a full return. The guidance has been developed in close consultation with sector stakeholders and medical experts from Public Health England.

Nurseries and other early years providers, including childminders, have already been welcoming back children of all ages since 1 June, with a range of protective measures in place. From 20 July, restrictions on group sizes for nurseries, childminders and other early years providers will be lifted, increasing capacity for more children to return, as set out in the updated guidance.

The schools guidance sets out a range of measures to protect children and staff. This guidance applies to all mainstream schools, alternative provision, independent schools and boarding schools and sets out advice on how you can minimise contact and mixing. Separate guidance has also been published for special schools.

We have also published guidance for parents and carers on the plans for the autumn term to help reassure them about what to expect for their children.

The guidance for the full opening of schools from the start of the autumn term can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak

The updated guidance on actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures

The new guidance for the full opening of special schools and other specialist settings from the start of the autumn term can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-full-opening-special-schools-and-other-specialist-settings

The new guidance on what further education colleges and providers will need to do from the start of the 2020 autumn term can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-further-education-provision

The guidance for what parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges in the autumn term can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

The updated guidance on re-opening buildings and campuses for higher education (HE) can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-he-providers-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Collection of guidance for early years, children’s social care, schools and further education providers on GOV.UK

The Department for Education’s coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance has been grouped by subject and audience on GOV.UK to help you find the information relevant to you. In response to your feedback, future updates to guidance will also include a summary of the changes that have been made.

Guidance on what early years providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what school leaders, teachers and school staff need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what colleges, universities and other providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/further-and-higher-education-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what local authority children’s services need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-childrens-services-coronavirus-covid-19

You can sign up to alerts on GOV.UK to be notified by email when new pages are published or existing pages change. You can set the frequency at which you receive these emails and unsubscribe at any time.

https://www.gov.uk/email-signup?link=/government/organisations/department-for-education

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

The hand and respiratory hygiene posters and other educational resources can be found here:

https://e-bug.eu

1st July 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Protective measures for holiday or after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

We have published guidance for providers that run community activities, holiday clubs, after-school clubs, tuition and other out-of-school provision for children. We are aware many providers are already considering what protective measures to put in place to allow them to reopen more widely and as safely as possible during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

This new guidance will support their planning and advises on practical steps they can take to minimise the risk to children, staff and parents who attend. Providers who open should implement this new guidance from the end of summer term, when state schools in their local area have closed. Until then, while schools are open in a provider’s local area, they should follow the same protective measures as schools to limit different groups of children mixing.

We have also published guidance for parents and carers setting out what they need to know about changes to after-school clubs, holiday clubs, tuition, community activities and other out-of-school settings for children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We have included information on what clubs and activities children and young people can attend, and what new safety measures parents and carers can expect them to have in place.

The guidance for providers can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

The guidance for parents and carers can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-parents-and-carers-of-children-attending-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

Updated guidance on what parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

We have updated the guidance on what parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We have added content on summer provision, school uniform and a package of support worth £1 billion to support pupils to catch up. We have updated content on school meals and the Covid Summer Food Fund.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

Communicating with parents

We know schools are doing all they can to reassure parents of the safety measures which are in place to welcome eligible children back to school and college this term.

To support schools with this, as part of the Government’s central “Stay Alert” campaign, you are likely to see information adverts on these measures on the radio and online to reassure parents that if their child is eligible to attend school, they should return before the summer break. These messages will sit alongside wider government messaging about public transport and returning to work, which aim to reassure the public as changes to lockdown measures are made.

The leaflets and films below are for parents of children in primary and secondary. You may want to share these with your parent network to support your engagement with children and families who have questions.

The leaflets can be found here:

https://coronavirusresources.phe.gov.uk/schools-/resources/leaflets/

The film for primary school pupils can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiefaCf2fvY

The film for secondary school pupils can be found here:

https://youtu.be/foQuuIWonl8

Iceland and the Company Group vouchers now available through the free school meal national voucher scheme

Through the free school meal (FSM) national voucher scheme, you can now select eGift cards for Iceland and the Company Group alongside:

Aldi
Asda
M&S
McColl’s
Morrisons
Sainsbury’s
Tesco
Waitrose

Guidance on providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools

These eGift cards will also be available through the Covid Summer Food Fund, which will enable children who are eligible for benefits-related FSM to be supported over the summer holiday period. All vouchers for the summer holidays must be ordered at least one week before your school’s summer term ends.

Please read the short guidance document in full before ordering, to ensure your orders are processed correctly. The payments for the fund will be met centrally by the Department for Education.

The COVID Summer Food Fund guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-summer-food-fund

We have also updated the application form and guidance on the temporary extension of free school meals to no recourse to public funds (NRPF) groups. This is to reflect the change in annual household income threshold to £16,190 after tax.

The sample application form and guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/guidance-for-the-temporary-extension-of-free-school-meals-eligibility-to-nrpf-groups

Updated guidance for children’s social care services

We have updated the guidance for children’s social care services to clarify that all primary and most secondary legislation remains unchanged and that we have made temporary and time-limited amendments to secondary legislation. We have also added content on missing children, testing, technology initiatives and social care services for disabled children and young people and their families. We have also revised the sections on court, fostering and adoption to provide further information.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-childrens-social-care-services

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Collection of guidance for early years, children’s social care, schools and further education providers on GOV.UK

Guidance on what early years providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what school leaders, teachers and school staff need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what colleges, universities and other providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/further-and-higher-education-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what local authority children’s services need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-childrens-services-coronavirus-covid-19

https://www.gov.uk/email-signup?link=/government/organisations/department-for-education

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

The hand and respiratory hygiene posters and other educational resources can be found here:

https://e-bug.eu

30th June 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Summer holiday arrangements

The Secretary of State for Education has confirmed that we are not asking schools to open over the summer holidays, and there is no expectation that schools should open for vulnerable children and children of critical workers over this period. Teachers, support staff and school leaders deserve a break, to recharge and rest.

However, we are aware that some school leaders may be considering using their catch-up premium to provide summer school activities for their pupils. Where this is the case, you have the flexibility, discretion and autonomy to decide how you want to do this. To support schools in planning how to use the catch-up premium, the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has produced a guide, which includes advice on summer schools and a link to the Teach First toolkit specifically focuses on summer schools, for schools that choose to do this.

The EEF guide can be found here:

https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources/covid-19-support-guide-for-schools/

The Teach First toolkit can be found here:

https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/teaching-learning-toolkit/

Leicester local lockdown

The Health Secretary made a statement in the House of Commons last night announcing measures to implement a local lockdown in Leicester and the surrounding areas. The safety of children and the education workforce is of the utmost importance. Nurseries, schools and colleges in Leicester, Oadby, Birstall and Glenfield will only be open to children of critical workers and vulnerable children from Thursday 2 July. This is alongside other steps to halt the relaxation of measures locally to control the spread of the virus.

We are working with the local authorities and individual nurseries, schools and colleges to support them to follow the public health advice. These measures will be reviewed after two weeks. Education and childcare settings should continue to follow the protective measures guidance which sets out the actions they should take if there is a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in their setting.

Schools in the Leicester and Leicestershire area should continue to submit the educational setting status form via the online portal to report whether they are open and how many children and staff are in school.

Update on the educational settings status form

From today, we are automatically populating selected parts of the return from the previous day to reduce the time needed to complete it. Selected fields covering eligibility to attend, reasons for closure and free school meals will be pre-populated based on figures which you have most recently returned to us. You will still be able to update these figures as needed.

The educational settings form can be found here:

https://form.education.gov.uk/service/educational-setting-status

Coronavirus Act 2020 – Notices to temporarily remove or relax statutory requirements in education and childcare

We recognise that during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, flexibility will be needed in education and childcare settings, and for local authorities and health commissioning bodies. The Secretary of State for Education has previously issued notices, under the Coronavirus Act 2020, to temporarily remove or relax specified statutory requirements (and provisions in academy arrangements). The most recent notices were issued on 28 May 2020. The specified period in which those notices applied was from 1 June 2020 to 30 June 2020.

The Secretary of State for Education has reviewed the notices and decided to issue new notices with the same effect (applying from 1 July 2020 to 31 July 2020) to:

disapply offences for non-attendance in schools so that parents will not be penalised if their child does not attend school.
modify pupil registration requirements so that a child is not to be registered as a pupil at a school merely because education is provided for them at the school on a temporary basis for reasons connected with the coronavirus outbreak.
disapply the duty on Ofsted to undertake routine inspections of state-funded schools within prescribed intervals. Duties on other bodies to provide a statement of action and relating to the inspection of collective worship and denominational education are also disapplied.

modify the duty on local authorities and health commissioning bodies to secure or arrange the special educational and health provision specified in education, health and care (EHC) plans, so that they can discharge this duty by using ‘reasonable endeavours’.

We will continuously review whether these notices are an appropriate and proportionate action in all the circumstances relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). Further notices may be made as a result.

Children and young people’s wellbeing

We know that children and young people’s safety and mental wellbeing is a priority for schools. Now that schools have the flexibility to invite pupils in for a face-to-face meeting before the end of this term, this is a good opportunity to check-in on their wellbeing. We have a developed a ‘Focussing on Wellbeing’ leaflet with advice and access to resources to help those teachers who want to have a wellbeing ‘check-in’ with their pupils.

The Focussing on Wellbeing leaflet can be found here:

https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/campaigns/40-school-zone/resources/5122

As children return to school, you may have specific concerns about their safety and wellbeing. You may find the Home Office’s new children and young people safeguarding resources helpful, which includes posters you can download and guidance to parents and carers on keeping children safe from abuse and harm.

The Home Office safeguarding resources can be found here:

https://homeoffice.brandworkz.com/BMS/albums/?album=2092&lightboxAccessID=9AD9C142-A301-458E-8BE489B20777137A

The advice to parents and carers on keeping children safe from abuse and harm can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-children-safe-from-abuse-and-harm

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Collection of guidance for early years, children’s social care, schools and further education providers on GOV.UK

Guidance on what early years providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what school leaders, teachers and school staff need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what colleges, universities and other providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/further-and-higher-education-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what local authority children’s services need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-childrens-services-coronavirus-covid-19

https://www.gov.uk/email-signup?link=/government/organisations/department-for-education

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

The hand and respiratory hygiene posters and other educational resources can be found here:

https://e-bug.eu

29th June 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Prime Minister announces school rebuilding programme

The Prime Minister has set out a transformative ten-year rebuilding programme for schools across England.

The rebuilding programme will start in 2020-21 with the first 50 projects, supported by over £1 billion in funding. Further details of the new, multi-wave ten-year construction programme will be set out at the next Spending Review.

Investment will be targeted at school buildings in the worst condition across England – including substantial investment in the North and the Midlands – as part of the Prime Minister’s plan to level up opportunity for all.

The full press release can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-transformative-school-rebuilding-programme

Updated guidance on reducing data collection requirements for early years, children’s social care, schools and further education providers

In April 2020, to help reduce the burden on early years, children’s social care, schools and further education providers, the Department for Education and its agencies cancelled or paused all but the most essential data collections, services and requests until June 2020.

We published the list on 20 April and promised to review those collections that were paused and extend the pause period if necessary.

A review of the list has now taken place, and some collections are due to restart while the pause period for those collections which remain paused has been extended to 30 September.

The full list of data collections, services and requests that will continue, restart, be cancelled, paused or deferred can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-reducing-burdens-on-educational-and-care-settings/reducing-burdens-on-educational-and-care-settings

Guidance for managing playgrounds and outdoor gyms

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published guidance for owners and operators of playgrounds and outdoor gyms, including school governing bodies and academy trusts, to enable their use from 4 July 2020 while minimising the transmission risk of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The managing playgrounds and outdoor gyms guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-managing-playgrounds-and-outdoor-gyms

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Collection of guidance for early years, children’s social care, schools and further education providers on GOV.UK

Guidance on what early years providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what school leaders, teachers and school staff need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what colleges, universities and other providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/further-and-higher-education-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what local authority children’s services need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-childrens-services-coronavirus-covid-19

https://www.gov.uk/email-signup?link=/government/organisations/department-for-education

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

The hand and respiratory hygiene posters and other educational resources can be found here:

https://e-bug.eu

24th June 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Information for schools and academies

Yesterday it was recommended that from 4 July 2020 people keep two metres away from others as a precaution or one metre when the risk can be mitigated by taking other precautions in the staying safe outside your home guidance. Over the coming weeks the Department for Education will publish further information and guidance to help schools prepare for a full return in September.

Primary schools should continue to operate in groups of no more than 15 and secondaries should not exceed 25% of year 10 and year 12 pupils in at any one time. The recent announcement will give more heads and teachers the confidence to maximise capacity within classrooms, ahead of all pupils returning from September.

Primary pupils do not and have not needed to be kept apart in the classroom, and we are encouraging primary heads to use the capacity they have and the flexibility we have given them to bring more groups of children back into school, if they can work within the protective measures.

The latest staying safe outside your home guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-safe-outside-your-home

The guidance on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings

Updated guidance on actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

We have updated the guidance for childcare services, early years settings, childminders and local authorities. This includes updating the guidance to reflect that early years providers are now able to open for all children, an update on funding and flexibility for parents, further details on managing school pick-ups and drop-offs and new information on childminder agencies and carrying out quality assurance visits.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures

Early Career Framework reforms published

We have published information on the Early Career Framework which includes:

the professional development available to early career teachers at the start of their careers, underpinned by the Early Career Framework.
how selected schools can sign up for early roll-out from autumn 2020

how the offer will help all early career teachers and schools to respond to the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The information can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-career-framework-reforms

Directed letter (update 1) – continuity of education allowance (CEA) – regulatory flexibility in response to coronavirus (COVID-19)

We have added a directed letter to the information page for service personnel and their families which includes additional information on payments and repayments.

The directed letter can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/dcyp-covid-19

Procurement Policy Note 04/20

Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 04/20 sets out information and guidance for public bodies on payment of their suppliers to ensure service continuity during and after the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. It updates and builds on provisions contained in PPN02/20. PPN 04/20 is effective from 1 July to 31 October 2020.

PPN04/20 and additional guidance to support users can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0420-recovery-and-transition-from-covid-19

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Collection of guidance for educational settings on GOV.UK

Guidance on what early years providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what school leaders, teachers and school staff need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what colleges, universities and other providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/further-and-higher-education-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what local authority children’s services need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-childrens-services-coronavirus-covid-19

https://www.gov.uk/email-signup?link=/government/organisations/department-for-education

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

The hand and respiratory hygiene posters and other educational resources can be found here:

https://e-bug.eu

23rd June 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Updated guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from coronavirus (COVID-19)

On 22 June, the Government set out a series of steps for further relaxing shielding guidance which will come into effect on 6 July and 1 August, taking into account that coronavirus (COVID-19) infection rates have decreased significantly over the last few weeks.

From 1 August, the Government will be advising that shielding will be paused. From this date, those people previously shielding are advised to adopt strict social distancing rather than full shielding measures. Children who are clinically extremely vulnerable can return to their education settings if they are eligible and in line with their peers.

Where possible children should practice frequent hand washing and social distancing. The Public Health England guidance for people who are shielding has been updated to reflect the changes.

The full guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Thousands of children to benefit from free meals and activities during summer 2020

The Government’s Holiday Activities and Food programme will support up to 50,000 disadvantaged children across 17 local authority areas and help them to stay healthy and active this summer. Ten providers were successful in their bid for the programme, and each organisation will deliver at least four weeks of free activities and healthy food during July and August 2020.

The full news story can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-of-children-to-benefit-from-free-meals-and-activities

Update on the educational settings status form

As of today, we have removed a further question from the daily return to help minimise the time needed to complete it. We have replaced the question regarding pupils or students eligible to attend across all year groups and you will now only be asked how many students or pupils are on roll in each of the priority year groups.

Over the coming days we will begin automatically populating selected parts of the return from the previous day to reduce the time to complete.

The educational settings form can be found here:

https://form-sso.education.gov.uk/service/report-coronavirus-form

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Collection of guidance for educational settings on GOV.UK

Guidance on what early years providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what school leaders, teachers and school staff need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what colleges, universities and other providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/further-and-higher-education-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what local authority children’s services need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-childrens-services-coronavirus-covid-19

https://www.gov.uk/email-signup?link=/government/organisations/department-for-education

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

The hand and respiratory hygiene posters and other educational resources can be found here:

https://e-bug.eu

22nd June 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Reminder to complete attendance register

We would like to remind educational settings of the importance of completing attendance registers following the wider opening of settings from 1 June.

The guidance on completing the attendance register during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, along with which codes to use, can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-attendance-recording-for-educational-settings

Updated guidance on the Vulnerable Children National Charities Strategic Relief Fund

With the Home Office, we have published a clarification document on the Vulnerable Children National Charities Strategic Relief Fund to answer questions raised by applicants.

The clarification document and application form can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vulnerable-children-national-charities-strategic-relief-fund

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Collection of guidance for educational settings on GOV.UK

Guidance on what early years providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what school leaders, teachers and school staff need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what colleges, universities and other providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/further-and-higher-education-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what local authority children’s services need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-childrens-services-coronavirus-covid-19

https://www.gov.uk/email-signup?link=/government/organisations/department-for-education

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

The hand and respiratory hygiene posters and other educational resources can be found here:

https://e-bug.eu

19th June 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

New catch up funding

Today, we have announced a £1 billion catch-up package to support pupils who may have fallen behind due to lost teaching time as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This package includes:

a one-off grant shared across state funded primary and secondary schools over the 2020/21 academic year to support pupils, recognising that all young people have lost time in education as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, regardless of their income or background.

a National Tutoring Programme to increase access to high-quality tuition for the most disadvantaged young people over the 2020/21 academic year.

Further information on the coronavirus (COVID-19) catch up support package can be found here:The Education Endowment Foundation has also published a guide to help school leaders and staff decide how to use this funding to best support their pupils and their outcomes.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/billion-pound-covid-catch-up-plan-to-tackle-impact-of-lost-teaching-time

The Education Endowment Fund guide for schools can be found here:

https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources/covid-19-support-guide-for-schools/

Updated guidance for parents and carers on educational settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

We have updated our guidance for parents and carers on what they need to know about early years providers, schools, and colleges during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to align with policy announcements already made, for example, the flexibility for primary schools to welcome back additional pupils where they have the capacity to do so. We have also changed the layout of the page in response to user feedback to help parents and carers navigate to the information they need.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

Updated guidance on supporting children and young people with complex special educational needs and disability (SEND)

We have updated our guidance for educational settings supporting children and young people with complex special educational needs and disability (SEND). The update includes a new section with information for settings on the of re-admission of pupils who are clinically extremely vulnerable or with education, health and care (EHC) plans.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-send-risk-assessment-guidance

National trial of the extension of powers of the special education-al needs and disability (SEND) tribunal to continue

We have updated the guidance for local authorities, health commissioners, parents and young people on the 2-year trial to extend powers of the special educational needs and disability (SEND) tribunal.

The trial was due to end on 31 August 2020, however, given the pressures local areas are under as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we have decided to extend the trial until 31 August 2021.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extended-powers-send-tribunal-national-trial

Updated guidance for schools on reporting on pupil performance

We have updated our guidance for schools on writing statutory end of year reports for parents. This guidance has been updated to confirm that regulations have been laid to remove the requirement to report on national curriculum assessments and attendance.

The guidance for headteachers on reporting to parents on pupil performance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-reports-on-pupil-performance-guide-for-headteachers

The guidance for schools on reporting to parents at the end of key stages 1 and 2 can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/reporting-to-parents-at-the-end-of-key-stages-1-and-2

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Collection of guidance for educational settings on GOV.UK

Guidance on what early years providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what school leaders, teachers and school staff need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what colleges, universities and other providers need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/further-and-higher-education-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance on what local authority children’s services need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-childrens-services-coronavirus-covid-19

https://www.gov.uk/email-signup?link=/government/organisations/department-for-education

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

The hand and respiratory hygiene posters and other educational resources can be found here:

https://e-bug.eu

17th June 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Duchess of Cambridge to lead an online assembly on mental wellbeing among children

Tomorrow, the Duchess of Cambridge will lead an online assembly for the Oak National Academy during which she will speak about the importance of mental wellbeing among children. The theme of the Duchess’ assembly is ‘spread a little kindness’ and is based on a lesson plan which is available on the Mentally Healthy Schools platform. This platform was developed in collaboration with children’s mental health charity Place2Be and encourages children to explore ways in which they can show kindness and recognise the benefits of kindness to others.

The Mentally Healthy Schools platform can be accessed here:

https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/

The assembly will be live on the Oak National Academy website at 11am on Thursday 18 June and can be accessed here:

https://classroom.thenational.academy/assemblies/

A recording of the assembly will be available to view on the Oak National Academy website following the event.

Funding to support further education initial teacher education programme providers and trainees

We recognise the impact that coronavirus (COVID-19) is having on providers and candidates for further education initial teacher education (ITE) programmes, particularly regarding meeting the eligibility criteria for financial incentives where it has not been possible, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, to provide the required evidence of qualifications. We are therefore extending the deadline by which all prior qualifications must be in place for an applicant to be eligible for further education ITE funding in 2020-21.

Details on the bursaries and grants funding available for further education initial teacher education be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fe-funding-initial-teacher-education-ite-academic-year-2020-to-2021

Updates to safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care settings guidance

We have updated our guidance on safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). The guidance has been updated to reflect recent changes on eligibility and access to testing, clarify PPE requirements for first aid and complex care, and confirm that gudiance on cleaning non-healthcare settings applies following a suspected or confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) and not in relation to regular, routine cleaning.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care

Keeping children safe in education during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

The keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) consultation, which was suspended on 31 March 2020, has now been withdrawn to allow schools and colleges to focus their efforts on responding to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

We have published revised KCSIE guidance for schools and colleges. This guidance is for information only and will come into force on 1 September 2020:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2

Guidance for schools and colleges to support them keeping children safe, including online, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Preparing for the wider opening of schools and early years settings

Guidance on the actions for education and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June, at the earliest, can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-educational-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020

Guidance on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings

Guidance for early years providers to help them prepare to open their settings for children of all ages from 1 June can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-early-years-and-childcare-settings-from-1-june

Guidance for primary schools to help them prepare to open to Reception, year 1 and year 6 from 1 June can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-primary-schools

Guidance for secondary schools to help them prepare to offer face-to-face support to year 10 and year 12 pupils from 15 June can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-secondary-schools

Guidance for parents and carers as schools and other education settings in England open to more children and young people can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

Updated handwashing advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

The hand and respiratory hygiene posters and other educational resources can be found here:

https://e-bug.eu

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Collection of guidance for educational settings on GOV.UK

All of the Department for Education’s coronavirus guidance for educational settings can be found in one place on GOV.UK at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings

16th June 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Reminder to submit the daily online attendance return to the Department for Education

Please continue to provide information on your educational setting’s status during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The form should be completed by all educational settings, including primary and secondary schools. Your data helps us build a national picture of educational provision so that we can focus support more effectively, monitor the impact of the virus, help inform the government’s response and ensure children are safe.

The online form can be found here:

https://form.education.gov.uk/service/educational-setting-status

Updated guidance for prospective students

The Student Loans Company (SLC) has updated their guidance for prospective part-time undergraduate and postgraduate master’s students who can apply now for student finance.

The guidance for prospective students can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-for-prospective-students

Updated handwashing advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/

The hand and respiratory hygiene posters and other educational resources can be found here:

https://e-bug.eu

The information below has not changed since yesterday.

Preparing for the wider opening of schools and early years settings

Guidance on the actions for education and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June, at the earliest, can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-educational-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020

Guidance on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings

Guidance for early years providers to help them prepare to open their settings for children of all ages from 1 June can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-early-years-and-childcare-settings-from-1-june

Guidance for primary schools to help them prepare to open to Reception, year 1 and year 6 from 1 June can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-primary-schools

Guidance for secondary schools to help them prepare to offer face-to-face support to year 10 and year 12 pupils from 15 June can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-secondary-schools

Guidance for parents and carers as schools and other education settings in England open to more children and young people can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours:

8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Collection of guidance for educational settings on GOV.UK

All of the Department for Education’s coronavirus guidance for educational settings can be found in one place on GOV.UK at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings

15th June 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Primary schools to have flexibility to bring back more pupils

We have updated section 4 of our planning guide for primary schools to provide information on how primary schools can welcome back additional pupils this term, if they have capacity. The guide has also been updated to include information on inviting pupils in for face-to-face meetings before the summer holidays.

You can read the full update to section 4 of the planning guide for primary schools here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-primary-schools

Update to secondary school and further education provision from 15 June

We have updated our guidance on secondary school provision to reflect the fact that, in addition to secondary schools welcoming year 10 and year 12 pupils for some face-to-face support, where possible, schools may invite pupils in other year groups in for a meeting before the end of this term, where it would be beneficial.

Colleges and other further education settings can also invite students who are under 19 years old for a face-to-face meeting before the end of the summer term, where it would be beneficial.

Where schools and colleges are able to offer these meetings, they should ensure they can happen in line with the secondary school provision guidance or the guidance for further education and skills providers (as appropriate), and the wider protective measures guidance.

The full guidance on secondary school provision from 15 June can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-secondary-schools

The full guidance for further education and skills providers can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-further-education-provision

The guidance on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings

Safer travel guidance for passengers

From today it is the law that you must wear a face covering when travelling in England on public transport including a bus, coach, tram or train. Where travel with children is necessary, such as to an education setting, consider whether children could walk or cycle, accompanied by a responsible adult or carer, where appropriate. The law requiring passengers to wear face coverings does not apply to children under the age of 11. Face coverings should not be used by children under the age of 3, for safety.

Children, even if they are over 11, are not required to wear face coverings on school transport. School transport is that provided by local authorities, academy trusts or schools for the specific purpose of transporting children to and from their home and school.

The Department for Transport’s guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers

Guidance on planning a curriculum to teach at school and at home

Following our update last week to the case studies on remote education during the coronavirus outbreak, we have now updated our guidance to include information about planning a curriculum to teach at school and at home.

We have also published guidance around how schools are considering which subjects and topics to prioritise for face-to-face, classroom-based teaching and which are best suited to remote study.

The guidance on planning a curriculum for remote education during the coronavirus outbreak can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/planning-a-curriculum-to-teach-at-school-and-at-home

The examples of experiences and practices of teachers and school leaders can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supporting-staff-in-curriculum-planning-for-a-phased-return

Guidance on deciding what to teach in the classroom and what to teach at home can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-the-most-of-reduced-classroom-time

Updated guidance on awarding qualifications in summer 2020

In an open letter to Heads of Centre that Ofqual published on 12 June, they discuss grading for GCSEs, AS and A levels this summer, as well as what to expect for results in August and appeals. The letter also discusses their continuing work on an autumn exam series and assessments in 2021.

The letter can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awarding-qualifications-in-summer-2020

Information below hasn't changed from yesterday

Preparing for the wider opening of schools and early years settings

We have published planning guides for early years providers and school leaders to help them prepare for the wider opening of settings to more children.

Guidance for early years providers to help them prepare to open their settings for children of all ages from 1 June can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-early-years-and-childcare-settings-from-1-june

Guidance for primary schools to help them prepare to open to Reception, year 1 and year 6 from 1 June can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-primary-schools

Guidance for secondary schools to help them prepare to offer face-to-face support to year 10 and year 12 pupils from 15 June can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-secondary-schools

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

The Department for Education coronavirus helpline is available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline as follows: Phone: 0800 046 8687 Opening hours: 8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline.

Handwashing Advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.

Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools and at home:
https://e-bug.eu/

Collection of guidance for educational settings on GOV.UK

All of the Department for Education’s coronavirus guidance for educational settings can be found in one place on GOV.UK at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings

12th June 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Updated information on the educational settings status form

Thank you for completing this daily attendance return. Your data helps us build a national picture of educational provision so that we can focus support more effectively, monitor the impact of the virus, and ensure children are safe.

We have been listening to your feedback over the course of the last two weeks and will be making a number of changes in response from Monday:

fewer requests related to student or pupil absence reasons
extra guidance in the form to support completion
streamlined questions for the FE sector

a new request to inform DfE how many pupils or students are attending your educational setting in years 10 and 12, in line with Government guidance on the wider opening of settings to more pupils

Guidance on how to record attendance at this time and a link to the current online form can be found here:Over the coming days we will also begin automatically populating selected parts of the return from the previous day to reduce the time needed to complete.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-attendance-recording-for-educational-settings

Updated guidance on remote education during coronavirus

We have updated our guidance on remote education during the coronavirus outbreak to include case studies from schools that have shared their experiences of how they have adjusted the curriculum in their setting, how they have organised mixed ability pupils into smaller groups and mitigated for different levels of pupil learning during the outbreak.

Examples of experiences and practices of teachers and school leaders can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-practice-for-schools-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Apprenticeship and skills minister published article

Minister Keegan has written in FE Week about colleges and providers having the flexibility to offer more students face-to-face learning from Monday 15 June.

The article can be found here:

https://feweek.co.uk/2020/06/12/the-transition-to-our-new-normal-will-not-be-straightforward/

Information below hasn't changed from yesterday

Preparing for the wider opening of schools and early years settings

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Handwashing Advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.

Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools and at home:
https://e-bug.eu/

Collection of guidance for educational settings on GOV.UK

11th June 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

An update from the Secretary of State for Education on wider opening of education and early years settings

In a statement made yesterday in the House of Commons the Secretary of State for Education said that the Department for Education continues to follow the best scientific advice and that this cautious, phased return of education and childcare settings is the most sensible course of action to take. While we are not able to welcome all primary children back for a full month before the summer, we are working with the sector on the next steps to allow schools that have the capacity to bring back more children in smaller class sizes to do so before the summer holidays. We will provide further details in the coming days.

The statement in full can be found here:

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-06-09/debates/1FB411B2-E5C6-4E6B-A9F2-1DDBF5F5E8B1/EducationSettingsWiderOpening

Attendance in education and early years settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Thank you for completing the daily attendance return. It is essential that you continue to complete this form every day as your data helps us build a national picture of educational provision so that we can focus support more effectively and monitor the impact of the virus.

The online form can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-attendance-recording-for-educational-settings

Updated guidance on summer 2020 grades for GCSE, AS and A level

Ofqual has updated their guidance for teachers, students, parents and carers on summer 2020 grades for GCSE, AS and A level, Extended Project Qualification and Advanced Extension Award in mathematics.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awarding-qualifications-in-summer-2020

Informing the Department for Education of the death of a colleague across children’s services

We are asking employers and providers to tell the Department for Education if a carer or colleague across children’s services has died. There is no legal duty on employers and providers to submit this information to the department, however this information will help to make sure the appropriate steps can be taken following the death of a colleague.

To notify the department of a death, please email:

CSCcovid.NOTIFICATIONS@education.gov.uk

Applications for the college collaboration fund have now re-opened

Applications for the college collaboration fund (CCF) have now re-opened. This national programme enables colleges to collaborate and share good practice and expertise to address common quality improvement priorities. We have updated our guidance on how to apply for this funding.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/college-collaboration-fund-ccf

Information below hasn't changed from yesterday

Preparing for the wider opening of schools and early years settings

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Handwashing Advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.

Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools and at home:
https://e-bug.eu/

Collection of guidance for educational settings on GOV.UK

10th June 2020

We have updated our Safeguarding Policy. The updated policy can be found here

9th June 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Teaching about mental wellbeing

Following the Government’s announcement on Sunday about additional mental health support for pupils and teachers, we have published a training module that supports the physical health and mental wellbeing section of the statutory relationships, sex and health education curriculum. This is the first of a series of 14 modules to support schools to implement the new curriculum.

We have developed this mental wellbeing teacher training module to help subject leads and teachers understand what they should teach, as well as improving their confidence in delivering mental wellbeing as part of the new curriculum.

The new curriculum becomes statutory in September 2020, but the content in this module may be useful for teachers who are currently working with pupils, either face-to-face or remotely, to support them to maintain good mental health and address issues before they escalate.

Further information on this training module can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/teaching-about-mental-wellbeing

Study launched to monitor prevalence of coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Government has today launched a new voluntary study to assess and monitor the prevalence of coronavirus (COVID-19) among pre-school, primary and secondary school pupils and teachers.

The initial phase will collect data from up to 100 schools across England, with results available over the summer. We are working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care to identify suitable schools that may wish to be part of the initial phase of the study.

Participation from schools is on a voluntary basis, and all parents and guardians will be asked to provide informed consent prior to testing.

Further information on this study can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/study-launched-to-monitor-prevalence-of-covid-19-in-schools

EdTech Demonstrator Programme launched to help schools and colleges provide education remotely

We have launched the EdTech Demonstrator programme. This is a network of schools and colleges funded to provide peer-to-peer support on making the best use of technology to support remote education.

EdTech Demonstrators are schools and colleges across the country that exemplify excellence in their use of technology. These establishments will provide training through webinars and recorded content, as well as direct and bespoke support for the schools and colleges that need it most. This includes training on how to use digital education platforms effectively (such as Google G Suite for Education, Microsoft Office 365, etc.) to support pupil’s education and to communicate effectively with the school community. It will also cover related content on digital safeguarding, supporting pupil and teacher wellbeing remotely and using technology to help support the needs of students with special educational needs and disability (SEND). Support can be tailored to the needs of your school or college and will be based on your start point, confidence in technology practices and the time available to senior leaders to engage in this continued professional development offer.

The programme is free to all state-funded schools and colleges across England. Those new to the use of digital education platforms or in receipt of devices from DfE, are particularly encouraged to engage in this programme.

You can find out more about the programme and register your interest in receiving free support here:

https://edtech-demonstrator.lgfl.net/

Guidance on safeguarding and remote education can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-and-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Funding available for set-up and training on digital education platforms

Funding is available to access expert technical support to get set-up on either Google’s G Suite for Education or Microsoft’s Office 365 Education.

Digital education platforms can help schools to:

assign and assess work, providing feedback remotely
communicate with staff, pupils and parents, using written word, voice and video
facilitate collaboration between groups of pupils and teachers

open up opportunities to broadcast assemblies and lessons to pupils

Schools and academy trusts can apply for funding through The Key:

https://covid19.thekeysupport.com/covid-19/deliver-remote-learning/make-tech-work-you/digital-education-platform-hub/

Information below hasn't changed from yesterday

Preparing for the wider opening of schools and early years settings

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Handwashing Advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.

Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools and at home:
https://e-bug.eu/

Collection of guidance for educational settings on GOV.UK

4th June 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Guidance on year 11 transition funding for alternative provision schools and colleges

We have published guidance that sets outs the financial support available to alternative provision (AP) schools and colleges to support current year 11 students into post-16 education. The funding will help schools and colleges pay for tailored support to help students stay in education or training.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/alternative-provision-year-11-transition-funding

Updated guidance on the actions for schools during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

We have updated our guidance on the actions for schools during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to include additional information on the NHS Test and Trace programme, the necessity to prioritise certain year groups during the wider re-opening of schools and travelling to and from school.

We have also added new information on the provision of education in boarding schools, managing boarding houses with the return of more pupils and managing cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) within these settings.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-school-closures

Guidance for higher education providers on re-opening buildings and campuses

We have published guidance for higher education providers in England on when and how to re-open their campuses and buildings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reopening-buildings-and-campuses

Updated advice for tier 2, 4 and 5 visa sponsors of students or employees

The Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration has updated their guidance for tier 2, 4 and 5 visa sponsors in the UK who are supporting those affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Scanned documents can now be submitted as evidence due to the exceptional circumstances of coronavirus (COVID-19). These arrangements will apply until 30 June, when they will be reviewed.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-tier-2-4-and-5-sponsors

Information below hasn't changed from yesterday

Preparing for the wider opening of schools and early years settings

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Handwashing Advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.

Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools and at home:
https://e-bug.eu/

Collection of guidance for educational settings on GOV.UK

3rd June 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Updated guidance on the actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

We have updated our guidance on the actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to include additional information on the early years entitlements funding and infection prevention and control. We have also added new information on the use of community centres or places of worship as premises for providers on the early years register, before and after school clubs, attendance and information on safeguarding and welfare.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures

Updated guidance on providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus outbreak

We have updated our guidance on providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to include information on which apprentices should be prioritised for face-to-face training from 15 June, and details of the flexibility that enables apprentices to take end-point assessment ahead of receiving their calculated functional skills qualification results.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-apprenticeship-programme-response

Updated guidance on what parents and carers need to know about education settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

We have updated our guidance on what parents and carers need to know about schools and other education settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to include information on the curriculum, after school activities, repeating a year for pupils, transport and keeping children safe online. We have also amended information on whether it is compulsory to send pupils to educational settings and education for children at home.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

Ofsted to review the online further education experience of students and apprentices during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Ofsted is carrying out an exploratory review of the quality of learners’ experiences of online education in further education and skills settings. Ofsted will carry out the review this month and will speak remotely to managers, teachers and trainers from further education colleges and skills providers who have volunteered to discuss their delivery of online teaching and learning.

The review aims to provide insights into the sector’s experiences of online education and to identify areas of strength and potential for improvement. This will support post-16 providers re-visiting their online education strategies, particularly from September 2020 onwards.

Further information can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ofsted-to-review-students-and-apprentices-online-further-education-experience

Information below hasn't changed from yesterday

Preparing for the wider opening of schools and early years settings

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Handwashing Advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.

Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools and at home:
https://e-bug.eu/

Collection of guidance for educational settings on GOV.UK

2nd June 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Updated guidance on the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework

We have updated our statutory guidance for schools and childcare providers on the early years foundation stage (EYFS) to provide clarification on the progress checks for children aged 2. During the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak we do not expect providers to undertake this check, but providers should look out for any emerging concerns about any child in their care and endeavour to provide or seek additional support if needed.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2

Regulation and inspection of early years providers as they return to providing care for all children

Ofsted has updated their guidance on the regulation and inspection of early years providers as they return to providing care for all children. During this period, Ofsted will not be doing routine inspections, which report on the quality of education that children in the EYFS receive while attending an early years or childcare provider. They will, however, continue to take action against providers and intervene when there is evidence that they are not meeting any of the other requirements that continue to apply.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ofsted-coronavirus-covid-19-rolling-update

Updated guidance for parents and carers on the wider opening of educational settings

We have updated our information for parents and carers about the wider opening of education settings to include details about opening secondary schools to years 10 and year 12 pupils from 15 June and to provide links to guidance on safer travel.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

Reminder to submit the daily online attendance return to the Department for Education

We will be publishing an instruction video shortly that will help you to complete the form.

The online form can be found here:

https://form.education.gov.uk/service/educational-setting-status

Information below hasn't changed from yesterday

Preparing for the wider opening of schools and early years settings

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Handwashing Advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.

Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools and at home:
https://e-bug.eu/

29th May 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Updated information on the educational settings status form and attendance registers

Thank you for completing this daily return. Your data helps us build a national picture of educational provision so that we can focus support more effectively, monitor the impact of the virus, and ensure children are safe. As we move into this new phase, we will be making some changes to the form from Monday to reflect that schools are opening more widely. We will be asking you to provide information including:

how many children are attending in eligible year groups
numbers of vulnerable children and children of critical workers attending
numbers of staff attending

It is essential that you continue to complete this form, every day, so that we can monitor provision and any changes to the impact of the virus.

From the 1 June, schools should also resume taking their usual attendance registers. Our guidance on completing the attendance register, along with which codes to use is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-attendance-recording-for-educational-settings

Guidance for further education and skills training provision

Further education settings can invite learners aged 16-19, who have key assessments and examinations next year, back into education settings for face-to-face support from 15 June. We have published guidance that sets out considerations for preparing to open to more learners and putting in place protective measures to limit the transmission of coronavirus.

The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-further-education-provision

Coronavirus Act 2020 – Notices to temporarily remove or relax statutory requirements in education and childcare

We recognise that during the coronavirus outbreak, flexibility will be needed in education and childcare settings. Under the Coronavirus Act 2020, the Secretary of State for Education can issue notices to temporarily remove or relax statutory requirements and provisions in academy arrangements where this is an appropriate and proportionate action relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus. The Secretary of State for Education has issued four notices to:

disapply offences for non-attendance in schools during the coronavirus outbreak, so that parents will not be penalised if their child does not attend school.
modify pupil registration requirements so that a child attending a school on a temporary basis because of the coronavirus outbreak should not be registered as a pupil and should return to their usual school once it reopens.
disapply the duty on Ofsted to undertake regular inspections of state-funded schools within prescribed intervals. Duties on other bodies to provide a statement of action and relating to the inspection of collective worship and denominational education are also disapplied.
modify the duty on local authorities to secure special educational provision and on health commissioning bodies to arrange health provision in accordance with education, health and care (EHC) plans, so that they can discharge this by using their ‘reasonable endeavours’.

The notices apply from 1 June 2020 to 30 June 2020. We will continuously review whether these notices are an appropriate and proportionate action in all the circumstances relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus. Further notices may be made as a result.

Information below hasn't changed from yesterday

Preparing for the wider opening of schools and early years settings

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Handwashing Advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.

Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools and at home:
https://e-bug.eu/

Collection of guidance for educational settings on GOV.UK

28th May 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Launch of the NHS Test and Trace service

The new NHS Test and Trace service has launched today and will form a central part of the government’s coronavirus recovery strategy. Anyone who tests positive for coronavirus will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will need to share information about their recent interactions. People identified as having been in close contact with someone who has a positive test must stay at home for 14 days, even if they do not have symptoms, to stop unknowingly spreading the virus.

Further information on the NHS Test and Trace service can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-nhs-test-and-trace-service

Guidance on the NHS Test and Trace service for employers, businesses and workers can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-workplace-guidance
Guidance on how the NHS Test and Trace works can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works

Public Health England has published guidance that explains what you should do if the NHS Test and Trace service notifies you that you are a contact of a person who has tested positive for coronavirus and you do not live with that person..

The guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person

Updated guidance on isolation for residential educational settings

We have updated the guidance on isolation for residential educational settings to include updated information on the symptoms of coronavirus and the definition of a ‘household’ in a residential setting.

The guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-isolation-for-residential-educational-settings

Department for Transport travelling advice for parents and pupils

The Department for Transport has issued advice on how parents and pupils can travel to school safely as part of the #TravelSafely campaign. Resources have been developed to ensure that parents, pupils and staff have the information they need to stay safe on the public transport network. This includes information developed in collaboration with respected partners on how to cycle and walk safely, where possible.

Resources can be found here:
https://extranet.dft.gov.uk/safer-transport-campaign/schools/

Preparing for the wider opening of schools and early years settings

Department for Education coronavirus helpline

Handwashing Advice

It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.

Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools and at home:
https://e-bug.eu/

Collection of guidance for educational settings on GOV.UK

26th May 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Updated guidance on supporting children and young people with complex special educational needs and disability (SEND)

We have updated our guidance for educational settings managing children and young people with complex special educational needs and disability (SEND). The guidance includes new information on the recommended approaches that local authorities, educational settings and parents should follow for the return of more children and young people with complex needs or education, health and care (EHC) plans to educational settings from 1 June 2020, at the earliest.

The guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-send-risk-assessment-guidance

Preparing for the wider opening of schools and early years settings

22nd May 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Remote education during the coronavirus outbreak

We have been working with schools to develop guidance for remote education based on the current experiences and practices of teachers and school leaders.
Guidance on remote education practice for schools during the coronavirus outbreak can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-practice-for-schools-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Guidance for schools on supporting pupils’ wellbeing and providing pastoral care can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supporting-pupils-wellbeing

Updated guidance for schools on adapting teaching practice for remote education can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/adapting-teaching-practice-for-remote-education

Guidance on adapting teaching practice for remote education at a special needs secondary schools can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/adapting-teaching-practice-for-remote-education-at-a-special-needs-secondary-school

Updated guidance on safeguarding procedures when teaching remotely can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-and-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Case studies on remote education during the coronavirus outbreak

We have published additional case studies providing examples of remote education practice during the coronavirus outbreak. These case studies have been gathered by consulting with schools and academies across England and are based on the current experiences and practices of teachers and school leaders.

The case studies can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/case-studies-remote-education-practice-for-schools-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Updated poster providing guidance on hygiene in educational settings

Public Health England has published an updated poster that provides guidance on hygiene in educational settings.

The poster can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19

Guidance for schools on reporting on pupil performance

We have updated our guidance for schools on writing statutory end of year reports for parents. This guidance has been updated to support teachers to prepare annual reports for parents following the cancellation of the 2019 to 2020 national curriculum assessments and the partial closure of schools due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The guidance for headteachers on reporting to parents on pupil performance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-reports-on-pupil-performance-guide-for-headteachers

The guidance for schools on reporting to parents at the end of key stages 1 and 2 can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/reporting-to-parents-at-the-end-of-key-stages-1-and-2

Educational setting status form

From 1 June 2020 at the earliest, we are asking primary schools to welcome back children in nursery, Reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside priority groups.
At this point, schools should resume taking the attendance register. We will provide further guidance shortly on how to record attendance in the register during this time.

At the same time, we will be launching an updated educational setting status form. The updated form will ask settings to provide information about staff and pupil numbers, reasons for absence, educational provision being made for the children attending, and free school meals. Your data is a vital part of the government’s response and will be used by government to support decision making.

Thank you to the volunteers who participated in our user research and provided feedback on the educational setting status form. The current online form can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-attendance-recording-for-educational-settings

21st May 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Guidance for parents and carers on supporting their children’s education during the coronavirus outbreak

We have published information, guidance and support for parents and carers of children who are learning at home during the coronavirus outbreak.
Guidance on helping secondary school children continue their education during the coronavirus outbreak can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-secondary-school-children-continue-their-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19

We have updated our guidance on helping primary school aged children learn at home to include information on the wider opening of educational settings.

The guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-primary-school-children-continue-their-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Updated guidance on early years initial teacher training requirements

We have updated our guidance for early years initial teacher training (ITT) providers on entry requirements and the process if entrants to early years ITT are unable to demonstrate the required GCSE equivalent entry standard, as a consequence of the coronavirus outbreak.

The guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-itt-requirements-supporting-advice

University students collecting their belongings from student accommodation

We have updated our guidance for higher education providers to include information on students wishing to leave their student accommodation or return to collect their belongings in England.

The guidance on leaving or returning to collect belongings from student accommodation can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-he-providers-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak

20th May 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Celebrating Thank a Teacher Day

Today we are saying thank you to teachers, senior leaders, support staff and all those working in education settings who are making a difference to their schools and communities during the coronavirus outbreak. To mark the day, you can send a free thank you card to a colleague.

The Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, said: “Thank a Teacher Day gives us all a great opportunity to thank everyone working in education, but I especially wanted to express my respect and admiration for all staff in nurseries, schools and colleges for going above and beyond to help this country tackle coronavirus and continue to support young people.”
Free thank you cards can be found here:
https://thankateacher.co.uk/

To find out more about what the department is doing celebrate, sign up to our teacher mailing list here:
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKDFE/subscriber/new

Updated guidance on the apprenticeship programme

We have updated our guidance for apprentices, employers and training providers during the coronavirus outbreak. This update includes additional information on training and assessing apprentices in line with the government’s new safer working guidelines, calculating wages for furloughed apprentices, off-the-job training, and redundant apprentices.

The guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-apprenticeship-programme-response

Updated guidance on safeguarding in schools, colleges and other providers during the coronavirus outbreak

We have updated our guidance on safeguarding in education and childcare settings during the coronavirus outbreak as they plan for wider opening. The guidance includes advice on updating the child protection policy, designated safeguarding lead arrangements, protecting vulnerable children and mental health support for children and young people.
The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers

Reminder to submit the daily online attendance return to the Department for Education

Please continue to provide information on your educational setting’s status during the coronavirus outbreak. Your data helps us build a national picture of educational provision so that we can focus support more effectively, monitor the impact of the virus, and ensure children are safe.

The online form can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-attendance-recording-for-educational-settings

19th May 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Testing now available to anyone with symptoms of coronavirus

The government has announced that anyone with symptoms of coronavirus is now eligible to book a test, ahead of the rollout of the test and trace service. Anyone experiencing a new, continuous cough; high temperature; or a loss of, or change, in their normal sense of smell or taste (anosmia) can book a test.
A coronavirus test can be booked here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Essential workers in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland, can apply for priority testing through GOV.UK. A coronavirus test can be booked here:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test-essential-workers

Updated guidance on managing school premises during the coronavirus outbreak

We have updated our guidance on managing school premises during the coronavirus outbreak with information on preparing for the wider opening of schools, including guidance on water systems, ventilation, fire safety and cleaning.

The guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-school-premises-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak

Guidance on the wider opening of education and childcare settings

We have published guidance on our plans to open education and childcare settings to more children from 1 June, at the earliest.
Guidance on the actions for education and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June, at the earliest, can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-educational-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020

Guidance on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings

Guidance for parents and carers as schools and other education settings in England open to more children and young people can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

Department for Education coronavirus helpline – Monday 25 May Bank Holiday opening hours

The Department for Education coronavirus helpline is available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care.

Phone: 0800 046 8687

The helpline will remain open over the May Bank Holiday weekend for staff, parents and young people as follows:

10am to 4pm – Saturday, Sunday and Monday

Our standard opening hours will resume on Tuesday 26 May:
8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the helpline

18th May 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Secretary of State for Education’s statement on coronavirus

Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, spoke at the daily press conference on Saturday about the Government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak and plans for schools safely opening to more pupils.

The transcript of the speech can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/education-secretarys-statement-on-coronavirus-covid-19-16-may

Guidance on supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus outbreak

We have updated our guidance for education settings and local authorities on supporting vulnerable children and young people. This now reflects plans for more year groups to return to education settings and confirms that vulnerable children and young people remain a priority and are expected to attend if appropriate.

This guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-people

Updated guidance on the actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak

We have updated our guidance on the actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak. This includes confirmation that we are asking childcare providers to prepare for wider opening from 1 June, at the earliest, information on the provision that childminders can currently provide and when they can reopen to more children, and information for parents on the temporary changes to the 30 hours free early education entitlements.

The guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures

Guidance on awarding qualifications in summer 2020

Ofqual has published additional information for heads of centre, heads of department and teachers on objectivity in grading and ranking when awarding grades for GCSE, AS and A levels in summer 2020.

The guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awarding-qualifications-in-summer-2020

Updated guidance on providing free school meals during the coronavirus outbreak

We have updated our guidance on the provision of free school meals during the coronavirus outbreak to reflect the plans for the wider opening of schools from 1 June, at the earliest.

The guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance

15th May 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Preparing for wider opening of schools: a planning guide for primary schools

We have published a planning guide for primary school leaders to help them open their schools to more pupils from week commencing 1 June. The guide has been designed by school leaders for school leaders. It is intended to be a starting point from which those responsible for mainstream primary schools can develop their plans for wider opening to include all pupils in Reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside the children of critical workers and vulnerable children. This planning guide builds on the recently published planning framework.

The planning guide for primary schools can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june

The initial planning framework for schools in England can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-educational-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020

New guidance on safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care

We have published new guidance on preventing and controlling infection, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), in education, childcare and children’s social care settings during the coronavirus outbreak. This guidance is for all staff in education, childcare and children’s social care settings, young people and parents. This guidance explains the principles of infection prevention and control to enable safe working during the coronavirus outbreak including advice on minimising contact, changes to work practices, hand and respiratory hygiene, increased cleaning of the environment and when you might need to use PPE.

The guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care

Updated guidance on the actions for further education colleges and providers during the coronavirus outbreak

We have updated our guidance on the actions for further education colleges and providers during the coronavirus outbreak. This update provides further information to plan for wider opening, including what to consider and the steps to take when planning increased attendance. We have also updated the information on safeguarding and mental health support.

The guidance can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-further-education-provision