Coronavirus Information
Update - 1st December 2020
All information on this page is provided by the Department for Education to all schools in England.
Guidance for education, childcare and children’s social care settings
Our guidance was updated last week to reflect the end of national restrictions and how education, childcare and children’s social care settings should operate under the local restriction tiers.
The guidance can be accessed using the links below:
· Guidance for early years and childcare providers · Guidance for further education providers |
Local restriction tier posters
From Wednesday 2 December, England will move into local restriction tiers where different tiers of restrictions apply in different parts of the country.
The Cabinet Office has published a series of posters that provide information about the local restriction tiers.
The postcode checker can be used to find out the restrictions in your area or an area you plan to visit.
These rules will apply from 00:01 on Wednesday 2 December. Current national restrictions must be followed until this time.
Updated guidance for parents and carers
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. This update provides information on the national restrictions that came into force on 5 November, the latest advice for clinically extremely vulnerable children and young people and advice on the use of face coverings in education settings. This guidance can be shared with your parent networks.
Remote education provision
Our guidance on the new national restrictions makes it clear the government is continuing to prioritise the long term future of children and young people, and early years settings, schools, colleges and universities will remain open.
As set out in our guidance on the actions for schools during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, schools should continue to take steps to ensure children and young people who are unable to attend school due to coronavirus (COVID-19) are able to access remote education.
We have worked with sector leaders to create a package of resources designed to support remote education planning and delivery. Remote education resources, information and support for teachers and school leaders can be found in our get help with remote education guidance.
Early years foundation stage statutory (EYFS) disapplications
We have updated the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework disapplications guidance to clarify:
· when the disapplications apply in a period of local or national restriction · how requirements for staff to self-isolate is considered for disapplications · details of paediatric first aid certification requirements for providers on the general childcare register |
The date for extensions of paediatric first aid certificates is currently under review and will be confirmed shortly.
Guidance on what the new national restrictions mean for education and childcare settings
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 31 October, new national restrictions will come into force on Thursday 5 November. We have published information on what the new national restrictions mean for education and childcare settings.
This guidance provides sector specific information and covers the latest advice for clinically extremely vulnerable children, young people and staff, and advice on the use of face coverings in education settings.
Guidance on the use of face coverings in early years settings, schools and further education colleges
For education settings teaching pupils in year 6 and below, there is no change to the existing position on the use of face coverings following the announcement on the new national restrictions. It is not mandatory for staff and visitors to wear face coverings. In situations where social distancing between adults in settings is not possible (e.g. when moving around in corridors and communal areas), settings have the discretion to recommend the use of face coverings for adults on site, for both staff and visitors.
In schools where pupils in year 7 and above are educated and further education colleges, face coverings should be worn by adults and pupils when moving around the premises, outside of classrooms, such as in corridors and communal areas where social distancing cannot easily be maintained. Face coverings should also be worn by pupils in year 7 and above when travelling on dedicated school transport to secondary schools or on public transport to college.
Some individuals are exempt from wearing face coverings and we expect adults and pupils to be sensitive to those needs.
Further information on the use of face coverings in early years settings, schools and further education colleges can be found in our guidance on the new national restrictions.
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 to include the latest information on self-isolation and shielding, who needs to get a test for coronavirus (COVID-19), face coverings, assessment and exams.
Adjusting your delivery to provide remote learning.
From 22 October, schools must provide immediate access to remote learning to any pupils who can’t attend school due to coronavirus (COVID-19). This includes where a class, group or a small number of pupils need to self-isolate, or local restrictions require pupils to remain at home.
The Department for Education has put funding in place to support schools to access and set up a digital online platform through Microsoft or Google. These platforms can help to connect teachers and pupils when access to face-to-face education is disrupted. Further information on how schools can access these platforms and apply for support can be found on The Key for School Leaders.
Tailored support and training is also available to schools that need help transitioning to a virtual classroom through a network of Edtech Demonstrator schools and colleges. They provide peer-to-peer guidance to help you get the most out of your online platforms.
Further information on the support available to schools can be found in our guidance on the get help with technology programme.
Translation of guidance for parents and carers on early years providers, schools and colleges in the autumn term
We have translated our guidance for parents and carers with children in nursery, school, or college in the autumn term.
The guidance is now available in the following languages:
· Arabic · Bengali · French · Gujarati · Polish · Punjabi · Romany · Somali · Turkish · Urdu |
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:
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.
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.
Updated guidance for parents and carers
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. This update provides information on school admission appeals, entry tests for selective schools, and exams and assessments in the autumn term.
We have also provided further information on the use of face coverings in schools and links to online resources that are available to help parents, carers and children with their mental health and wellbeing.
Reception Baseline Assessment
Information about the development of an assessment for pupils in reception to measure their progress in primary schools.
In response to the 2017 primary assessment consultation, the government announced plans to introduce a statutory reception baseline assessment (RBA) in autumn 2020. Due to the challenging circumstances faced by schools in the context of the covid-19 pandemic, statutory introduction of the RBA has been postponed to Autumn 2021. Instead, schools have the opportunity to sign up to the RBA Early Adopter year.
The full guidance can be found here
Keeping Children Safe Online
Advice and guidance to help parents and carers to keep children safe online during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
New information on apps to help children stay safe online. The full guidance can be found here.
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:
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:
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.
Please see attached resource suggestions which you may find useful whilst families are being asked to practice social distancing. Also a reminder that the Local Offer has all resources for children with SEN, including advice to parents and children who are at home: