Coronavirus Information
Update - Friday 26th June
Daily online EYFS activities have been launched for parents and carers.
A daily programme of activities linked to the EYFS, which includes themes such as gardening and wildlife; UFO day and caring for our world, is now available for parents and early years professionals on the website, eyfshome.com.
As well as timetabled daily activities led by teachers, storytellers, celebrities and artists, and breakout days in the wider community, EYFSHome also offers links to support and advice for parents. Parents and childcare providers can sign up for updates at www.eyfshome.com or on Facebook (facebook.com/eyfshome), Instagram (eyfshome) or Twitter (@eyfshome).
EYFSHome was established in March at the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic. It has since been awarded a three-month grant from the Government’s Innovate UK scheme.
Social Distancing after 4th July
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
Heatwave Guidance
The Local Government Association have issued guidance in relation to this week’s heatwave:
With Britain heading into a heatwave this week, with temperatures set to reach highs of between 30 and 34C in many places in the coming days and the Heat Alert Level being increased to Level 3 today, we are warning that the elderly and those suffering from heart and respiratory problems are most at risk. We have also promoted councils’ efforts to support those who may be struggling, as we do during any period of extreme weather. Many of these people are already being closely monitored by councils and local partners during the pandemic.
I know many councils have heatwave plans in place, which will have been updated with the latest COVID-advice, but the below resources may also be of interest to your teams this week:
- The Heatwave plan for England (this includes COVID-19 specific advice and materials including posters, leaflets and checklists)
- Public Health England’s hot weather warning to vulnerable people, including those who have been advised to shield
- Advice for health and social care professionals on supporting vulnerable people before and during a heatwave
- Advice for care home managers and staff
- Guidance for teachers and professionals on looking after children and those in early years settings during heatwaves
- The latest information from the Met Office
- Met Office guide to heat levels
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:
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
Guidance on the wider opening of education and childcare 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:
Guidance on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings can be found here:
Guidance for parents and carers as schools and other education settings in England open to more children and young people can be found here:
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
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:
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:
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: