Devasted that Luljeta Nuzi has died after a long fight with cancer. An incredible, dynamic, fierce woman whose optimism and passion for equality for all, in education, as women, as members of refugee and global majority communities will remain an inspiration for those who met her. I first met Luljeta in 2009 when she came […]
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Modern Languages
Royal Veterinary College Opportunities
Royal Veterinary College Summer Schools
Applications for the Royal Veterinary College 2021 Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12 Sutton Trust Summer Schools are now open!
The RVC summer schools give young people a real taster of what life is like as a student at the RVC. As well as taking part in online lectures, practical demonstrations and Q&A with world-leading researchers, they aim for every student to come to campus for a hands-on experiences in animal hospitals, Clinical Skills Centre, labs or farm. Students get the chance to meet current RVC students, other young people with a passion for animals and professionals working in a range of animal science careers. Work together to solve veterinary case studies, reflect on their career goals and how to achieve them and enjoy student social activities!
Last year’s participants said:
“It was a wonderful exciting experience, I felt one step closer to achieving my goals in pursuing Veterinary Medicine.”
“The staff and ambassadors were really friendly and welcoming. The information that I was provided about university was useful and helped my understanding. The activities were interesting and the social activities were fun. I couldn’t have had a better virtual experience.”
To participate in any of their summer schools, young people must attend a state school and meet a number of other Widening Participation eligibility criteria such as being the first in the family to go to university, being eligible for Free School Meals, or living in an area with low progression rates to higher education.
This Summer the Royal Veterinary College launched a brand new free online programme to support young people from under-represented backgrounds to reach their goals of studying and working with animals. Members have access to exclusive support, advice and monthly events about animal careers, going to university, and of course learning from the RVC’s student and animal experts! The next online event is due to take place on February 9th 5.30-6.30pm.
To join the Animal Academy students must be aged 13 or above, and attend a state school in the UK. They will also need to meet some additional criteria such as being the first in the family to go to university, being eligible for Free School Meals, or living in an area with low progression rates to higher education. They can find out more and apply to be part of the Animal Academy here!
Updated Out-of-school settings guidance
The Department for Education out-of-school settings guidance has now been updated to provide more information on the position during the national lockdown.
The headlines are:
- For the duration of the national lockdown, out-of-school settings should only offer face-to-face provision for:
- children of critical workers, where it is reasonably necessary to support their parents or carers to work, seek work, attend a medical appointment, or undertake education or training
- vulnerable children and young people
- There is a list available outlining Children of critical workers and vulnerable children who can access schools or educational settings.
- Realistically, we know that the small numbers of children that are eligible to attend settings for face-to-face provision will mean that many out-of-school settings will likely need to move to online provision for the duration of the national lockdown.
- However, providers who offer face-to-face provision for the eligible children during the national lockdown should continue to follow the protective measures as outlined in our guidance. These are largely consistent with what you have already been doing, but given that there is likely to be fewer numbers of children in settings if they do choose to open, we have made it permissive for one member of staff to supervise up to two, small consistent groups of children if this is necessary.
The updated guidance documents are available at the usual links here: Protective measures for holiday and after-school clubs, and other out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) & Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
| Anne-Marie Mongan | Policy Adviser |Out-of-school Settings, Wraparound, and Integration UnitEmail: anne-marie.mongan@education.gov.ukgov.uk | Twitter | Facebook Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street, SW1P 3BT |
COVID-19 Update: Out-of-school settings in Tier 4
The government announced on Saturday December 19, that London and some areas of the south east and the East of England have moved into Local Restriction Tier 4 (Stay at Home).
The central local restriction tiers guidance has been updated to reflect what this means for childcare / supervised activities for children (i.e. out-of-school settings) in Tier 4.
Registered wraparound childcare and supervised activities for children, such as out-of-school settings, should only be accessed where the provision is necessary:
- to allow parents / carers to work, seek work, undertake education or training, or attend a medical appointment;
- for the purposes of respite care; or
- where the provision is being used by home educating parents as part of their existing arrangements for their child to receive a suitable full-time education.
The out-of-school settings guidance has been updated to reflect this position in more detail.
January Return
There was also an announcement about mass testing of secondary school students during the first week of term in January. Guidance on what this means for education and childcare settings, including out-of-school settings, was published on Friday December 18: Schools and childcare settings: return in January 2021 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
To support with the mass testing effort, the government is asking that secondary school students receiving remote education from their school during the first week of term in January do not attend out-of-school settings during this time. This means that out-of-school settings and wraparound childcare can continue to operate for face-to-face provision between 4 and 11 January 2021 for children who are:
- home educated
- in early years settings
- in primary school
- in the secondary school-age cohorts eligible for full-time on-site provision – vulnerable children, children of critical workers and those in year 11 and 13
Those of you who are continuing to operate for face-to-face provision during this period should ensure that they make parents aware that their setting should only be accessed if their child is in one of the eligible groups outlined.
| Anne-Marie Mongan | Policy Adviser | Out-of-school Settings, Wraparound, and Integration Unit Email: anne-marie.mongan@education.gov.uk gov.uk | Twitter | Facebook Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street, SW1P 3BT |