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 […]
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 |
National Restrictions from 5 November – Information for Out of School Activities
The purpose for the national restrictions from 5 November 2020 is to reduce the spread of the virus. The main message is to stay at home, except for specific purposes. One of the specific purposes is for education and childcare. With regards to out-of-school settings in particular, please read the following Department for Education advice and new guidance:
Out-of-school activities (including wraparound care) may continue to operate if their primary purpose is providing registered childcare, or where they are offering other childcare activities, where this is reasonably necessary to enable parents to:
- Work or search for work
- Undertake training or education
Out-of-school activities may continue to operate for the purposes of respite care, including for vulnerable children.
Out-of-school activities that are primarily used by home educating parents as part of their arrangements for their child to receive a suitable full-time education (which could include, for example, tuition centres, supplementary schools, or private tutors) may also continue to operate.
Youth support services, including 1-1 youth work and support groups, may also continue to operate.
These settings should continue to undertake risk assessments and implement the system of controls set out in the protective measures for holiday clubs and after-school clubs and other out-of-school clubs for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak guidance. Providers of youth services and activities should also refer to the National Youth Agency’s guidance for managing youth sector spaces and activities during COVID-19, where it is relevant to do so.
All other out of school activities, not being primarily used by parents for these purposes, should close for face-to-face provision but can offer remote education, for the duration of the national restrictions. (look at our guidance for ensuring that remote and online provision is run safely and effectively)
It is also important to note that some premises which settings would typically operate out of may only be able to open for certain limited purposes. You should check the latest guidance on new national restrictions from 5 November to see which businesses and venues can open and for which purposes.
Relevant guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-and-childcare-settings-new-national-restrictions-from-5-november-2020