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 […]
COVID-19 UPDATE: Out-of-School Settings Can Operate at All TIERS
Under the tier system, out-of-school settings can continue to operate at all tiers (although settings in Tier 4 should not be open during the school holidays and thereafter only as detailed here) for both indoor and outdoor provision. They should be following the updated guidance and have the appropriate risk assessments in place. You can access a risk assessment template here
The COVID-19 out-of-school settings guidance has now been updated to reflect the new local restriction tiers:
Provider Guidance: 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)
Parent Guidance: Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The current national restrictions still remain in place until 2 December 2020.
‘London’s Out of School Settings Rise to the Challenge’ Webinar Series
The National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education (NRCSE) in Partnership with Young People’s Foundation, Securing Success and John Lyon’s Charity is pleased to announce a webinar series entitled ‘London’s Out of School Settings Rise to the Challenge’. Presented by and for London’s diverse out-of-school settings offering educational opportunities to children and young people in the capital, these webinars will be of interest to all those working with community organisations to supplement children’s education.
This three-part webinar series is an opportunity to hear from invited speakers and out-of-school settings about how to meet the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic and adapt to new ways of working. Each webinar will offer practical ideas, advice and best practice with a chance to ask questions.
OOSS Webinar One: Adapting to Lockdown and Restrictions
Wednesday 2nd December 2020, 11:00 – 12:00
Register FREE: https://oosswebinarone.eventbrite.co.uk
· A look at the challenges and restrictions facing OOSS and how groups have been meeting these challenges.
· Showcase presentations from out-of-school settings
· Guidance for online teaching and available training for community teachers
· Exchange with out-of-school settings
· Opportunity for partner organisations to offer practical support
OOSS Webinar Two: Safe and Effective Delivery
Thursday 3rd December 2020, 11:00 – 12:00
Register FREE: https://oosswebinartwo.eventbrite.co.uk
· A presentation from the Department for Education on the current government guidance on restrictions, protective measures and keeping children safe
· Showcase presentations from out-of-school settings
OOSS Webinar Three: ‘Looking to the Future’ and Funding
Thursday 10th December 2020, 11:00 – 12:00
Register FREE: https://oosswebinarthree.eventbrite.co.uk
· A look to the future and how to access funding and practical support
· Showcase presentations from out-of-school settings
· John Lyon’s Charity and Young People’s Foundation – funding/collaboration opportunities
We are a partnership of organisations that value the work of out-of-school settings in London. We work together to support the sector.
Your attendance and participation at the webinars would be greatly appreciated.
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
Government drops plans to regulate all out-of-school settings
The Department for Education consulted on the regulation of supplementary schools and other forms of out-of-school education over the winter of 2015/16. Many of you responded to this consultation and NRCSE responded also on your behalf.
The results of that consultation have just been published. Over 3,000 organisations and individuals responded directly through the online consultation, a further 15,000 additional responses were received via other methods including emails, letters and online petitions. Of the 3,082 responses to the full consultation document, 1,687 were from faith groups, 604 were from parents and 212 were from out-of-school settings.
We will be summarising the response here but in the meantime if you would like to download it and read through yourself follow this link – DfE consultation on out-of-school settings
There was overwhelming rejection of the proposal to regulate all settings operating 6-8 hours per week.
- Only 4.5% of people had any concerns about any out-of-school education settings they knew of and “Of those respondents who raised concerns, most expressed them in broad terms about out-of-school settings as a whole or the potential for there to be concerns about activities taking place in such settings, while others took the opportunity to express concerns about the impact of the proposed policy to regulate out-of-school settings” (consultation question 13, p6).
- Only 14.4% agreed that the definition of “intensive education” should be six to eight hours a week – the threshold at which it was proposed to register and inspect (consultation question 17, p8).
- Only 14.8% agreed that Oftsed should be able to investigate out-of-school settings that met the government threshold, with 74.6% giving an “No” (consultation question 20).
- In response to the question “What impact do you think the proposed system for registration and inspection will have on out-of-school settings?” (consultation question 21, p11), the published consultation summary states: “Many respondents felt that the impact of the proposed system would limit religious freedoms and have a disproportionately negative effect on faith groups.”
The Department for Education has set aside £3million to run a pilot scheme in 16 local authorities to check the minority of providers that they believe ‘could undermine British values’ and to provide guidance for parents to support them in making informed choices when considering out-of-school settings for their children.
Of course the choices that parents make are informed by the range of supplementary classes available to them. As local authority funding for community organisations continues to be cut, or in many cases has entirely stopped, it is becoming increasingly difficult for community organisations to afford to rent the most appropriate venues, to provide quality training and development opportunities for staff, to employ administrative support, to select diverse teaching resources, etc.
NRCSE will contact all those local authorities to encourage them to use the monies allocated to this pilot to offer training and support to supplementary schools as a positive way of helping communities to deliver specific educational activities that enhance and develop children’s cultural awareness and language skills, build their confidence and academic attainment, support them to be resilient to acts of hate, violence and discrimination.
NRCSE has developed and delivered quality assurance tools over the last 12 years, over 1,000 providers of out-of-school activities from across England have used those tools to evaluate and improve the safety and efficacy of their service. 488 organisations have gone on to obtain an NRCSE Quality Mark (previously Bronze, Silver, Gold or Special Distinction Quality Framework Award). We have unrivaled expertise in this area and have always worked closely with community organisations, supplementary schools, local authorities, the Department for Education and funders to ensure that our quality assurance tools are rigorous and developmental. If you would like to complete our 3-day Good Management course and/or obtain a NRCSE Quality Mark please tell your local authority to get in touch with us.