8th May 2020
It’s a bank holiday – and amazingly the DfE seems to have heeded it with no emails today of changes to content…she glares at the screen waiting for them to prove her wrong and ping another one through! That said, on Wednesday they sent no less than 16 emails in 25 minutes with changes. Fortunately, most appear to be cosmetic and duplicated.
I apologise to our NI, Scotland and Wales readers that I have still not been able to work out what is happening on your areas. I did come across some changes to the Welsh system which I posted on the Edukey – Provision Map Facebook group on Thursday evening (7th May).
DFE
OVERARCHING GUIDANCE FOR EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS
ACTIONS FOR FE COLLEGES AND PROVIDERS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
7th May – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining- further-education-provision
Updated to include new sections on high needs funding for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and traineeship flexibilities. It also includes updates on functional skills flexibility in apprenticeships and acceptance of confirmation emails for qualification achievement from awarding organisations.
ACTIONS FOR HE PROVIDERS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
4th May – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-he-providers-during- the-coronavirus-outbreak
New Publication – providing guidance on student number controls, e-learning process, student recruitment and support available.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) GUIDANCE FOR CHILDREN’S SOCIAL CARE SERVICES
6th May – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance- for-childrens-social-care-services
Guidance updated to reflect the temporary changes made in the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020.
COVID-19 INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL
No changes
SUPPORTING VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
CONDUCTING A SEND RISK ASSESSMENT DURING THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
7th May – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-send-risk- assessment-guidance
Updated to reflect the SEND regulations changes. Also added information about how the guidance affects children/young people with an EHC plan and a social worker and new information on how to keep staff and pupils safe and reduce the risk of infection in educational settings.
GUIDANCE ON SPECIFIC SUBJECTS
CRITICAL WORKERS WHO CAN ACCESS SCHOOLS OR EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS
5th May – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining- educational-provision
Guidance title amended to help users find it. No change to the content.
REMOTE EDUCATION DURING CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
5th May – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19
Added link to new content on ‘Remote education practice for schools during coronavirus (COVID-19)’.
CORONAVIRUS ONLY EDUCATION RESOURCES
6th May – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online- education-resources
Updated to include information about how providers of high quality resources can be added to the list.
TRAVEL ADVICE FOR EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS
5th May – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travel- advice-for-educational-settings
Guidance updated to advise British nationals against all non-essential international travel for an indefinite period.
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
No changes
INITIAL TEACHER TRAINING (ITT) AND NEWLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS (NQTS)
No changes
OTHER THINGS TO BE AWARE OF: EDUKEY WEBINARS
SEND WEBINARS
The Edukey SEND Webinar series continues to be incredibly popular with over 7500 log ins to the live performances and more than 750 video views. If you’d like to view the videos pop along to the websites and have a look. You’ll also find answers to FAQs and if you require a pdf of the slides or a set of the links then email support@edukey.co.uk with your request.
SEND Webinars: www.provisionmap.co.uk/webinar
We are in discussion as to whether the SEND Webinars can continue, perhaps on a half termly basis, in the future.
WELLBEING WEBINARS
This week the Wellbeing webinar series began with the second session next week having an appearance from Bronn (as I had to look up who that was, not a Game of Thrones fan, the actor otherwise known as Jerome Flynn.). This too is proving popular with over 1100 tuning in.
Wellbeing Webinars: www.classcharts.com/webinar