DFE update for educational setting 16th April 2020
Dear families
I hope you are all coping well with the lockdown and looking forward to our teachers being back in touch from Monday the 20th April. Below I have summarised the main points from the DFE's latest guidance and you will find many useful links in their advice. The BBC will also start broadcasting educational programmes from Monday too and I'm sure they will be a great source of support. The school office will be open again from Monday if you have any queries.
Kind regards and stay safe,
Linda-May
DFE Coronavirus advice – updated 16th April 2020
How long will schools be closed for?
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, schools, colleges and childcare providers will be closed to the majority of pupils until further notice, however settings are open to vulnerable children and those of critical workers.
Advice for families with vulnerable children:
If children can stay safely at home, they should, to limit the chance of the virus spreading. That is why the government has asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, and asked schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.
Advice for critical workers:
Children with at least one parent or carer who is critical to the coronavirus (COVID-19) response can attend school if required.
However, many families with a parent or carer working in critical sectors will be able to ensure their child is kept at home. Every child who can be safely cared for at home should be, to limit the chance of the virus spreading.
Families with children eligible for free school meals:
Headteachers can decide which of the available options will be best for families in their area. Schools can either provide food on site, arrange deliveries or order a voucher to be given to the family. Our schools are providing vouchers via email. More information on support for pupils eligible for free school meals is available.
Support for parents educating their children at home:
Available support includes:
- a list of online educational resources which have been identified by some of the country’s leading educational experts to help pupils to learn at home
- the BBC enhancing its education provision to include daily lessons, starting from 20 April 2020
For parents with children under 5 years old, who have not yet started school, the Department for Education (DfE)’s Hungry Little Minds campaign features tips and practical activities that you can do at home with children to support their early learning.
There are many simple ways to help your children learn and it does not have to feel like ‘learning’. Having everyday conversations, make-believe play, and reading together, all make a big difference to your child’s development.
You can find more ideas and content from the BBC’s Tiny Happy People campaign and the National Literacy Trust Family Zone.
Support available to keep your child safe online. Below are some useful links to help parents and carers:
- Thinkuknow (advice from the National Crime Agency to stay safe online)
- Internet matters (support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online)
- Parent info (support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online)
- LGfL (support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online)
- Net-aware (support for parents and carers from the NSPCC)
- Let’s Talk About It (support for parents and carers to keep children safe from online radicalisation)
- UK Safer Internet Centre (tips, advice, guides)
Resources to promote and support children and young people’s mental wellbeing include:
- MindEd educational resources for adults about children and young people’s mental health, which is relevant for parents and carers as well as volunteers, teachers, and other professionals working with children
- the Every Mind Matters platform which supports looking after your own and other’s mental health
- guidance on looking after wellbeing and mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
- guidance on supporting children’s wellbeing and mental health
All NHS mental health trusts are setting up 24/7 helplines, and seeking to use digital and virtual channels, to continue delivering support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.