DFE Update - Friday 13 March 2020

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES MOVE FROM CONTAIN TO DELAY PHASE

Yesterday, the Government announced that we are moving from the Contain phase of the coronavirus action plan and into the Delay phase, in response to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Full details of each stage in the government action plan can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-action-plan

To support the delay of the spread of the virus, the Department for Health and Social Care has asked anyone who shows certain symptoms to stay at home for 7 days, regardless of whether they have travelled to affected areas.  This means people should stay at home and avoid all but essential contact with others for 7 days from the point of displaying mild symptoms, to slow the spread of infection.

The symptoms are:

• A high temperature (37.8 degrees and above)
• A new, continuous cough

You do not need to call NHS 111 to stay at home.  If your symptoms worsen during your stay at home period or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk.  If you have no Internet access, you should call NHS 111.  For a medical emergency dial 999.

Current advice remains in place:  no education or children's social care setting should close in response to a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case unless advised to do so by Public Health England.

The Chief Medical Officer has advised that the impact of closing schools on both children's education and on the workforce will be substantial, but the benefit to public health may not be.  Decisions on future advice to schools will be taken based on the latest and best scientific evidence, which at this stage suggests children are a lower risk group.

COVID-19 TRAVEL GUIDANCE FOR THE EDUCATION SECTOR

The Government has issued new travel guidance for the education sector.  This advises against all overseas education trips for children under 18.  This does not apply to domestic trips, or overseas trips which are already underway.

The full guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/covid-19-travel-guidance-for-the-education-sector

HANDWASHING ADVICE

The most important thing individuals can do to protect themselves is to wash their hands more often, for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water.  Public Health England recommends that in addition to handwashing before eating, and after coughing and sneezing, everyone should also wash hands after using toilets and travelling on public transport.

Watch this short NHS film for guidance:

https://youtu.be/bQCP7waTRWU

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene.

Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools:

https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/schools

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION CORONAVIRUS HELPLINE

The Department for Education coronavirus helpline is available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children's social care.  Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline as follows:
Phone:  0800 046 8687
Opening hours:  8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday), 10am to 4pm (Saturday to Sunday)

Please note, we are currently experiencing high volumes of calls and apologise for any wait that you may experience.  To ensure that we answer your calls as quickly as possible we have now extended our opening hours to cover weekends.

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UK PRN) available when calling the hotline.

WHERE TO FIND THE LATEST INFORMATION

Updates on COVID-19:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Guidance for educational settings:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19

Guidance for social or community care and residential settings:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-social-or-community-care-and-residential-settings-on-covid-19

Travel advice for those travelling and living overseas:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus

Educational resources:

https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/campaigns/101-coronavirus-/resources
https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/schools

Latest Department for Education information:

https://twitter.com/educationgovuk
https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk/

PLEASE KEE YOUR GIAS CONTACTS UP TO DATE

If you work in a school, please take this opportunity to review your contact information in Get Information About Schools (GIAS).

To update your record, please go to the GIAS home page, "Sign in" using your "DfE Sign-in" credentials and select GIAS from your available services here:

https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/

DFE Update - Monday 9 March 2020

EXAM PREPARATION and OFQUAL ADVICE

We recognise that students, parents, schools and colleges will be concerned about the possible impact of coronavirus on the 2020 summer exam series.  Ofqual's advice at this time is to continue to prepare for exams and other assessments as normal.

Ofqual continues to work closely with exam boards, other regulators and the Department for Education to plan for a range of scenarios, as the public would expect.  Our overriding priorities are fairness to students this summer and keeping disruption to a minimum.

It is still many weeks until exams start and we will issue updated advice if necessary, giving schools and colleges as much notice as possible.

The latest updates from Ofqual can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/updated-statement-on-coronavirus

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION CORONAVIRUS HELPLINE

The Department for Education coronavirus helpline is now available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to your education and children's social care.  Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline as follows:

Phone:  0800 046 8687
Email:  DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Opening hours:  8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UKPRN) available when calling the helpline.

WHERE TO FIND THE LATEST INFORMATION

Updates on COVID-19:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Guidance for education settings:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19

Travel advice for those travelling and living overseas:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus

Educational resources:

https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/campaigns/101-coronavirus-/resources
https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/schools

Latest Department for Education information:

https://twitter.com/educationgovuk
https://www.facebook.com/educationgovuk/

Ambitious For All Foundation Launch – Postponement

Due to the fact that some people have already informed us that they will not be attending tonight because of the Coronavirus outbreak, and in view of the escalating risk posed, particularly to those individuals in vulnerable groups, we have reluctantly decided to postpone the launch of the Ambitious For All Foundation this evening.

Please do not come. We will re-arrange the launch at an appropriate time and meanwhile, thank you all for your support and understanding.

Applemore College and the Ambitious For All Foundation