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- Message from the Head of School Improvement and Early Years
- Assessment and exams
- Attendance
- Early Years
- EHCP Risk Assessment
- Health and Safety
- Public Health
- Support services for schools
- Teaching and Learning
- DfE weekly update
Dear all,
Where has the summer gone? September is almost upon us and you have all been working hard getting ready to welcome your children and young people back. This is against an ever changing national guidance. The most up-to-date DfE guidance is attached below and there are several updates from our Public Health and Health and Safety teams which I draw your attention to. In particular there is a request for maintained schools to share their revised risk assessment with Health and Safety team.
In the absence of a deputy director education I would like to remind you of the three service areas (click here EY) in education so that you can direct any correspondence appropriately.
I am planning on issuing bulletins on Thursdays weekly from now on.
I hope that the start of term goes well...
Phil Leivers
Phil.Leivers@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Key Stage 4 and Post 16 results - amended results request
Many thanks to those schools who have already submitted their KS4 and Post 16 results. We are aware that some results have now changed since results day so the Research & Assessment team would be most grateful if you could submit the updated/finalised results if you haven’t already.
Your support by providing this information has helped to gain a Local Authority picture on the performance of our City's schools especially as the DfE have no plans to publish this data for 2020.
It would be helpful if you could send a summary of results in whatever format you have available, but please try to ensure that your response covers each area of the data request, on the attached tables.
Please return to the Research and Assessment Team via email to research.assessment@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Post 16 Results Day Table
Key Stage 4 Results Day Table
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Donna Evison
Senior Analyst
Donna.evison@wolverhampton.gov.uk
01902 555296
Attendance Pathway for pupils not returning to school
Following consultations during the COVID-19 Pandemic we are aware that some parents are reluctant to send their children back to school in September. We have developed a pathway to enable schools and parents to be supported to enable the children to access their education.
During the first half term if pupils do not return to school and parents give fear of COVID-19 as the reason we have developed a pathway to support schools.
Attendance flow chart, click here (EY)
In addition to this pathway there is a short assessment and planning tool for school to use.
Impact of COVID assessment and planning, click here (EY)
The DfE have issued new Attendance Guidance dated August 2020, and an Addendum to this guidance. The main changes are in relation to COVID-19
Code X: not attending in circumstances relating to coronavirus (COVID-19) (This code is not counted as an absence in the school census)
This code is used when pupils are unable to attend school due to COVID related illness.
The Addendum states that the use of the X code is limited in its use. It should only be used up to the point of a test being undertaken. It the test is positive the code should be amended to I but not retrospectively changed. If the test is negative but the pupil is unwell the code should again be changed to I but not retrospectively changed. If a member of the household has a positive test, X can be used for the pupil for the full 14 days of quarantine.
If there is a local lockdown code X should be used for the pupils who are asked not to attend.
If a pupil is required to be in quarantine on arrival in, or return to, the UK, code X should be used in the register.
Queries can be directed to angela.bailey@wolverhampton.gov.uk
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-attendance/addendum-recording-attendance-in-relation-to-coronavirus-covid-19-during-the-2020-to-2021-academic-year
https://assets.publishing.attendanceguidancefor20-21academicyear.pdf
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Rob Hart
Head of Service Inclusion Support
Tel. Office: 01902 555256
Tel. Mobile: 07900708201
Robert.Hart@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Nursery School Funding
Supplementary funding for Maintained Nursery Schools
The Department for education has also confirmed that supplementary funding for Maintained Nursery Schools will be continued through the summer term of 2021. Longer term arrangements will be set out in the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review.
Lead Person to Contact in the LA:
Stacey Henderson
Senior Early Years Advisor
Tel: 07976750933
Stacey.henderson@wolverhampton.gov.uk
The reception year early language programme
Funding to help schools boost early language skills. The Department for Education announced on the 24 August that up to £9 million for schools to boost Reception-age children's early language skills. Schools are being encouraged to sign up for an early years ‘catch up’ programme focused on raising outcomes in speaking and language skills among young pupils whose education has been disrupted by Covid-19 at a crucial time for their development.
Every state funded school which has a Reception class will be invited to apply for this support, with priority given to schools with a high proportion of disadvantaged pupils.
The Department for Education is working with the EEF and other partners to scale up delivery of the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI). NELI is a high-quality, evidence-based, 20-week intervention designed to improve the language skills of reception age pupils. It involves scripted individual and small group language teaching sessions, delivered by trained school staff, usually teaching assistants. Several EEF trials have found that NELI improves both children’s oral language and early literacy skills. A recent trial of the programme found that children made on average three months of additional progress compared to children in the comparison group.
Participating schools will receive resources and will be able to access online training from the start of the spring term 2021.
Please use this application form to register your interest by 30 October 2020.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-catch-up-premium
Funding to help schools boost early language skills
Lead Person to Contact in the LA:
Stacey Henderson
Senior Early Years Advisor
Tel: 07976750933
Stacey.henderson@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Early Education Funding (EEF) Portal Timetable 2020/2021
Please see the Early Education Funding (click here EY) calendar for 2020/21 for all EY settings.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Gurpreet Ghateaura
Operations Support Officer
Gurpreet.ghateaura@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Covid-19 EHCP Risk Assessments:
Although, there is no expectation in the autumn term that all providers continue to complete EHCP risk assessments for all CYP, it may prove useful for some providers to continue to use risk assessments to help in identifying what additional support CYP with EHC plans need to make a successful return to full education. This may be through a bespoke multiagency approach to support the child and/or the provider.
Risk assessments may also prove useful if CYP have to self-isolate, or if a local outbreak of coronavirus requires an educational provider to return to more limited attendance, or temporarily close. Whether individual risk assessments are used to help plan for the autumn term or not, education settings should involve parents in planning for their child’s return to school from September.
All Age Travel Assistance Policy
The following changes have been made to the All Age Travel Assistance Policy, which were approved by Cabinet on 29 July 2020:
- An amendment to section 8.8 to make it clear that the Council will consider exceptional circumstances when making an assessment for charging for post 16 transport from September 2021.
- An amendment to the definition of low-income families in the glossary to ensure clarity that an individual or family is considered to be from a low-income family if they are in receipt of free school meals as opposed to a list of ‘qualifying benefits’.
Please find the amended All Age Travel Assistance Policy on the Wolverhampton Local Offer page.
Educational providers are requested offer guidance to those families who may be affected by this.
Special Educational Needs Statutory Assessment and Review Team (SENSTART).
SENSTART have welcomed new staff to the team recently:
- SEND Officers; Becky Barnsley, Natalie Mason, Angela Mitchell and Gemma Crow, whose name you may recognise as she was previously a SEND caseworker in the team,
- SEND Caseworkers; Tracey Sage, Rebecca Smith and Elisha Cope.
Please click here or here (EY) to view the list of SENSTART staff allocated to settings/schools for this academic year.
Changes to law on EHCP needs assessments and plans expires
The DfE have informed authorities that regulations that were made to provide additional flexibility over the statutory timescales for various EHC needs assessment and plan processes will expire 25 September 2020. The normal statutory timescales will apply from that date.
The DfE have published a minor update to Changes to the law on education, health and care needs assessments and plans due to coronavirus to reflect this.
FACE Responsible Body Request for EHC Needs Assessment Hub Information (here EY)
FACE form EHCP Annual Review Hub Information (here EY)
FACE Form EHC Needs Assessment Statutory Advice Providers Request Hub Form (here EY)
EHC Hub Responsible Body SENCO Request for EHC Needs Statutory Assessment September 2020 (here EY)
EHC Hub Annual Review Form September 2020 (here EY)
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Sandy Lisle
Service Manager: SEND Assessment and Planning Tel. Office: 01902 555943
Tel. Mobile: 07970 349349 Sandy.Lisle@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Urgent reminder to review and return updated risk assessments
Further to the Public Health article ‘considering staff to staff risks in schools’, please can I urge all schools to use this information as an opportunity to further review your Covid 19 Risk Assessment, having regard to the recommendations to reduce staff to staff transmission that has been provided by Howard Jobber.
Our records show that 20 community schools have re-submitted an updated RA in readiness for full opening. If you are one of those schools thank-you for your continued co-operation. For those that are yet to submit an updated assessment please could you email it to Natalie.Barrow@wolverjampton.gov.uk at your earliest opportunity.
If you require additional help and support please contact Natalie Barrow (Natalie.Barrow@wolverjampton.gov.uk).
Swimming
Swim England has published its comprehensive Return to Pools Guidance which includes a guidance document for school swimming (published 20 August 2020). This guidance series are based on the latest scientific advice and Government guidelines to help ensure the safe return to the water.
For schools that wish to;
- re-open their pool for their own students,
- re-open their pool to other off site users,
- resume swimming sessions off site,
you will be required to create your own COVID RA per activity, pool use type and ability of swimmers before resuming any of the above activities. You will also be required to share these with the H&S team. Risk assessments should also take into account guidance produced by STA and updated 13 August 2020; ‘STA covid 19 guidance in preparation for UK swim schools re-opening pools’
The Health and Safety team are able to provide additional advice, support and guidance to community schools.
First Aid during the Coronavirus Outbreak
The Health and Safety Executive has produced some further guidance covering first aid requirements in non-healthcare settings during the outbreak, which can be found here
Of note is the deadline for requalification for First Aid at Work (FAW) and Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) qualifications of 30 September 2020.
Colleagues may re-call that the HSE granted an extension of 3 months if FAW or EFAW expired on or after 16th March 2020
Please take the time to read this guidance and use it as an opportunity to:
- Review training requirements and ensure those with lapsed FAW and EFAW qualifications requalify by 30th September
- Refresh your first aid needs assessment and;
- Review your first aid risk assessment to include working during the outbreak.
As a reminder a first aid at work needs assessment can be found on Cloud W but further further help and support contact the Health and Safety team.
Therapy dogs in schools
We are aware that we have a number of schools that use 'therapy dogs' in school that are mostly owned by the Headteacher but that come into school daily.
Current published Government guidance states that it is rare for an animal to contract coronavirus, and they tend to show only mild symptoms and recover within a few days and there is no evidence that coronavirus passes between animals or that pets transmit the virus to humans.
Schools looking to continue bringing therapy dogs to school should ensure they are taking the following sensible measures to reduce the risk of infection to the children and to staff:
- Only mature and toilet trained pets should be considered and the Headteacher should ensure that a knowledgeable person is responsible for the animal. There should be a written agreement within the school detailing:
- the types of animals allowed in the school
- how to manage them and permitted behaviour whilst on the premises
- where they can go and where they cannot go when in the school
- any insurance liability of owners and handlers
- Animals should always be supervised when in contact with the children and those handling animals advised to wash their hands before and immediately after petting.
- Animals should have recommended treatments and immunisations, be regularly groomed (including claws trimmed) and checked for signs of infection.
- Bedding should be laundered regularly.
- Feeding areas should be kept clean and their food stored away from human food. Food not consumed in 20 minutes should be taken away or covered to prevent attracting pests.
If the dog is showing any signs of illness they should be taken off the premises and not allowed to return to school until satisfied the have made a full recovery.
For further advice and support contact Health and Safety.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Natalie Barrow
Health and Safety Advisor
Natalie.Barrow@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Local guidance on schools/settings reporting suspected cases of COVID-19
Please see the attached letter (click here EY), which provides schools/settings in Wolverhampton with advice and guidance on reporting suspected cases of COVID-19 to both City of Wolverhampton Council and Public Health England. The information in this letter updates and supersedes the information contained in the letter sent out by Dr Sophie Candfield of the Wolverhampton Public Health team, via the Head Teachers’ Bulletin in July 2020. The update reflects the change in national guidance that people with suspected COVID-19 should self-isolate for 10 days rather than 7 days. Please ensure that you follow the procedures outlined in the letter.
Guidance on wearing of face coverings in schools
On 26 August 2020 the Government published new guidance on the use of face coverings in educational settings. From 1 September this new advice will apply to the use of face coverings by staff and pupils in some schools, and to learners in further education.
The guidance is for secondary schools and other education institutions that teach people in Years 7 and above in England. This guidance does not currently apply to Early Years and primary settings.
As Wolverhampton is not classified as a high infection rate area, the implementation of the new guidance remains at the discretion of Head Teachers in Wolverhampton secondary phase settings.
You may wish to use the attached slides for information about the new guidance and share some or all of the slides or click here (EY) with your school community.
COVID-19 transmission – considering staff to staff risks in schools
Research published by Public Health England in August investigated incidences of COVID-19 transmission in schools during partial re-opening of schools in England during June-July 2020. Although there were very few reports of widespread infection or transmission in schools compared to other workplaces and institutions, the research did conclude that outbreaks involving staff-to-staff transmission were the most common and highlighted a need to review and improve education and infection control measures between school staff members.
In light of these findings we would ask schools to review their setting and staff risk assessments in relation to staff interactions and staff only environments to help to keep everybody safe. The PHE research and some slides summarizing findings, conclusions and local recommendations are attached or click here.
PHE School Outbreaks Analysis or click here (EY)
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Howard Jobber
Senior Public Health Specialist
Tel. Office: 01902 555928
Howard.Jobber@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Laptops
The government have recently announced that additional laptops for pupils will be made available in the event of a local lockdown. Information on the scheme can be found here.
The scheme requires schools to order devices directly. The guidance has stated that LA’s will be asked to provide a list of contacts for maintained schools before the start of the new term. At this point we have not been told exactly what information will be required however it is likely to be basic details such as name of school, name of contact, email address, telephone number etc.
To collate this information we have created a simple form for completion. The form can be found here. Please can you complete the form as soon as possible. Should any additional information be required we will contact schools directly.
If you have already completed the form as a result of receiving an email from Elaine Shepherd earlier this week you do not need to take any action.
Academy Trusts will be contacted directly by the DfE their individual’s contact details.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Bill Hague
Head of School Organisation
Tel. Office: 01902 555100
Tel. Mobile: 07771836958
Bill.Hague@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Translated Version of the Letter to Parents
(Original letter went out 25/08/20)
Because of the time frame and the number of languages in Wolverhampton Schools, the Council has used commercially bought software for translation of the letter.
A non-graphic version of the letter can be found here. https://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-and-information/guidance-for-schools-and-education-providers/return-to-school
Schools would need to direct parents to the website then
- Click the listen button at the top of the page
- Then click on the flag icons
- Then choose your preferred language
For some languages there is audio translation others written. Although we have checked the quality of the translation in some languages, we cannot guarantee quality as it software.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Paul Brown
Communications Manager
Paul.brown@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Bert Williams - School Swimming Lessons
WV Active would like to make all schools aware that due to the current situation with Covid-19, Bert Williams & Central Baths will not be accommodating school swimming lessons when the schools re-open in September.
This situation will be reviewed during the October Half Term and an update sent out to all schools following that review.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Paul Yeomans
General Manager - Bert Williams Leisure Centre
Tel. Office: 01902 552423
Tel. Mobile: 07738283775
Paul.Yeomans@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Online Training for Staff making calls to parents about pupils not returning to school: Wednesday 2September 2pm-3pm
Laura Jude, Mark Smith and Angela Bailey (Attendance) will be delivering a one hour session around Restorative calling and suggested responses to common issues raised. The training will be available online post event. To register email Mark.Smith2@wolverhampton.gov.uk and to access click below at the time of the training.
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
Wolverhampton Common Primary Baseline to identify gaps in learning
Details of the planned Wolverhampton Baseline in Reading, Maths and GPS can be found here. There is a free online meeting for a Senior Lead or Assessment Lead in Schools on Thursday 10 September 2pm-3:30pm. Please book on WVES online.
Wolverhampton Year 7 Baseline
Many secondary schools are planning to deliver a KS2 SATS paper to their year 7 with the LA supporting with gap analysis. For further details, contact Mark Smith at Mark.Smith2@wolverhampton.gov.uk There is a meeting for secondaries about this on Thursday 3 September 3:45-4:15. To access please click below at the time of the training. Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
CLL Writing Units for Year 2-6 to Support Transition
The CLL team have produced writing units with video walkthrough guides for potential writing units to support transition. Details can be found here.
Primary Reading Across the Curriculum
Given the government guidance in maintaining a broad curriculum and at the same time closing gaps in reading and vocabulary we recognise the importance of reading across the curriculum but also the workload implications of producing high quality resources. The suggestion is for schools to share curriculum map to see common areas and develop and share high quality resources to be held in shared areas to support this.
For interested schools we are asking for curriculum maps to be sent to Claire Fereday: Claire.Fereday@wolverhamton.gov.uk by 14/09/2020
Support for EAL Pupils
The CLL Team have produced 15 minute video “top ten” guides to supporting children who have not spoken English back into learning for mainstream class teachers. To access https://vimeo.com/manage/folders/2451330
ESOL for Parents
Wolverhampton Adult Education Services have won funding to run community ESOL classes for parents across the city. These can be delivered in person or online but they are looking for schools who may be interested in becoming a local hub for adults in their area. More details can be found here see attached.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Mark Smith
Citizenship Language & Learning Senior Advisor
Mark.Smith2@wolverhampton.gov.uk
1. NQT Welcome Event
The City of Wolverhampton will be hosting a virtual Welcome Event for all NQTs joining the schools in our city. It will take place on September 15 from 1:00pm – 4:15pm. The agenda will focus on welcoming NQTs, E Safety & GDPR with respect to protecting themselves as professionals working with children, a consideration of positive approaches to ensuring good mental health and well being of both children and new teachers in this current climate, and steps towards creating a positive climate for learning.
In order to join us for the meeting you should book on to the session via WVES. If you are experiencing difficulties with this, please contact Georgia Smith (georgia.smith@wolverhampton.gov.uk) and she will assist you.
2. Free Appropriate Body Support for NQTs (2020 – 2021)
The City of Wolverhampton is able to offer Appropriate Body support at no cost for the 2020-2021 academic year. To register your NQT with The City of Wolverhampton Council, please complete the attached Appointment Form (click here EY) and return it to either Jo Horlock or Georgia Smith – contact details are on the bottom of the form. You should also ‘purchase’ (no cost) the Appropriate Body SLA on WVES, to ensure that you get all newsletters and updates.
Upon registering you will be sent a Welcome letter, a NQT handbook, newsletter and other resources.
There is also an extended training programme, offering a combination of workshops, masterclasses, half day sessions and twilight drop-in networks with opportunities for NQTs or RQTs to discuss any concerns and how their children are settling back into the routines of learning.
The extended training programme will start with the NQT Welcome Event, on 15 September 2020, focusing on managing the Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs of the children as they settle back into their daily learning routines. The full agenda and further details on how to join the session will be published early next week.
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Jo Horlock
NQT and Assessment Advisor
Jo.Horlock@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Recovery Books for Children
Recovery Books for Children - Wordless picture stories launched to support children’s mental health post-pandemic
Building on his work around the Recovery Curriculum (Carpenter & Carpenter, 2020 – www.recoverycurriculum.org) Professor Barry Carpenter has accepted a commission to write two children’s books mirroring the 5 losses discussed in the Recovery Curriculum.
They will be launched on Friday 28th August (free)
Lenny and Lily or click here (EY)
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Jill Wellings
Head of Special Needs Early Years and Sensory Inclusion Service
Tel. Office: 01902 558406
Mobile 07973 865686
Jill.Wellings@wolverhampton.gov.uk
The government has announced £1 billion of funding to support children and young people to catch up. This includes a one-off universal £650 million catch-up premium for the 2020 to 2021 academic year to ensure that schools have the support they need to help all pupils make up for lost teaching time.
Although all children have had their education disrupted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, it is likely that disadvantaged and vulnerable groups will have been hardest hit. That is why, alongside the universal catch-up premium, the government is launching a £350 million National Tutoring Programme to provide additional, targeted support for those children and young people who need the most help.
The £650 million of universal catch-up premium funding will be available for all state-funded mainstream and special schools, and alternative provision.
The government will provide funding to local authorities for pupils with education, health and care (EHC) plans who are educated in independent special schools based on the number of such pupils in their area.
Full details can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-catch-up-premium?utm_source=bb447ece-e461-47b6-922d-450636500d7a&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=daily
Lead person to contact in the LA:
Laura Jude
Disadvantaged Pupils Advisory Teacher
Tel. Office: 01902 555 285
Tel. Mobile: 07973715929
Laura.Jude@wolverhampton.gov.uk
This is your weekly email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Back to school: School leaders communication pack
We have created a communications pack with materials to help you inform and reassure parents who are preparing for their children’s return to school. The pack includes leaflets, images and videos to share with parents on the importance of regular handwashing, advice on travelling to and from school and templates for you to tailor for your school.
These resources are available to download through our Dropbox and the Public Health England communications resources hub.
We will update this pack as and when more content becomes available.
Parents are encouraged to visit gov.uk/backtoschool for information and practical guidance to help them plan for their children’s return to school. This includes our latest update to the guidance for parents and carers on what they need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges in the autumn term.
Schools and further education institutions to receive delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE)
Schools and further education institutions will shortly receive a delivery of a small amount of personal protective equipment (PPE). This one-off distribution of PPE will contain clinical face masks, aprons, gloves and visors, as well as the hand sanitiser needed to put on and take off PPE. The PPE is being provided free of charge by the Department of Health and Social Care to help build resilience across the education sector to respond to any suspected cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) arising in schools and colleges. Deliveries via Royal Mail will begin on 26 August. Visors will be sent as a separate delivery from the rest of the PPE.
As set out in our guidance on safe working in education, childcare and children's social care settings, PPE is only needed if a child, young person or other learner becomes ill with coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms in school or college, and only then if a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained. The symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) home testing kits
Schools and further education institutions will shortly receive an initial supply of ten home test kits in line with the commitment we made in July. Deliveries via Royal Mail will begin on 26 August. Email notifications will be sent two days before delivery.
You should only offer a home test kit to individuals who have developed symptoms while at school or college (or to their parent or carer if the child is under 18) in the exceptional circumstance that you believe they may have barriers to accessing a test elsewhere, and that giving them a home test kit directly will therefore significantly increase the likelihood of them getting tested. This will help you to take swift action to protect students and staff in the event of a positive test result. The symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
From 1 September, if schools or further education institutions have not received their test kits by the start of their term, they should contact the Test and Trace helpdesk on 119.
Educational settings status form to resume on 1 September
From Tuesday 1 September, schools and colleges will be asked to resume completing a revised daily educational setting status form. We have reviewed your feedback from the previous form and have minimised the amount of information we will be collecting. We will be asking you to provide information on:
- number of pupils or students in attendance
- number of pupils or students with a social worker or with an education, health and care plan
- number of teacher absences
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The information you provide through the form continues to support the Government’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
We will provide further instruction and a link to the educational setting status form shortly.
Updated guidance on protective measures for holiday or after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children
We have updated our guidance on the protective measures for holiday and after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to set out the protective measures that are required from the start of the autumn term. This includes group sizes, and how providers can minimise the risk of children mixing outside of their school groups. We have also provided additional information on non-overnight domestic educational visits, and the use and cleaning of shared equipment and resources.
We have also updated our guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to align with these changes.
Data collections due to continue
To help reduce the burden on educational and care settings, the Department for Education and its agencies cancelled or paused all but the most essential data collections, services and requests in April.
We can confirm that the school workforce census, in addition to those already in place, will now continue and is due to go live on 5 November.
Register your interest in the Nuffield Early Language Intervention programme
The Department for Education is working with the Education Endowment Foundation to make online training and resources for the Nuffield Early Language Intervention available to state funded schools with a reception class. This is a high-quality, evidence-based, 20-week intervention designed to improve the language skills of reception age pupils. It involves scripted individual and small group language teaching sessions, delivered by trained school staff, usually teaching assistants.
Please register your interest using this application form by 30 October.
Further details on the reception year early language programme can be found in the guidance on the coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium.
Frequently asked questions for students receiving GCSEs, AS and A level results in summer 2020
We have published frequently asked questions for students receiving their GCSEs, AS and A levels and other qualifications in summer 2020. These cover results, appeals, the autumn examination series and university applications and clearing.
Action agreed to support students into preferred universities
The Government and the higher education sector have together agreed that all students who achieved the required grades will be offered a place at their first-choice university. The Government’s Higher Education Taskforce agreed to honour all offers across courses to students who meet their conditions this coming year wherever possible, or if maximum capacity is reached to offer an alternative course or a deferred place.
To support this commitment, the Government has lifted the cap on domestic medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and undergraduate teacher training places. Additional teaching grant funding will also be provided to increase capacity in medical, nursing, STEM and other high-cost subjects which are vital to the country’s social needs and economy.
Further information on this announcement can be found here.
The exam results helpline available until 28 August
The Exam Results Helpline, delivered by the National Careers Service, will be available until 28 August to provide additional support to students and their parents as they receive their results. Callers to the helpline will have direct access to experienced careers advisers who can advise on the different options available to them including T levels, A levels, GCSEs, BTECs, apprenticeships and other vocational options. Support will also be available on topics such as clearing, university, gap years and the autumn exam series.
Phone: 0800 100 900
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 8am to 10pm
Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline
The Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) 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 by calling:
Phone: 0800 046 8687
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.
On Monday 31 August (Bank Holiday) will operate from 10am to 4pm.
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