Corona Virus/Covid-19 and out-of-school settings

Government lines for queries from parents in relation to school closures and use of out-of-school settings:

To control the spread of COVID-19, the Government has asked all schools to remain closed until further notice, except for children of key workers and vulnerable children; and, as of 23 March, every citizen has been asked to stay at home, except for one of four reasons:

o   Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible

o   One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk or cycle – alone or with members of your household

o   Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person

o   Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.

The Government is also stopping all public gatherings of more than two people, except where the gathering is a group of people who live together, or where the gathering is essential for work purposes; and in addition to this has instructed the closure of a number of businesses and venues, including but not limited to: libraries, community centres, and youth centres; indoor and outdoor leisure facilities; and places of worship (except for funerals attended by immediate families). For the full guidance on “Staying at Home and Away from Others”, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others

The implications of this latest advice means that, with the exception of key workers and those with vulnerable children, parents should therefore be keeping their children at home, to limit the chance of the virus spreading. Parents should not be considering the use of alternative or supplementary education settings for their children while this advice is in place – where this would fall foul of these new rules. Anyone found to be failing to comply with the new rules could be fined.

Further advice for parents and carers, on what the school closures means for them, can be found here at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers; and more information is to follow on how the DfE will support parents, including with home educating their children. We are currently working with the BBC and others to provide resources for children to access while at home. For parents with children under 5 years old, please see hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk.

Government lines for queries from out-of-school settings:

Out-of-school settings, like other parts of the sector, should be following Government’s new rules on “Staying at Home and Away from Others” (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others); and encouraging others, such as parents with children that would usually attend their settings, to do the same.

Supplementary schools are already demonstrating best practice!