Guidance on re-opening out-of-school settings

As of 7 July, supplementary schools should follow principles in the general guidance from the Department for Education on re-opening out-of-school settings.

In outline, these recommend that, to reduce the risk of transmission, children and young people who attend should be kept in small, consistent groups, and of no more than 15, including children and leaders. Groups should continue to operate the recommended safeguarding adult-to-child ratios which vary depending on the ages of the children in the group. Children should be assigned to a particular class or group and should then stay in those consistent groups for future sessions and avoid mixing with other groups in your setting.

Where possible, those attending should practise physical distancing in line with the Government’s current guidance. As the risk of transmission is considerably lower outdoors, providers who normally run sessions indoors should consider whether they are able to do so safely outside on their premises.

Although you will not be able to re-open and operate as you did last September there are many ways to continue running supplementary/mother-tongue classes. Throughout the summer and September we are offering training on how to run classes remotely. View previous webinars and read our guidance on remote teaching.

Many supplementary schools rose to the challenge over the summer term and we have been speaking with them to over you as many different tips and suggestions as possible. We are currently running NRCSE certified 5-week courses and planning shorter taster sessions. If you would like to find out more please book onto one of our information sessions. Check the events calendar for dates.

We have been running regular webinars on the Dept. for Education guidance including how to perform risk assessment. Further information is also given on our website. If you would like to find out more, get in touch via nrc@nrcse.org.uk