National Restrictions from 5 November – Information for Out of School Activities

The purpose for the national restrictions from 5 November 2020 is to reduce the spread of the virus. The main message is to stay at home, except for specific purposes. One of the specific purposes is for education and childcare. With regards to out-of-school settings in particular, please read the following Department for Education advice and new guidance:

Out-of-school activities (including wraparound care) may continue to operate if their primary purpose is providing registered childcare, or where they are offering other childcare activities, where this is reasonably necessary to enable parents to:

• Work or search for work
• Undertake training or education

Out-of-school activities may continue to operate for the purposes of respite care, including for vulnerable children.

Out-of-school activities that are primarily used by home educating parents as part of their arrangements for their child to receive a suitable full-time education (which could include, for example, tuition centres, supplementary schools, or private tutors) may also continue to operate.

Youth support services, including 1-1 youth work and support groups, may also continue to operate.

These settings should continue to undertake risk assessments and implement the system of controls set out in the protective measures for holiday clubs and after-school clubs and other out-of-school clubs for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak guidance. Providers of youth services and activities should also refer to the National Youth Agency’s guidance for managing youth sector spaces and activities during COVID-19, where it is relevant to do so.

All other out of school activities, not being primarily used by parents for these purposes, should close for face-to-face provision but can offer remote education, for the duration of the national restrictions. (look at our guidance for ensuring that remote and online provision is run safely and effectively)

It is also important to note that some premises which settings would typically operate out of may only be able to open for certain limited purposes. You should check the latest guidance on new national restrictions from 5 November to see which businesses and venues can open and for which purposes.

Relevant guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-and-childcare-settings-new-national-restrictions-from-5-november-2020