Schools to remain closed till March

by BeckiNo Comments
The Prime Minister has today been giving statements to the Houses of Parliament, including the plans for the reopening of schools. He has made it clear that: A 2 week plan/warning will be released when it is deemed safe for children and young people to return to schoolsThis is currently not expected to happen till March at the earliestChildren and Young People with EHCPs can still attend schools ...
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Disadvantaged pupils offered free data in bid to tackle digital divide

Disadvantaged pupils offered free data in bid to tackle digital divide

by BeckiNo Comments
The Department for Education is partnering with broadband providers to offer disadvantaged families free data to support home learning during the latest Covid-19 lockdown. Through the partnership schools are being urged to identify children without internet access to request the free data through the government’s Get Help with Technology programme. Providers involved in the programme include EE, which announced this week that it is offering disadvantaged families 20GB of free data per month. Also involved are broadband providers Three, Sky Mobile, SMARTY, Tesco Mobile and Virgin Mobile. This free data offer is available until July 2021. The move comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced this week that schools in England will close until at least February half-term as part of a fresh national lockdown to curb rates of Covid-19 infection. ...
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Plans to support vulnerable children set out as schools close amid third coronavirus lockdown

Plans to support vulnerable children set out as schools close amid third coronavirus lockdown

by BeckiNo Comments
It was announced last night that all primary and secondary schools and colleges would close for at least six weeks until February half-term to all pupils except the children of frontline workers and vulnerable children. Early years settings, including nurseries and childminders, special schools and alternative education providers will remain open to all pupils, Johnson said. The Department for Education has confirmed it will go ahead with previously announced plans to increase the number of free laptops and 4G routers made available to disadvantaged children. It said it aimed to provide one million devices by the end of the current academic year having handed out 560,000 as of December.The government-funded National Tutoring Programme, aimed at helping the most disadvantaged children impacted by the pandemic catch-up with peers, has said it will continue to provide tutoring remotely - it delivered support to 62,000 pupils last term.Meanwhile, the government has admitted that GCSE, AS and A level exams are “unlikely” to go ahead...
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Leicester City Schools

Leicester City Schools

by BeckiNo Comments
As you may well be aware, Leicester City, Leicestershire and Rutland have been placed in Tier 4 by the Government. Schools have been expected to still be open this term, with secondary schools experiencing a staggered return, whilst primary schools have been expected to reopen today or tomorrow. There has been some pressure from Unions on the Government to change this plan. Today, the Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby stated: “We all recognise the immense pressures that schools are facing, in particular around the new variant of coronavirus and the rapid rate at which it spreads.“We hold no expectations of a full scale re-opening this week and will support whatever decisions schools make. We do, of course, hope that that they will be able to continue to provide for key workers’ and vulnerable children.”Sir Peter Soulsby You can find the latest updates on school closures on the Leicestershire Live website here. ...
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A joint ministerial letter to children and young people with SEND regarding the full return to educational settings in September 2020

by BeckiNo Comments
Children & Families Minister Vicky Ford and Care Minister Helen Whately have written an open letter to children and young people with SEND, their parents, families and others who support them. The letter explains the actions that need to be taken to ensure, where possible, all pupils return to their educational settings from September, and responds to some of the concerns and questions that have been raised. Department for Education and Department of Health & Social Care Joint Ministerial LetterDownload Key messages include: The importance for those with special educational needs and disabilities to return to educational settings safely in September so that they can receive face-to-face education and supportReassures that the risk of contracting the virus in educational settings is low and outlines protective measures in place to reduce the risk even further, including the NHS Test and Trace systemMinisters expect a small number of absences from children and young people who remain under the specialist care of a health professional however, the...
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UK school closures: Impact on SEND

by BeckiNo Comments
Contact have issued a short FAQ around the UK school closures and the impact on SEND children and those with EHCPs. Key point: "Further government guidance is expected... but we understand that the government will not be compelling parents to send their children to school if they don't want to and can safely be at home." ...
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Government sets out plans to support pupils eligible for Free School Meals

by BeckiNo Comments
With the announcement that schools are to close in England from Monday 23rd March, the Government has been putting together their plans to ensure disadvantaged children and young people are not unfairly impacted. With that in mind, they have announced that families will still receive the financial support to feed children. The full article can be found here and the guidance document can be read here. Key Information: Schools will be able to provide meals or vouchers for supermarkets or local shops Schools can choose to support eligible children however they believe is most appropriate and headteachers can decide which of the available options will be best for families in their areaThis may include: food parcels and/or supermarket e-vouchers/gift vouchers Speak with your childs school directly to find out what they will be doing going forwards. ...
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School Closures/Partial Closures

by BeckiNo Comments
As COVID-19 (Corona Virus) has developed and government advice changed, several schools have announced full and partial closures. Please see below a list of these schools: Moat Community College: "From Thu 19th March year’s 7, 8 & 9 will be educated at home & will not come into school. The closure for these year groups will be until Friday 27th March, in the first instance. Year 10 &11 should attend school as normal."The City of Leicester College: "The college has made the decision to suspend lessons in college for all students from 18 March 2020 until further notice. Babington Academy: "As a result of a partial school closure Year 9 will be working from home until Friday 3rd April. To support students with this they have all been provided with a home learning project booklet.Soar Valley College: "We will need to close the school to years 8 and 9, beginning on Thursday 19th March and until further notice....
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