Source: Welsh Government
Date: 13, 14 July 2020

The Welsh Government has published operational guidance and learning guidance to support all pupils to return to school in September.

Read the written statement:Publication of guidance to support educational settings increase their operations from September 2020
Read the guidance: Operational guidance on learning in schools and settings from the autumn term: Keep Education Safe (COVID-19)
Back to school plans from September: coronavirus

See also on NSPCC Learning 
> Coronavirus (COVID-19) briefing: safeguarding guidance and information for schools

Source: Scottish Government
Date: 16 July 2020

The Scottish Government has published advice on physical distancing in schools. The advice indicates that no physical distancing is required between children and young people in primary and secondary schools.

Read the news story: Planning for re-opening schools safely
Read the advice: Coronavirus (COVID 19): advisory sub-group on education and children’s issues: advisory note on physical distancing in schools

See also on NSPCC Learning 
> Coronavirus (COVID-19) briefing: safeguarding guidance and information for schools

Source: NSPCC Learning
Date: 09 July 2020

NSPCC Learning has published an updated version of the factsheet on definitions and signs of child abuse. The factsheet sets out the different types of abuse and describes potential signs that a child is being abused.

Download the factsheet:Definitions and signs of child abuse

It has been announced today that whilst not returning to full inspections until after Christmas, Ofsted will be making ‘visits’ during the Autumn Term.

Ofsted says that these visits will ‘look at how leaders are managing the return to full education for their pupils, including considering ‘blended learning’ (on-site/remote education) and safeguarding’.

For more information, see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-plans-from-september-2020

Source: Barnardo’s

Date: 25 June 2020

Barnardo’s Cymru and Action for Children Cymru have released figures which show that 85% of school staff in Wales fear that their pupils’ mental health has been affected by lockdown during the coronavirus crisis. A joint briefing highlights learning from practitioners and partners in schools about: the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the mental health and well-being of children and young people; what schools think they will need in terms of training and emotional support for school staff; and support from other sectors and organisations in addressing the needs of students and their families.

Read the news story: Teachers fear for pupils’ mental health as they return to school next week
Read the briefing: Lessons from Lockdown: supporting vulnerable children and young people returning to school and to learning (PDF)

Source: Department for Education

Date:  01 July 2020

The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance for organisations or individuals in England who provide community activities, tuition, holiday clubs or after-school clubs for children during the coronavirus outbreak. This guidance is relevant for those providers which fall within the government’s definition of an out-of-school setting (OOSS), as well as those providers caring for children over the age of five and registered with Ofsted on either the compulsory or voluntary childcare register. Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings has also been published.

Read the guidance: Protective measures for out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Source: Department for Education

Date: 01 July 2020

The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance on what schools, colleges, nurseries, childminders, early years and other educational settings need to do if there’s a local lockdown during the coronavirus outbreak.

Read the guidance: Local lockdowns: guidance for education and childcare settings

Source: Department for Education

Date: 02 July 2020

The Department for Education (DfE) has published plans for schools and colleges to fully reopen to all children and young people from September 2020. The guidance applies to all schools in England including: local-authority-maintained schools; academies; free schools; alternative provision schools; pupil referral units; independent schools: and boarding schools. Separate guidance has been published for early years and for special schools.

Read the press release: Schools and colleges to reopen in full in September
Read the guidance: Guidance for full opening: schools
Guidance for special educational settings to prepare for the September return of pupils with special education needs and disability (SEND)
Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak