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Each day, CYP Now will summarise the key issues affecting the children and families sector as it tackles the effects of the pandemic. The daily update signposts children’s services practitioners and leaders to the latest developments, expert views, advice and resources.
Breakfast clubs extended over summer holidays
The Department for Education has announced that breakfast clubs will be extended to support vulnerable children over the summer holidays.
Co-ordinators of the national breakfast club programme Family Action and Magic Breakfast are liaising with schools so that families can access this provision through initiatives including parents collecting food parcels or breakfast food “drop-offs”.
New guidance for children’s social care departments
The government has published new guidance for children’s social care departments detailing plans for reopening special schools and other settings.
The guidance, also aimed at post-16 institutions and hospital settings focuses on the return to school for children with an education, health and care plan and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The government announced earlier this week that it expected to see all children return to school in September.
Lack of transport ‘threatens DfE back to school plans’
New analysis by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) suggests that keeping secondary school-aged pupils in year group “bubbles” as recommended in new government guidance for reopening schools may be “impossible” due to transport links.
It found that more than one million secondary school pupils (1 in 3) take the bus to school.
Jon Andrews, deputy head of research at the Education Policy Institute said: "Schools will be going to great lengths to minimise the risk of infection during the school day with bubbles of year groups and distancing where possible. But a significant number of pupils are likely to mix with those from other year groups and even other schools on their journey to and from school.
"While there is a very serious risk of a second pandemic wave, with local and national lockdowns, the government must also have a robust “Plan B” that will allow all pupils to work effectively at home in the autumn and winter. All children – not just the current “priority groups” should be given home access to IT, such as laptops, and additional provision for online tutoring is needed."
Senior MPs call for early years support
Senior MPs and business leaders have called on the government to provide more financial support for the early years sector.
Women’s organisation The Fawcett Society has written to Chancellor RIshi Sunak calling for urgent support for childcare providers, to ensure that childcare is available when parents are able to go back to work.
The letter is signed by the British Chambers of Commerce, the Chartered Management Institute, the Federation of Small Businesses, and the Institute of Directors. It is also signed by the chairs of the Education, Women and Equalities, and Liaison Select Committees, Robert Halfon MP, Caroline Nokes MP, and Bernard Jenkin MP, and by the former Children's Minister Tim Loughton.
#Chances4Children: Young people to influence Covid-19 policy using Instagram
Young people are now able to express their views on government policy and decision-making through a new Instagram page.
The Involved initiative, managed by the British Youth Council, and supported by the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport, will see 13- to 25-year-olds polled on key topics including the government’s Covid-19 response using the social media app’s poll and story features.
