Coronavirus: Latest advice for schools, nurseries, children’s homes and social workers

• CYP Now has provided a breakdown of advice for professionals working in education, early years and social care:

What is the official advice for schools and early years settings?

Early years settings, schools, including special schools, and alternative education provisions in England will be able to open to more children from 1 June, new government guidelines state.

Childminders are also able to open to children from one household from 13 May, new guidance states.

Read more here: Covid-19 recovery plan - What does it mean for schools and childcare settings?

Furlough scheme

The scheme has been extended until October with further details expected on the extension in June. It is available for early years settings to use to cover "the percentage of staff wages not covered by 'free' childcare places".

Read more here: UK furlough scheme - Early years sector welcomes extension

Exam results

Exams planned for May and June, including SATs, GCSEs, AS- and A-Levels, have been cancelled along with school league tables, the government has said.

Students due to sit exams will recieve grades based on factors, including teacher assessments and mock exam grades, which will be combined with relevant data from exam regulator Ofqual to provide grades.

GCSE and A-level students will recieve their grades on 20 and 13 August respectively.

There will also be an option to sit an exam early in the next academic year for students who wish to.

Advice for social workers 

On 24 April the government made changes to legistlation relating to councils' statutory duties to vulnerable children which covers the work of social workers and children's home staff.

More here: Relaxation of statutory duties - what we know so far

PPE

Despite the deaths of at least 10 adult and children's social workers from Covid-19, social workers are advised only to use personal protective equipment (PPE) when visiting a family where one or more members has shown symptoms of Covid-19.

More here: Death of second social worker sparks fresh call for PPE

Working with care leavers

The government has advised placement providers to allow children turning 18 to stay at their current placement during the pandemic.

Care leavers are also among groups of young people eligible for government learning support including access to laptops.

More here: DfE unveils home learning support as fostered children stay away from school

Special educational needs and disabilities

On 31 May, the government relaxed legistlation relating to children with special educational needs and disabilities and the creation and implementation of education, health and care plans.

Read more here: How has the government changed SEND legislation?​​​​

Working with unaccompanied asylum seeking children (Uasc)

If a Uasc arrives in the UK displaying symptoms of Covid-19 the local authority receiving them will need to take steps to ensure that they are placed in suitable accommodation in isolation from other people in line with PHE self-isolation guidance.

The local authority where the child is recieved has legal responsibility for a child and must work with partners to provide suitable accomodation for self-isolation, government advice states.

This story was last updated at 4pm on 13 May