Coronavirus daily update: Tuesday 28 July
Fiona Simpson
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
The Department for Education has issued new advice for schools and early years settings ahead of a full reopening in September.
- 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.
New guidance for schools and early years settings
The government has updated guidance for schools and early years settings as they prepare to reopen fully in September.
Schools guidance has been updated to “provide more advice on risk management and provide clarification on the age requirements related to face coverings on public transport”, the Department for Education says.
It also aims to give more advice on education, health and care plans, clarify some details of the test and trace process and provide additional advice on staff who are clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely vulnerable.
Early years guidance has been updated to reflect changes to 30 hours funding which will be based on census data from January 2020.
Children’s homes ‘struggle to secure school places’
Children’s homes providers were forced to “rigorously challenge” schools to secure a return to education for residents throughout lockdown, the Independent Children’s Home Association (ICHA) has said.
In an internal memo sent to ICHA members sharing experiences of providers throughout the lockdown, deputy chief executive of the ICHA Liz Cooper says: “Several respondents reported that some schools have not offered placements unless homes have rigorously challenged them, despite children having education, health and care plans.”
Early years sector will not face action after complaints probe
The UK’s markets and competition watchdog will not take any enforcement action against childcare providers following a probe into alleged unfair treatment of consumers during lockdown, the Competitions and Market Authority (CMA) has said.
In an open letter to the sector about the investigation, Gordon Ashworth, director of the CMA consumer group, found that “whilst the vast majority of providers were striving to reach fair arrangements with consumers in very challenging circumstances, there remained concerns that some were treating consumers unfairly.”
Ashworth advised providers to ensure compliance with consumer law but said no further action against the sector will be taken.
#Chances4Children: New scheme offers NEET young people uniformed careers taster
Young people not in education, employment and training (NEET) in Staffordshire have been offered the opportunity to take part in a new programme aimed at launching careers in the uniformed services.
The four-day programme, run by The Training Initiative, aims to give 16- to 24-year-olds a taste of life in the armed forces and other uniformed services, including fire, ambulance and prison services, police forces and the coastguard.
Find out more about CYP Now’s #Chances4Children campaign.
