News and Events

DfE Announcements

Case studies to support attendance in specialist settings

To maintain high levels of attendance, the Department for Education, is reminding providers of the case studies to support attendance in specialist settings which share experiences, ideas and solutions that have worked to keep their learners in attendance. They are published on the Council for Disabled Children website.

Apply for DfE funded air-conditioning units

The DfE has funded 1,000 air cleaning units for SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) settings, including SEND units in mainstream settings. These were for poorly ventilated teaching spaces and staff rooms where quick fixes to improve ventilation are not possible. On 2 January, an additional 7,000 units were announced for poorly ventilated teaching spaces in state-funded state funded schools (primary and secondary), FE colleges and early years settings. SEND settings that were not successful or did not apply in the first round in November are eligible to apply in this round. Settings can apply for funded units via the Application form for DfE-funded air cleaning units, with applications open until 9am on 17 January.

For settings those settings that are not eligible for funded units, the online marketplace provides a route to purchasing air cleaning units directly from suppliers at a suitable specification and competitive price.

Should you have any queries about the application process or eligibility criteria for a DfE-funded air cleaning unit, please see the ‘How to’ Apply for a DfE-funded air cleaning unit guidance or contact the DfE coronavirus helpline on 0800 046 8687.

Developing accessible assessments

This is a reminder that the deadline for Ofqual’s consultation on designing and developing accessible assessments closes at 11:45 pm on 24 January.

The proposed guidance will support awarding organisations to design and develop assessments that meet Ofqual’s rules on accessibility. Students with particular backgrounds, needs and disabilities are among those who stand to gain. The draft guidance includes how to:

avoid unnecessary burden on students when measuring the assessment construct use accessible
clear and plain language in producing assessments to avoid any unfair disadvantage
design and develop accessible layout use source material
context, images and colour in ways that maximise accessibility
design and develop assessments to meet reasonable adjustments required by disabled students including those using assistive technology

Further information is in this news story. Ofqual is keen to get views from a wide range of respondents, including SEND organisations, on the content and style of the proposed new guidance.

Update on Plan B and update to special schools/settings C19 guidance

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on the implementation of Plan B of the COVID-19 Response: Autumn and Winter Plan we updated the Special schools and other specialist settings: coronavirus (COVID-19 guidance). The government is clear on the critical importance of not disrupting the education of children and young people and the government will prioritise keeping all education and childcare settings open. The measures will support this.

The main updates are:

updated advice on supporting vulnerable children and young people who are self-isolating
updated advice on tracing close contacts and isolation to reflect the forthcoming change to isolation rules
updated asymptomatic testing section reflecting that you should encourage visitors to test before coming to your setting
updated to reflect the latest language on children who were previously considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable
additional section on mandatory vaccine certification
updated workforce section to reflect the latest language on adults who were previously considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable and to reflect the Government recommendation to work from home if you can

Omicron Variant

In light of the new Omicron variant, the Government updated the Special schools and other specialist settings: coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance. The main updates are:

Information for all education and childcare settings on new measures in response to the identification of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the UK. On Saturday 27 November, the Prime Minister announced new temporary measures following the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the UK. ·

Face coverings

Face coverings should be worn in communal areas in all settings by staff, visitors and students, unless they are exempt.
Students should continue to wear face coverings on public and dedicated transport, unless they are exempt.

Testing

All educational and childcare settings should continue to encourage staff and students to test twice weekly using lateral flow device (LFD) tests.

Contact tracing and isolation

The current guidance on contact tracing and isolation remains in place. In addition to these, any suspected or confirmed close contacts of the Omicron variant will be asked to isolate for 10 days regardless of vaccination status or age. You will be contacted directly and told to isolate.

Vaccination

All eligible staff and students are encouraged to take up the offer of the vaccine, including boosters. · Vaccines are our best defence against COVID-19. They help protect young people and adults, and benefit those around them. Vaccination makes people less likely to catch the virus and less likely to pass it on. · To book a vaccination, please visit: Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination – NHS (www.nhs.uk).

Changes to the red list for international travel to England

Individuals arriving in England from red list countries must follow the red list rules. Colleges will want to consider whether to go ahead with planned international educational visits at this time, recognising the risk of disruption to education resulting from the need to isolate and test on arrival back into the UK.

Guidance for specialist support

COVID-19 has impacted on services and as a result many specialist services have adjusted their delivery models during their recovery. The DfE, DHSC and NHS England have worked with education and health partners, including the Royal Colleges and the Association of Educational Psychologists, Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, Association of Colleges, the National Sensory Impairment Partnership, along with the National Network of Parent Carer Forums and us at the Council for Disabled Children, to develop this guidance, Delivery of specialist 1:1 and group interventions for children and young people in education settings, which sets out the expectations for the delivery of specialist support for children and young people.

Supported Internships for 25-year-olds

DWP have offered the support of their Jobcentre Plus network in attempting to find work placements for 25-year-olds who are unable to complete their Supported Internship due to Covid restrictions. This individualised support will be a useful resource for these learners, providing an opportunity to use the skills which they have been developing during their internship and helping in their transition to adult employment support services. If Supported Internship providers have learners who are in this position and are interested in taking up DWP’s offer of support, please contact Ian Turley ian.turley@education.gov.uk no later than 21st July stating:

name of the education/training provider
the number of interested interns at your provider
a contact email address for your provider

SEND and specialist settings - additional operational guidance: COVID-19

The Government have updated their SEND and specialist settings - additional operational guidance: COVID-19. This guidance should be read alongside the Further education COVID-19 operational guidance, which have also been updated to reflect the upcoming changes from 17 May.

The key changes within the guidance are:

Visits to Special residential settings (chapter 4) – updated to reflect that family visits should be face-to-face wherever possible.
Asymptomatic testing (chapter 11) - updated to reflect that, where appropriate, a move to a home testing model for staff, and post-16 students.
Funding (chapter 12) – updated for the new financial year.
Face coverings (System of Controls – Annex A) – updated to reflect that from 17 May face coverings will no longer be recommended for students in classrooms or communal areas, in all FE providers. Face coverings will also no longer be recommended for staff in classrooms. In all FE providers, theycontinue to recommend that face coverings should be worn by staff and visitors in situations outside of classrooms where social distancing is not possible (for example, when moving around in corridors and communal areas). The reintroduction of face coverings for students or staff, may be advised for a temporary period in response to particular local circumstances, such as variants of concern.
Confirmatory PCR tests (System of Controls – Annex A) – updated to reflect that if a confirmatory PCR test is taken within 2 days of a positive lateral flow device (LFD) test, and it is negative, it overrides the LFD test and the individual can return to the setting.

The FE Guidance also covers advice on sports, supported internships and access to work.

Please see the Guidance on the Covid-19 response Spring 2021 (Roadmap) for additional information.

Shielding Guidance and Supported Internships Returners Announcement

The Government have updated the document, Additional operational guidance for special schools, special post-16 institutions and alternative provision. The main reason to convert it into HTML format to make it more accessible and more searchable.

Supported Internships Returners

Supported interns who were not able to meet the core aim of their internship in the 2020 to 2021 academic year may continue their internship into the 2021 to 2022 academic year. It is not envisaged that all Supported Interns will need to extend their internship for a full year. Providers should determine the length of time that a learner will require based on the needs of the individual, and in agreement with the Local Authority. Please note that the legislative and funding arrangements for EHC plans do not allow for a plan to be extended beyond the age of 25. Where necessary and appropriate, priority for accessing work placements in the 2021/22 academic year should be given to Supported Interns who were enrolled on a Supported Internship in 2020/21. The FE operational guidance is being updated accordingly.

Decisions on arrangements for awarding grades in summer 2021

The Department for Education and Ofqual have published the decisions for awarding grades for GCSE, AS and A levels this summer and on awarding for a range of vocational and technical qualifications following consultations with the sector.

Evidence summary: COVID-19 - children, young people and education settings

The Government have published a report, Evidence Summary: Covid-19 - children, young people and education settings. The summary sets out the evidence relevant to, and in support of, the Government’s decision to lift restrictions on education from 8 March 2021 – focussed in particular on schools, colleges and early years settings.

Special Educational Needs and Disability

Meeting the needs of learners with learning difficulties and / or disabilities

You are here