2nd July 2020
Plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education at the start of the autumn term
The Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, announced our plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education at the start of the autumn term in Parliament today.
We have published the supporting guidance that provides schools, colleges and nurseries with the details to plan for a full return. The guidance has been developed in close consultation with sector stakeholders and medical experts from Public Health England.
Nurseries and other early years providers, including childminders, have already been welcoming back children of all ages since 1 June, with a range of protective measures in place. From 20 July, restrictions on group sizes for nurseries, childminders and other early years providers will be lifted, increasing capacity for more children to return, as set out in the updated guidance.
The schools guidance sets out a range of measures to protect children and staff. This guidance applies to all mainstream schools, alternative provision, independent schools and boarding schools and sets out advice on how you can minimise contact and mixing. Separate guidance has also been published for special schools.
We have also published guidance for parents and carers on the plans for the autumn term to help reassure them about what to expect for their children.
The guidance for the full opening of schools from the start of the autumn term can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak
The updated guidance on actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures
The new guidance for the full opening of special schools and other specialist settings from the start of the autumn term can be found here:
The new guidance on what further education colleges and providers will need to do from the start of the 2020 autumn term can be found here:
The guidance for what parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges in the autumn term can be found here:
The updated guidance on re-opening buildings and campuses for higher education (HE) can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-he-providers-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak