Case studies on plans for schools opening to all children in autumn

United Learning has worked with a range of schools to publish some useful case studies on how they're planning to re-open in the autumn term.

These case studies draw on examples from head teachers as to how they will implement the Department’s guidance for the return to school in September.

The guidance for the full opening of schools, early years and colleges can be found here:

Full opening of schools from the start of the autumn term Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Full opening of special schools and other specialist settings from the start of the autumn term What further education colleges and providers will need to do from the start of the 2020 autumn term What parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges in the autumn term Re-opening buildings and campuses for higher education (HE)

Ofsted autumn plans as schools and colleges prepare to open to all children

Ofsted has announced its plans for the autumn as schools and colleges open to all children. Routine inspections will remain suspended for the autumn term, with a plan to resume in January 2021. In the autumn term, Ofsted will be carrying out ‘visits’ to schools and colleges, not inspections. These will look at how schools and colleges are getting pupils back up to speed after so long at home and will not be graded.

PE and Sport Premium funding for schools

The Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, announced yesterday that schools in England will benefit from £320 million from the PE and Sport Premium during the academic year 2020-21. The PE and Sport Premium is designed to help children get an active start in life, supporting primary schools to improve the quality of their PE and sport provision so that pupils experience the benefits of regular exercise – from becoming healthier both mentally and physically, to improved behaviour and better academic achievement.

We have also confirmed that any PE and Sport Premium funding from the current academic year (2019-20) that schools were unable to use as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be brought forward to use in the next academic year, giving head teachers an opportunity to develop or add to their existing provision, or to make improvements that will benefit pupils joining the school in future years.

Covid Summer Food Fund

The Covid Summer Food Fund will enable children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals (FSM) to be supported over the summer holiday period. All vouchers for the summer holidays must be ordered at least one week before your school’s summer term ends. The costs will be met centrally by the Department for Education.

Please read the guidance in full before ordering to ensure your orders are processed correctly.

Extension to the Breakfast Clubs programme

We confirmed on Friday that the charity coordinators of the National Breakfast Club Programme, Family Action and Magic Breakfast, will work closely with schools in disadvantaged areas so that the children most in need can continue to get a healthy breakfast in July and August.

Children from more than 1,800 schools in England who are currently part of our Breakfast Clubs programme will now be offered healthy breakfasts over the summer. The extension of the Breakfast Clubs programme will help to support families on low incomes who, as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, may be finding it hard to provide healthy food for their children outside of the school term.