27th April 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing extended to all essential workers who have symptoms
The Government has announced that all essential workers in England and Scotland, and members of their households who are showing symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) can now be tested. This list of essential workers includes education and childcare staff: support and teaching staff, social workers and specialist education professionals in addition to social care staff.
Booking is done through a new online system. Employers can register and refer self-isolating staff, and employees are able to book a test directly for themselves or members of their household who are exhibiting symptoms.
Employees can choose to visit one of the drive-through testing sites across the country, or to receive a home testing kit.
To obtain a login to the employer referral portal, employers of essential workers should contact: portalservicedesk@dhsc.gov.uk
Full details can be found here:
Disapplication and modifications to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework
To support early years providers that remain open to vulnerable children and children of critical workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we have temporarily disapplied and modified elements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework. This will allow providers greater flexibility to respond to changes in workforce availability and potential fluctuations in demand, while still providing care that is high quality and safe.
The EYFS statutory framework can be found here:
Our guidance for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has been updated to answer questions relating to the EYFS statutory framework.
The guidance can be found here:
Updates to the school admission appeals process
It is important parents continue to have the right to appeal any school admission decisions. To enable this, we have made regulatory changes that came into force on 24 April 2020 and will remain in place until 31 January 2021. The new regulations give admission authorities the flexibility to manage appeals whilst ensuring families are supported and not disadvantaged by current measures to protect public health.
The guidance can be found here:
Ofqual seeks views on awarding vocational and technical qualifications in summer 2020
Ofqual has published a consultation on the exceptional arrangements for awarding vocational, technical and general qualifications (other than GCSEs, AS and A levels) in summer 2020. The deadline for responses is 8 May.
Further information on this consultation can be found here: