Education Update COVID

Education update

• Schools – remain closed except for vulnerable children, children with education, health and care plans (EHCPs) and children of key workers but to be used only as a last resort. For Easter term break we are pleased to say all schools will have provision for key workers, and some will be open on the Bank Holidays, please contact your local school to find out what is available. In addition, we will be providing places for the children of NHS staff on Saturday (11 April) and Easter Sunday (12 April), where South Gloucestershire schools will be contacting NHS workers to offer them a place.

• Free school meals - We are also working with schools to support those children who are entitled to a free school meal, ensuring each of them continues to receive the benefit despite many being at home during the current period.

• GCSE and A level exams – Following the initial government announcement that both GCSE and A level exams were to be cancelled for summer 2020, it has now been confirmed that students who were due to sit A level, AS level or GCSE exams this summer will now receive a calculated grade. The calculated grade process will take account of a range of evidence including other assessments and mock results, with the approach standardised between schools and colleges.

• Vocational qualifications - For those pupils undertaking technical or vocational qualifications, the priority is to ensure that student and adult learners can move on as planned to the next phase of their lives. The government is working with Ofqual and we expect an update shortly on this. If you have any specific enquiries, please contact your school or college.

• Support for children and young people - Visit our education and support for children and young people page. If you have a safeguarding concern call us on 01454 866000. More information about safeguarding is available on the South Gloucestershire Children Partnership website. Our teams will be busy and we will need to prioritise help to the most vulnerable during this period

• SEND –  a helpline (01454 865137) for anyone with queries and FAQs