Director's Message - 20th April 2020

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to the Summer Term. I'm sure you are all ready to start stabilising what the new 'normal' looks like for our schools for this term ahead. 

We will use this dedicated inbox to communicate with schools, and merge my Director Messages with our regular School Leaders' Briefing to provide schools with a coordinated communications approach. 

COVID-19 FAQs update

The DfE has released new and updated guidance, support and resources for schools and parents, which have been added to our FAQs and highlighted below. They have confirmed that schools will not re-open until it is safe and we will continue to work with the DfE on this area to support schools. 

• Attendance and absence - the government encourages vulnerable children to attend education settings unless they have underlying health conditions. 
• New joint risk assessment required if needs cannot be met safely at home.
• Remote education and new package of ICT resources for disadvantaged pupils (Y10 firstly - eligibility criteria to be released on 22.04.20). 
• Safeguarding online
• FSM national voucher scheme - improvements made and parent FAQs added for you to share with parents.
• Parents / carers support for keeping children safe online.
• Paying school providers clarification.
• Education visits / trips cancellation insurance advice. 
• Financial support for early years and social care.
• EYFS closure guidance - updates on funding and more.

School Leaders Briefing Articles:

1. LEAP hub resources 
2. New three year school term dates
3. School admissions appeals
4. Ofqual consultation - respond by 29.04.20
5. Forthcoming exam collation arrangements 
6. Parent / carer (residents) resources
7. Expert Middle Leaders programme (fully funded)
8. School governance update

To access these articles, please go straight to SLB on LEAP.

Best wishes,

Dan