Guidance for schools, colleges, nurseries and other education and early years settings on the coronavirus, COVID-19, and information for members.

Updates 21 January 2021: Updated health and safety FAQs (guidance on use of facemasks) 

England:  Interview: Who should get priority for the vaccine? 

“We are not in a position to say exactly when that date is”
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson ⁰tells #BBCBreakfast schools will be given two weeks notice before they fully reopen in England, but can’t say when that will be. https://t.co/VlztEK6BIH pic.twitter.com/VUayfHGGm5

— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) January 21, 2021

More here

Scotland: SQA Update from the Higher National and Vocational Qualifications 2021 Group 

Updates 20 January 2021:  Latest FAQs (testing and vaccination)

England: 

Following new advice from @PHE_UK in response to the new, more transmissible strain, we’re temporarily pausing daily contact testing instead of isolation for those who come into contact with positive cases in schools (2/3) https://t.co/iM7c9RCl55

— Department for Education (@educationgovuk) January 20, 2021

Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace have published a position statement on daily contact testing as a replacement for self-isolation in secondary schools and colleges. Further information here.

Wales: Welsh Government:  Changes to qualifications confirmed by Education Minister Kirsty Williams following further disruption to learning:

• Written Statement: Update on General Qualifications in 2021 (20 January 2021) 
• Design and Delivery Advisory Group: letter to the minister January 2021 
• Letter to Learners in Wales (pdf)
• Llythyr at ddysgwyr yng Nghymru (pdf)

Updates 19 January 2021: Scottish Government: 

No change to ELC and childcare until at least mid-February as Covid-19 rates remain high.

Childminders can continue to stay open to all. Nurseries & regulated childcare providers should continue to open to key worker/vulnerable children only.

Read more ➡️https://t.co/nyeAQYLbzA pic.twitter.com/Y21Be0FrZ4

— ScotGov Childcare (@ELCScotGov) January 19, 2021

Review of restrictions 
Current lockdown measures will stay in place across mainland Scotland and some island communities until at least the middle of February.
Schools across Scotland will also continue to use remote learning until at least the middle of February except in the case of vulnerable children and those of key workers.
No change to ELC and childcare until at least mid-February. Nurseries & regulated childcare providers should continue to open to key worker/vulnerable children only.

England (DfE): Coronavirus (COVID-19): reducing burdens on educational and care settings

Updates 18 January 2021: 

England: DfE:   Coronavirus (COVID-19) asymptomatic testing for staff in primary schools and nurseries Information on rapid asymptomatic coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for staff in primary schools, school-based nurseries and maintained nursery schools.

We welcome the comments from the Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment @nadhimzahawi today, stating that professions who are more likely to come into contact with Coronavirus and cannot work from home should be prioritised in the next stage of the vaccine rollout. pic.twitter.com/u4aJi4ptLc

— Community Union (@CommunityUnion) January 18, 2021

Read more here.

.@VoiceGenSec We must #vaccinate those working on the frontline in #education & #earlyyears as soon as possible. https://t.co/nlZdDIc1U8#priorityvaccine #vaccination #COVID19

.@CommunityUnion has written to ministers in the UK nations to call for priority access to the #vaccine pic.twitter.com/9AUraxTcHr

— Voice Community (@Voicetheunion) January 18, 2021

England: Package of changes needed for the early years workforce Many of the challenges facing the sector’s workforce have been exacerbated by COVID-19

England: Latest DfE updated guidance 

Wales: Latest Welsh Government updates