mteb/FeedbackQARetrieval huggingface dataset:
Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
What arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?
Can provision be shared across local authority areas?
We are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and
vulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable
to do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.
Local authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and
independent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected
whilst their normal schools are closed.
If a school is unable to open, local authorities should try to co-ordinate
provision for pupils in other schools in their area. If this is not possible,
local authorities should consider working with neighboring local authorities,
while keeping in mind the impact on children. Regional school commissioners
(RSCs) can support conversations between local authorities where necessary.
Some multi-academy trusts operate across different local authorities, and can
assist in making arrangements between their schools if appropriate.
*[RSCs]: regional schools commissioners
Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
Responsibilities
What are local authorities responsible for?
Local authorities are responsible for co-ordinating a response to the
coronavirus arrangements. Working with education settings (including academies
and the independent sector), they should use the critical worker
list, and the definition
of vulnerable
children, to support schools
and trusts to ensure that there is sufficiency for these priority groups, and
for those groups eligible for return to settings from 1 June.
Local authorities are also responsible for monitoring demand and capacity.
This may involve working with schools to provide places in alternative
settings if necessary, and supporting residential special schools, alternative
provision, and other special settings to remain open, wherever possible.
They are also responsible for supporting trusts and schools to assess the
risks for children and young people whose education, health and care (EHC)
plans they maintain, and ensuring those children are safely cared for whether
at school/college or at home.
*[EHC]: Education, Health and Care
Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
What arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?
Will it be mandatory for all schools, colleges and early years settings to remain open in some form?
We are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and
vulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable
to do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.
Local authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and
independent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected
whilst their normal schools are closed.
We are asking all schools and early years settings to remain open for children
of critical workers and vulnerable children.
We acknowledge that some schools and early years settings may be unable to do
so, and will support them to work with local authorities, regional school
commissioners, and neighbouring schools and settings, to continue to support
these children.
Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
What arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?
What else needs to happen if a child is attending a different setting than usual?
We are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and
vulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable
to do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.
Local authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and
independent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected
whilst their normal schools are closed.
Important information should be provided on day one, including emergency
contact details, dietary requirements and medical needs to safeguard the
health, safety and welfare of children.
Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
What arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?
Are schools opening on the May bank holiday?
We are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and
vulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable
to do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.
Local authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and
independent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected
whilst their normal schools are closed.
Schools should decide, in consultation with the parents of children who are
currently attending school, whether it is necessary for them to continue to
look after critical workers’ children and vulnerable children over the May
bank holiday.
Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
Prioritising pupils
How are vulnerable children defined?
During the coronavirus outbreak vulnerable children and young people are
defined as those who:

are assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, including children who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a looked-after child
have an education, health and care (EHC) plan and it is determined, following a risk assessment, that their needs can be met as safely or more safely in the educational environment; or
have been assessed as otherwise vulnerable by education providers or local authorities (including children’s social care services), and who are therefore in need of continued education provision - this might include children and young people on the edge of receiving support from children’s social care services, adopted children, those at risk of becoming NEET (‘not in employment, education or training’), those living in temporary accommodation, those who are young carers, and others at the provider and local authority discretion

Read the guidance on how schools should continue to support vulnerable
children.
*[EHC]: Education, Health and Care
Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
Responsibilities
What are schools responsible for?
Between 23 March and 1 June, educational and childcare settings are
responsible for providing places only to priority children (vulnerable
children, and children of critical workers.
While as many schools as possible should try to stay open for priority pupils
at this time, this will not be possible for all settings, and the local
authority should oversee arrangements so that pupils are able to access
provision elsewhere.
We are also asking that schools prepare for wider opening on the assumption
that eligible year groups can return to schools from 1 June.
From the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, we are asking that schools
welcome back eligible year groups as part of the wider opening of educational
settings, alongside priority groups.
Maintained, academy and independent schools should work with local authorities
to ensure provision is available for priority and eligible groups.
Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
What arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?
Are schools opening during May half term?
We are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and
vulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable
to do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.
Local authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and
independent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected
whilst their normal schools are closed.
We trust schools to make arrangements that work for their school community, in
consultation with parents and carers of vulnerable children and those who are
critical workers
Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
Preparing for the wider opening of education settings from 1 June
What public health advice should schools follow?
Keeping children and staff safe is our utmost priority. DfE’s guidance on
implementing protective measures in education and
childcare settings contains detailed advice for settings on:

cleaning, including supplies of cleaning and handwashing products
testing and tracing
PPE (personal protective equipment)
what settings should do in response to a case of coronavirus being confirmed

Schools should refer to this guidance and continue to follow the advice from
Public Health England. These measures, along with handwashing,
cleaning, and self-isolation, will lower the risk of transmission.
Alongside good hygiene and cleaning, one of the main protective measures we
can take to reduce transmission is to have small group and class sizes. By
returning pupils gradually settings can initially reduce the number of
children and young people in classrooms compared to usual and put protective
measures in place to reduce risks.
Children will need to stay within their new class/group wherever possible and
we will ask settings to implement a range of protective measures including
increased cleaning, reducing ‘pinch points’ (such as at the start and end of
day), and utilising outdoor space.
Settings should also consider ways to minimise use of public transport to get
to and from school at peak times, in consultation with local authorities.
Further guidance on safer travel for passengers, including children, can be
found at Safer travel guidance for
passengers.
Staff and pupils in all settings will be eligible for testing if they become
ill with coronavirus symptoms, as will members of their households. A negative
test will enable children to get back to childcare or education, and their
parents to get back to work. A positive test will ensure rapid action to
protect their classmates and staff in their setting.
Those who are clinically vulnerable, or are living with someone who is, should
follow our protective measures
guidance.
*[DfE]: Department for Education
Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
Prioritising pupils
How are critical workers defined?
Children with a parent or carer who is listed as a critical
worker are eligible for a
school place.
We will monitor closely the experience of schools in identifying critical
workers and their capacity to respond to the needs of critical workers.
Government is working with representatives of school leaders to ensure they
have the clarity they need in identifying critical workers. We will publish
updates to guidance should it prove necessary to provide further points of
clarification over the identification of critical workers.
We can confirm that:

researchers are included if their work is critical to the coronavirus response
pharmacists are included in the list of health and social care staff that are essential to the coronavirus response
staff who work for the embassies of other countries, and who are essential to the coronavirus response, are included in the definition of local and national government
parliamentarians and essential parliamentary staff are also included in this list
Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
What arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?
Can schools flex on legal requirements in order to deliver this service?
We are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and
vulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable
to do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.
Local authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and
independent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected
whilst their normal schools are closed.
The Coronavirus Act 2020 allows for the temporary disapplication or
modification of some requirements on schools, including within the early
years foundation stage, to enable them to focus on this core new
ask. Schools should focus on safeguarding
duties as a priority. Where schools and trusts
have concerns about the impact of staff absence – such as their designated
safeguarding lead or first aiders – they should discuss immediately with the
local authority or trust.
Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
What arrangements should schools and local authorities maintain throughout the remainder of May?
Are schools expected to share resources?
We are asking schools to remain open for children of critical workers and
vulnerable children where they can, but we understand that some may be unable
to do so especially if they are experiencing severe staff shortages.
Local authorities should therefore work with maintained, academy and
independent schools to identify temporary places for any children affected
whilst their normal schools are closed.
If some schools are experiencing high demand for places, or severe staff
shortages, local authorities will co-ordinate support from other schools in
the area. Schools are expected to be flexible and work together where
required.
Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
Preparing for the wider opening of education settings from 1 June
How will schools be supported in preparing for wider opening?
Schools, and all childcare providers, have been serving a vital role by
continuing to provide care for a limited number of children - children who are
vulnerable, and children whose parents are critical to the coronavirus
response.
We have worked closely with the sector, and will continue to do so over the
coming weeks to support the wider opening of schools, colleges and childcare
settings. We have published guidance on actions for education and childcare
settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June
2020, which sets out the overarching aims and principles of this
next phase, including information about protective measures which will be in
place. We will work with the profession to produce more detailed guidance
ahead of 1 June 2020.
All schools are different, and it is not possible for government to set
specific national guidelines that could be universally applicable. Instead, we
have created an initial planning
framework to help school leaders and trusts to start to think
through the steps they might need to take to enable them to open their schools
for more pupils. This framework can be seen as a starting point from which
schools and trusts may choose to develop their own plans, providing
operational guidance to support school and trust leaders in agreeing the best
approaches for their circumstances.
Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020
Are iGCSEs and the International Baccalaureate also cancelled?
Yes. Summer exams for both international GCSEs and the International
Baccalaureate have been cancelled in all countries this year. The awarding
organisations that provide international GCSEs have published information
about the arrangements they are putting in place for this year1 which reflect
those being made for qualifications covered by Ofqual’s consultation
decisions.
Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020
What will happen to those who have already done some non-exam assessment?
Students who were due to sit A level, AS level or GCSE exams this summer will
receive a calculated grade. The calculated grade process will take into
account a range of evidence including, for example, non-exam assessment and
mock results. To make sure that grades are fair between schools and colleges,
exam boards will put all centre assessment grades through a process of
standardisation using a model developed with Ofqual, the independent
qualifications regulator. There’s separate guidance from Ofqual on awarding
GCSE, AS and A levels which includes the implications for non-exam
assessment.
Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020
Will the past performance of the school be taken into account when devising the calculated grade?
Ofqual’s guidance says that one of the sources of evidence schools and
colleges should draw on is the performance of this year’s students compared to
those in previous years. However, this is only one of the sources of evidence
that will be taken into account. Ofqual’s consultation, which ran from 15 to
29 April, included proposals for how the standardisation process at national
level should take the past performance of schools and colleges into account.
Responses have been reviewed and decisions from this
consultation were published on 22
May.
Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020
How will you ensure that certain groups of students (for example those from disadvantaged backgrounds) do not lose out because of bias in teachers’ assessments?
Ofqual is developing a fair and robust process that takes into account a broad
range of evidence, including assessments by schools and colleges of the grades
that students would have been likely to obtain if exams went ahead and their
prior attainment. Ofqual’s overriding aim is to make sure arrangements this
summer are as fair as possible for all students.
Ofqual ran a
consultation from 15 to 29 April
seeking views on aspects of their proposed assessment arrangements for GCSEs,
AS and A levels, including an equality impact assessment informed by a review
of the research literature on bias in teacher assessments.
Ofqual has taken feedback to its consultation, and the findings from its
literature review and equalities impact assessment, into account in finalising
the arrangements for these qualifications this summer. Decisions from this
consultation were published on 22
May. Ofqual has also published additional guidance for schools and colleges on
objectivity in grading and ranking.
Pupils who do not feel their calculated grade reflects their ability will have
the opportunity to sit an exam as soon as is reasonably possible in the
autumn.
Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020
What about vocational and technical qualifications?
We recognise that many students will be taking vocational or technical
qualifications (VTQs) and our priority is to ensure that students and adult
learners taking these qualifications can move on as planned to the next stage
of their lives, including starting university, college or sixth form courses,
apprenticeships in the autumn, getting a job or progressing in work.
We know one approach to assessment of vocational and technical qualifications
will not fit all, given the diversity of the VTQ landscape.
Ofqual published the response to its consultation on VTQs and its framework
for awarding results this summer on 22 May. The measures set out that
qualifications used for progression to further or higher education, such as
some BTECs, should wherever possible be issued with a calculated result, in
line with the approach proposed for GCSEs, AS and A levels. For other
vocational qualifications, such as those that are used for entry into
employment where demonstration of practical competence is necessary, it won’t
be appropriate to calculate a result. For these, Ofqual will work with the
awarding organisation to determine whether the assessment can be adapted. Only
as a last result should assessment be delayed.
VTQ students will have access to a right of appeal if they believe any part of
the assessment process was not followed correctly. Students who do not feel
their result reflects their ability will be able to sit an assessment at the
next available opportunity. Most vocational and technical qualifications have
a number of assessment windows during the year. Ofqual will require that where
awarding organisations normally offer an autumn assessment opportunity, they
must take all reasonable steps to continue to do so. Where they do not
normally offer an autumn assessment opportunity, they should do so where there
are enough learners who need to take an assessment or where it would be unfair
not to.
[VTQs]: vocational or technical qualifications
  [VTQ]: vocational or technical qualification
Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020
What will young people with university offers do?
The grades awarded this summer will be formal grades, with the same status as
grades awarded in any other year. There is no reason for the usual admissions
cycle to be disrupted.
University representatives have already confirmed that they expect
universities to do all they can to support students and ensure they can
progress to higher education.
Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020
Can schools and colleges take incomplete coursework into account?
Ofqual’s guidance on awarding GCSE, AS and A
levels makes it clear that schools and colleges do not need to
ask students to complete any unfinished non-exam assessment work for the
purposes of grading. Where they do choose to take into account coursework
completed after 20 March, Ofqual is advising head teachers and principals to
exercise caution where that evidence suggests a change in performance. In many
cases this is likely to reflect the circumstances and context in which the
work is done.
Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020
What if students are unhappy with their calculated grade?
Ofqual and the exam boards are working to ensure that candidates are awarded a
fair grade that recognises the work they have put in. If an A level, AS level
or GCSE student does not believe the correct process has been followed in
their case, they will have access to a right of appeal on that basis. Ofqual
has consulted on the arrangements for these
appeals and announced its
decisions on 22 May. In addition,
if a student does not feel their grade reflects their performance, they will
have the opportunity to take an exam in the autumn. Ofqual launched a
consultation on 22 May on the details of the autumn series of
exams.
DfE has also published guidance on centre
responsibility for autumn GCSE, AS and A level exam
series.
Students will also have the option to take their exams in summer 2021, in line
with usual practice.
Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020
Will A level students get the predicted grades that were used for university applications?
No. We know that simply using predicted grades would not be fair to all
students. The ‘centre assessment grade’, which the exam boards will ask
schools and colleges to submit for A and AS levels and GCSEs, will take into
account an assessment of the likely grade that students would have obtained
had exams gone ahead, and these will be standardised across schools and
colleges. For this reason, students’ final calculated grades will not
necessarily be the same as either the predicted grades used for university
applications, or the centre assessment grade put forward by their school or
college.
Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): cancellation of GCSEs, AS and A levels in 2020
When will students get their results?
A and AS level results will be published on 13 August and GCSE results on 20
August, as originally planned. This will enable progression to higher and
further education to take place in the normal way. It will also allow students
time to decide whether they wish to sit exams in the autumn, and to prepare
for those exams if necessary.
Results days for other qualifications are set by individual exam boards.
Results for vocational and technical qualifications used for progression to
further or higher education will be available on the same days as A level and
GCSE results. Students who are taking such qualifications should check the
planned results day with their school or college.