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Coronavirus Information 25th Septmeber 2020

This is your daily email to keep you updated on the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium provisional allocations

In July, the government announced a one-off universal £650 million catch-up premium for the 2020 to 2021 academic year to ensure that schools have the support they need to help all pupils make up for lost teaching time. The coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium funding is available for all state-funded mainstream and special schools, and alternative provision.

The Education and Skills Funding Authority has published details of the provisional allocation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium and the conditions of the grant for the academic year 2020 to 2021. The first payment is worth 25% of the provisional allocation, rounded to the nearest £10, and will be paid to:

  • Local authorities on 30 September 2020
  • Academies on 8 October 2020
  • Non-maintained special schools in November 2020

Further details on how the coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium is allocated and how it can be used can be found in the coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium guidance.

Letter to share with parents on coronavirus (COVID-19) testing

Public Health England has produced a letter for schools and colleges to share with parents which explains when a child requires a coronavirus (COVID-19) test and what the symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are.

The intention of the letter is to support parents and carers in identifying when their child needs to self-isolate as a result of displaying coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms and answer some of the questions parents may have around testing. We ask that you share this letter with parents and carers of children at your school or college.

The information below hasn’t changed since our last update

Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline opening hours

The Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline remains available to answer questions about coronavirus (COVID-19) relating to education and children’s social care. Please listen carefully to the available options and select the most appropriate to your nursery, school, or college’s current situation.

Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline by calling:

Phone: 0800 046 8687

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm

Advice service for nurseries, schools and colleges to respond to a positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19)

Public Health England (PHE) has introduced a new dedicated advice service, delivered by NHS Business Services Authority, for nurseries, schools and colleges. The service is for those needing support on the action they should take when they have been informed of a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in their setting (i.e. a pupil or staff member testing positive).

It can be reached by calling the Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline on 0800 046 8687 and selecting option 1. This option will take you through to a dedicated team of NHS Business Services Authority advisors who will work through a risk assessment with you to identify close contacts, and will inform you what action is needed based on the latest public health advice. Advisors will be responsible for referring more complex cases to the PHE regional health protection team, as necessary, following a triaging of your circumstances during the call.

Phone: 0800 046 8687 – option 1

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm

Please keep your GIAS contacts up to date

Please take this opportunity to review all of your contact information in Get Information About Schools (GIAS). Keeping your details up to date will ensure that you continue to receive the most up to date information from the Department for Education and from the Department of Health and Social Care who are providing schools and colleges with coronavirus (COVID-19) testing kits.

For academy trusts, this will also ensure compliance with the Academies Financial Handbook.

To update your record, please go to the GIAS home page, “Sign in” using your “DfE Sign-in” credentials and select GIAS from your available services.