Following the Prime Minister’s statement yesterday regarding the further easing of lockdown restrictions from the 17May, DfE have updated https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-full-opening-special-schools-and-other-specialist-settings
This guidance should be read alongside the main pieces of guidance for schools and post-16: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak and Further education COVID-19 operational guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-further-education-provision, which have also been updated to reflect the upcoming changes.
Also updated yesterday was the guidance for early years: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures, out of school settings: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-parents-and-carers-of-children-attending-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak and Higher Education providers https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reopening-buildings-and-campuses
In addition to the above, the https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak schools guidance includes updated advice on: pupils who are abroad, domestic educational visits, wraparound provision and extra-curricular activity, music, dance and drama and school performances, pupil wellbeing and support, Ofsted inspection and transitional, taster and open days.
The https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-further-education-provision FE guidance covers all the above plus updated advice on: sports, supported internships and access to work.
Please see the https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021 guidance on the COVID-19 response – Spring 2021 (Roadmap) for additional information.
PPE Portal
All Special Schools in England are eligible to access the personal protective equipment (PPE) portal provided by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The PPE portal allows eligible providers to order free PPE on a weekly basis for their Coronavirus (COVID-19) PPE requirements.
Since January 2020, all special schools will have received an email asking them to register with the PPE portal. Those who have not registered will shortly receive another email invitation from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. This email invitation will be sent to the email address which your setting used to register with the DfE Get Information About Schools Database. This is the only email address which is eligible to register. Please ensure that you have checked your junk folder.
If you have not received the email invitation or would like to change your registered email address, please contact the Customer Service team at 0800 876 6802 who will be able to help support you in registering with the portal.
All other settings should refer to the https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings-including-the-use-of-personal-protective-equipment-ppe safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care settings guidance to understand how they can access PPE to meet their Covid needs.