In this newsflash, DfE would like to draw your attention to two items:

COVID-19 workforce fund claim form now open:

Eligible schools and colleges can now submit a claim for the cost of absences over a threshold experienced between Monday 22 November 2021 and Friday 8 April 2022.

You can submit a claim and find details on how to do so here. The deadline for submitting a claim is 11:59pm on Tuesday 24 May.

Further information on the COVID-19 workforce fund is available in our guidance for schools and colleges, with tailored criteria for special schools, alternative provision, and special post-16 institutions.

Liberty Protection Safeguards:

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) are currently consulting on proposed changes to the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice, which includes the implementation of the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) scheme. LPS will provide new arrangements to authorise arrangements for deprivations of liberty for the purpose of providing care or treatment, and will apply to 16 and 17 year olds, as well as adults.  As part of their work, they will be holding a number of online events, one of which will be for those who have lived experiences of deprivation of liberty arrangements, and the Mental Capacity Act. We would kindly ask you to send this email and attachment to those who you think may be interested in this event and would like to sign up. We would really value from listening to young people as well as parents/carers who have lived experience. For more information and to sign up, please open the attachment from DHSC. Timings and dates of the event are still to be confirmed.

If you have any further questions then please don’t hesitate to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.