Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) advice, and (2) additional support, (a) special schools, and (b) alternative provision settings, will receive to enable them to stay open safely for those students who need to attend physically while there are restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

We published guidance on 7 January 2021 setting out how we want all schools to operate during this new lockdown. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak.

The guidance makes it clear that all schools, alternative provision (AP), special schools, colleges and wraparound childcare and other out-of-school activities for children should allow vulnerable children and young people and the children of critical workers to attend (recognising that the characteristics of the cohorts in special schools and alternative provision will mean these settings continue to offer face to face provision for all pupils, where appropriate). As well as setting out our expectations, the guidance includes advice on a range of matters including public health advice on minimising coronavirus risks, opening hours, recording attendance, transport, workforce, school funding and remote learning.

We must ensure as far as possible that vulnerable children and young people continue to receive high-quality education and support because we know that they, and their families, can be disproportionately impacted by being out of education. Therefore, we expect AP schools to remain open to vulnerable children and young people (along with children of critical workers) and to actively encourage those they consider to be vulnerable – identified in partnership with local services - to attend provision. AP should provide robust remote learning for those who are not attending. Similarly, special schools should continue to welcome and encourage pupils to attend full-time where parents/carers wish for their child to attend. Special post-16 settings should also continue to welcome and encourage students to attend as per their usual timetable where the young person wishes to attend.

We will continue to update guidance and support in due course, providing more detailed advice and support for special schools and AP.