COVID-19

Asymptomatic testing in schools could cause you concerns when returning to the classroom. The DfE explains that rapid testing using Lateral Flow Devices (LFD)s will support the return to face-to face education.

Taking the Covid-19 vaccine is a voluntary decision for each individual to make. It is not mandatory for members of staff in schools in the UK to be vaccinated to work.

Can teachers refuse to be vaccinated? As a teacher, you might refuse to be vaccinated for Covid-19 due to medical concerns, personal or religious beliefs.

Some teachers might feel they do not want to attend school because of the risk of Coronavirus and potentially infecting family and friends. ACAS explains that employers should listen to any concerns staff may have. The organisation also explains that if an employee refuses to attend work, it could result in disciplinary action. 

The Department of Education (DfE) explains it has brought together a list of online educational resources to help children to learn at home. These websites have been identified by some of the country’s educational experts and offer a wide range of support and resources for pupils. They are currently being offered for free.

The DfE advises against governing bodies meeting in person, and to instead adopt alternative arrangements, for example, by using video or teleconferencing applications. These may include but are not limited to: Skype, Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

The Department of Education (DfE) explains it has brought together a list of online educational resources to help children to learn at home. These websites have been identified by some of the country’s educational experts and offer a wide range of support and resources for pupils. They are currently being offered for free.

Many of us have probably not heard of the term furlough before the coronavirus pandemic. The Oxford English Dictionary definition of ‘furlough’ is a “leave of absence, especially that granted to a member of the armed services; to “grant [a] leave of absence to” and to “lay off (workers), especially temporarily.”

The Department for Education (DfE) has  announced £1 billion of funding (the Covid catch-up premium) to support children and young people to catch up lost time after school closure. This is especially important for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds.

Managing your mental health is important during the COVID-19 crisis. We know that this will be a worrying time and you will be concerned about your role, income as well as supporting your pupils and wider school community.

The Department for Education (DfE) explains face masks will no longer be recommended for pupils and students in classrooms or communal areas.

Long covid will impact teachers with a number of school staff suffering long-term effects. In this article, we look at the symptoms of long covid, what type of support you should receive from your school and link to further information.

Ofsted has published a short guide on remote education which draws on findings from their interim visits, research and literature reviews. In this article we provide a summary of the guide.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published a framework (download from here) to support schools to identify strengths and areas for improvement in their remote education provision. The framework is not statutory and you can adapt it to suit your school and context.

As a teacher, you might be interested in how to be involved in summer schools and if you would be paid for doing so.The DfE explains that summer schools are optional for staff to attend.

Teacher assessment in 2021 will be a topic which will draw much attention. Students taking GCSE, AS and A levels regulated by Ofqual, should be awarded grades based on an assessment by their teachers.

Tutoring will be at the forefront of a "catch-up plan" for pupils. The government will spend £1 billion on an education “catch-up plan”, with a large chunk of the cash going directly to schools.

The DfE explains only children of critical workers and vulnerable children and young people should attend school or college. All other pupils and students will receive remote education.