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With the introduction of the digital age, online safety for children has become subject to an influx of threats from a whole host of intimidatory factors.
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School closures severely impacted most children with their learning, Ofsted has revealed.
The report findings showed that some children have gone significantly back with their social skills, while others have lost their “stamina” for reading.
Schools were closed to most students in March. This blog post explains.
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High-quality teachers are in short supply, according to the Department for Education’s annual report.
An “insufficient number of high-quality teachers” is likely to result “in poor educational outcomes for pupils”, it believes.
The report says that although action is being taken, this issue remains a “high risk” to the Government’s objective that all children and young people will have access to high-quality education.
Access to high-quality education has been worsened during the coronavirus pandemic due to issues such as digital poverty. This blog post explains the findings of the report.
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Masks are now compulsory in school and communal areas – but could the new rule lead to further behavioural disruption.
The rules coincide with a new national lockdown in England, where non-essential businesses will close but schools will stay open.
Since schools reopened to all students in September there has been concern that behaviour had worsened. What could this mask rule mean for schools?
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The National Tutoring Programme for catch-up tuition begins in England next week.
The scheme is aimed at disadvantaged pupils that the Government says were hardest hit when schools closed.
“This is about levelling up those opportunities,” said Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson. How does it work? This blog post explains.
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A second national lockdown has been announced in England with one crucial difference: schools to stay open.
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said on Saturday: “Our senior clinicians still advise that school is the best place for children to be, we cannot let this virus to damage our children’s future any more than it already has.”
However both regional mayors across England and senior members of the Conservative party have criticised the plans. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
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School attendance around the UK has continued to fall as the coronavirus pandemic takes a toll on education.
The Education Policy Institute said that rising infection rates had created challenges for schools since they reopened, with hundreds of pupils and staff being sent home following outbreaks of the virus.
The rates are regionalised around the UK. Which areas have the highest rates of absence? This blog post explained.
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What is your current attendance?
There has been a rise in the number of schools whose attendance rate has been affected by coronavirus.
The latest figures show pupils isolating in 46% of secondary schools and 16% of primary schools.
Overall attendance has worsened from 90% to 89%. What are your attendance figures? Let us know in the comments below.
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Everyone’s mental health has been affected during lockdown and with more students being referred to counselling services, the impact on children’s mental health should not be underestimated.
Primary and high school teachers have said children had “become more vulnerable in lockdown“, according to the BBC.
75% of mental problems in adult life (excluding dementia) start under 18. What has been the impact on children’s mental health?
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Exams in Scotland are to be adjusted or cancelled in 2021, the Education Secretary has announced.
The biggest announcement has seen National 5 exams cancelled and replaced with teacher assessments and coursework.
John Swinney said it was likely students would face disruption and that the Covid-19 pandemic was “too big a risk“.
Here is what you need to know.
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EDBlog reported last month that there has been a significant decline in pupil attendance – amid fears there are children reluctant to return.
A report issued this week by Ofsted showed the effect of the pandemic on schools around the UK. Parent and pupil anxiety is said to have led to increased absence of pupils, while parents opting to home-school their students permanently had also increased.
What can be done if you have children reluctant to return? This blog post explains.
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Half of teachers are “drained and exhausted” while 15% are “physically and mentally on the brink”, a TES survey revealed today.
The survey, carried out this week among teaching staff across the UK, found that just 10% were “completely fine” while only 1% said “I feel great”.
One school teacher said: “We’re in a climate where everyone is on edge and stressed out and worried the whole time. If I’m still in this job by Christmas, I’m going to be amazed. I’ve had enough.
This blog post takes a look at the latest in schools.
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This summer, the Government announced a catch-up premium fund to help students catch up.
According to the Department for Education: “Those from the most vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds will be among those hardest hit. The aggregate impact of lost time in education will be substantial, and the scale of the challenge.”
Updates involving the payment of this fund was confirmed this week. This blog post takes a look at these updates.
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The number of schools not fully open due to Covid-19 incidents has quadrupled in a week according to official figures.
The leader of the National Association of Head Teachers has said that the attendance figures should “ring alarm bells” for the Government.
Last week warnings were made that schools would “grind to a halt” unless testing improves. This blog post explains the latest.
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The Government has announced new rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus this week – and a second lockdown has not been ruled out.
The guidance for schools remain unchanged but schools should have a contingency plan in place if remote learning needs to be introduced.
This blog post talks you through the rule changes, the latest guidance and how your school should prepare for a second lockdown.
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There are 400,000 pupils absent from the classroom due to issues associated with the pandemic and lockdown.
The Children’s Commissioner said that pupils sent home due to a Covid-19 was relatively small but many children with special needs or emotional problems had yet to return.
The figures continue a worrying trend set by schools in Scotland, where 12% of pupils were absent on one day last month.
What can be done to increase the number of children receiving an education? This blog post explains.
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UK Scientists have a proposed a two-week national lockdown to take place during October half-term, according to reports.
A the R number (rate of infection) continues to rise around the UK.
The timing of this lockdown would be designed to cause minimal disruption to schools. What would this mean for schools and do you have a contingency plan? This blog post is here to help.
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Headteachers have warned that education will “grind to a halt” unless covid testing improves.
Thousands of school leaders have written to the Government warning of “partial rolling closures” of schools and disruption to pupils’ catch up studies because of serious staff shortages.
The delays in covid testing are “severely hampering” schools, according to a network of over 5,000 heads. This blog post takes a look at the crisis in schools.
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The advice from the Government’s coronavirus guidance is that “Supply teachers, peripatetic teachers and other temporary staff can move between schools. They should ensure they minimise contact and maintain as much distance as possible from other staff.”
Having cover for teachers away from the classroom is essential in the modern climate – and this could become one of the worst years for sick leave ever seen around the world.
How can ensure you have the necessary holiday cover while meeting specific guidelines. This blog post explains.
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Children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) have faced lots of changes to their daily lives because of Covid-19.
Routines and regular support that they rely upon may be significantly different – and this presents challenges.
Parents and carers may be concerned throughout the pandemic how changes are affecting their child. It also presents some challenges on how parents and carers manage their own work and home life.
But platforms are available to support children with SEND to receive an education. This blog post takes a look at what is available and advice that you and your child can follow given the situation.
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One-to-one support to small classroom delivery to support your students who need to catch up the most.
The new school year is back underway, with a strong focus on student catch-up and teaching specific smaller groups (“bubbles”) in order maintain social distancing.
This presents an opportunity to teach young people a more learning tailored to their needs. This blog post explains how this can be done.
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Students in rural education deserve the same great opportunities as students in denser city centres and urban areas.
An article in The Atlantic calls a “divergence in fortunes” around higher education “coincided with another divergence – between growing cities and struggling rural regions.” This coincided with the rise of computers, which made certain people in the economy more productive and desirable than others. Whereas, prior to 1980, the supply of workers was a larger. In short, the rise of computers left a portion of the economy behind.
At EDClass we believe in education for all. This blog post takes a look at the support available to rural groups.
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The last thing that teachers want to see this year is another interrupted school year.
Having a continuous curriculum in place ensures that learning doesn’t stop in the event of a local lockdown or school closure.
This blog post is all you need to know about offering a continuous curriculum delivery.
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Catch-up learning is the order of the day – with students three months behind on learning, and some students have fallen up to 12 months behind where they should be.
Literacy and numeracy are essential skills for everyday life in adulthood – this means it is critical that these skills are taught as a matter of urgency.
But how can catch-up learning be supported in core subjects? This blog post explains.
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Class and year bubbles are the new norm for schools this autumn.
Unlike the general public who are limited to 6 people, schools can have larger groups though are expected to keep these to a minimum.
This blog post provides top tips for doing this along with the latest bubble guidance.
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More than 100,000 students were absent from school in Scotland on one day at the end of August, according to Government figures (12%).
Health anxieties amongst parents and pupils means that many pupils are reluctant to return to the classroom.
The Government has said that it will fine families who do not attend. But how will this work and do you have a contingency plan in place? This blog post tells you all you need to know.
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Need to make an announcement to your entire school? Under current guidance, whole school assemblies are unwise under the new bubble system.
It could mean virtual assemblies are the new normal – but may not have been considered.
This blog post takes a look at how you can do assemblies and make announcements virtually.
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The Government guidance on school reopening states: “The overarching principle to apply is reducing the number of contacts between children and staff. This can be achieved through keeping groups separate (in ‘bubbles’) and through maintaining the distance between individuals.”
The reason for this is to keep teachers and pupils safe by minimising the number of people they come into contact with.
This blog post explains teachers safety when rotating and students remain inside a fixed classroom.
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Low level disruptive and poor behaviour affects pupil learning and damages students’ life chances.
And it could be worse this autumn.
Ofsted previously said that pupils could lose up to an hour of learning each day due to disruptive behaviour. But what will this mean for education’s “new normal“? This blog post explains.
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Covid-19 is threatening and negative behaviour, resulting in isolation, fixed term exclusion or possible permanent exclusion could follow as a result.
That is the view of the Department for Education which stated last week: “It is likely that adverse experiences or lack of regular attendance and classroom discipline may contribute to disengagement with education upon return to school, resulting in increased incidence of poor behaviour.”
Low level disruptive behaviour which could occur could include refusal to wear a mask, increased bullying and threatening staff and pupils. This blog post takes a look at the issues, the consequences and how they can be avoided.
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Knowing how far your students are behind is essential – as you look to install the most appropriate catch up for students.
Unless catch-up lessons are effective, researchers predict a 3% loss in future annual earnings for pupils caught up in the pandemic.
This blog post explains how identify how far your students are behind and what to do about it.
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The Government has issued new guidance for schools allowing social distancing with students and staff.
Schools returned full-time from the start on the autumn term – under strict instruction from the Government for this not to be on a rota basis.
This blog post explains the new guidance for schools.
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“It just feels like nobody cares about us”, paediatrician Sarah Cockman had been told by parents and children on visits to B&Bs where homeless families had been staying. From bed-wetting to anxiety to leering men on doorsteps missed safeguarding issues have caused great concern during 2020.
Teachers have been told to expect a “tsunami of safeguarding concerns” when schools return this week.
The horrendous situation for families has been compounded during lockdown. The impact of inequality has exploited young people. EDBlog takes a look at missed safeguarding issues and how communities can work together to resolve them.
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Catch up delivery is essential for your students, with teachers estimating that students are on average three months behind in their learning.
The findings by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) and the Nuffield Foundation has said that almost all teachers surveyed believe children are further behind where they expect them to be in their learning.
Teachers estimate that nearly half of all children (44%) will need intensive catch-up support, particularly children in the most deprive areas and from BAME backgrounds.
What should your plan be for catch up delivery? This blog post explains.
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Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said he is “deeply sorry” to school pupils who had grades downgraded as a result of this summer’s exam algorithm and has said he is “determined” exams will go ahead in 2021.
The Education Secretary was speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday – his first appearance in Parliament since the decision was made to award pupils with their predicted grades for this summer’s exams.
Find out what he had to say by reading the blog post below.
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The new academic year will begin in England next week – and secondary school pupils in local lockdown areas will need to wear face masks.
Across the country, headteachers will have flexibility to introduce face masks in their school.
What do you think to the new rules? Let us know in the comments below.
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Should GCSEs be changed to create a more inclusive education?
The flawed exam algorithm may have established a flaw in the goal of an inclusive education.
With pupils automatically disadvantaged based on where they are from, the system could be the strongest indicator yet that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds have to work harder to achieve in the education system.
Experts have wade in on the debate about whether there need to be a revamp, including of the GCSE system, in order to make learning more inclusive.
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“Separation anxiety is a normal developmental phenomenon” says Judith A Crowell, professor and interim division director of adolescent psychiatry at Stony Brook University.
But with the absence of school for some pupils of over six months, separation anxiety could be on the rise when schools return in September. “I think anything that is associated with uncertainty or change has the potential to trigger anxiety in kids,” says Crowell.
This blog post takes a look at separation anxiety disorder and why it could worsen in the new academic year.
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“Even I saw the massive value of active, inclusive and personalised learning,” says Hilary Moriarty a teacher who experienced e-learning for the first time in 2020.
Personalised learning has a multitude of benefits for students – not only has it come to the aid of students in both retention and learning, but if done effectively they will also appreciate what they have learnt.
Virtual classrooms have become a buzzword in coronavirus times. If done effectively, it can provide a personalised learning touch too. With schools returning in September, we take a look at the elements of virtual learning here to stay.
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Pupils in the UK should return to schools full-time in August (in Scotland) and September (in England) – even if they have been shielding.
Advice from the Government states that “unless their GP or specialist healthcare provider advises otherwise, any children and young people who live with someone who has been shielding can also return to school.”
But what does this mean for families who are still shielding? This blog post explains.
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A school catch up plan is in operation within many schools in the UK. Scotland have announced plans to get all pupils back to school over the next two weeks. In England, pupils will return full-time from September.
But the need to get children caught up on many essentials means changes to the curriculum in others.
Exam body, Ofqual, said they had “significant concern” about school’s abilities to cover all the subjects that form the basis of exam questions.
What could this mean for how education looks in 2020-21? This blog post explains.
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Nicola Sturgeon is expected to confirm today schools to reopen from August in Scotland.
UK schools closed to almost all pupils on 20 March. In England, schools have reopened for key year groups with a full return intended for September.
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There could be an increase of 250% in child protection referrals that need to be investigated and kept safe when lockdown is eased further, according to the head of the largest child protection department in the UK.
Matt Dunkley, corporate director for children and young people at Kent County Council, said: “What we are looking at is a huge surge in September in children needing to be seen, families needing to be assessed, when they are at the end of their tether after six months being locked down or being out of the eye of their school… that leaves us with a huge problem.”
EDBlog previously reported that teachers were feeling “stressed and overwhelmed” about a surge in safeguarding concerns post-lockdown. But what do the latest revelations mean? This blog post explains.
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Every pupil can benefit from Government school funding – with schools set to receive a £4.8 billion boost in 2021 compared with 2019.
The school funding settlement is worth a total of £14.4 billion over three years – the biggest increase in a decade.
How will the funding work and how does it link to catch up premium? This blog post explains.
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The catch up process for students who have been missing from education is now underway – and focus must turn to pupils on the transition from Year 6 to Year 7.
The Telegraph has reported that “children in Year 7 might need to be retaught parts of the English and maths syllabus from their final year at primary school“.
Your tutoring is at the heart of producing a catch up programme which enables KS3 pupils reach their potential. But when should it start and what can be done to help? This blog post explains.
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“A huge population is shifting towards a creative and innovative mode of education or learning: known as online e-learning” reports BM Magazine. “Gone are the days when the only mode of education for a student was to attend the physical classes and institutions.”
Electronic learning refers to the concept of attending classes and/or gaining knowledge over the internet. Software available enhances and complements the idea of the classroom via online means.
Irrespective of time zone or location via e-learning you still have access to your class.
But how does online e-learning benefit classes and why does a blended learning strategy improve both the pupil and the school? This blog post explains.
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Since the start of lockdown, schools have worked tirelessly to provide education for your students via EDClass.
EDClass has been used by many schools in order so that education can continue for all pupils even when schools are closed.
Schools up and down the UK are using our provision. Read this blog post to hear the thoughts of two: the Sheffield Inclusion Centre in South Yorkshire and Shenley Brooke End School in Milton Keynes.
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Home education in it’s current form isn’t working. A report on the BBC this morning has told the story of parents being reduced to tears as they try to balance work with educating their children.
EDBlog has recently reported on the rise in mental health pressure amongst young people, but it is also having a significant effect on parents.
This latest campaign says in the event of future lockdowns “a plan must ensure that the learning and wellbeing of all children are prioritised, wherever circumstances they live in.”
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The culturally ingrained education models has been hugely disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic – with a huge shift made to distance learning.
Though at present, many university students are unhappy with the speed and quality of the changes, many experts believe that distance learning is here to stay.
But how is it likely to look and what will it mean for students, teachers and parents? This blog post explains.
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Schools in England began a phased return to opening at the start of June, with reduced class sizes and social distancing in place.
Since the start of lockdown, schools had remained open to vulnerable children and children of key workers. The rest were asked to learn from home, often without access to a computer, with “no expectations on learning” and it has meant children have fallen 12 months behind.
Here you will find all you need to know about education catch up, the funds available and requirements on learning.
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Students can sit exams this autumn, should they disagree with predicted GCSEs in 2020.
Schools will determine an expected grade for pupils using a number of metrics.
If students feel they can do better than the result prescribed, they will though have an option to sit an exam. But how will this work in practice? This blog post explains.
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Virtual classrooms are the new normal in higher education.
Many degrees are now being offered as fully online or via blended learning. In secondary schools blended learning looks set to be used into next year in parts of the UK.
Given the seemingly unstoppable growth of the virtual classroom, we take a look at the long-term benefit for both the school and students.
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Students have not been engaging with education during lockdown, so schools have a responsibility to make sure students are re-engaged.
The NFER found that a third of pupils are currently engaged with education. 90% of teachers have said that their pupils are doing less than they would normally produce.
The reasons for the lack of engagement are varied. However, schools have a responsibility to provide an education which is engaging for their pupils whether they are inside school or learning from home. This blog post can help.
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The need to provide virtual learning solutions while students have been confined to their own home.
With Ofsted announcing ‘no expectations on learning‘ during the pandemic, some schools are using basic learning platforms to educate their students.
But what can be done to make sure students are more engaged in education?
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Teaching from anywhere has become the new normal during the coronavirus pandemic.
The ability to keep your students learning, even when not together, is fundamental to your school’s offering and your children’s development.
This blog post explains how to utilise digital skills to create a virtual classroom in order to enable teaching from anywhere.
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The Government has issued a £1 billion fund in order to help children in England catch up on lost education.
Two funds have been announced: one for disadvantaged pupils and one for all pupil groups.
Estimations are that pupils have been left 12 months behind following the coronavirus pandemic. So the catch up plans have been welcomed, but what do they mean for students?
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Secondary schools in England are now open and the focus has turned to present Year 10s.
Exams may not be taking place this year, but next year’s Year 11 cohort may not be so fortunate. Therefore pressure is on Year 10s to get caught up quickly.
This blog post takes a look at the effects of the educational gap on GCSE students and what can be done to help students catch up.
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The Government has continuously said throughout the pandemic that vulnerable students are their priority.
Schools have remained open for vulnerable children and those children whose parents are keyworkers. However many vulnerable children have not attended.
Issues such as digital poverty have arisen, and while schools return to normal the question remains: are you caring for vulnerable students?
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Only 42% of pupils returned their last piece of schoolwork, according to the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER).
Most teachers have said that pupils are doing less work than they expect. One in five children have completed no schoolwork during lockdown.
Why should schools be concerned? This blog post investigates.
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A survey of school leaders has found that a quarter of headteachers and 10% of pupils are struggling with stress.
Teacher Tapp, an app for industry professionals, asked headteachers and teachers if they were more likely to leave their roles as a result of the lockdown and the adjustments that schools have been asked to make.
What can be done to help teachers struggling with stress?
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Children could be as much as 12 months behind in their development when schools resume. You can help them catch up quicker with the support of a secure classroom.
A virtual secure classroom means students can continue to be educated even when they cannot attending mainstream classes.
But what is a secure classroom and how can it help your school and your students?
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700,000 children do not have a laptop or tablet for home learning – as the coronavirus has widens the attainment gap between pupils.
Children’s commissioner, Anne Longfield, said the outcome of the pandemic on vulnerable pupils creates a ‘a stark risk of them falling behind their peers’.
What has been the impact of Covid-19 on the attainment gap?
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From 15 June, secondary schools will be able to provide pupils with face-to-face support.
The Government has released guidelines for schools. Schools will have to adhere to measures including reduced class sizes and social distancing.
If your school has to work with decreased class sizes how do you provide education for the masses? And how does remote learning have a role to play in future?
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Changes have been made to school reopening, the Government has announced.
Speaking in the House of Commons, the Education Secretary said the adjustments made would provide ‘flexibility’ to schools.
Among the changes, the Government has also said that ‘priority lists‘ will be used to explain to School Leadership Teams (SLTs) who will be offered spaces first.
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Today is #BestFriendsDay, at a time when huge numbers of young people haven’t seen their best friend in a number of weeks. Children’s mental health is in freefall as a result of the lockdown.
According to Dr Maria Loades, a clinical psychologist, says “There is evidence that it’s the duration of loneliness as opposed to the intensity which seems to have the biggest impact on depression rates in young people.”
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The coronavirus pandemic has affected education around the world. Online learning has been used in higher education in the short term, and experts have suggested this could be the start of something new.
Close to 90% of students worldwide have been deprived of education in recent months.
Many universities have transitioned to online learning. But could it be here to stay?
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Schools should plan for students getting caught up as quickly as possible, says the child’s commissioner.
There have been a number of suggestions put forward on how to get students caught up.
But which structure should be used to catch students up on lost education?
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Primary school pupils in England returned on Monday with social distancing and limited class sizes.
However some councils guarded against reopening – with 90% of schools in some areas remaining closed.
What are the current requirements of pupils returning? What is preventing parents sending their children back? And how can blended learning support pupils?
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Teachers feel overwhelmed and helpless due to a large number of safeguarding concerns caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
A “tsumani of safeguarding disclosures” is feared when pupils do return to the classroom, according to one safeguarding lead. It has been reported that schools and PRUs may struggle to cope with the huge rise in cases.
When learning from home, schools remain responsible for safeguarding students. But are schools doing everything to safeguard their students and can they do more?
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Schools in England are beginning to reopen – but things are very different with a host of new safety measures now in place.
It’s up to schools to decide how to open safely and the Government has issued guidelines on the types of measures necessary to ensure safety for teachers and children in the classroom.
But what are these guidelines and what does the post-coronavirus school look like?
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Blended learning is set to become the new normal for education in the UK, according to the leader of teachers’ union.
It is expected that pupils will have to take it in turn using classrooms. In schools, pupils will have to be situated two metres apart. Those outside school will all be expected to participated in remote learning.
But what would blended learning entail and could it become a permanent fixture in education?
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Today was school reopening day as some pupils in ‘critical year groups‘ returned to the classroom.
‘Early years students’ were deemed most critical and resume education from today. Some secondary school pupils will also return to the classroom during June as the threat of coronavirus declines.
EDLounge also chose today to return staff to their headquarters following a time working from home. This means we are well equipped to help you with your transition back to school life.
Here is an update from a busy day in education.
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There are concerns about the impact that the coronavirus pandemic is having on children with SEND (Special Educational Needs).
Currently schools remain open for children deemed as ‘vulnerable’. However many schools had temporarily closed because they were unable to support children in need.
A particular concern is the support for students with dyslexia and dyspraxia. A BBC report in 2019 found that 80% of students with dyslexia were already being missed by schools, therefore will the support available further penalise these students who still not expected to attend?
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Ofsted Chief, Amanda Spielman has said the coronavirus pandemic has caused ‘a crisis for all children’, as disadvantaged children look set to fall behind in education as a result of inequality.
BBC Newsnight this week reported that the pandemic could undo 10 years of improvements in the education sector. Children may have to go to school 7-days-per-week to make up for lost time. The pandemic is also likely to increase the north-south divide.
The situation has caused a great deal of concern for individuals across the education sector. But what difference is the crisis making to pupils from the most disadvantaged backgrounds – and how will this crisis affect everyone concerned?
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The process of school reopening will not mean that children will be forced to spend their summer holidays catching up in the classroom, says the Education Secretary.
Gavin Williamson was speaking at this week’s Education Select Committee meeting on Wednesday where he also discussed the impact of the closures on vulnerable children.
Earlier this month, we reported that Williamson may prefer an earlier lifting of lockdown restrictions due to the impact on the education system. However Williamson refused to be drawn on a date. Earlier today, Shadow Education Secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey stressed schools should only be open when safe to do so.
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There are reports that cyberbullying may be on the rise during the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Sameer Hinduja, professor of criminology and criminal justice at Florida University, “When smartphones and social media became ubiquitous for students, cyberbullying rates went up. This makes sense, of course, because there was now an almost limitless number of potential targets and aggressors.”
But if increased cyberbullying is inevitable, what can parents and children themselves do about it?
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Scotland’s Education Secretary and Wales’ Education have lifted the lid on a potential phase opening whereas ministers in England remained tight-lipped.
England’s Education Minister said last week that vulnerable children would be “priority” as part of any plans to reopen schools.
But are we any closer to reopening schools and what does the plan look like?
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Ofsted has told a panel of MP’s that there is “no expectation on learning” during the coronavirus pandemic.
In the latest Education Select Committee dialog, Amanda Spielman echoed comments made by the Education Minister last week that safeguarding vulnerable children was priority.
She also said she was concerned for the future of children “without motivations”.
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School phobia even in pre-Covid times is a very real issue. The causes of which could increase during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Not only this but Covid-19 has increased apprehension in the education setting. Children of key workers as well as vulnerable children are still expected to attend. But in reality only 5% of vulnerable children have actually been attending.
School phobia can be caused by a number of issues. The anxieties of parents, teachers and wider community will also have a substantial effect on parents. How will this all fit together and what is the Education Minister trying to do about it?
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Digital poverty is a growing problem in the United Kingdom that the coronavirus pandemic has exposed. In 2019, then-Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn stated, “The internet has become such a central part of our lives. What was once a luxury is now an essential utility.”
Ultimately, a research report by the Low Income Tax Reform Group found that ‘a significant proportion of the UK is “digitally excluded” either through not having internet access or because of low levels of digital literacy. The drive for digitalisation of government services could reinforce the social exclusion of a sizeable segment of the population. This could lead to wider impacts in the medium and long term.’
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The Education Minister has hit back at claims more can be done to ensure vulnerable children receive an education.
It is widely reported in the media that only a minority of vulnerable children expected to still attend school during lockdown have been doing so. Further concern has been raised that children required to do home-learning may have vulnerabilities which have not been considered.
At a Government briefing on Sunday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson showed appreciation to staff who had kept schools and nurseries open over the Easter holidays to protect vulnerable children. He also pledged laptops and tablets, as well as additional funding to charities, to help ensure children can receive an online education as well as have greater safeguarding means in their own homes.
On Wednesday, the Education Minister was called to explain decisions and guidance to other MPs via an online Education Select Committee Meeting. Here is what Vicky Ford, had to say.
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Disadvantaged students are being offered free laptops and tablets to help with their studies.
This was one of the announcements by Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson in his speech at 10 Downing Street on Sunday.
Schools have been closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Children of key workers and vulnerable students are still required to attend. But should this move have come sooner? And what will it mean for disadvantaged pupils?
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The Education (School Day and School Year)(England) Regulations 1999 place a duty on schools to provide a minimum of 380 sessions (or 190 full days) ‘at a school’.
In these exceptional times, the Education Act 1996 is pertinent: local authorities have a duty to provide suitable education.
This section relates to ‘exceptional provision of education’. This usually relates to pupil illness or exclusion, but as schools close and most students work from home, it has a particular meaning in these coronavirus times.
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Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has fronted today’s UK Government press conference to shed light on the criteria which must be met in order for schools to reopen.
The minister highlighted a five point principle in order for the reopening of schools – which we will detail below.
But what did the Education Secretary say today?
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Today is primary school offer day – a key indication that schools plan on soon returning to normal.
Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, said the offer day is going ahead “because it is important to mark ‘milestones amid the Covid-19 outbreak.”
Earlier this week, EDLounge reported that Williamson would prefer lifting of lockdown restrictions sooner rather than later. But what do his comments today mean for education resuming?
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Since school closures were announced 18 March, schools have turned to various forms of virtual learning to ensure education can still be achieved.
From specialist remote learning platforms to a do-it-yourself-style teaching with help from video conference software, the difference in learning experience can be stark.
But how safe is your online teaching mechanism?
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The coronavirus crisis could have damaging implications on the most vulnerable pupils in society, according to insight.
One London teacher explained “many of our students now bear extra responsibilities, from taking care of younger siblings to helping maintain the household and are less focused on their education. Their learning suffers from he added pressure, none of which is under their control”.
But concerns for vulnerable pupils could be far wider. Early indications suggest certain pupils are feeling ‘alone’ and intimidated by family members. Here is what we now how the coronavirus crisis is affecting some of the UK’s most at risk pupils.
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When will schools reopen? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Schools have now been closed for two full weeks. However there hasn’t been a Government-led approach to education in the interim, with schools largely being left to their own devices to allocate teaching methods.
It has led to some parents struggling to fill the day for their child while others have trouble balancing their own homeworking.
In stems the questions, how long will this period last for and what can be done to help?
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Information is emerging about the methodology for awarding student grades for this academic year.
Grades look set to be informed by your current data and an element of student ranking within your subject. Grades will be moderated against prior KS2 data, prior school attainment data and national distribution of grades.
The process brings about many challenges – not least the threat of bias. But what should be taken into account to ensure a fair and justifiable approach.
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It had been the case that some vulnerable pupils are deemed not suitable for mainstream classroom, relying on platforms such as EDLounge for their education.
Vulnerable children are now being encouraged to attend schools. Along with children of key workers, schools are taking in a small number of pupils. The majority stay at home isolated with their families.
But what do schools know of vulnerable pupils that have been off-site all year and how does this impact their education?
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Thousands of people are pondering how to spend time during isolation. From cooking, school work, to quick fitness workouts – a whole range of ideas have been discussed.
The Independent today listed ‘learn a language‘ as one of its eight skills to learn during isolation.
But why turn to MFL during isolation and how can you learn a language quickly and easily in your own home?
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In the short space of a phone call with my brother last night, three more emails landed, subject: ‘Update from GOV.UK – Covid-19’. Each one means more legislation. More rules. Each one makes you think what else can’t we do? Is there much left we can do?
And yet, curiously, there’s also the sense that the ‘rules’ that keep us sane and grounded are ‘out of the window’ – as was I, at eight o’clock last night, for example. We do things we didn’t do before, and can’t do things we took for granted before. The old order of things is becoming obsolete as we adapt to new behaviours, and the burning questions are ‘When will we return to normal?’ and ‘What will the new normal be like?’.
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Last week, the UK Government opted to close schools but said some schools should remain open so that key workers can continue to go to work.
But some schools are struggling to cope with the demand with many staff at home. Further some staff remain worried about the virus continuing to spread between pupils.
According to the NAHT staff are “understandably anxious about the personal risk of simply going to work”. But should the school situation change to benefit staff and parents of those present?
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As parents come to terms with home teaching, it is worth knowing what support is out there to ensure your children receive the best possible education.
At EDLounge Limited we can help you through the current crisis, with support including live teaching.
EDLounge Limited’s system is accessible for both students who are still required to go into school and pupils who are now at home. The virtual learning platform can feature tailored lessons, with topics set by the teacher to help to ensure consistent learning across the year group.
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The United Kingdom has outlined new measures to order to tackle the coronavirus pandemic which will affect everyone.
The vast majority of shops will close and police will intervene on gatherings of more than two people. People are only allowed to leave their homes for essential travel to work, food shopping and to exercise once per day.
Many people are now fearing the effect of a lockdown on their mental health?
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Today is the first day of school closures in England, after it was announced by the Government last week.
Schools are now only open for children of key workers. Meanwhile, the vast majority of children need to be educated and entertained at home.
But how can parents work from home and provide support for their kids at the same time? And what defines a key worker?
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Many parents are unsure how to entertain their children following school closures announced on Wednesday.
The decision has crated an uncertain time for parents and pupils. Many parents do not want education to cease.
But how should you keep children occupied during the period, and how can you ensure education continues? This blog post is the top 10 educational games to keep children occupied.
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The Government has announced plans for UK schools to close on Friday. However, some will stay open to protect the most vulnerable pupils.
The move reverses a decision made on 12 March to keep schools open which had attracted some criticism. Scotland and Wales made the decision to close earlier on Wednesday, with England following suit later in the day.
But prompt the decision for UK schools to close, and what does it mean for summer exams?
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Governments are announcing plans for school closures around the world. But with online learning, school can contingency plan for closures and ensure safeguarding is achieved.
Yesterday, the UK Government released details for a ‘Coronavirus Bill‘ which will be put before the House of Commons today. There are rumours that more significant measures could come into effect this Friday as a result.
But what could the Coronavirus Bill mean for schools? And how should school contingency plans be informed and support by online learning?
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Home education could be set to take centre stage in the UK as the coronavirus outbreak continues to affect schools here and around the world.
Today, the UK Government released fresh guidelines so that schools know what to do with pupils who show symptoms of Covid-19.
But what should a school do with the suspected pupils? What happens to the pupil and staff that they come into contact with, and how can home education help?
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A number of universities are changing their teaching strategies as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The UK Government decided on Thursday to keep schools and universities open for the foreseeable future. But this decision has attracted some criticism.
With an increasing number of UK students coming into contact with the virus, universities are taking a number of different measures to ensure their running. But what are these measures and how can online learning help?
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A teacher has come up with a novel way to ensure children wash their hands thoroughly during the coronavirus crisis – and her response has gone viral.
Shauna Woods, 29, a teacher at Hallsville School in Missouri uses a stamp with the inscription, “Ms Woods” to keep her name on books. Now she puts the stamp on the hands of pupils, to ensure hands are washed for long enough for the stamp to be removed.
Have you had a similar idea to encourage pupils to wash their hands thoroughly?
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The coronavirus crisis is having an impact all around the world. In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in 14-day isolation after his wife tested positive. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is being tested after an aide tested positive.
The Government response has varied from country to country; varying from complete lockdowns, air travel bans, school closures and the postponements of major sporting events. Yesterday, the UK Government made the decision against widespread school closures, but the move has attracted some criticism.
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The UK has made the decision for schools to remain open in the face of the Covid-19 coronavirus, despite widespread school closures in other countries affected by the virus.
The decision came as a shock to some, following the Republic of Ireland’s decision to close all schools and colleges until 29 March, earlier in the day.
But why has the Prime Minister made this decision, and are some school closures in the UK still likely?
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Learning at home may become the new norm as the coronavirus closes schools around the world.
290 million pupils are facing weeks at home. Widespread closures are already in place in Italy, China and Japan – and the UK could soon follow suit.
Further, hundreds of schools were closed last November due to flooding. A large number of homes were flooded as a result of heavy downpour last month too. But what should your school do with students’ education in these circumstances and how practical is online learning?
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As the coronavirus badly affects many countries around the world, nations are turning to virtual classrooms so that education can be maintained.
Concerns have been raised that the illness could force school closures and delay GCSE and A-level exams in the UK.
But does the education system have to shut down, and what are the benefits of virtual classrooms?
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Headteachers of UK schools are preparing contingency plans for the coronavirus crisis in schools. Further closures are expected, with the impact felt around the world. The Daily Mail reported this morning that 290 million children are facing weeks at home as 13 countries have shut schools.
Iran have announced the decision to close schools until Persian New Year. This event is followed by national holidays, which means classroom will remain empty in April. This follows decisions to close schools across Italy and Japan.
Headteachers in the UK are liaising with educational professionals in the worst hit countries, with schools in Hong Kong and China currently educating students through online learning. In this blog post we’ll explain the latest on coronavirus in schools.
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The government has updated its advice on schools for when the coronavirus hits the UK more significantly.
Last week we informed you that a number of UK schools had closed on a precautionary measure after coronavirus cases were identified locally. We also reported that schools are seen as a social hub of the community, and can therefore be prime location for the epidemic to spread.
Today, the UK government – along with the parliaments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – have announced a coronavirus action plan, to detail how the country will deal with the virus.
But what does the plan entail and how will it affect schools?
