Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers

When will colleges reopen? 

This @EducationGovUK operational guidance provides further detailed information on new arrangements and responses to questions for organisations delivering further education including general further education colleges, sixth form colleges, and other providers.

David Hughes, CEO, AoC, said:

“Tonight’s guidance will help colleges to make the right decisions in the best interests of their students, whilst maximising the safety of staff. We are advising every college to make their own decisions on their assessment of priorities, needs, the context in which they operate and individual risk assessments and we are confident that is what the Government wants.

“I am pleased with the hard work which our member colleges are doing with us to develop a framework of principles which embed compliance with safety standards and ensure a safe return for all students and staff.”

It is time to start bringing some of our children back to school in the interests of their welfare and education. This will be done carefully and in a phased way.https://t.co/FIsjTetY9d

— Gavin Williamson (@GavinWilliamson) May 15, 2020

The guidance relates to the announcement made by the Secretary of State for Education on 18 March 2020 regarding cessation of classroom delivery for most learners due to outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19). It also covers wider areas as announced subsequently. The guidance will be updated and expanded as further information becomes available and in response to questions from colleges and other providers.

On 11 May, the Department for Education published guidance on a phased wider opening of schools, colleges and nurseries and setting out actions for education and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening. Because the transmission rate of coronavirus (COVID-19) has decreased, we anticipate that with further progress, from the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, more 16-19 learners in key assessment years, in addition to vulnerable learners and the children of critical workers, will be able to attend further education settings. We are therefore asking schools, colleges and childcare providers to plan on this basis.

This means that from the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, sixth-form colleges should offer some face to face contact to learners in year 12, alongside their existing offer to vulnerable learners and the children of critical workers. Further education (FE) colleges should also offer some contact to 16-19 learners who are due to take key examinations and assessments next academic year along with those in priority groups. Further information on what this means in practice is included below, under section 1 on changes to delivery. Special post-16 institutions will work towards a phased return of more children and young people without a focus on specific year groups.

The focus on face to face contact is for 16 to 19 learners; we appreciate there will be some courses that include learners within a class that are over 19 (for example where learners have dropped out of school and restarted in college), providers may use discretion here within a focus that is clearly on 16 to 19 delivery.

We have been guided by the scientific advice at every stage. The latest scientific advice to government is that:

• there is scientific confidence that children and young people of all ages have less severe symptoms than adults if they do contract coronavirus (COVID-19) and that younger children are less likely to become ill at all with coronavirus (COVID-19)
• limiting the numbers of children and young people going back to school and college initially then gradually increasing numbers, guided by scientific advice, reduces the risk of increasing the rate of transmission
• colleges and other settings can make changes to how they are organised and put measures in place to reduce risks. We have provided advice to schools and other settings on the steps they should consider taking, this includes:
  • limiting the amount of contact between different groups of learners (such as smaller class sizes with young people and staff spread out more)
  • additional protective measures, such as increased cleaning and encouraging good hand and respiratory hygiene

We want to get all FE learners back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know how important it is for their mental wellbeing to have social interactions with their peers and teachers.

Guidance on Actions for education and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June 2020 was published by the Department on 11 May. We will provide all educational and childcare settings with further guidance and support to help them to prepare for wider opening over the coming weeks and continue to work closely with the sector.

Guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers and assessment organisations relating to the apprenticeships programme in response to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) is available.

Further information on the financial support that is available for different types of education, early years and children’s social care providers in England is available in Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children’s social care. This includes information on access to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) for furloughed workers and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA’s) response to the Cabinet Office’s Procurement Policy Note 02/20.

For colleges in significant financial difficulties, the existing support arrangements remain in place including short term solvency support through emergency funding

We are immensely grateful to providers for the vital role they are playing in supporting the national response to coronavirus (COVID-19). We recognise the significant efforts the vast majority of FE providers have taken to shift to delivering remote teaching and learning, and know that many have stayed open to support vulnerable learners and dependents of critical workers.

Changes to delivery

On-site provision should continue to be offered to vulnerable young people and the children of key workers in accordance with the published definitions, and this should have priority over other learning.

From the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, FE providers should offer some face to face contact for 16 to 19 learners on the first year of two-year programmes (e.g. a two year vocational course, equivalent to year 12 in schools), alongside the provision they are offering to priority groups.

This will primarily impact schools and colleges, but will also include a small number of Local Authority providers, specialist post-16 institutions and independent training providers.

We understand that there may need to be some flexibility in place due to the variety of learners and courses offered in FE settings, therefore:

• although the main face to face contact is for 16 to 19 learners, there may be some courses that include learners within a class that are over 19
• some 16 to 19-year-olds will have been due to finish this academic year, but not been able to because their assessments have been deferred (typically where they involve a license to practice). These learners can be included in on-site delivery if they would benefit from face to face contact;
• we will be expecting colleges and providers to treat 16 to 19-year-old apprentices consistently with other learners for their off the job training where possible and appropriate, so that they can be offered some face to face contact;
• in addition to colleges, this guidance also applies to the smaller proportion of 16 to 19 learners in other further education settings – including Local Authority delivery, Special Post-16 Designated Institutions and independent providers

In order to determine what level of attendance is appropriate within any of the options stated above, colleges and other providers should conduct risk assessments in order to understand:

• the number of learners and staff likely to be included in a learning space
• whether they can be safely accommodated in accordance with guidance to implement protective measures
• the availability of teaching and non-teaching staff and required ratios, including contingency plans should individuals be shielding or self-isolating
• supporting services required in increasing the number of individuals on-site (for example, catering) and how they can be safely provided
• what measures in addition to those that have already been undertaken during the current lockdown will need to be in place to accommodate additional numbers (including additional cleaning required of spaces and equipment following use)

Learners will need to stay within their new class/group wherever possible and we will ask settings to implement a range of protective measures including increased cleaning, reducing ‘pinch points’ (such as at the start and end of day), and utilising outdoor space. Any additional costs arising from wider opening, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) will be funded from existing college budgets. Staff and learners will be eligible for testing if they become ill with coronavirus symptoms, as will members of their households. A negative test will enable learners and staff to get back to their education. A positive test will ensure rapid action to protect their classmates and staff in their setting. Those who are clinically vulnerable, or are living with someone who is, should follow our protective measures guidance.

In line with implementing protective measures and reducing contacts, colleges and other providers should limit the attendance of learners in the setting at any one time and keep learners in small groups. They should also consider ways to minimise use of public transport to get to and from the FE provider at peak times in consultation with local authorities. We will be consulting with sector representatives in order to develop some ‘models’ of how this could operate, and this will be published along with further guidance for secondary schools and colleges and other providers in the week commencing 18 May.

The Department’s guidance on implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings contains detailed advice on:

• cleaning, including supplies of cleaning and handwashing products
• testing and tracing
• PPE
• what settings should do in response to a case of coronavirus being confirmed

We recognise that for some programmes, online learning will be working effectively with a high degree of learner engagement (while some families may, for example, include family members who are shielding and therefore learners are not able to physically attend). Colleges and other providers will have flexibility to decide the appropriate mix of online and face to face content for each programme, reflecting what will maximise learner engagement as well as supporting more vulnerable learners, and enabling the provider as a whole to minimise transmission risk.

For 16 to 19-year-old learners eligible to return, in balancing on-site and online delivery, colleges may consider the following issues:

• Which learners are most at risk of disengagement through online learning (typically at lower academic levels).
• Learners that require on-site provision in order to undertake technical instruction which requires the use of equipment.
• The impact on the risk of transmission (for example it may be easier to undertake instruction in outside settings or larger spaces). Some types of vocational instruction may be more challenging where they by their nature involve personal contact.
• Where online learning is working well with high engagement, colleges may wish to maintain a larger element of online delivery.
• It may be advantageous to offer all learners some face to face contact, even if to varying degrees.

Dependants of critical workers

Parents whose work is critical to the coronavirus (COVID-19) response include those who work in health and social care, in the education and children sector (including further education) and in other key sectors outlined in the critical worker list.

We recommend you ask for simple evidence that the parent in question is a critical worker, such as their work ID badge or pay slip. It would be overly burdensome on key sectors at this critical time to ask employers to write a letter on behalf of their employees.

Information on vulnerable young people

Vulnerable children and young people for the purposes of continued educational provision during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak are those across all year groups who:

• are assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, including children who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a looked-after child and are up to age 19
• have an education, health and care (EHC) plan up to age 25 and it is determined, following risk assessment, that their needs can be as safely or more safely met in the educational environment
• have been assessed as otherwise vulnerable by educational providers or local authorities (including children’s social care services), are up to age 19 and who are therefore in need of continued education provision. This might include children on the edge of receiving support from children’s social care services, adopted children, those at risk of becoming NEET (‘not in employment, education or training’), those living in temporary accommodation, those who are young carers and others at the provider and local authority’s discretion.

More information, including the expectations around attendance and encouraging attendance for different groups of vulnerable young people, can be found in Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

From the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, we will be asking colleges and other providers to invite increasing numbers of young people to return to on-site provision, alongside priority groups (vulnerable young people and children of critical workers). Special post-16 institutions will work towards a phased return of more young people without a focus on specific year groups. The government has set out guidance on staying alert and safe (social distancing) to help educational settings support safe provision for everyone who attends.

Many colleges and other providers have already taken steps to support vulnerable young people, and the children of critical workers who cannot be supported elsewhere, and we are grateful to providers for the vital role they are playing in supporting the national response to coronavirus.

Specifically, we are asking that colleges and other providers:

• continue to provide a safe space and encourage attendance: Being in an educational setting can be an important lifeline for many vulnerable young people, particularly where their needs cannot be met safely at home or where they may be at risk of harm.

• There is a continuing expectation now and throughout the period from the week commencing 1 June at the earliest that vulnerable young people – regardless of year group – will attend educational provision, where it is safe and appropriate for them do so.

• From the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, young people in returning year groups – including vulnerable young people – are strongly encouraged to attend their educational setting where possible, unless they are ill, or guidance says they should not attend.

• Providers are expected to follow the process set out on encouraging, enabling and monitoring attendance and following up on non-attendance, see Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

• We appreciate that decisions on attendance will likely be based on finely balanced discussions between the education provider, the parent/carer and others, including social workers, local authorities and other relevant professionals where applicable. The decision might be taken that the learner should attend the educational setting on a full-time or part-time basis, depending on the needs of the individual. We also appreciate that circumstances do change and therefore attendance decisions should be kept under review. For young people with an education, health and care (EHC) plan, colleges and other providers should ensure that existing risk assessments are up to date.
  • Where vulnerable young people are already attending educational settings, they should continue to do so. Where young people are currently not attending but attendance is appropriate, we expect providers and local authorities to consider how to encourage their attendance.
  • If it is not possible for a vulnerable young person to attend a provider due to public transport routes being closed, then providers should speak to the local authority to consider what alternative transport arrangements could be put in place.
• Make alternative arrangements: We are asking colleges and other providers that have been closed to work towards wider opening from the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, so we expect the number of colleges and other providers that are closed to decline. However, in the meantime if a college or another provider is closed, the provider should notify the local authority/social worker. Providers should work with the local authority to ensure that the vulnerable young people who normally attend can be found a place in another educational setting. Providers can also contact their local ESFA team to discuss wider opening and which other local providers it may be possible for them to work with.
• Keep in contact with all vulnerable learners: As per the existing guidance on vulnerable children and young people, all vulnerable young people continue to be expected and encouraged to attend educational provision where it is appropriate for them to do so. Colleges and other providers which are currently closed are being asked to work towards wider opening from the week commencing 1 June at the earliest.
• However, where it is not safe for vulnerable learners to attend, or vulnerable learners cannot be persuaded to attend education settings, colleges and other providers should maintain regular communication with social workers, vulnerable leaners and their families to ensure they know where their vulnerable learners are and that they are safe. Colleges and other providers should continue to encourage attendance where appropriate. The frequency of contact required will depend on the individual’s circumstances and needs and will be based on the assessment of risk. Social workers will remain in contact with vulnerable learners and their families, including remotely if needed.

Section 15 below is a collection of examples from providers who are successfully engaging vulnerable young people. It is intended to provide an opportunity for colleges and other providers to learn from each other’s emerging practice and develop their approach to engaging vulnerable learners in education.

Colleges and other providers should continue to comply with the Keeping children safe in education statutory guidance. There is further information on safeguarding in Coronavirus (COVID-19): safeguarding in schools, colleges and other providers.

Specific advice for learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

Supporting young people in general FE colleges

Young people up to the age of 25 with EHC plans in colleges and other providers should, like their peers, go back to college and other providers if they are in the target year groups, and where medical advice suggests they are not clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus.

For all young people with EHC plans , we would encourage colleges, other providers and local authorities to assure themselves that risk assessments remain current (see SEND Risk Assessment Guidance ). Colleges and other providers should encourage any learners to return to education settings, if the provider judges that this would be beneficial, for example where it is no longer sustainable for a student to be at home week-round.

We encourage colleges and other providers to pay particular attention to learners with EHC plans who are about to make a transition to another setting or to adult life, including those starting or finishing a supported internship. These learners may need some form of face to face transition, even if they are not attending their usual place of education.

We recognise that as some young people with SEND, whether they have an EHC plan or not, will need careful preparation for their return (for example, social stories to help with the transition, or routes round the college marked in Braille or with other meaningful symbols to maintain social distancing). The increase in attendance for those with EHC plans in target year groups may be gradual and take place over a period of time.

Young people in special post-16 institutions

Special post-16 institutions will work towards a phased return of more children and young people without a focus on specific year groups. More details will be published shortly.

EHC plans – temporary legislative changes

Coronavirus (COVID-19) may make it more difficult for a local authority or health commissioning body to secure or arrange all the elements of the specified special educational and health provision in an EHC plan as required by section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014. Due to the unprecedented circumstances presented by coronavirus (COVID-19), the section 42 duty has been temporarily modified, so that local authorities and health commissioning bodies can discharge this duty by using their ‘reasonable endeavours’. We have published detailed guidance on these temporary legislative changes.

The duty on education settings – including colleges and other providers – to co-operate with the local authority in the performance of its SEND duties remains in place. Close working and communication between all parties is a central element in ensuring that young people do receive appropriate provision.

Working together to safeguard young people

Colleges, other providers, social workers, local authorities and other professionals will want to work together to ensure adequate and appropriate arrangements are in place to keep in touch with vulnerable young people (whether they are attending provision, or not attending for an agreed or non-agreed reason).

Local authorities have the key day-to-day responsibility for delivery of children and young people’s social care. Social workers and Virtual School Heads (VSH) will continue to work with vulnerable young people in this difficult period.

Where vulnerable young people with a social worker do not take up their place in educational settings or discontinue attendance, the provider should notify their social worker.

If there are challenges contacting and engaging looked after children, providers should discuss concerns with their local virtual school heads (VSH) in the first instance.

Colleges and other providers are encouraged to share their lists of vulnerable young people who should be attending provision with their local authority.

It is particularly important for college and provider staff to work with and support children’s social workers and the local authority VSH for looked-after and previously looked-after children.

Colleges and other providers should continue to have regard to statutory safeguarding guidance on inter-agency working, set out in Working Together to Safeguard Children. Providers should also refer to Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019 and Coronavirus (Covid-19): safeguarding in schools, colleges and other providers.

Mental health

Many learners will be feeling uncertain and anxious and it is vital that they can still access the mental health support they need. Providers will need to consider their learners’ mental health and wellbeing and identify learners who may need additional support.

All NHS mental health trusts are setting up 24/7 helplines and seeking to use digital and virtual channels to continue delivering support during the pandemic.

Social connections, alongside exercise, sleep, a healthy diet and routine, are important protective factors for mental health. Resources to promote and support mental wellbeing are included in the list of online resources we have published to help children and young people to learn at home.

Public Health England have also published more extensive guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is providing £5m of additional funding for mental health charities (to support adults and children).

Digital support includes:

• an educational resource for adults about children and young people’s mental health, which is relevant for teachers, other professionals working with children, volunteers, parents and carers
• The Every Mind Matters platform from Public Health England has specific advice on maintaining good mental wellbeing during the outbreak
• The Association of Colleges has produced a coronavirus resource hub

Mental health is also covered in the interim safeguarding guidance, and the principles in Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) continue to apply. Below are some suggestions as to how providers have supported their learners with their mental health:

• Making effective use of remote one-to-one counselling.
• Encouraging young people to identify their own self-care strategies during this uncertain time; online resources can help with this. Some providers are running live mindfulness classes to improve learner wellbeing.
• Completing welfare checks at the start of each session to ensure that all learners are engaged and supported.
• PHSE lessons have been delivered remotely and focused on topics relevant to learners being at home, including mental health awareness, healthy living and online safety.
• There are many studies which have shown that doing physical activity can improve mental health. Sport England has enlisted 450 School Games Organisers to help deliver a programme of free daily digital content to help keep young people active.

Residential providers

We are expecting residential further education providers to keep their residential provision open where necessary, and decisions will have to happen on a case by case basis. It is especially important that residential providers remain open to those who have particular needs that cannot be accommodated safely at home, and those who do not have suitable alternative accommodation.

In collaboration with Public Health England and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), we have produced guidance on isolation for residential educational settings, including further education providers with residential accommodation and residential special colleges. This contains advice on managing the setting in the case of self-isolation or infection.

Funding

We recognise that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak carries financial implications for many providers, and we are working to make changes where we can. We set out below the flexibilities we are introducing to support grant funded providers to continue to deliver learning.

To help manage the financial implications, we can confirm that the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) will continue to pay grant funded providers their scheduled monthly profiled payments for the remainder of the 2019/20 funding year.

ESFA allocations for 2020/21 have been confirmed, and payments will be made in line with the national profile which will be confirmed in the relevant 2020/21 Funding Rules.

16 to 19 funding arrangements (grant-funded providers)

As we will use data from the 2019/20 academic year to calculate 16 to 19 allocations for 2021/22, the ESFA may need to apply a different approach to a number of elements within 16 to 19 funding. Where appropriate we will therefore use alternative data sources to calculate allocations for 2021/22 to ensure as far as possible that there is not a disproportionate impact on funding.

The retention factor

If learners are unable to complete their study programme as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) and are recorded as withdrawn in end-year data this could impact on the retention factor used to calculate 16 to 19 allocations for 2021/22. We will therefore review the data we use to calculate this as the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) becomes clearer.

In year recruitment of learners

We currently use the profile of recruitment throughout the year to determine the lagged student numbers used in 16 to 19 allocations. For providers who recruit learners later in the year rather than purely at the beginning of the academic year, and whose enrolment of new learners in the summer term will have ceased, we will determine a way to ensure this does not have an unfairly detrimental impact on future allocations. For example, we could still apply the current approach of identifying what proportion of student numbers were recruited after we take the initial data return in the autumn but use full year data from 2018/19.

Student prior attainment in English and/or maths GCSEs

Three elements within the 16 to 19 funding formula use students’ prior attainment in English and/or maths, namely:

• the condition of funding
• disadvantage funding – block 2
• level 3 programme maths and English payment

We anticipate that these will continue to be calculated as now following the alternative plans that have now been published to award grades to students in the absence of GCSE exams this summer, and so providers will still be allocated additional funding for young people with low prior attainment in GCSE English or maths. As further details are published for how the replacement for exams will work, we will consider these elements in more detail.

Funding to prepare for and deliver T levels

Allocations have been made to providers who will be delivering the first wave of T levels in 2020 to 2021 based on planned T level student numbers. We have already published the approach for applying a tolerance where enrolment of T level students is below the planned number.

Due to the lagged student number approach, where the level of T level students recruited means the tolerance would be implemented, only the numbers above the tolerance would be converted to a full-time band 5 student. Read more about the tolerance in the How T levels will be funded in 2020 to 2021 guidance.

We will monitor the suitability of this approach over the coming months as we get nearer to the introduction of T levels.

Industry Placement Capacity and Delivery Fund (CDF) 2019 to 2020

The unprecedented impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) has meant that it is currently extremely difficult for providers to continue to organise and deliver industry placements through the Capacity and Delivery Fund (CDF).

Given these exceptional and unprecedented circumstances, providers will not be penalised for missing specific CDF industry placement targets this academic year. Funding will not be clawed back if providers can demonstrate how the funding has and will continue to support your work on industry placement delivery. We want to make sure that providers are able to maximise the activity that they are able to carry out during this period to continue to support the delivery of placements, and to prepare to deliver placements in 2020 to 2021. Activities we would expect to continue to go ahead:

• continuing to build relationships with employers and developing engagement strategies for different industries
• preparing students for placements (such as through virtual training for work programmes)
• ensuring alignment between curriculum planning and industry placement provision
• developing matching processes for when students can go on placements again

We will ask for evidence of this through the usual autumn CDF monitoring process in order to minimise reporting burdens, and we will still look to claw back funding under the usual arrangements should providers fail to demonstrate they have continued to support the delivery of industry placements. Providers must avoid the risk of double funding. We will seek to claw back funding should providers furlough staff involved in these activities.

Free meals in further education

We expect further education institutions to continue to support students who are eligible for, and usually receive, free meals in further education, or are newly eligible, whether they are continuing to attend the provider or are studying remotely due to coronavirus (COVID-19) related issues. Read further guidance on free meals in further education funded institutions for 2019 to 2020.

High needs funding for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

Colleges and other providers will continue to receive from the ESFA allocations of high needs place funding (at £6,000 per place per annum) for the remainder of the academic year 2019 to 2020.

Local authorities will also continue to receive their high needs funding for the financial year beginning April 2020, and should continue to pay high needs top-up funding to colleges, special post-16 institutions and other providers at the rates they have determined. This will ensure that the institution’s employment and payment of staff supporting students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can continue. If placements for the summer term, and top-up funding, were anticipated but have not yet been agreed, the local authority should consider funding the institution on the basis of previous patterns of placements and commissioning, so as to make sure that the staff can remain in employment and be available for when the special provision is needed. Staff in institutions who support vulnerable students should also be available for redeployment if their services are needed elsewhere, or they can provide support in different ways. Co-ordination between institutions, and with local authorities, will be important in arranging this.

Adult education budget (AEB) and advanced learner loans bursary contract for services

For providers funded through a contract for service for AEB and Advanced Learner Loans Bursary, we will remove the financial year controls set out in the funding and performance management rules for 2019 to 2020.

This means we will pay any over delivery in the August 2019 to March 2020 period by utilising the April 2020 to August 2020 period funding, up to the full 12 month contract value. The commitment to fund delivery up to 103% of adult skills and 110% of traineeships contract values will still apply over the full funding year.

2019-20 Year-end claims forecast cancelled

The 2019-20 funding claims guidance requires providers with the allocations listed below to complete a year-end forecast funding claim:

• ESFA AEB – Adult Skills and Community Learning – grant-funded
• ESFA AEB – 19-24 Traineeships (procured)
• Advanced Learner Loans Bursary (ALLB) – grant-funded
• ESFA AEB – Adult Skills Learner Support – paid-on-profile (AEB procured)
• 16 to 19 Education

As part of the ESFA’s coronavirus response, the ESFA will now not require your organisation to complete a year-end claims forecast due in June 2020.

Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), adult education budget (AEB) funding (grant funded providers) and advanced learner loans bursary fund

Year-end reconciliation

For 2019 to 2020 only, the ESFA will not carry out the final reconciliation for grant funded providers in receipt of ESFA funded AEB (adult skills, community learning, learner and learning support and 19 to 24 traineeships) and the advanced learner loans bursary fund. These providers will be funded in line with the current agreement schedule with no clawback.

Providers must:

• continue to deliver learning online wherever possible including for ESFA funded AEB via existing subcontracting arrangements to support existing learners to successfully complete their courses/qualifications or retain evidence where this is not possible
• support furloughed workers to enhance existing or develop new skills

Where it is not possible to deliver online, for example where learning requires physical access to specialist equipment or materials, providers should keep and provide records of where this applies and keep evidence of efforts made to remain in contact with learners and prepare them for a return to learning in the future.

However, there will be exceptions for grant funded providers who had already forecast significant under-delivery in their mid-year returns for ESFA funded AEB and/or advanced learner loans bursary fund, in advance of the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19). ESFA will contact affected providers to discuss their forecasts and potential clawback. We also reserve the right to clawback funds where it can be demonstrated that a grant funded provider has not sought to continue delivery wherever possible online or otherwise, either directly or for ESFA funded AEB through their existing subcontractors.

When planning ESFA funded AEB allocations for 2021 to 2022, we will consider how we set a fair baseline given our default position would have been to use funded delivery in 2019 to 2020.

Advanced learner loans

With regard to advanced learner loans, the Student Loans Company (SLC) will continue to make scheduled fee payments to all providers with a loans facility. Providers must continue to inform the SLC if and when a learner’s circumstances change.

Devolved AEB

From 1 August 2019, the AEB is apportioned between the ESFA and 6 mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) and the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the ESFA is no longer accountable for administering AEB in those devolved areas. The MCA or GLA will be responsible for agreeing arrangements with their providers in respect of devolved AEB.

Data collection and recording

Disruption to training

It is our priority to support learners and providers to continue with their learning online during this period, ensuring that where breaks in learning are required, learners are able to resume their ‘classroom’ learning and continue to a successful completion, while maintaining quality.

Breaks in learning

ESFA funded AEB and advanced learner loans (including bursary fund) funding rules for 2019 to 2020 already make provision for ‘breaks in learning’ for a range of circumstances.

You and the learner can agree to suspend learning while the learner takes a break. This allows the learner to continue later with the same eligibility that applied when they first started their learning.

We are extending the current breaks in learning rules for ESFA funded AEB and advanced learner loans to:

• allow a break in learning at the learner’s request where a learner is self-isolating, or caring for others affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) and is unable to continue by distance learning and/or an online offer
• allow a break in learning to be recorded where a provider is unable to deliver because of the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on their own business and there is no possible delivery by distance and/or online learning

Where some learning aims have been delivered, this should be evidenced in the usual way. However, where a break in learning is now beginning or expected, providers should include these learners in their individualised learner record (ILR) submission and record breaks in learning as starting on the date of the last learning activity for the aim. It is likely that these aims will have been suspended knowing that it will be reviewed at stages over the coming months. Under no circumstances should the current planned end date be changed.

To record breaks in learning for coronavirus (COVID-19) reasons, providers should:

• include these learners in their ILR submissions
• record, retain and submit evidence in the usual way
• record a break in learning in their ILR submission
• ensure that the affected learners are not recorded as permanently withdrawn from their learning, by entering the ‘completion status’ field of the ILR as ‘6’, denoting that the learner has temporarily withdrawn from learning due to an agreed break in learning as a direct impact of COVID-19

Further information on data collection is included in reducing burdens on educational and care settings.

Ongoing learning

Due to the need to maintain social distancing, FE providers will continue to deliver much of their provision remotely. Over time, as restrictions are lifted, providers will begin to re-introduce classroom and workshop-based learning. For many learners, this will mean a transition from remote learning to blended learning (e.g. a combination of remote and traditional classroom, workshop or workplace learning).

Given resources are finite – estate, equipment and staff – the varied needs of different learner groups and courses will need to be balanced, providers will need flexibility in deciding the optimal mix of online and face to face content across their curriculum to maximise learner engagement, support vulnerable learners, and enable the provider as a whole to minimise the transmission risk. Providers will also need to take account of learners who may have family members who are shielding and therefore do not wish to physically attend.

Two DfE grant funded organisations – Jisc and The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) – are well-placed to advise and support colleges and staff regarding remote teaching and learning.

Support available includes free content, blogs, and community support. The ETF’s Enhance Digital Learning Platform offers free training to teachers in how to use technology to support the continuity of teaching and learning. ETF is also running webinars for FE providers on how to make the most of online learning.

Providers’ strategies for ongoing learning should be informed by the needs of teachers and students, and their respective home teaching and learning environments. Where possible, colleges and other providers should:

• Prepare staff on remote learning practice through bitesize/refresher training sessions focused on how to use college virtual learning environments (VLEs), communication tools and digital and non-digital resources.

• Use tools already available at your college including physical and digital resources, and how to make use of cloud storage systems (for example, Office 365 or Google G Suite). Ensure staff and students have log-in details and know how to access online content.

• Provide students with accessible guides on remote learning, focusing on where, when and how they are expected to engage and demonstrate their learning and how assessment and feedback will be delivered. Consider how to support disadvantaged learners.

• Consider provision for partnership working with the relevant agencies (including Health and Social Care) to help ensure support for vulnerable children and children with special educational needs and disabilities.

• Consider how you will deploy your staff to ensure safeguarding, Prevent and security policies are maintained. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides guidance on how to work from home while adhering to these policies.

• Consider lesson capture to allow students to dip in and out of lessons at their own pace.

• Be sensitive and adaptive to the wellbeing and wellness of both students and teachers, recognising that health and caring responsibilities will disrupt the teaching delivery and learning journey for individuals during the closure period. Jisc has produced a guide to the Digital Wellbeing of Learners which curates a number of resources and guides.

We understand that what providers can offer during this period will vary. Some colleges and FE providers have shifted much of their provision online and are delivering classes and other teacher led activity to a regular timetable. This is excellent practice if it can be reasonably maintained.

The local ESFA teams will also provide support and you can submit enquiries through the ESFA enquiries service.

Richard Atkins, the FE Commissioner (FEC), and his team of highly experienced deputy FECs and FE advisers have offered their services to college leaders that would like to talk through plans, concerns and issues. Our pool of National Leaders of Governance (NLGs) also stand ready to offer any support they can. If you would like to arrange a phone conversation between yourself and a member of the FEC team or a NLG, email FEC[email protected].

We continue to collect examples of good practice and will share these through our usual communications channels.

Support for young people unable to access remote education

On 19 April, the Secretary of State for Education announced new support for schools, colleges and young people to access remote education. 16 to 19 year olds in education without a suitable device and/or connectivity to study remotely, and whose family cannot afford these costs, will be eligible for support via the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund. Providers should consider supporting them, for example, by providing a device where necessary to access remote education.

As set out in 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guidance, decisions on support should continue to be made on the basis of an individual assessment, in line with bursary fund rules that all support must be based on individual circumstances and needs.

Providers should use their existing 16 to 19 Bursary Fund (and any spare resources from their FE free meals grant) to pay for this support. Where providers need additional resources to support young people to access education remotely, they should submit a business case to the ESFA setting out:

• the amount of bursary fund and/or free meals funding carried forward from previous years
• the amount of funding already spent in the 2019 to 2020 academic year
• the amount of funding already irrevocably committed but not yet spent
• the amount of funding the provider has available to support disadvantaged students, in line with the criteria above
• the number of students assessed as requiring additional support
• the support and funding the provider has assessed is required to support the needs of individual students, in line with the criteria set out in the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guidance

Local authorities will receive devices for children and young people who have a social worker or are care leavers. 16 to 19 education providers should work with local authorities to ensure that any students in these categories can access education and to ensure that support for them from the local authority and education institution is co-ordinated.

Supporting teachers to continue to deliver

Bringing more learners into FE settings will present new challenges to colleges and other providers. They will want to refocus their teaching staff to support learners to come back into the classroom where this is appropriate and sustain the online offer that they have developed to continue ongoing learning since the decision to close educational settings was taken. The current proposals mean that a relatively small proportion of learners will return to face to face learning in the first instance and online learning can continue for the majority of learners.

We know that this move will cause concern for some teachers who are having to shield or who have family members that are at risk. It is essential that in all of their planning, colleges and other providers continue to implement PHE advice on supporting those who are shielding or who are at risk. Teachers who fall into these categories should continue to be supported to take appropriate steps to protect themselves and their families including remaining at home should they need to.

Colleges and other providers will be planning how they can best reintroduce more learners into their premises alongside those vulnerable learners and children of key workers who are already present on site. We know that there will be aspects of provision that cause concern to teachers, for example, use of limited space in classrooms or workshops for teaching or specific assessments of learners’ competence. The guidance on social distancing will help colleges and other providers to make decisions about how to deploy teachers safely on their premises and to keep them safe when they are delivering face to face teaching or undertaking assessments that require practical demonstration.

We are confident that providers will be able to make this transition work for their learners and staff, so that education can continue to be delivered in the most effective and safe way. Specific guidance for educational settings on social distancing and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) will continue to be updated and should be used alongside this advice. What is most important is getting the balance right between the need for learners and teachers to be present onsite and making the best use of online teaching and learning. Any additional costs arising from increasing numbers of learners will be funded from existing college budgets.

Colleges and other providers will also be seeking to recruit new teachers to fill existing vacancies and support delivery in future. We know that this will be a challenge in the current circumstances, particularly as teacher recruitment often includes a demonstration of teaching in the classroom, however we are confident that providers can find ways to recruit teachers using online delivery and other assessment methods where appropriate.

Providers can still register for Round 3 of the Taking Teaching Further programme which is intended to support the recruitment of industry professionals to teaching roles in the FE sector. For those seeking support to recruit English, maths or SEND teachers we are still accepting applications for In-service ITE grants of £18,200, which are available directly from the department.

We have also provided advice to FE Initial Teacher Education providers to mitigate the disruption to teacher training where possible and enable as many new teachers as possible to complete their training where they have demonstrated they have met the required standard. This will mean that there will still be a cohort of newly qualified teachers able to take up employment for the coming academic year.

Support from your provider associations

Provider associations are also offering information and links to resources via their websites:

• Association of Colleges (AoC) can offer support and advice with questions relating to business continuity at [email protected]. AoC has also published guidance on governance
• Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has collated guidance and support
• Holex has produced a checklist for partially closing or closing an adult education centre
• Natspec is updating a regular briefing page
• Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) has an online learning hub with resources that will be updated on a regular basis

Traineeship flexibilities

The current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation means that many trainees are not able to carry out the work placement element of the programme due to social distancing measures and employers being closed or having ‘work at home’ arrangements that are not suitable for trainees.

We want to enable providers to continue to deliver where possible given traineeships will play an important part in re-engaging and supporting young people to get back into learning and work following the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Where flexibilities are used, providers should record this and retain it as evidence for audit purposes.

New trainees can start programmes during this period with programme aims adjusted in line with these flexibilities.

Reduced work experience duration

The unprecedented impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) has meant that it is currently extremely difficult for providers to continue to organise and deliver work placements within traineeships. We are therefore relaxing the required work placement duration.

If the trainee has completed more than 70 work experience hours AND the provider is satisfied that the learner has gained sufficient work skills, then providers can record the work experience learning aim as complete within the ILR and census returns during this temporary period of coronavirus (COVID-19) social distancing measures. This should be evidenced in the learner file. The trainee should continue with other traineeship learning aims via alternative methods such as online learning in order to complete these elements of their traineeship.

If the trainee has completed less than 70 work experience hours, or the provider is not satisfied with their progression, given these exceptional and unprecedented circumstances, providers will not be penalised for not delivering the required 100 hours for this academic year.

Providers should demonstrate how they have continued to support trainees to develop their work experience skills in the absence of a work placement in the learner file and we may ask for this evidence through monitoring processes. Activities we would expect to continue to go ahead:

• preparing students for work and/or work placements through alternative distance and online training that develops their skills for work
• continuing to build relationships with employers and developing engagement strategies for different industries for apprenticeships and other employment
• developing traineeship content that aligns with apprenticeship provision to facilitate smooth transitions from traineeship to apprenticeship
• developing matching processes for when students can go on placements again

These are temporary flexible measures that apply while learners are unable to undertake work placement activity due to social distancing measures.

Extended programme duration up to 12 months

It is our priority to enable providers to support learners to continue with their learning online during this period, until trainees are able to complete their traineeship.

During this period, providers can extend the traineeship programme duration up to 12 months where one or more of the following scenarios applies:

• the learner has not completed their qualification and basic skills learning aims including employability, maths or English
• the learner has completed less than 70 planned work experience hours
• the provider has assessed the learner as needing further work placement hours to complete this element of their traineeship

This flexibility is offered on the basis that the trainee undertakes online or alternative distance learning to complete other non-work experience learning and/or alternative work experience learning part of the traineeship where online learning is possible.

Where flexibilities are used, providers should record this and retain it as evidence for audit purposes.

Providers delivering traineeships funded by ESFA AEB can also refer to section ‘5b Breaks in learning’ of this guidance for coronavirus (COVID-19) related breaks in traineeship learning.

Impact on benefit claimants for extended programmes

People receiving benefits do not have to attend Jobcentre appointments for 3 months, starting from Thursday 19 March 2020. People will continue to receive their benefits as normal, but all requirements to attend the Jobcentre in person are suspended. People can still make applications for benefits online if they are eligible. Trainees in receipt of benefits should not attend the Jobcentre unless directed to do so for an exceptional purpose.

Benefit claimants therefore are eligible to participate in longer spells of learning in accordance with extending traineeship duration as part of this guidance – where the learning forms part of their traineeship, and where there are clear advantages in doing so, in relation to a claimant’s future job goals.

For more information see employment and benefits support.

Extending 16 to 19 study programme traineeships

Our funding guidance sets out that planned hours should not be changed after the qualifying period unless correcting an error or starting a new study programme in-year. However, we recognise that in the current circumstances some students may need more hours than originally planned in order to complete their traineeship programme.

Where learners need longer than originally planned to complete their traineeship programme, we expect, in most cases, stretching their existing planned hours over a longer duration should provide the flexibility providers need.

In exceptional circumstances, where a learner with part-time hours requires significant extra delivery, while they are unable to deliver work experience with an employer, providers can increase the planned hours. Providers should record where an increase of planned hours is required in the learner file and demonstrate the need for increased hours to ensure learners remain engaged. We may ask for this evidence through monitoring processes.

The planned end date must not under any circumstances be changed or extended within the ILR. Providers should continue to record the end date of the programme using ‘Learning Actual End Date’.

We expect providers to arrange alternative provision to cover the delivery that cannot take place. The alternative delivery needs to be above the already planned work experience hours as these cannot be funded again within the same time period.

This is a temporary measure that applies only in this period of social distancing and while students are not able to access work placement activity.

Extending 19 to 24 adult education budget and 16 to 18 traineeships without 16 to 19 study programme funding

Where learners need longer than originally planned to complete their traineeship, programme providers should stretch their existing planned learning aims over a longer duration.

The planned end date must not under any circumstances be changed or extended within the ILR. Providers should continue to record the end date of the programme using ‘Learning Actual End Date’.

Additional funding demand in 2020 to 2021, as a result of the programme’s actual end date extending from the original planned end date in 2019 to 2020, may impact on the availability of growth in 2020 to 2021 if there is not sufficient budget available to support demand. It is your responsibility to ensure you meet the cost of trainees that continue into the following year within your funding year allocation.

This is a temporary measure that applies only in this period of social distancing and while students are not able to access work placement activity.

For more information, we are publishing a traineeship addendum to the ESFA adult education budget funding rules 2019 to 2020 on 13 May.

Examinations and assessments

No exams will be taking place in schools and FE providers this summer.

Our priority is to ensure that learners and adult learners can move on as planned to the next stage of their lives, including starting university, college or sixth form courses, or apprenticeships in the autumn or getting a job or progressing in work.

Learners who were due to sit A level, AS level or GCSE exams this summer will receive a calculated grade, as set out in Ofqual’s guidance on awarding GCSE, AS and A levels, which includes the implications for non-exam assessment. Ofqual has consulted on aspects of the new system and will be publishing a response shortly.

There is a very wide range of vocational and technical qualifications as well as other qualifications for which learners were expecting to undertake final assessment and/or sit exams this summer. These are offered by a large number of awarding organisations and have differing assessment approaches.

On 9 April, the department and Ofqual set out further detail in relation to the approach to Vocational and Technical qualifications, and Ofqual consulted on these measures, their response to which will be published shortly.

As far as possible, vocational and technical qualifications used for progression to higher and further education will be treated in a similar way to GCSEs, AS and A levels, with learners receiving a calculated result. Similarly, learners due to take assessments for Functional Skills qualifications before the end of the summer will receive a calculated result.

For other qualifications, adapting assessment may be a more appropriate approach. But for some qualifications, for example those which have a narrow occupational focus, adapting assessments may not be appropriate. The department continues to work with Ofqual and the awarding organisations to agree, in these cases, what the best approach is to ensure that learners are not disadvantaged.

As part of supporting the exceptional arrangements for assessment and grading of vocational and technical qualifications and other general qualifications which Ofqual has announced, Ofqual has confirmed it will extend the regulation end date for legacy Functional Skills qualifications in English and Mathematics to 31 December 2020. This is to allow learners who are currently on these qualifications, but who are yet to certificate, an opportunity to complete their qualification. Once Ofqual has confirmed the certification end date has been extended on the Register of regulated qualification, we will similarly extend the validity and funding end dates for these qualifications for continuing learners on the Learning Aims Reference Service (LARs). It remains the case that new starts of these qualifications is not permitted.

We are aware that currently some awarding organisations (AOs) are not issuing formal certificates for learners who have achieved qualifications. We recognise the need for this to be the case as a result of logistical impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19), on AOs and consider completion confirmation emails to be a valid recognition of a learners’ completion of their qualification. The hard copy qualification certificate will be dispatched when the AO is able to do this. These completion confirmation emails should also show learner details, certification run date and unique number.

Ofqual and AOs are working through the detail, with further information to be issued in the coming days and weeks.

Regulation, accountability and audit

We have suspended routine Ofsted inspections and FE Commissioner Intervention visits and non-critical ESFA intervention. The Secretary of State for Education has allowed Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector to do this.

Guidance from Ofsted has confirmed that urgent inspections where specific concerns have been raised can still go ahead. This will allow Ofsted to prioritise the immediate safety of young people where necessary.

Qualification achievement rates

As part of steps taken to fight the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), the government announced that all exams due to take place in schools and colleges in England in summer 2020 are cancelled, and that it will not publish any school or college level educational performance data based on tests, assessments or exams for 2020.

The Department for Education will not hold schools/colleges to account on the basis of exams and assessment data from summer 2020 and data will not be used by others, such as Ofsted and local authorities, to hold schools/colleges to account. Further information can be found at Coronavirus (COVID-19): school and college performance measures.

Audit

Prior to the Prime Minister’s announcement of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions on Monday 23 March 2020, we made the decision to pause the start of any new routine funding audits for all post-16 providers for the short term, as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We have now extended this pause to cover the period for, at least, the duration of the lockdown.

Where funding audits and investigations were already in progress, we have sought to complete the work, taking into account providers’ capacity to resolve any issues. We understand the challenges providers face as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and have been sensitive to these challenges when contacting providers.

It may be necessary for the ESFA to contact providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in order to continue to maintain effective oversight and protection of public funds. Where such contact is necessary, we will continue to be sensitive to the challenges providers face as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19).

We will continue to monitor and review the situation in the light of the circumstances. When the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions are reduced and there is a return to office-based working across the country, we will assess when it is appropriate to restart routine funding audits.

Alternative evidence for wet signatures

It is expected that where providers already have a digital/electronic signature process, they must continue to utilise their existing processes in accordance with the respective funding rules above for 16 to 19, adults and apprenticeship learners.

A wet signature is created when a person physically ‘marks’ a document. Where a provider has no digital or electronic systems and processes in place to capture a learner or employer signature, then under normal circumstances a wet signature is required for recruitment and evidence of continuing learning.

It is recognised that providers delivering training and/or recruiting learners during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will experience difficulty in obtaining learner and employer wet signatures. Therefore, for the funded programmes listed above, where providers do not have systems and processes in place for electronic/digital signatures, during the Covid-19 restrictions, we will allow confirmation / evidence to be obtained through email as detailed below.

For the purpose of audit evidence, we expect a record of acknowledgement or adoption of a genuine electronic message or document. Acceptable alternative evidence includes:

• an email from the learner and/or employer email address with details of the confirmation and their typed name at the end of the message
• a typed name on an electronic form or document emailed from the learner and/or employer
• a signed scanned document attached to an email from the learner and/or employer
• a photo taken on a camera/digital medium of the signed document attached to an email from the learner and/or employer

We are allowing providers to use this type of electronic confirmation (as detailed above) during the period of restrictions due to coronavirus (COVID-19) only where no other usable digital or electronic processes exist. This is not to be used as alternative evidence as part of the provider’s business as usual process once the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions are lifted.

Following the period of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, providers using the above alternative evidence must resume their usual process for obtaining wet signatures on relevant documentation. Providers must ensure that all alternative evidence replacing wet signatures received during the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions is genuine and irrefutable, and the evidence is retained for audit purposes.

Governance

Holding meetings online or by telephone

Some FE and sixth form college corporations, and other providers which are charities, may not be able to make amendments to their governing documents to allow for board meetings online or by telephone, rather than face to face. We recommend following the Charity Commission advice to record your decision to proceed with other ways of meeting in the interests of good governance.

Using reserves and restricted funds

We recommend that FE and sixth form college corporations, together with other providers which are charities, read the Charity Commission guidance on using reserves to cope with the current crisis. The guidance also tells you about the limitations on using any restricted funds.

European Social Fund

For European Social Fund (ESF) provision, the following easements have been agreed.

Delivery postcode for remote learning

The managing authority has confirmed that where delivery is occurring remotely, ESF providers can now use the postcode of their physical base within the local enterprise partnership (LEP) area relating to the contract as the delivery postcode recorded on the ILR. This means that where remote delivery is taking place that is now falling outside the LEP area relating to the contract, it will be considered eligible.

Evidencing remote enrolment and remote learning

Currently projects must have wet signatures from participants, on both enrolment forms and any contact sheets, demonstrating they are in receipt of support and to declare relevant information. The ESF managing authority recognises that this is not possible given current social distancing measures. Therefore, ESF providers can, from 1 February 2020, provide participant verification by alternative means, such as email.

28 Day progression requirement

It is a requirement of the ESF programme, that all programme progression related deliverables are achieved within 28 days of leaving the ESF programme. This timeline starts when all ESF funded intervention / activity has ceased. Providers may wish to consider how they utilise non-regulated activity to continue to engage and support learners regularly during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Contract extensions

It is still our intention to extend ESF contracts to March 2023, where funding is available and with consideration to contract performance. It is planned to action this as part of the April 2020 performance management process. This is currently in development, along with the associated timelines which we will share as soon as possible. We are proposing to implement a simplified and streamlined process to minimise the burden and input required from the provider base during this challenging period.

External audit testing

The Government Internal Audit Agency (AS GIAA the ESF Audit Authority (AA)), has agreed that all provider level (AA based) audit testing, relating to ESF provision, funded through the ESFA, will be temporarily paused until the current restrictions are lifted. This extends beyond physical visits to cover remote audit testing approaches, based on the wider potential impacts. We will update providers in due course regarding the resumption of this work, as it continues to constitute a key requirement within the current regulatory framework.

Compliance and performance reviews

Compliance and performance visits (unless previously agreed) have been suspended until further notice. This is in recognition of the difficulties in accessing physical documentation and premises currently.

Broader support to the community

Further education providers are major community institutions and have greater capacity and organisational resilience than smaller schools.

We know a number of colleges have already taken steps to support vulnerable learners, or the children of critical workers who can’t be supported elsewhere.

This is a hugely valuable contribution; colleges have a vital role to play in holding communities together and supporting our broader national response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Remember that, if your organisation is a charity, any help you provide for the national effort must be consistent with your organisation’s charitable purposes. If your organisation is a registered charity, see the Charity Commission guidance on how charities can help while keeping within their objects.

FE and sixth form college corporations which are helping the national effort in ways other than education, such as giving surplus food to a food bank or allowing key workers to use unoccupied student accommodation, are to be applauded for contributing in this way. Governors must be satisfied that such assistance is in their corporation’s interests, and does not create additional risk or significant one-off or ongoing costs to the corporation, and should record the basis for their decision.

Toolkit for engaging vulnerable young people

We have collected examples from providers who are successfully engaging vulnerable young people: both keeping in contact to ensure vulnerable young people working remotely are safe and engaging vulnerable young people in learning.

This information is intended to provide an opportunity for colleges and other providers to learn from each other’s emerging practice and develop their approach to engaging vulnerable learners in education.

Keeping in contact with vulnerable learners

Providers have found that the most effective method of communication can vary by learner, but could take place via telephone, video call, email, text or social media. In some cases, providers have reported that social media has been more effective than traditional channels, although appropriate safeguards must be applied.

Case study 1

The Education Training Collective have sustained a 100% engagement rate with vulnerable learners by their welfare and safeguarding teams, meaning that all vulnerable learners have remained in contact with the college throughout the lockdown. The welfare and safeguarding teams engage in weekly contact with vulnerable learners using many forms of communication: MS Teams, emails, text and phone calls. All feedback is then shared with relevant staff and the respective local authority. Safeguarding officers focus on ensuring that there is a multiagency approach to supporting learners in care, including holding virtual meetings with the local authority and key professionals.

Case study 2

Hugh Baird 14-16 College has focused on having named Teaching and Learning Assistants (TLAs), who learners know from college already, regularly contact vulnerable learners. Learners are expected to be online at specific times for each subject, and attendance is chased by telephone contact from the TLA.

Vulnerable learners are also monitored by Tier 2 support, non-teaching support staff with specific roles around supporting the young people, and Tier 2 support may get in contact with vulnerable learners and their parents/carers about specific issues. Tier 2 staff can also pull in wider college support as needed. The effective use of an online platform (Microsoft Teams) ensures prompt & efficient communication between staff. As a result of this system, Hugh Baird 14-16 College has been able to keep in touch with most vulnerable learners.

Andy Howard (Director of Curriculum, Young People), who devised the model said “the most important element of our work is to support and be there for our learners and in particular the vulnerable learners. The tiered model ensures all learners know that there is someone there who knows them and will support them as best we can.”

Case study 3

Nacro Education has responded effectively to the needs of our learner’s utilising a highly individualised set of blended learning interventions, including daily calls, hard-copy packs and online sessions. Nacro is currently working with a learner who is high needs with an EHCP and subject to a Youth Referral Order from the court. Over the last few weeks there have been challenges in maintaining engagement and support. The main focus of our involvement has been around safeguarding him from participating in risk taking behaviours or offending behaviours, which has involved regular contact with the Youth Offending Service, children’s services and with his mum to ensure she also has the support to be able to keep him in the home. The mum has thanked us for the support for this well-being and staying on track with learning, and said that this contact has also helped her mental wellbeing.

Case study 4

In addition to remaining open to vulnerable learners, Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC) undertake a weekly wellbeing call with all of their vulnerable learners and this is closely monitored. This practice has been in place since 24 March to support and safeguard the most vulnerable during this public health emergency.

The college has been able to maintain regular contact with the vast majority of their vulnerable learners. However, if contact is not established in any one week, the college undertakes a risk assessment and where appropriate conducts a home visit to check on the wellbeing of the student. If the vulnerable student has a social worker, it is also escalated to them to promote a holistic approach to safeguarding. The loop is closed the following week to ensure this triangulated approach is highly effective and no one slips through the net.

Nigel Brown, Director for Learners, said “The approach B&FC has adopted has been to prioritise the most vulnerable in these challenging times. Partnership working has been key in developing new systems that work across agencies to fully support our most vulnerable learners. I am genuinely proud of the swift adoption of new working practices demonstrating our continued commitment to outstanding student support and safeguarding”.

Some providers have put in place emergency phone numbers or email addresses for learners to use.

Some providers have found that bulk texts or messages may be an effective tool for keeping in contact with vulnerable learners and prompting engagement.

Innovative Approaches to Delivery of Remote Learning

Some providers have found that the creation of a virtual timetable can create structure and routine that may help vulnerable learners to engage.

Recorded classes enable learners to learn at a time that is convenient for them, which is particularly important for young parents and learners with caring responsibilities.

Some providers have used Microsoft Teams to create transcripts to ensure videos are accessible, and some providers have used direct video link ups to enable communication support work to continue to interpret lessons for learners with hearing impairments.

Case study 5

London South East Colleges has found that working remotely is a significant challenge when it comes to developing the communication skills of its most complex and vulnerable learners. Key to its approach has been the provision of emotional support for learners and their families. Feeling relaxed, safe and supported is crucial if young people are to continue developing skills within their home environment.

The team’s focus has been on contacting parents to provide them with a clear record of the progress their child has made this term and any outstanding goals. This includes ideas of how these goals can be met and sharing ways in which parents can encourage their child’s ongoing development. Response from families has been positive, with some requesting further information and asking for additional support. Many families are thankful for the insight into their child’s progress and appreciative of London South East Colleges’ forward planning for when things finally return to ‘normal’.

Case study 6

Skills Training UK promotes social mobility through apprenticeships and traineeships and continues to work with significant numbers of vulnerable learners with low levels of prior attainment. Skills Training UK have retained interest in both programmes through the accelerated development of a hybrid online learning, incorporating online lessons and interactive materials with live classroom delivery via webinar and 1-2-1 reviews undertaken by dedicated Trainer Assessors (Apprenticeships) and Tutors (Traineeships and Study Programme).

This approach has been welcomed by those vulnerable learners in regular attendance and at this point, their attendance rates on their courses remain consistent at around 74-78% depending on the subject area and courses being undertaken. Skills Training UK hopes that all learners will reflect the following feedback received last year: “I had a bad upbringing, lost my mother and didn’t pass my GCSEs. I enjoyed the course at Skills Training UK and was really happy with the Distinction. I’m proud of myself and a lot more confident now. I’m looking forward to the future.”

Providing Additional Support for Vulnerable Learners

Providers are considering how to help vulnerable learners that may be struggling to engage with online learning; some of these young people may need additional support.

Some providers have staff members, including IT staff, available to remotely answer question whilst learners engage in online learning, which can prevent learners disengaging.

Case study 7

South Devon High School, part of South Devon College, offers direct provision for 14-16 year olds. To support vulnerable young people that are struggling to engage with online learning, South Devon High School is using ‘academic coaches’ to provide daily support. These coaches work with the learner and their family to set small, realistic goals and can provide academic support such as giving feedback on work. This includes maintaining face to face contact through Microsoft Teams to maintain a personalised approach to support learners’ academically and pastorally. Academic coaches can also act as a go between for the learner and their teachers, signalling where learners might need extra academic support. This has resulted in a large increase in the online engagement of these vulnerable learners.

Case study 8

Nacro Education is working with looked after learners and care leavers to put in place social, emotional and developmental support alongside learning activities during what might be a very isolating time.

Nacro is taking a multi-agency approach to working with a learner in care. Nacro is in regular contact with the learner’s support worker and this forms part of the personal and social development checks. Nacro has also been in contact with the city council to help provide him with ICT resources for learning so he can keep up with his course, and with the Youth Offending Team (YOT) to share updates on progress and report any concerns. Nacro is also working as part of a multi-agency team to support the learner with his anxiety and other problems that have resulted from a lack of social contact during the lockdown.

Supporting Learners with SEND

Many providers have put in place specific support for learners with SEND.

Case study 9

The Weston College Inclusive Practice Team have produced a full timetable of weekly activities for their learners with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) and have found that levels of engagement have been high through the virtual platform. The new virtual timetable of activities is running Monday-Friday (9:30 – 3:30) and mirror, as closely as possible, the previous ‘in-college’ curriculum.

An example of one of these sessions involved learners and staff being taken through a virtual fitness workout and a virtual cooking session. A live demo walked the learners through a task to cook boiled eggs on toast for breakfast. The virtual timetable has been delivered using a range of methods (e.g. video, text and voice) and has played a vital role in keeping learners with SEND engaged in remote learning.

Case study 10

Activate delivers personalised educational and vocational programmes for young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities. To support learners to continue to progress towards their EHCP outcomes, Activate has set up a YouTube channel to try and recreate the normal timetable remotely. The videos on the YouTube channel are supported by a pack of resources delivered either online or physically, including adapted equipment where necessary. Activate has also supported around 15 learners with high sensory needs to buy specific apps that support their learning.

The college is providing education guidance to parents, which can include signposting to outreach services. Staff communicate weekly to ensure parents and learners well-being is also supported.

Increasing attendance in FE colleges and other providers: a checklist

On 11 May, the Department for Education published guidance on a phased wider opening of schools, colleges and nurseries and setting out actions for education and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening. Because the transmission rate of coronavirus (COVID-19) has decreased, we anticipate that with further progress, from the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, more 16-19 learners in key assessment years, in addition to vulnerable learners and the children of critical workers, will be able to attend further education settings. We are therefore asking schools, colleges and childcare providers to plan on this basis.

Provision would also continue for:

• vulnerable learners (as defined)
• children of critical workers (as defined) in any year group
• colleges are also asked to work towards provision for certain groups of learners, as identified in the Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers guidance published by the Department for Education.

This checklist is intended to provide support to colleges preparing their short term response to increasing attendance and face-to-face contact for some groups of learners. The list is not exclusive and should be seen as a set of guiding principles for college leaders and governing bodies to assist their decision making when approving their detailed plans for extending attendance of learners in their college. The checklist outlines considerations that need to be taken account of in order to ensure that appropriate assessment of risk has been taken to secure the safety of learners and staff, as well as ensuring that due consideration has been given to any wider impact on the college’s area and community.

Implementation of the checklist may well have financial implications; care must be exercised to ensure these are taken into account with due regard for the impact on the college’s overall budget and financial position. Regular updates should be provided to the Education and Skills Funding Agency ESFA territorial teams as appropriate.

Given the varied nature of colleges it is not possible for the government to be prescriptive and provide a blueprint that could apply to every college. A tailored approach, within these guiding principles, will be required to ensure an approach that is practicable, safe and which meets, as far as is possible, the needs of the learners, staff and wider community. This guidance will not be exhaustive and there may be particular circumstances which necessitate the consideration of factors not covered here.

It is recognised that many college leaders and boards have already been scenario planning for this eventuality, taking measures to risk assess and prepare in general terms, whilst awaiting further detail of proposals. This guidance aims to further assist preparations.

Guidance documents that this should be read in conjunction with this are:

• Working Together to Safeguard Children
• Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
• Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): safeguarding in schools, colleges and other providers

In addition the following documents published on 11 May provide updated information:

• Press notice
• Actions for educational and childcare settings
• Implementing protective measures in education childcare settings
• Information for parents and carers

Further guidance will be published as appropriate.

Colleges should also be aware of support and advice that may be available from trade associations, and the Health & Safety Executive.