Part of Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Education, universities and childcare

Guidance for parents and carers, students and university students, teachers and educational setting leaders

In England:

• secondary school pupils and college students are tested twice a week at school or college
• nursery, school and college staff are tested twice a week at work
• everyone else can order rapid lateral flow tests to do twice a week, for example parents and carers
• pupils and students who are clinically extremely vulnerable should return to nursery, school or college from 1 April 2021

You can read more about changes to education in Scotland, changes to education in Wales and changes to education in Northern Ireland.

Popular content

• Order rapid lateral flow tests to do twice a week, for example if you’re a parent or carer
• Parents and carers - what you need to know

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Guidance and support

For parents and carers, including schools, childcare, nurseries

Testing

• Find out about doing regular rapid lateral flow tests on NHS.UK
• Test and Trace Support Payment: apply if you're the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate and you're taking time off work

What you need to know

• Parents and carers: what you need to know
• Out-of-school settings such as after-school clubs or tuition
• Apply for free school meals

Supporting pupil wellbeing

• Supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing
• Helping children learn from home
• Keeping children safe online
• Childcare bubbles

For university students, and people in higher or further education

Guidance for university students

• Office for Students website: student guide to coronavirus
• Returning to higher education
• How regular asymptomatic testing works
• Funding support for university students
• Student loans

Guidance for settings

• Guidance for higher education providers
• Guidance for further education settings
• Ordering home test kits for further education providers

Guidance on apprenticeships

• Guidance and support for apprentices
• Guidance for employers and training providers

Managing a school or early years setting

Testing

• Testing in schools and colleges
• Ordering home test kits for schools and further education providers

Exams

• Have your say: consultation on the alternative to exams
• Awarding qualifications in summer 2021

Managing a school or early years setting

• Running a school during coronavirus
• Running an early years setting during coronavirus
• Guidance for special schools and other specialist settings
• Out-of-school settings such as after-school clubs
• Managing public transport to school or college
• Recording attendance
• Free school meals

Working safely

• Contingency framework (not in place during the period of national restrictions)
• Safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care
• Safeguarding and remote education
• Face coverings in education

Funding and support

• Get technology support
• Get financial support

All coronavirus education, university and childcare information on GOV.UK

• Guidance
• News