Department for Education coronavirus helpline

The Department for Education coronavirus helpline is available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline as follows:

Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)

If you work in a school, please have your unique reference number (URN or UKPRN) available when calling the helpline.

Core guidance

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children’s social care
• Actions for early years and childcare providers during the COVID-19 outbreak
• Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) contingency framework for education and childcare settings
• Action list for schools and an action list for early years and childcare providers must follow in the event that a child or young person displays symptoms or if they confirm they have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Use of free early education entitlements funding during COVID-19
• Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable
• Safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care
• Conducting a SEND risk assessment during the coronavirus outbreak
• Early Years ITT requirements and supporting advice 
• Guidance on protective measures for providers of community activities, holiday or after-school clubs, tuition and other out-of-school settings offering provision to children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 

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Wales

The Welsh Government has published a series of guidance for schools and childcare settings.

• Education and childcare: coronavirus
• Guidance for childcare and playwork: coronavirus
• COVID-19 workforce risk assessment tool: guidance
• Childcare, playwork and organised activities action cards: coronavirus
• Childcare and play: frequently asked questions

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Scotland

• Early Learning and Childcare COVID-19 monthly updates

The Scottish government’s Coronavirus (COVID-19): early learning and childcare services has been updated (6 January 2022) to include:

• A revised approach to self-isolation for high risk contacts from 6 January 2022 taking account of the latest advice and progress with the booster programme;
• The addition of a new section on vaccination;
• Update to the self-isolation exemption for public services as this only applies to those people who were isolating before 6 January 2022, given the changes to the self-isolation policy;  
• The section on testing has been revised to reflect the latest advice; and
• An addition to the section on cleaning practices covering sand.

Education Scotland’s Covid Education Recovery guidance includes updated guidance including self-isolation and testing FAQs.

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Northern Ireland

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance for School and Educational Settings in Northern Ireland
• Latest COVID-19 guidance from the Department for Education