The    
                                                                                   Early Years
                                                                                                                   Team
                                                    st
                DfE and Early Years Update – Tuesday 1     March 2022 
               DfE
               Update on the DfE COVID-19 helpline
               Following the Prime Minister’s Living with COVID-19 announcement on Monday 21 February, the UK 
               Health Security Agency (UKHSA), accessed through option 1 of the DfE COVID-19 helpline, will be 
               decommissioned from Friday 1 April 2022. The UKHSA advice service was introduced to provide 
               advice to education and childcare settings on the action they should take to respond to positive cases
               of COVID-19 in their setting.
               The DfE COVID-19 helpline will continue to be available to answer your questions relating to COVID-
               19 in education, childcare and children’s social care settings. 
               Early Years 
               Science in the Park
               Scientists from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University are joining forces to 
               provide a range of exciting family friendly activities at Wollaton Park on Saturday 5th March for the 
               return of Science in the Park and visitors can also visit the Titus exhibition.
               Finding out the secrets of the amazing colour changing octopus, getting up close to an electric racing 
               car, checking out Wollaton Hall’s Natural History Museum and making a sweet cannon are just some 
               of the interactive activities on offer for budding scientists at this year’s Science in the Park event.
               Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore the Hall, including its Natural History Museum.
               Date: Saturday 5th March
               Time: 11 am – 2.30pm (last entry – event closes at 3pm)
               Free entry
               https://wollatonhall.org.uk/science-in-the-park-2022/?fbclid=IwAR0md3-fS-
               Aqk36xHOxshIy38FsDopuADt2Pp2kRDrWssZF0xuTCfSL4_bU 
               Autism Team Training session:  Places are still available on ‘Introducing Visuals in the Early Years’ 
               Thursday 24th March 3.30pm -5pm see flyer on the link for details and cost. Also, please note booking
               should be made via the Autism Team (email on flyer).
               The full bulletin is below, which, as always we would encourage you to read.
                       GOV.UK 
        www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/earlyyears/cpd-training/                  @Earlynottingham                       
                                                                                                               
                                                    
                                                         The    
                                                        Early Years
                                                                                        Team
               Department for Education 
          This is your email to keep you updated on the government’s response to COVID-19. 
          If you have colleagues who would like to receive this email directly, please ask them 
          to use this subscription form.
          Today’s email includes:
              help for school and college teachers, and families, to talk to pupils regarding 
            the Russian invasion of Ukraine
              information for secondary schools on how to apply to take part in the 
            Education for Wellbeing research programme
              information for schools on attendance best practice webinars
              an update on the DfE COVID-19 helpline
          Help for school and college teachers, and families 
          to talk to pupils regarding the Russian invasion of 
          Ukraine
          We believe schools and colleges are well equipped to handle any questions they 
          may be receiving from pupils or students regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 
          however, the Education Hub contains some useful advice and resources for schools 
          and colleges. This may also be useful for families and young people themselves. 
          Apply to take part in the Education for Wellbeing 
          research programme for pupils in year 7, 8 and 9
          Emerging evidence indicates a significant impact on children and young people’s 
          mental health as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The DfE is looking to support 
          young people by building the evidence base around different interventions to 
     www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/earlyyears/cpd-training/                  @Earlynottingham                       
                                                                        
                                              
                                                   The    
                                                  Early Years
                                                                                  Team
         improve the mental health and wellbeing of school pupils. Mainstream secondary 
         schools in England are encouraged to get involved in this work.
         The Anna Freud Centre is looking for schools to apply to take part in their Education 
         for Wellbeing research programme, to implement and evaluate a range of mental 
         health interventions for pupils in years 7, 8 and 9. 
         Participating schools will get support from leading experts in child mental health, 
         mental health and wellbeing training for selected school staff, and £1,000 
         remuneration for their time.
         To find out more about the programme, including whether your school is eligible and 
         what is required, please see the information available on Education for Wellbeing or 
         complete the online expression of interest form. Eligible schools will be selected on a
         first-come first-served basis, so apply now.
         For further information, please contact the Anna Freud Centre.
         Webinars for schools on attendance best practice
         School attendance best practice webinars are now underway. This series focusses 
         on how a range of schools across the country, have maintained or improved their 
         attendance levels, and the approach they have taken. 
         Details on our upcoming webinars and how to register are below: 
             Thursday 3 March at 4pm  – Wheelers Lane Technology College, a local 
           authority maintained secondary school in Birmingham
             Wednesday 9 March at 4pm  – Studio West, an 11 to 19 studio school in 
           Newcastle upon Tyne
             Thursday 17 March at 4pm  – St Giles School, a community special school in 
           Nottinghamshire
             Wednesday 23 March at 4pm  – Brook House Primary School, a primary free 
           school which is part of the Lion Academy Trust in Haringey
     www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/earlyyears/cpd-training/                  @Earlynottingham                       
                                                                
                                             
                                                  The    
                                                 Early Years
                                                                                 Team
             Thursday 31 March at 4pm  – Abbey School, an academy special school 
          which is part of the Nexus multi-academy trust in Rotherham
         All webinars will be recorded and shared through the improving attendance good 
         practice for schools and multi-academy trusts web page. This page will also be 
         updated with recent attendance best practice blogs and links to the work of the 
         Behavioural Insights Team. 
         Update on the DfE COVID-19 helpline
         Following the Prime Minister’s Living with COVID-19 announcement on Monday 21 
         February, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), accessed through option 1 of 
         the DfE COVID-19 helpline, will be decommissioned from Friday 1 April 2022. The 
         UKHSA advice service was introduced in September 2020 to provide advice to 
         education and childcare settings on the action they should take to respond to 
         positive cases of COVID-19 in their setting.
         The DfE COVID-19 helpline will continue to be available to answer your questions 
         relating to COVID-19 in education, childcare and children’s social care settings after 
         the UKHSA advice service is decommissioned.
         The information below has not changed since our last update 
         Department for Education guidance
         Our guidance to support education and childcare providers, local authorities and parents 
         during the COVID-19 pandemic can be accessed using the links below: 
             Guidance for early years and childcare providers 
     www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/earlyyears/cpd-training/                  @Earlynottingham