Coronavirus: DfE sets up helpline for schools

Schools can call government helpline with any ‘education-related questions’, DfE says
2nd March 2020, 5:21pm

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Coronavirus: DfE sets up helpline for schools

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/coronavirus-dfe-sets-helpline-schools
Coronavirus

The Department for Education has set up a dedicated “coronavirus helpline” to provide support for school leaders and teaching staff.

The helpline is intended to complement the advice provided by Public Health England, and will offer guidance to anybody with “education-related questions”.


Coronavirus: 10 things schools need to know

Related: How to keep teaching if schools are closed

Outbreak: Ofqual braces for exam disruption risk


A DfE spokesperson said: “We have set up a dedicated helpline for parents, teaching staff and education leaders to provide advice and support on coronavirus.

“This line complements the advice being provided by Public Health England and the regular updates we have been sending to all educational settings since the start of February.”

The helpline will be open Monday to Friday, from 8am until 6pm. It can be reached by calling 0800 046 8687.

Last week, Ofqual said it was “working closely” with awarding organisations and the Department for Education to prepare for potential exam disruption in the event of a major coronavirus outbreak.

The regulator told Tes that trying to “put a label” on the situation is difficult as “so much as happened so fast”, but the smooth running of exams could be affected if a percentage of pupils are not able to sit the tests.

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