Coronavirus Update

For the most up to date information on Coronavirus please see below from the Department of Education.

Department for Education

Where to find the latest information

Translation of guidance for parents and carers on early years providers, schools and colleges in the autumn term

The guidance is now available in the following languages:

The information below hasn’t changed since our last update. 

The Department for Education coronavirus (COVID-19) helpline is available to answer questions about coronavirus (COVID-19) relating to education and children’s social care.

Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline by calling:

Phone: 0800 046 8687 Opening hours:

Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm

Guidance for parents and carers: keeping children safe online

We have updated our information for parents and carers to include a section on keeping children safe online. It provides links to online resources that will help support parents and carers in keeping their children safe online. 

Full details can be found in section 6.3 of the guidance for parents and carers on the closure of educational settings: 

Updated guidance for schools about temporarily closing

We have updated our guidance on the temporary closure of schools to include more information on areas including social distancing, vulnerable children and working with other schools. 

You can read the guidance at: 

Update and correction: Guidance for public bodies on paying commercial suppliers

Further to the publication of Cabinet Office guidance for public bodies on paying their suppliers, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) have now been published alongside the procurement policy note. 

Correction: The previously advertised mailbox for queries from educational settings was incorrect, please forward any previously submitted questions to PPN0220.QUESTIONS@education.gov.uk. We apologise for any inconvenience. 

Full details of the procurement policy note can be found here: 

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The information below has not changed since yesterday.

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Collection of guidance for educational settings on GOV.​UK

All of the Department for Education’s coronavirus guidance for educational settings can now be found in one place on GOV.​UK at:

Our main guidance for schools, the ‘school closures guidance’, will be regularly kept up-to-date. Any new advice for schools on specific issues, such as food, exams or safeguarding, will be linked from it: 

Handwashing advice

The most important thing individuals can do to protect themselves is to wash their hands more often, for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water. Public Health England recommends that in addition to handwashing before eating, and after coughing and sneezing, everyone should also wash hands after using toilets and whenever you return home. 

The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found here:

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
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday), 10am to 4pm (Saturday to Sunday)

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

Please keep your GIAS contacts up to date

Please take this opportunity to review your contact information in Get Information About Schools (GIAS). 

To update your record, please go to the GIAS home page, “Sign in” using your “DfE Sign-in” credentials and select GIAS from your available services here: 

Government coronavirus action plan

The government coronavirus action plan sets out what the UK has done to tackle coronavirus (COVID-19), and what we plan to do next.

The situation is constantly reviewed and action informed by expert science and advice, guided by the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Scientific Adviser.

The action plan can be found here:

Action plan recap

The action plan sets out a four-phased approach in response to coronavirus – Contain, Delay, Mitigate, and Research, based on the latest scientific evidence.

The current emphasis is on the Contain and Research phases, however planning for Delay and Mitigation is already in train.

As part of the Contain phase, we have been providing advice to educational settings in England. We also launched a DfE helpline to manage the flow of increasing queries, from providers parents and young people.

How to wash your hands properly

Wash your hands more often for 20 seconds with soap and hot water.

Public Health England recommends that in addition to handwashing before eating, and after coughing and sneezing, everyone should also wash hands after using toilets and travelling on public transport.

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
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)

Please note, we are currently experiencing high volumes of calls and apologise for any wait that you may experience. Your call will join a queue and we will answer as soon as possible.

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

Updates on COVID-19:

Educational resources:

Latest Department for Education information:

Please keep checking for further updates