This updates includes:
Changes to measures and guidance for managing COVID-19 in education and childcare settings from Friday 1 April
On Tuesday 29 March, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, set out the next steps for living with COVID-19 in England from Friday 1 April.
Free COVID-19 tests will continue to be available for specific groups, including eligible patients and NHS staff, once the universal testing offer ends on Friday 1 April.
Updated guidance will advise:
The population now has much stronger protection against COVID-19 than at any other point in the pandemic. This means we can begin to manage the virus like other respiratory infections, thanks to the success of the vaccination programme and access to antivirals, alongside natural immunity and increased scientific and public understanding about how to manage risk.
For education and childcare settings from Friday 1 April:
Reminder for education and childcare settings on distributing existing stocks of self-test kits
Now that regular asymptomatic testing in mainstream education and childcare settings is no longer advised, you may have surplus stock of self-test kits that are no longer required.
UKHSA will issue further communications in due course about how to manage any excess stock of test kits from Friday 1 April. Please do not hand out any test kits to staff, pupils, or students unless advised by your local health protection team, local authority or director of public health. Expired stock is classified as municipal waste and may be disposed of with other waste.
Important and exciting conference at Coram Campus in London to Start from the Child and explore the continuum of learning and development from birth to seven years of age
Change to the Childcare Regulations to extend the application window for those who are planning to start a new job or return to work from parental leave.