Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with charities and other agencies to ensure that vulnerable children are identified and receive the support they require during the period of school closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are committed to ensuring the safety and protection of vulnerable children and young people, particularly during the current period. Vulnerable children include those who have a social worker and those with education, health and care plans. Schools and other education settings should continue to offer places to vulnerable children alongside the children of critical workers. We have also given leaders of educational settings and designated safeguarding leads the flexibility to offer a place to those children on the edges of receiving children’s social care support, who do not have an official social care status.

We have asked education providers to work closely with the local authority, and other organisations where relevant, to enable the identification of vulnerable children, and ensure they are offered an education place where applicable.

The department is in regular contact with charities and other agencies, particularly during this period. These organisations play a vital role and provide valuable feedback and insight that will help us to support vulnerable children at this time.