Covid-19 Campaign: Providing Remote Education for Disabled Pupils

Welcome to our November Covid-19 Campaign briefing and Call to Action!

This briefing covers:

• Campaign news
• What we want you to do: Remote Education Survey
• What does ALLFIE want to do?
• Easy to Read version

Campaign News

Firstly, we would like to thank everyone who has supported ALLFIE’s continued campaign work in upholding Disabled students’ right to inclusive education during these challenging times. Since lockdown, we have focused our lobbying activity on how Disabled pupils are missing out on compulsory education because they are excluded from remote education or alternative curriculum activities.

We are pleased that the Government has now begun to take on board the notion that schools have a duty to provide remote education for children affected by Covid-19 restrictions. It is vital to note that the duty covers all Disabled pupils with or without education and health care plans.

Consequently, we now have a real opportunity to make sure that the Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, uses his powers to direct schools to provide remote education for pupils affected by Covid-19 if they failed to do so for Disabled pupils.[1]

The Department for Education have very limited good practice guidance to help schools comply with their duties to provide remote education for Disabled pupils.

What do we want you to do? Remote Education Survey

Please complete our Remote Education Survey

It’s been six months since the Covid-19 restrictions were put in place. We now want to know whether schools, colleges and universities are doing a better job in providing remote education for Disabled pupils who can engage with appropriate support in a meaningful manner.

If you are a Disabled pupil and want to share your experiences with us, please contact Simone Aspis on simone.aspis@allfie.org.uk or 07856 213 837. We will need to get permission from your parents if you are under 18.

We would like to hear from you if:

• You are a parent of a Disabled child where remote education is not working well.
• You are a parent of a Disabled child where remote education has improved or has worked well right from the start of the Covid-19 paramedic
• You have up-to-date experience of using the virtual learning platform of the National Oak Academy or a similar institution.
• You have a Disabled student’s experiences of remote education.

Please complete our survey

What Does ALLFIE Want To Do?

The Secretary of State for Education has the power to ensure that schools comply with their duties to provide remote education.

We want the Secretary of State for Education to use his powers where necessary to direct schools to provide remote education for all pupils affected by Covid-19 restrictions.

We would like to share good remote education practices with the Department for Education, with the aim of helping them to develop relevant guidance for schools.

We will therefore be asking your permission if we can share your experiences with the Department for Education to help them carry out their regulatory role and share good practice with schools, colleges and universities.

Easy to Read Version

We want to thank everyone who has supported our campaign to solidify Disabled students’ right to mainstream education during the Covid-19 outbreak.

With lots going on, we decided to focus on Disabled people’s access to education using their computers and tablets at home. This is called remote education.

Call to Action

We want to know if you think your school is doing a good or a bad job in helping your Disabled child to learn at home with a computer or tablet. Please complete our Remote Education Survey

The Government has changed the law so that schools must provide remote education for all children, including Disabled children, if they are affected by Covid-19.

We want to know what you think about remote education, learning from home if you are meant to be in college or university?

With your consent, we want to share your remote education experiences with the Department for Education.

We want the Department for Education and Government to:

• Use the law if Disabled children are not receiving adequate support with remote education.
• Share examples where schools, colleges and universities are doing a good job

Contact

You can contact me on simone.aspis@allfie.org.uk or 07856 213 837

References

[1] The Alliance for Inclusive Education. (2020). Coronavirus Vital Education, Training and Childcare Provisions: Remote Education. Retrieved from: https://www.allfie.org.uk/news/briefing/coronavirus-vital-education-training-and-childcare-provisions-remote-education/