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Who are the workers whose children can go to school? Who are the workers whose children can go to school?
(about 3 hours later)
Schools across the UK closed on Friday to the vast majority of pupils, possibly until September. Schools across the UK are now closed to the vast majority of pupils, possibly until September.
A small proportion of children will still be able to attend. A small proportion of children are still able to attend.
Can my children go to school? Which children can go to school?
Government advice is that all children should stay at home, if at all possible, from Monday. Schools, nurseries and childminders have been asked to provide care for those who are vulnerable - such as those with a social worker, or special educational needs.
But schools, nurseries and childminders have been asked to provide care for some children - those who are vulnerable, and those whose parents are key workers "critical to the Covid-19 response", who cannot be safely cared for at home. They are also open to children whose parents are key workers "critical to the Covid-19 response", who cannot be safely cared for at home.
Many schools have already been in touch with parents, but if you think your children qualify you can also contact your local authority. However, teaching unions have urged key workers to keep their children off school as well, unless it is "absolutely necessary".
Vulnerable children include those with a social worker or special educational needs.
A child's parent is a key worker if their job is considered critical to keeping the country running and/or fighting the spread of the virus. The government has published a list of key worker jobs:A child's parent is a key worker if their job is considered critical to keeping the country running and/or fighting the spread of the virus. The government has published a list of key worker jobs:
A child only needs one parent to be a key worker to be eligible to attend school. A child only needs one parent to be a key worker to be eligible to attend school. However, some have asked for evidence that both parents are key workers.
Which schools will be open? The aim is to provide support in school for an estimated 10% of pupils. But demand will not be evenly spread and some schools have much higher numbers of pupils to care for.
It is not clear which will remain open, but the government has suggested most children will be able to go to their usual school. What are children in schools doing?
The number of children likely to attend is unclear. Any impression that it is business as usual in schools is wrong.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said that in England the aim would be to provide support in school for an estimated 10% of pupils.
But demand will not be evenly spread and some schools have much higher numbers of pupils to care for.
The government hopes they will be open from Monday, but confusion over who is eligible could cause delays.
It's also not clear what hours the schools will be open, whether they will offer care outside normal school hours, and whether they will be open over the Easter holiday.
What will children in schools be doing?
Any impression that it will be business as usual in schools is wrong.
Head teachers will have to take a pragmatic approach when they know which teachers and which children are coming in.Head teachers will have to take a pragmatic approach when they know which teachers and which children are coming in.
There will be no curriculum to follow, no strict year groups and pupils of different ages mixing in class, or working on projects together. There is no curriculum to follow, no strict year groups and pupils of different ages mixing in class, or working on projects together.
Heads say there will probably be a lot of physical exercise and a big push to make the education on offer creative and engaging.Heads say there will probably be a lot of physical exercise and a big push to make the education on offer creative and engaging.
What about children staying at home?What about children staying at home?
The situation is very unclear.
Many schools have been setting up online learning, or preparing homework packs for children.Many schools have been setting up online learning, or preparing homework packs for children.
But this often depends on families having internet access and devices pupils can use. But the effectiveness of this depends on families having internet access and devices pupils can use, and also whether adults can supervise learning.
It may also depend on adults being able to supervise learning. When it comes to playing, the advice is that children can still go outside - with appropriate oversight - but must stay two metres apart from other children.
When it comes to playing, the advice is that children can still go outside - with appropriate oversight - but will have to reduce their social contact.
They could go for a bike ride, for example, with a friend but would have to remain two metres apart.
They should not take part in team games or share toys and should wash their hands regularly.They should not take part in team games or share toys and should wash their hands regularly.
How long are schools likely to be closed?
It is increasingly likely that schools may be closed until September, although nothing has been formally announced.
The peak of the virus outbreak is likely to be in May and June, after which most schools start to wind down.
Ultimately it will depend to a large extent on the effectiveness of measures to reduce the spread of the outbreak.
What will happen about exams?What will happen about exams?
Summer exams have been cancelled in England, Wales and Scotland. This includes GCSEs and A-levels in England and Wales, plus primary school national curriculum tests, known as Sats, in England. In Scotland, Highers and Nationals will not be going ahead.Summer exams have been cancelled in England, Wales and Scotland. This includes GCSEs and A-levels in England and Wales, plus primary school national curriculum tests, known as Sats, in England. In Scotland, Highers and Nationals will not be going ahead.
How will children be assessed instead?How will children be assessed instead?
Exams watchdogs have been working together on alternative arrangements for students who were due to sit important exams, such as GCSEs and A-levels.Exams watchdogs have been working together on alternative arrangements for students who were due to sit important exams, such as GCSEs and A-levels.
The Department for Education has announced that in England, teachers will be asked to submit the grade they believe the student would have received if exams had gone ahead, based on their performance in mock exams and classwork.The Department for Education has announced that in England, teachers will be asked to submit the grade they believe the student would have received if exams had gone ahead, based on their performance in mock exams and classwork.
The exam board will then combine this information with other relevant data, including prior grades, and produce a calculated grade for each student.The exam board will then combine this information with other relevant data, including prior grades, and produce a calculated grade for each student.
Students will be provided with these calculated grades by the end of July. If they are unhappy with the outcome, they will have the right to appeal, to sit the exams early in the next academic year, or to re-sit in the summer of 2021.Students will be provided with these calculated grades by the end of July. If they are unhappy with the outcome, they will have the right to appeal, to sit the exams early in the next academic year, or to re-sit in the summer of 2021.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also planning to award grades for equivalent exams on the basis of coursework, teacher assessment and prior grades.Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also planning to award grades for equivalent exams on the basis of coursework, teacher assessment and prior grades.
Have you been affected by the school closures due to coronavirus? Please get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you been affected by the school closures due to coronavirus? Please get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
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