The Department for Education has confirmed that from 15 June, FE settings should open college buildings to more young learners.

The guidance says that to help reduce the coronavirus transmission risk, the number of learners attending at any one time would be limited to a quarter of those on the first year of a two-year 16-to-19 study programme.

It adds that remote education should remain the predominant mode of learning during this time.

The guidance says: "All FE settings including FE colleges, sixth form colleges, independent training providers (ITPs) and local authority providers should continue to prioritise on-site provision for vulnerable learners (including those at high risk of becoming NEET – not in education, employment or training) and the children of critical workers. Young people who have been attending special post-16 institutions should continue to do so. 

"For 16 to 19 learners who are in the first year of a 16 to 19 study programme, FE settings can offer some direct contact to support remote learning."

Long read: Autumn GCSEs 'could be very disruptive for FE'

More: Colleges to reopen from 15 June, government says

Background: Guidance on reopening colleges safely

The government says that from 15 June, FE providers should offer some face to face contact for 16 to 19 learners on the first year of a study programme, “as part of a combined approach in which remote education remains the predominant form of education”.

This, it stresses, would be “subject to a limit of a quarter of these learners being on-site at any one time”.

The guidance states: “Our overriding principle is that the focus should be 16- to 19-year-olds on the first year of a 2 year programme and that total numbers attending at any one time should not exceed a quarter of this group, allowing for learners in this group already in attendance.

“This is in addition to vulnerable young people and children of critical workers outside of this cohort who might already be in full-time attendance.”

The government stressed there would be flexibility around who would attend, but this was “subject to that overall limit”. Face-to-face provision could, for example, include learners within a class that are over 19. “If these learners attend on-site delivery, the maximum number of 16- to 19-year-olds attending on-site at any one time must be reduced to ensure the setting remains within the overall limit.”

The guidance also says that some 16 to 19 learners who were due to finish this academic year but have not been able to because their assessments have been deferred can be included in on-site delivery, but are also included within the limit.

“16- to 19-year-old apprentices are on a study programme, and we expect them to be treated consistently for their off-site training with other learners (16- to 19-year-olds on the first year of an apprenticeship are included in the number eligible, and any who attend a setting are included in the maximum number attending at any one time)”

The guidance also says: “Some learners may be on extended programmes, for example, because they are studying part-time, alongside caring responsibilities or had to retake exams or part of their programme. If they are part way through a study programme and have key exams and assessments next year, they can be included, provided the total number of students attending at any one time at the setting does not exceed the number described above as a proportion of first-year learners.”

According to the government, special post-16 institutions “will work towards a phased return of as many young people as can be safely catered for in their setting”.

In order to balance onsite and online delivery, the guidance says that colleges "may consider the following issues, within the constraint on overall numbers": "types of study where providers have found it more challenging to engage learners in their online offer and learners that require on-site provision in order to undertake technical instruction which requires the use of equipment and the impact on the risk of transmission".

"Where remote education is working well with high engagement, colleges may wish to maintain a larger element of online delivery and that it may be advantageous to offer all learners some face to face contact, even if to varying degrees," says the guidance. 

To determine what level of attendance is appropriate, colleges and other providers should conduct risk assessments to understand the number of learners and staff likely to attend, whether they can be safely accommodated, the availability of teaching and non-teaching staff and required ratios, support services required, and what measures will need to be in place to accommodate additional numbers.

“We will ask settings to implement a range of protective measures including increased cleaning, reducing ‘pinch points’ (such as at the start and end of day), and utilising outdoor space. Any additional costs arising from wider opening, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) will be funded from existing college budgets.

"Staff and learners, alongside everyone in the wider population, are eligible for testing if they become ill with Covid-19 symptoms, as will members of their households. A negative test will enable learners and staff to get back to their education. A positive test will ensure rapid action to protect their classmates and staff in their setting.”

The government says colleges and other providers should consider how learners travel to and from education settings, and learners should be encouraged to walk, cycle or drive where possible.”

In his statement on Sunday, prime minister Boris Johnson said that secondary schools and colleges should start to provide face-to-face support for Year 10 and Year 12s from 15 June, despite previous guidance for the sector stating the 1 June as the earliest reopening date colleges should plan for. 

A government statement at the time said: "Secondary schools, sixth forms and colleges will provide face-to-face contact for Year 10, Year 12 and equivalent 16-19 further education students to help them prepare for exams next year", but added that this would begin slightly later. 

"It is expected this will begin from 15 June, with around a quarter of these secondary students in at any point." 

Bill Watkin, chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, said: “Remote learning has been very successful during the lockdown period, and our members have reported very high levels of attendance and engagement. The opportunity to augment this with face to face contact is welcome and colleges will – if safe to do so – be opening their doors along the lines outlined in today’s guidance from 15 June. In many respects, ensuring that students can actually get to college is a bigger challenge than safely increasing the amount of face to face education they receive. The government must look at the transport funding available to students and institutions to ensure that every young person that needs to can reach college safely and affordably."