FE providers and schools have been asked to “play a role” in informing European staff about the government’s European Union (EU) Settlement Scheme, as Whitehall ramps up its no-deal Brexit planning.
In guidance issued to schools, colleges and apprenticeship providers, the Department for Education said further education providers should bring the EU Settlement Scheme to the attention of staff from the EU, European Economic Area (EEA), European Free Trade Area (EFTA) and Switzerland.
The guidance clarifies that in the event of a no deal exit, EU staff and their family members living in the UK before 29 March 2019 will be able to remain in the UK and work, study, and access benefits and services on broadly the same terms as now.
However, the guidance says if they plan to continue living in the UK after 2020 they must apply for the EU Settlement Scheme, and the deadline for this would be 31 December 2020 in the event of no deal.
The document also reiterates that colleges’ European Social Fund funding will be underwritten by the UK government and that Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps projects “currently contracted continue being delivered”, and applications are submitted to the UK National Agency for the 2019 Call for Proposals as normal.
