Coronavirus (COVID-19) workforce fund for schools (update)

Funding to support schools facing significant staff absences and financial pressures with the costs of staff cover for the period from 22 November to 31 December 2021.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) workforce fund to support schools with costs of staff absences from 22 November to 31 December 2021

Guidance setting out the eligibility criteria and claims process for the COVID-19 workforce fund for schools. It applies to:

• primary, secondary and all through maintained schools, academies and free schools
• 16 to 19 academies and maintained schools
• maintained special schools, and special academies and free schools
• non-maintained special schools
• pupil referral units
• alternative provision academies and free schools
• maintained and academy hospital schools

Registered independent special schools and independent schools delivering alternative provision are also eligible to claim for staff they employ to support pupils whose placements are funded from local authorities’ high needs budgets.