Update to higher and further education providers – COVID-19

SLC is providing advice to further and higher education providers following the update from the UK Government on its strategy to delay the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

We are working with education departments across the government to ensure a continuous service in our core functions. We are monitoring the situation and have contingency measures in place to ensure that our systems and processes are resilient.

We are taking practical steps to safeguard the welfare of our colleagues and protect against disruption to our business. This is part of our business continuity preparedness, and in line with updates to government guidance.

These steps may include:

• delivering services from alternative sites across the SLC estate
• maximising colleagues’ ability to work remotely
• additional requirements for planning engagement between SLC account managers and education providers

Update on the completion of spring term

One of the main questions raised so far has been around spring term dates.

Where a provider completes the spring term through online learning, we will count this a continuation of their existing mode of study. We will also take this to be at the level of intensity that the course was intended to deliver. We would not expect a mode of study or fee change CoC just because of the greater degree of online learning.