D&T Association Covid-19 Member Briefing

Published 20th March 2020

Dear members, friends and colleagues

With the ever-changing landscape around Covid-19, we wanted to update you on the actions that the Design and Technology Association is taking to maintain as close to full service as possible to our members, business partners and friends in these difficult times.

We have been working for some weeks to make sure that should the time come, we could maintain services with all staff working remotely from the office. With PM Johnson’s announcement in his briefing held earlier this week, that all unnecessary personal contact and travel is to be avoided, we made the switch to remote operation on Wednesday.

As a member/partner you should see no difference in how we operate. The main switchboard is still being answered and all email addresses are active. Our objective is to support teachers and schools as we all concentrate on the task of setting stimulating and engaging remote learning in the coming weeks and months.

It will be no surprise for you to hear that we have cancelled all face-to-face courses planned from now, initially until the end of May. If you have booked on a CPD course scheduled to run before the end of May, we will be in contact to rebook you onto a replacement course within the autumn term as soon as.

I should point out that we have moved almost 80% of our previously chargeable online resources to be ‘free with membership’ since January. We have today moved another 20 resources into the free category as we seek to assist teachers being asked to create additional e-content in response to school closures from this Friday. Our lines remain open for schools wishing to join as members to gain access to the wealth of content now available, we are on the end of the line (01789 470007) and Email (membership@data.org.uk) to support members faced with delivering online learning with resources available from KS1 through to GCSE.

These are indeed difficult and unsettling times; our objective is to continue to support teachers to deliver high-quality design and technology learning to their students while at the same time continuing our drive to connect schools, departments and students with business and industry.

Please look after yourselves and stay safe.

Warmest regards

Tony Ryan,

Chief Executive Officer