19th July - Covid Unlocking How does this impact on schools?

In just under 2 weeks’ time, England is set to move in to step 4 of the road map out of lockdown. The education secretary confirmed that schools can ditch face masks, bubbles, and contact tracing measures.

This will be officially confirmed on 12th July 2021 but in the meantime, this is the guidance that we are aware of so far.

Bubbles

Schools can choose whether to keep these or not after the summer term it has been said. There may be some additional consideration around this for children who are vulnerable?

Face Masks

They will no longer be advised for pupils, staff and visitors in classrooms, communal areas of transport. Staggered start and finish times will also be no more!

Contingency plans

In the case of local outbreaks, schools are to be encouraged to prepare to reintroduce masks, bubbles, and protective measures. The impact of the delivery on education should be considered for these plans! Contact tracing NHS Test and Trace will have to directly contact children who test positive for COVID to establish who may be at risk of contracting the virus

Pupil close contacts

As of the summer terms, there will no longer be the need to self-isolate if pupils are told by NHS Track and Trace they have a positive result of COVID. Instead, if a PCR test is positive, then they will have to isolate.

Source: TES