Getting children back to school

The Education Secretary has written an open letter to parents, reiterating that it is a national priority to get children back to school, and setting out the measures we have taken to ensure classrooms are safe for both pupils and teachers.

  • Teachers and other school staff have spent the summer months working tirelessly to make classrooms safe for a full return of pupils.
     
  • In his letter to parents, the Education Secretary highlighted the advice from all four of the UK’s chief medical officers, who said that as the risk of contracting coronavirus in school is very small, it is far more damaging for a children’s development, health and wellbeing to be away from school for any longer.
     
  • Schools have put safeguards in place to ensure both students and staff are kept as safe as possible, including:
    • Primary children will stay in groups to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
    • In areas of local restrictions, older children and staff will wear face coverings in communal areas where they can’t easily socially distance.
    • Strict hygiene and cleaning protocols are in place and PPE is being distributed to every school, along with a small number of home testing kits for anyone who develops symptoms and is not able to easily get tested.
    • Local authorities have been given an extra £40 million to increase school transport to reduce pressure on public transport, and pupils who can are being encouraged to walk or cycle to school.
       
  • It is a national priority to get children back to school. Nothing will have a greater effect on the life chance of our children than getting back to leaning, back to playing and back to being kids again.

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