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Why are some schools closing over coronavirus? Will UK schools close over coronavirus?
(21 days later)
Some UK schools have closed over fears pupils and staff members may have been exposed to coronavirus after travelling abroad during the half-term break. Many countries are closing schools as part of their efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Others have sent pupils and staff home, as the illness continues to spread across Europe. So, what's happening in the UK?
However, Public Health England (PHE) says it is not advising schools to shut to stem the spread of the virus. Why is my child's school still open?
Why are some schools closing their doors? At the moment, the government is advising schools to stay open.
One academy chain chief executive told BBC News the decision to close one of his schools - Trinity Catholic College, in Middlesbrough - was primarily about the school's duty of care towards pupils and staff. But the government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, told MPs at a hearing on Tuesday afternoon that closing schools was still "on the table", as one of the measures that could be used to fight the virus.
Hugh Hegarty, head of the Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust, which oversees the closed school, said he had made the decision after 36 pupils and eight staff members returned from a skiing trip to Italy over half-term. The UK's approach is that children are not as vulnerable to the effects of coronavirus as adults.
"It's important people acknowledge that schools and other organisations have a duty of care to staff and have a duty of care to their children - and that is my paramount concern," said Mr Hegarty. The government is also concerned that closing schools would cause widespread disruption.
"The challenge for us was... the children had returned to school on Monday, so there had been the potential that the total school population had been exposed - even though it was minimal - to the potential risk and potential threat. Many parents - including much-needed NHS staff - would have to take time off work to look after their children.
"The decision was made to advise those parents who had children on the ski trip to self-isolate and the other students to remain at home until we commence a deep clean." And there are concerns that if grandparents - a vulnerable group - were drafted in to help with childcare, infected children could transmit the disease to them.
In Kidderminster, Worcestershire, the ContinU Plus Academy closed for the day on Wednesday after a staff member had been in "close contact" with a family member self-isolating following a trip to northern Italy. There are also fears that vulnerable children, such as those in danger of neglect, could be at risk if schools were closed for a long period of time.
William Martin Church of England Junior, Infant and Nursery School in Harlow, Essex, also closed on Wednesday after a staff member had returned from Italy. Could my child's school be closed?
Head teacher Gina Bailey said: "The school is closed for one day and it is purely as a precaution. The staff member is not displaying any symptoms of the virus." The government has the power to close schools.
But other schools have decided not to close following ski trips to northern Italy. On Monday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson met head teachers about the challenges facing schools as a result of the coronavirus.
At St Aldhelm's Academy, in Dorset, head teacher Jon Webb wrote to parents: "As it currently stands, we are not aware of anyone returning from the ski trip who are displaying symptoms that would cause us to have any concerns." "The most immediately pressing challenge is the difficulty in keeping schools open with growing numbers of staff having to self-isolate," head teachers' leaders said.
What is the official advice to schools? "It is likely that a number of schools will have to close because there are too few staff available to teach, support and supervise children."
PHE's medical director Prof Paul Cosford acknowledged schools had to take "difficult decisions given the complexity of the issues that they're facing". Exactly what action schools are asked to take may differ around the UK.
"Of course, schools have difficult decisions to take - a whole range of issues to take into account and we are able to talk to them about their specific circumstances and help them make the right decisions for them," he said. Keeping England's schools open is the "best course of action", Mr Williamson has said.
"But what I would say is that our general advice is not to close schools." In Northern Ireland, First Minister Arlene Foster has said that when schools shut it will be for at least 16 weeks.
Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there was "no blanket closure" for schools and the "goal was to keep schools open". And in Wales, schools closures have not been ruled out, with Health Minister Vaughan Gething saying "they could be "effective later on".
"If anyone has been in contact with a suspected case in a childcare or an educational setting, no special measures are required while test results are awaited," Mr Hancock told MPs. In Scotland, a number are closed for deep cleaning - a decision which some schools across the UK have also taken themselves.
"There is no need to close the school or send other students or staff home. But teaching unions have said the uncertainty of the current situation was causing "intolerable pressure" for schools.
"Once the results arrive, those who test negative will be advised individually about returning to education. Chris Keates from the NASUWT said "a lack of specific information for schools understandably has created a rising sense of panic".
"In most cases, closure of the childcare or education setting will be unnecessary but this will be a local decision based on various factors including professional advice." The National Education Union is calling for school closures "at least for some time and at least in some areas".
Head teachers in England should contact their regional schools commissioners should they need advice, he added. England's schools watchdog Ofsted has been given permission by the government to temporarily suspend all routine inspections of schools, further education, early years and social care providers.
Dr Bharat Pankhania, from University of Exeter Medical School, said: "If you have returned from the area of northern Italy that is currently in lockdown since 19 February, you need to self-isolate, as per the advice from Public health England and the UK government. Could exams be cancelled?
"However, there's no need for a school to close. There are consequences to closing schools. We don't know yet.
"It's disproportionate and it gives the wrong impression. It makes people extremely concerned, when there's no need to be." The current advice from all the exams watchdogs is that teachers and students should prepare for exams as normal.
Official government guidance for educational settings says if a pupil or member of staff is confirmed as having coronavirus, anyone who has been "in close face-to-face or touching contact, including those undertaking small group work (within 2m [6ft] of the case for more than 15 minutes)" should self-isolate at home, or within their boarding school dormitory room, for 14 days". In Scotland, where exams start earlier than the rest of the UK, the Scottish Qualifications Authority said there was no change to the exam timetable. It is currently due to run from 27 April until 4 June 2020.
Does parental pressure affect head teachers' decisions? All its deadlines for coursework, and other assessments, remain in place.
Some parents have expressed concern via social media about their child coming into contact with the coronavirus, particularly if fellow pupils have been away in northern Italy. The advice is similar elsewhere in the UK, with students, parents and teachers being told to prepare for exams and to keep across any updates.
But while some parents want to see schools closed, others do not want their child's education to be disrupted. England's watchdog, Ofqual, said: "Our overriding priorities are fairness to students this summer and keeping disruption to a minimum."
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "Schools listen carefully to the views of parents and they will obviously have regard to this feedback in making decisions over how to respond to any situation regarding coronavirus. What if someone at my child's school is ill?
"However, it is often the case that different parents will have different views over an unfolding event, so school leaders have to take this range of opinion on board, together with the views of other stakeholders, and make a judgement on what response serves the best interests of all pupils and staff." Schools are being urged to ensure pupils and staff wash their hands frequently. And they are being told to clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are touched regularly.
Could there be an impact on the exam season? Schools and nurseries are being told that anyone who becomes unwell with a new, continuous cough, or a high temperature should be sent home.
With the exam season coming up next term, some teachers, parents and young people may be worried about disruption to important exams. If pupils become unwell at school they should be isolated while they wait for their parents to collect them. Ideally, this should be in a room behind a closed door, with a window open.
But the exams watchdog Ofqual said it was monitoring the situation closely and students should not be concerned. If that's not possible, they should be moved to an area at least two metres away from other people.
"We routinely consider whether there are particular risks to the smooth running of exams and we are working closely with the exam boards and with the Department for Education," a spokesman said. While the advice is that overseas trips should be cancelled, domestic trips can go ahead, as long as fresh risk assessments have been carried out.
"We will update our existing guidance to reflect any specific arrangements schools and colleges should put in place if required. What if I want to keep my child off school?
"In the meantime, students should continue to prepare for the summer exams as usual and schools and colleges should ensure their contingency plans are up to date." The official guidance is that children should stay at home if they are unwell, to avoid spreading the infection to others.
Mr Barton added: "We would urge students who are studying for their exams not to worry about what may or may not happen with regards to coronavirus and to concentrate on preparing for these important qualifications." Otherwise, the advice is that they attend school as normal.
Under current rules, children can only miss school if they are too ill to go in or if parents have got advance permission from the school.
It is not yet clear what the situation will be for those parents who have decided to take their children out of school over concerns about the coronavirus.
Parents do have a right to home-educate their children - but if they are enrolled in a school, families can expect to be contacted by the school if they do not turn up.