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Coronavirus: When will schools reopen? Coronavirus: How will schools reopen fully?
(about 1 month later)
When schools reopen fully in England in September, the government wants teachers to keep classes or whole year groups apart in separate "bubbles". Schools are set to reopen fully in England in September, prompting questions over whether other parts of society may need to close to lower coronavirus risk levels.
New guidance has been published for England. There are separate plans for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Guidance on reopening has been published for England. There are separate plans for Wales, Northern Ireland and also Scotland, where schools are scheduled to return on Tuesday.
Who will be expected to go back?Who will be expected to go back?
Nearly all children of legal school age will be expected to return to class full-time in September to "start to reverse the enormous costs of missed education". Nearly all children of legal school age will be expected to return to class full-time in September (August in Scotland).
This includes those with special educational needs and disabilities, or who have been shielding during the pandemic. This includes those with special educational needs and disabilities, and those who have been shielding.
Initially, schools were told to adopt a ''bubble'' approach, with children split into smaller, fixed groups that would go in on rotation.
But guidance now suggests all pupils should attend school full-time.
Do I have to send my child back?Do I have to send my child back?
Attendance will be mandatory again from the beginning of the autumn term.Attendance will be mandatory again from the beginning of the autumn term.
Head teachers will be told to follow up pupils' absence and issue sanctions, including fines in some cases.Head teachers will be told to follow up pupils' absence and issue sanctions, including fines in some cases.
But what if there is a Covid-19 cluster at a school? Pupils must self-isolate and not attend school if they - or a close contact - develop symptoms or test positive for coronavirus.
If a school has a suspected coronavirus outbreak - with two or more confirmed cases within 14 days, or an overall rise in suspected coronavirus sickness absence - teachers will liaise with local health teams. Shielding has now been paused, but there may be occasions when some children are advised to shield for longer because of higher rates of coronavirus in their local area.
Children who remain under the care of a specialist health professional should discuss their ongoing care before September.
Could schools close again?
A whole school closure "will not generally be necessary" unless advised by health officials.
If a school has a suspected coronavirus outbreak, teachers will liaise with local health teams.
A mobile testing unit may arrive - focusing first on those in the affected child or teacher's class, followed by their year group, and then the whole school if necessary.A mobile testing unit may arrive - focusing first on those in the affected child or teacher's class, followed by their year group, and then the whole school if necessary.
A large number of pupils may be asked to self-isolate at home as a precaution, but the government says a whole school closure "will not generally be necessary" unless advised by health officials. If pupils can't come in, schools are expected to have a home-working plan ready to go.
Is there a link between opening schools and closing pubs?
Rising coronavirus infections suggest England is "near the limit" of opening up, the Chief Medical Officer has warned, meaning we may need to make trade-offs to ensure children can safely return to school in September.
Elements of lockdown easing have already been delayed, and some scientists advising the government have suggested pubs or other activities may need to temporarily close again.
Prof Graham Medley told the BBC that reopening schools would ''reconnect lots of households', so closing other networks may be required, and that was ''a matter of prioritising''. He asked: ''Do we think pubs are more important than schools?"
How will the school day work?How will the school day work?
Schools will be asked to return "to a broad and balanced curriculum," Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told the Commons. Schools are expected to teach a broad and balanced curriculum when they return.
They will be asked to minimise the number of contacts each pupil has during the day, by keeping classes or whole year groups apart in separate "protective bubbles" rather than practising individual social distancing.They will be asked to minimise the number of contacts each pupil has during the day, by keeping classes or whole year groups apart in separate "protective bubbles" rather than practising individual social distancing.
By law, schools must revisit and update their risk assessments before the autumn term starts, considering any extra measures needed.
Schools must:Schools must:
The government expects school kitchens to be open from September.The government expects school kitchens to be open from September.
What about getting to and from school?What about getting to and from school?
There may be staggered start and finish times to keep groups apart - although that should not reduce the amount of overall teaching time.There may be staggered start and finish times to keep groups apart - although that should not reduce the amount of overall teaching time.
Walking or cycling to school will be encouraged. Parents should not gather in groups at school gates or go on site without an appointment.Walking or cycling to school will be encouraged. Parents should not gather in groups at school gates or go on site without an appointment.
Public transport use should be kept to an "absolute minimum", especially at peak times.
Dedicated school transport services will be asked to:Dedicated school transport services will be asked to:
Schools will also need a process for staff and pupils to remove face coverings safely on arrival at school. Schools will also need a process for staff and pupils to remove face coverings safely on arrival.
What about breakfast or after-school clubs?What about breakfast or after-school clubs?
If possible these should resume in September, but the government acknowledges it will be "logistically challenging" and may take longer for some schools. If possible these should resume in September, but the government acknowledges it will be "logistically challenging" and may take some schools longer.
Children should ideally stay within their year groups or bubbles - but if this can't be done then schools should use "small, consistent groups" to minimise the risk of infection. Children should ideally stay within their year groups or bubbles - but if this can't be done, then schools should use "small, consistent groups" to minimise infection risk.
What else does the government say?What else does the government say?
Which children won't be back in class? Pupils should:
Pupils who are self-isolating will not be required to attend. Ofsted inspections will remain suspended for the autumn term - but schools may be visited to assess how the new arrangements are working.
This will be because they have had symptoms or a positive test result themselves - or because they are a close contact of someone who has Covid-19.
Children who have been shielding - because they or someone in their household are clinically extremely vulnerable - will be expected to go to school in September.
Shielding advice for adults and children is due to pause in England on 1 August - subject to a continued decline in virus transmission rates.
The government says it expects this will mean "most staff" can go back to school.
If rates of the disease rise in a local area, shielding advice will be introduced once again - but only while local rates remain high.
Children who are not shielding, but who remain under the care of a specialist health professional, should discuss their ongoing care before September.
Schools should offer remote learning to children who are self-isolating or temporarily shielding.
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