Covid

Health bosses given more leeway to bring back masks in school corridors

Government changes language on face coverings in contingency framework guidance

Government changes language on face coverings in contingency framework guidance

The government has changed its policy on face coverings for pupils going to school.

Local health bosses can now recommend the return of face masks in communal spaces of schools in areas where infection rates spike, new guidance states.

It replaces guidance that stated local directors of public health could advise the use of face coverings in communal spaces where the local area had been offered an “enhanced response package” by government, or in areas with “enduring transmission”.

The change means public health directors will have more leeway to bring back masks in communal areas without having to be in an “enhanced” response area, or suffering high Covid rates over a long period.

The Department for Education has updated its contingency framework for education and childcare settings.

The guidance previously stated that reintroduction of face coverings in both communal areas and classrooms could be advised for individual settings to manage outbreaks or for schools across areas offered an enhanced response package or with “enduring transmission”.

The updated guidance remains the same for face coverings in classrooms and for individual school outbreaks, but has been updated for the use of masks in communal areas.

These can now be recommended if a school is in an area of “high or rapidly increasing prevalence”, where increased lateral-flow testing and “actions to increase vaccination uptake” are also being advised.

It comes after Schools Week revealed last month that a growing number of councils have reintroduced Covid restrictions in schools as case rates rise in their areas.

Attendance data for the week before half term showed the huge variation in disruption across the country, with Covid-related absence ranging from 0.6 per cent in one London borough to 22 per cent in Swindon, Wiltshire.

Latest education roles from

Group Director of Governance & Company Secretary

Group Director of Governance & Company Secretary

New City College

Principal (Harrow College) – HRUC

Principal (Harrow College) – HRUC

FEA

Deputy Director of Apprenticeships

Deputy Director of Apprenticeships

Manchester Metropolitan University

Independent Non- Executive Director (INED)

Independent Non- Executive Director (INED)

League Football Education

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

Retire Early, Live Fully: What Teachers Need to Consider First

Specialist Financial Adviser, William Adams, from Wesleyan Financial Services discusses what teachers should be considering when it comes to...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

AI Safety: From DfE Guidance to Classroom Confidence

Darren Coxon, edtech consultant and AI education specialist, working with The National College, explores the DfE’s expectations for AI...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

How accurate spend information is helping schools identify savings

One the biggest issues schools face when it comes to saving money on everyday purchases is a lack of...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Building Character, Increasing Engagement and Growing Leaders: A Whole School Approach

Research increasingly shows that character education is just as important as academic achievement in shaping pupils’ long-term success. Studies...

SWAdvertorial

More from this theme

Covid

DfE was ‘confident’ over Covid testing plan to keep schools open – rather than closures

DfE permanent secretary tells the Covid Inquiry mass testing would have been 'executed really well' in January 2021 -...

Ruth Lucas
Covid

Williamson texted PM he was ‘f****d over’ by Covid decisions

Covid inquiry sees expletive-riddled text sent by Gavin Williamson to Boris Johnson over school closures and catch-up tsar's appointment

Ruth Lucas
Covid

Covid inquiry unearths more school pandemic ‘chaos’

And former education secretary says he was given just one day to plan for closing classrooms

Ruth Lucas
Covid

DfE Covid lockdown party may have gone on past 1am

Staff swiped out of Sanctuary Buildings 34 times after 10am on night of party, 8 times after 1am

Samantha Booth

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *