Guidance

Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak

What all schools will need to do during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

From:
Department for Education
Published
2 July 2020
Last updated
24 February 2022 — See all updates

This publication was withdrawn on

Guidance on emergency planning and response for education, childcare, and children’s social care settings is available.

Applies to England

Documents

WITHDRAWN: Schools COVID-19 operational guidance - February 2022

PDF, 1.65 MB, 15 pages

Details

This guidance applies to all schools in England, including:

  • primary schools
  • secondary schools (including sixth forms)
  • special schools, special post-16 providers and alternative provision
  • 16 to 19 academies
  • infant, junior, middle, upper schools
  • boarding schools

DfE incident support

Updates to this page

Published 2 July 2020
Last updated 24 February 2022 + show all updates

  1. We’ve updated the guidance to reflect new public health guidance tracing close contacts, isolation and when someone has symptoms or a positive test.

  2. Updated to reflect the end of the asymptomatic testing programme. Reference made to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) guidance on contact tracing and isolation which comes into effect from Thursday 24 February 2022.

  3. Updated ‘Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak’ to align with today's Plan B announcement. We have also clarified the information on children under 5 years who are identified as close contacts and isolation expectations in boarding schools.

  4. Updated guidance in line with the UKHSA announcement about confirmatory PCR tests and clarifying that children can return to school after day 7 if they've had two negative LFD tests.

  5. Updated the face coverings section of the schools operational guidance to include the use of face coverings in classrooms for year 7 and above.

  6. Updated to reflect that daily rapid testing is now recommended for contacts of COVID-19.

  7. Following the Prime Ministers announcement on 8 December 2021, we have updated guidance on tracing close contacts and isolation, ventilation, asymptomatic testing, mandatory certification, recommendation to work from home if you can and clinically extremely vulnerable children and adults.

  8. Converted to HTML to improve accessibility. Added clarification on the use of face visors and face shields by those who are exempt from wearing face coverings and what guidance children and staff must follow when travelling to England from abroad.

  9. Updated guidance on contact tracing and isolation, travel and quarantine, face coverings and vaccination of under 18 year olds to reflect new measures announced on 27 November 2021.

  10. We have updated the guidance on asymptomatic testing and accountability arrangements for this academic year. We’ve also updated the advice around clinically extremely vulnerable pupils and staff and added information on the vaccination of 12 to 17 year olds.

  11. Updated information on CO2 monitors in the 'Control measures: Keep occupied spaces well ventilated' section.

  12. We have made updates to the 'tracing close contacts and isolation’, 'face coverings', 'stepping measures up and down’ and ‘travel and quarantine’ sections.

  13. We have updated the schools COVID-19 operational guidance to reflect that we moved to Step 4 on 19 July. This includes removing the section on ‘contact tracing until Step 4’, the ‘Schools COVID-19 operational guidance (applies until Step 4)’ and ‘Annex A: health and safety risk assessment’. We have also updated sections on clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) children and CEV staff.

  14. Updated to clarify that, from 19 July, government is removing the requirement to wear face coverings in law but expects and recommends that they are worn in enclosed and crowded spaces where you may come into contact with people you don't normally meet. This includes public transport and dedicated transport to school or college.

  15. We have added operational guidance for schools which applies at Step 4. This guidance removes restrictions such as keeping children in consistent groups (bubbles) and wearing face coverings in classrooms and communal areas and on dedicated school transport. It also includes information about updating your outbreak management plan and what to do when an individual in your school tests positive for COVID-19. From 16 August 2021, children under the age of 18 years old will no longer be required to self-isolate if they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact.

  16. We have converted the guidance to HTML and moved some of the paragraphs within the attendance section around to make it easier to read. We have not changed any of the guidance from the update on 10 May.

  17. We have updated our guidance in line with Step 3 of the roadmap, including information on face coverings, attendance, pupils travelling to the UK from abroad, educational visits, wraparound provision and extra-curricular activity, music, dance and drama, pupil wellbeing and state-funded school inspection. We have also added further guidance on domestic residential educational visits and a section on transitional, taster and open days.

  18. Updated 'Schools coronavirus (COVID-19) operational guidance'.

  19. Guidance updated to reflect the DHSC announcement that a confirmatory PCR test is required following a positive LFD test result in England.

  20. We have updated the information in the operational guidance on Test and Trace support payments, the expectations for clinically extremely vulnerable pupils and staff, educational visits, wraparound provision and extra-curricular activity, physical activity in schools and inspections. We have also added guidance on year 11 to 13 exam cohort attendance and provision for the 2021 summer term.

  21. We have converted the schools coronavirus (COVID-19) operational guidance to HTML to make it more accessible. It does not contain any changes to policy.

  22. Updated operational guidance on face coverings and on safety for transport users.

  23. Removed the guidance 'Restricting attendance during the national lockdown: schools (applies until 8 March)' as no longer applies.

  24. Added the 'Schools coronavirus (COVID-19) operational guidance' which explains the actions schools will need to take from 8 March. Removed 'What to do if a pupil is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)' as this information is now in the operational guidance.

  25. Updated ‘Introduction’ section to reflect correct position for early years provision over half-term and 'Remote education' section to reflect a duty for schools to publish their remote education offer on their websites by 12 February.

  26. Updated with latest changes to: system of controls, attendance, recruitment, free schools meals, estates, wraparound care, physical activity in schools, remote education, catch up, assessment and accountability, and exams.

  27. Updated 'Restricting attendance during the national lockdown: schools' to clarify that supply teachers and other temporary staff can assist in delivering remote education as well as face to face education to pupils who continue to attend school.

  28. Added guidance for schools on restricting attendance and other actions to be followed during the national lockdown.

  29. Updated information on staff who are pregnant.

  30. Updated tier 4 guidance for use of face coverings, clinically extremely vulnerable pupils and staff, wraparound provision and extra-curricular activity and physical activity in schools.

  31. Updated the 'Remote education expectations' section with the requirement for schools to publish their remote education offer on their website from January 2021, and added a link to a template that schools can use to meet this expectation.

  32. Action list: updated self isolation information to 10 days from the day after contact with the individual tested positive (from 14 days).

  33. Updated sections on 'Assessment and accountability', 'Contingency planning for remote education' (with a link to the contingency framework) and 'Self-isolation and shielding'.

  34. Updated to reflect the local restriction tiers.

  35. Updated guidance to reflect the local restriction tiers.

  36. Updated to reflect New National Restrictions guidance.

  37. Updated 'What to do if a pupil is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)' document to clarify that contacting the helpline is not mandatory - reporting confirmed cases can be done using the attendance form.

  38. Updated information on Prevention, Other considerations (system of controls), Response to any infection, Pupils travelling from abroad, Attendance, Workforce, Safeguarding, School uniform, Wraparound provision and extra-curricular activity, Behaviour expectations, Hospital schools and Contingency planning for outbreaks.

  39. Updated section on remote education expectations and support.

  40. Updated the section on managing confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) and what to do if a pupil is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19).

  41. Added updated version of 'What to do if a pupil is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)'.

  42. Added 'What to do if a pupil is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)'.

  43. Updated guidance to reflect the actions schools need to take before the start of the autumn term - the changes are described within the document and cover the use of face coverings in schools.

  44. Updated 'Remote education support' in 'Section 5: Contingency planning for outbreaks'.

  45. Guidance updated to provide more advice and clarity on some aspects of the return to school in the autumn.

  46. First published.

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