Education, Children and Young People Committee
Letter on revised school guidance
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
Dear Convener,
The latest version of the schools guidance to underpin the return to school this month was published this afternoon and is available here: Coronavirus: reducing risks in schools guidance
This guidance takes effect from 9 August.
It includes an update on the most significant change that is being introduced and that will have an impact on schools. This is an updated wider policy on self-isolation, contact tracing and testing for U18 close contacts, which results in the ability to remove contact groupings in schools. This change in approach reflects the evidence about risks of infection and transmission in this cohort, and is expected to have a significant beneficial impact on educational continuity. It aligns with the updated self-isolation policy announced today for fully vaccinated adults who are close contacts.
To allow us to monitor the impacts of this change in self-isolation policy, and to ensure a safe and sustainable return to schools, a decision has been made to proceed cautiously with the lifting of other mitigations in schools
This will help protect both children and staff, and reflects the unique environment in schools when we return – large numbers of unvaccinated children and young people will gather and mix on a non-discretionary basis with adult staff.
The guidance therefore sets out that local authorities and schools should continue to apply the majority of the mitigations that were in place at the end of last term, with the exception of some modifications that are clearly set out. This approach to retaining mitigations is expected to remain in place for a period of up to 6 weeks (until the end of September). Further advice will be provided at the point at which mitigations can be lifted.
The modifications that are advised are relatively minor adjustments to the previous mitigations to ensure broad consistency with measures in place in wider society. These modifications should be made as soon as possible after the return to school, and in any case within 4 weeks of return.
The guidance at Annex A remains largely in line with the version of the Reducing Risks guidance in operation last term, and local authorities and schools will be familiar with much of the content. It has been updated to take account of evolving knowledge and experience of dealing with the pandemic, and to remove out-of-date material.
The guidance will be kept under constant review, and if data and evidence suggest that any specific mitigations can be removed at an earlier stage advice will be provided to that effect.
Yours sincerely,