Question reference: S5W-32356
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 7 October 2020
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Current status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 October 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the guidance for schools that currently states that teachers who were previously shielding should attend work in the classroom.
Answer
The guidance which was prepared to support the return to school, includes advice for those who are considered to be clinically vulnerable and extremely clinically vulnerable (shielding). In line with the position on shielding, the guidance indicates that those who were formerly shielding can return to work in schools, and that an individualised risk assessment should be undertaken. The guidance on special considerations for certain groups is available from https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-preparing-start-new-school-term-august-2020-version-3/pages/3/
The position in relation to shielding currently remains the same, as set out at https://www.gov.scot/publications/covid-shielding/ .
The guidance for schools will be updated in due course, to include references to the shielding guidance above, including the steps which those formerly shielding can take to receive shielding updates, and information on the current levels of infection in Scotland.