What to do if your school implements restrictions

[vc_row content_placement=”top” row_space=”remove_padding_top”][vc_column][gva_block_heading subtitle=”What to do if your school implements restrictions”]

This information is taken from the most recent contingency framework for schools (February 2022) and updated guidance from Schools Operational Guidance dated February 2022. Copy in italics is quoted from these documents. Where other documents are quoted, the links are shown.

[/gva_block_heading][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

The overriding principle of all the government guidance is shown here- and when challenging any new restriction this should be used to remind decision-makers of their responsibilities to children

On 21 February 2022, the Prime Minister set out the next phase of the Government’s COVID- 19 response.

COVID-19 continues to be a virus that we learn to live with and the imperative to reduce the disruption to children and young people’s education remains. Their priority is to support schools to deliver face-to-face high-quality education to all pupils. The evidence is clear that being out of education causes significant harm to educational attainment, life chances and mental and physical health.

[/vc_column_text][gva_block_heading title=”What you can do if restrictions go above and beyond Government guidance” align=”align-left”][/gva_block_heading][vc_column_text]

If your child is told to isolate as their sibling or a close contact tests positive.

Test and Trace has now been closed. There is no requirement for close contacts to isolate so schools should not be asking them to. Nor are they advised to test daily. They should only test if they develop symptoms. Indeed the UKHSA actively encourages children to be in school.

The guidance is clear that children and young people who usually attend an education or childcare setting and who live with someone who has COVID-19 should continue to attend the setting as normal.

👉 If guidance, as shown above, is not being followed, you should write to the school, local authority copying your MP, local public health, local county and borough Councillor, Regional Schools Commissioner, and the Department of Education. Ask why the school is contravening government guidance and who has taken responsibility for overruling government guidance?

If your child has symptoms and is told they must remain at home for ten days or until they test negative.

Schools can refuse entry if they believe a child is showing symptoms and in most cases, parents and carers will agree that a pupil with the key symptoms of COVID-19 should not attend school, given the potential risk to others. If a parent or carer insists on a pupil attending your school where they have a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, you can take the decision to refuse the pupil if, in your reasonable judgement, it is necessary to protect other pupils and staff from possible infection with COVID-19.

This is the most difficult element of the guidance. It does say that schools can stop children coming to school if they think they have Covid-19. They could say that without a test your child cannot come to school. Testing remains voluntary and schools cannot enforce testing even if a child is showing symptoms. However, they could use this guidance to stop a child from coming into school. A negative test is not required for a child to return to school.

Pupils staff and other adults should follow guidance on People with COVID-19 and their contacts if they have COVID-19 symptoms.

👉 If guidance, as shown above, is not being followed, you should write to the school, local authority copying your MP, local public health, local county and borough councillor, Regional Schools Commissioner, and the Department of Education. Ask why the school is contravening government guidance and who has taken responsibility for overruling government guidance?

If your child tests positive even without symptoms and the school insists they remain off school for the entire ten days and require a negative test to return.

There is no longer a legal requirement for people with coronavirus (COVID-19) infection to self-isolate, however, if you have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19 or a positive test result, the public health advice is to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.

In most cases, parents and carers will agree that a pupil with the key symptoms of COVID-19 should not attend school, given the potential risk to others.

Pupils staff and other adults should follow guidance on People with COVID-19 and their contacts if they have COVID-19 symptoms.

It is worth noting that schools cannot enforce testing, but they can refuse entry if they believe a child is showing symptoms. A negative test is not required for attendance in school.

Face coverings

Face coverings are no longer advised for pupils, staff and visitors in classrooms or communal areas.

A director of public health might advise that face coverings should temporarily be worn in communal areas or classrooms (by pupils, staff and visitors, unless exempt).

If your school increases testing

From 21 February, staff and pupils in mainstream secondary schools will not be expected to continue taking part in regular asymptomatic testing and should follow asymptomatic testing advice for the general population.

In the event of an outbreak, a school may also be advised by their local health team or director of public health to undertake testing for staff and students of secondary age and above for a period of time.

Staff and pupils in specialist SEND settings, Alternative Provision, and SEND units in mainstream schools are advised to continue regular twice weekly testing. For further information, see Special schools and other specialist settings: coronavirus (COVID-19).

If your school introduces remote education

Where appropriate, schools should support those who are self-isolating because they have tested positive to work or learn from home if they are well enough to do so.

High-quality remote learning in schools, further education, and higher education settings should be provided for all pupils and students if:

they have tested positive for COVID-19 but are well enough to learn from home
attendance at their setting has been temporarily restricted

It is worth noting that restricting attendance in schools can only happen on the advice of local Public Health and schools do not have the authority to instigate remote education.

If your school is only offering virtual parents’ evening or restricting entry to parents

This is unclear in the guidance – local PH can introduce restrictions in individual settings or across an entire area. It must be assumed that it follows the same criteria as other restrictions. Education settings should not use the NHS COVID Pass as a condition of entry for education or related activities such as exams and activities that are part of education or training.

👉 If guidance, as shown above, is not being followed, you should write to the school, local authority and Director of PH copying your MP, local county and borough councillor, local public health, Region Schools Commissioner, and the Department of Education to ask:[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

If your child is cold in class

Schools should balance the need for increased ventilation while maintaining a comfortable temperature.

No child should be cold in class. Schools must balance the need for ventilation with keeping a temperature where pupils are comfortable.

The school’s guidance refers to the HSE recommendations

https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/equipment-and-machinery/air-conditioning-and-ventilation/index.htm

Ask them why they are not balancing the need for ventilation with the need for comfort?
Ask them why they have chosen to ignore the HSE’s advice that dress codes should be made less restrictive and allow more layers
Ask why they don’t follow the HSE advice that could regularly air the space in rooms that rely on natural ventilation, by opening windows and doors as fully as possible. For example, you can do this when people leave for a break. Even 10 minutes an hour can help reduce the risk from virus in the air, depending on the size of the room.- rather than all the time

If you are asked to provide a COVID Pass

Schools should not use the NHS COVID Pass as a condition of entry for education or related activities such as exams, teaching, extra-curricular activities, or any other day-to-day activities that are part of education or training.