Please refer to the Department of Education’s guidance: What parents and carers need to know about schools and other education settings during the coronavirus outbreak, which contains the latest guidance from government.
You should also read: Opening schools and educational settings to more pupils from 1 June: guidance for parents and carers.
The government advice on reopening schools’ states that, unlike older children and adults, early years and primary age children cannot be expected to remain two metres apart from each other and staff. In deciding to bring more children back to early years and primary schools, this was considered.
Schools are introducing many different measures to support social distancing between pupils and staff, including smaller class sizes and keeping children in small groups. This is in addition to many other effective infection control measures, including handwashing, cleaning and ensuring people with symptoms stay away from school.
Together, these measures will significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection even when strict social distancing is not always possible.
You may find information on your school website, or other reputable sources such as the BBC and the Department for Education. The Tower Hamlets website has a comprehensive list of Stay at Home resources, which includes education resources.
Yes, contact your child’s school for more information or contact our Family Information Service on 020 7364 6495 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
No. There is currently no penalty for non-attendance.
No. It is not recommended in an education setting. PPE is available in schools, where it may be needed (eg someone becomes ill and needs to self-isolate at school before going home).
Children are likely to become infected with coronavirus (COVID-19) at roughly the same rate as adults, but the infection is usually mild.
The risk is currently considered to be small and that is why the government is recommending that schools open to more pupils.
Our school cannot eliminate the risk of infection entirely, but we are adopting sensible measures to manage and the reduce the risk.
The first defence against infection remains self-isolation. If your child, or someone in your household, has coronavirus or symptoms of coronavirus - do not send your child to school.
If a child, or member of staff, becomes ill whilst at school then they will be isolated and sent home.
If you have symptoms, visit 111.nhs.uk
The government said on Thursday 28 May it would only reopen schools if their five tests were met, these are: