Are schools reopening in September?
THE coronavirus pandemic has forced pupils across the UK out of school since March 20.
Are all schools reopening in September and will pupils have to adhere to social distancing? Here is everything you need to know.
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Will ALL schools reopen in September?
Yes, all schools in England will reopen this September, according to the education secretary Gavin Williamson.
Parents who do not send their children to school with receive a fine.
Are any pupils exempt from going back to school?
Speaking on LBC, the education secretary said: “It is going to be compulsory for children to return back to school unless there is a very good reason or a local spike.
“We have to get back into compulsory education, and as part of that fines sit alongside that.
“Unless there was a good reason for the absence then we would be looking at the fact that we would be imposing fines on families if they were not sending children back.”
Will social distancing rules be in place?
“Year bubbles” are expected to be introduced to schools in England this September.
These “bubbles” will separate entire year groups with staggered start and finish times to keep them apart during breaks and lunch.
According to The Huffington Post, the move would see bigger schools enact bubbles of 30, with entire classes kept together to keep them safe.
Secondary school pupils could be isolated in their year groups – limiting their interactions with students of different ages.
Primary school pupils will not adhere to social distancing rules while secondary pupils will follow the one-metre rule.
Teachers will be told to keep a two-metre distance from pupils and as far away as they can from colleagues.
What happens if a pupil tests positive for Covid-19?
When there is a positive cases in a school, the Public Health England loclal health protection team will advise the school on the approprrate action.
This could include small groups of young people and staff being asked to self-isolate for up to 14 days.
When there are two or more confirmed cases in a two-week period, health protection teams may ask a larger number of other children or young to people to isolate as a precautionary measure.
More in school news
If an outbreak in a school is confirmed a mobile testing unit may be dispatched to test others who may have come into contact with a person who has tested positive.
Testing will first focus on a person’s class, followed by their year group, then the entire school if necessary.
All staff, pupils and their families will continue to have access to testing if they develop Covid-19 symptoms and schools will be provided with easy to use home testing kits for children and staff who would otherwise be unable to get a test.