Updated Guidance from DfE in Schools

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 27 November, additional temporary measures have been announced in schools as a result of the Omicron variant. The full guidance is available here.

As of today (29 November) the key changes are:

Face Coverings

Pupils in Year 7 and above, staff and adult visitors are recommended to wear face coverings when moving around the premises outside of classrooms, such as in corridors and communal areas. Pupils in these schools should also wear a face covering when travelling on public transport and dedicated transport to and from school. The DfE are currently not advising pupils and staff to wear face coverings in classrooms.

In primary schools, it is recommended that face coverings should be worn by staff and adults (including visitors) when moving around in corridors and communal areas.

Isolation

The current guidance on contact tracing and isolation remains in place. The change is for close contacts of suspected or confirmed Omicron cases, who will be asked to isolate for 10 days.

UNISON guidance

UNISON believes that staff and children should be able to access education safely. We are in regular contact with DfE and with local education leaders. We will continue to update our guidance page as the situation develops. Please also follow us on Facebook and Twitter

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If you have any queries or concerns, please contact your local branch.