Colleagues will have seen the change in guidance on face coverings in education in England.
- It is recommended that pupils, staff and visitors wear face coverings in communal areas in secondary schools and colleges.
- In primary schools, it’s recommended that staff and visitors (but not pupils) wear face coverings in communal areas.
The Department have presented these as temporary measures.
As before, face coverings are not recommended in classrooms, except where advised by a local Director of Public Health as a temporary measure in response to a localised outbreak.
And also as before, the Department have continued to highlight the need to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. The exemption against wearing a covering when communicating with a deaf person also remains in place.
The above is England only – different rules remain in place in each of the nations.
A link to the updated Department guidance can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak
And here is a link to the updated NDCS covid-19 blog for families, which includes information on the reasonable adjustments that can be made: