Should I send my child to school?

The advice to parents continues to be yes.  

The safety, welfare and well-being of children is our primary concern and a constant dialogue has, and will continue, to take place with partners to ensure they receive the most accurate and up to date advice.

Where can I find general guidance for educational establishments about COVID-19?

Schools and parents should refer to the latest information and advice from the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England to get the most up to date guidance as things develop: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public

The Government has published guidance for schools and other educational settings in providing advice for pupils, students, staff and parents about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The following link will take you to that advice: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19

This guidance will assist schools and other educational settings in providing advice for pupils, students, staff and parents or carers regarding:

• the novel coronavirus, COVID-19;
• how to help prevent spread of all respiratory infections including COVID-19;
• what to do if someone confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19 has been in a school or other educational setting;
• what advice to give individuals who have travelled from specified countries or areas within the last 14 days, including school trips.

What is the Department for Education’s Advice on Attendance Code Entry if pupils are absent due to COVID-19?

On 12^th March 2020, the Department for Education confirmed the following:

Where a pupil cannot attend school due to illness, as normally would happen, the pupil should be recorded as absent in the attendance register and the school will authorise the absence.   Code I (Illness) should be used in this instance.

Where a pupil is in self-isolation, in accordance with latest information and advice from Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England, the pupil should be recorded as unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances in the attendance register.  Code Y (Unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances) should be used in this instance.  Code Y is not collected in the school’s census for statistical purposes.

What if families have chosen to self-isolate as a protective measure?

The advice is that in the spirit of the Department for Education attendance code guidance, Head Teacher’s should be satisfied that the child is unable to attend school i.e. that there is a genuine necessity for a family to self-isolate. 

It is understood that some families may choose to self-isolate as a protective factor. Head Teachers will need to make an informed decision based upon the individual circumstances of each case and any advice available from a medically trained practitioner regarding decisions around attendance / absence marking in such circumstances.

Where parents have chosen to ‘self-isolate’ their child, it follows that the child should not be seen in other public places.   

What if the school has to close/ if transport is not available / there is disruption to travel?

Whilst school closures are not currently anticipated, should a school or part of the school site close the following code information may apply:

Code Y: Unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances can be used where a pupil is unable to attend because:

• The school site, or part of it, is closed due to an unavoidable cause; or
• The transport provided by the school or a local authority is not available and where the pupil’s home is not within walking distance; or
• A local or national emergency has resulted in widespread disruption to travel which has prevented the pupil from attending school.