At the start of the new school year ‘Bubbles’ and social distancing for all children under 18 will no longer be required. Testing remains hugely important in helping to reduce transmission of the virus and keeping other children in face-to-face education.
All secondary school students should receive two on-site lateral flow device tests, three to five days apart at their school or college. Due to testing pupils on return, schools may implement staggered start dates for the new term. Please contact your child’s school directly to find out their return date.
It is important that secondary school age children then continue to test twice a week at home, at least until the end of September when this will be reviewed. Pupils with a positive LFD test result should self-isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test. Here is the full update from SheffNews ahead of the new autumn term.
You can access the government guidance in place for schools and education settings at GOV.UK.
DfE Coronavirus Helpline
A Department for Education helpline is also available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can call the helpline if you have a query in England about:
• early years including nurseries
• schools
• colleges
• universities
• children’s social care
Telephone: 0800 046 8687 ( Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm )
More information about contacting the DfE is here.
Ruth Granger, from the Public Health Team in Sheffield gives an update on Sheffield’s Back To School position. The video also further clarifies the new self-isolation rule changes and a vaccination programme update.
