Covid-19 – What does the phased wider opening mean for your school or academy trust?

We summarise here the key elements of the phased wider opening of schools from 1 June 2020, announced by the Government on 11 May 2020.

On 11 May 2020, the Government published Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government's COVID-19 recovery strategy, while the Department for Education (DfE) published Actions for education and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June 2020, Coronavirus (COVID-19): implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings and Opening schools and educational settings to more pupils from 1 June: guidance for parents and carers, accompanied by a press release. While these documents lack the detail that schools and academy trusts had expected, they nonetheless set the framework for Government policy which the DfE will expand upon in due course. Schools and academy trusts should therefore note the key elements as follows.

From week commencing 1 June 2020

• Nurseries and early years settings are to open to all children.
• Primary schools are to welcome back children to nursery, reception, year 1 and year 6 (including in middle schools). The aim is for other primary years to return later in June but this will be kept under review
• Secondary schools are to offer some face-to-face support for pupils in years 10 and 12 (not on a full-time basis) to supplement their remote education. There are currently no plans to re-open secondary schools for other year groups before the summer holidays.
• Alternative provision settings are to mirror the approach for mainstream schools and offer some face-to-face support for years 10 and 11. They may need to undertake a risk assessment if a pupil may be unable to follow instructions to determine if they can be taught in school or should be at home.
• Special schools, special post-16 institutions and hospital schools are to welcome back more pupils and students. They may want to prioritise attendance based on key transitions and other factors, informed by risk assessments and dialogue with local authorities and families, and consider part-time attendance rotas.

Schools are asked to plan on this basis ahead of scientific advice confirming whether the phased wider opening will proceed.