4th August 2021
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on reducing the risks in schools
A summary of the updates to guidance for schools on reducing the risks of Covid in schools. Specific guidance for early years and childcare settings can be found here.
On 3 August First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that Scotland would move beyond Level 0 of the Covid protection levels. This means the legal requirement for physical distancing and limits on gatherings will be removed on 9 August when all venues across Scotland are able to re-open. Some protective measures will stay in place such as the use of face coverings indoors and the collection of contact details as part of Test and Protect. Working from home where able continues to be encouraged. You can find more information about this here.
For schools, there are some changes and many mitigations which were put in place before will remain for at least the first six weeks of the new term.
The biggest changes are around self-isolation. Whole classes will no longer be asked to self-isolate if there has been a positive case, however schools will send home a letter to let families know about it along with guidance on what to do if their child does develop symptoms.
Only those close contacts aged under 18 who are at the highest risk of being exposed to infection will be directly contact traced by Test and Protect and asked to self-isolate until they have received a negative PCR test, then they can end their self-isolation and return to school, even if the positive case is a member of their household. However, if they develop Covid symptoms they must self-isolate immediately.
People with Covid symptoms or who have tested positive for Covid should self-isolate as before.
Children and young people in secondary schools should continue to take a lateral flow test twice a week, and parents of children in primary school are encouraged to take up the universal testing offer to test their child twice a week. Exemptions from testing will apply to close contacts who are aged under 5, or who for medical reasons are unable to be tested or are exempt. For these groups, a PCR test will not be required to end self-isolation. However, children under 5 who are close contacts may be encouraged to take a PCR test where possible.
No more bubbles or groupings: children and young people will no longer have to stay in their bubbles, however assemblies and other large gatherings should continue to be avoided.
Drama, Music, PE and Dance: children and young people can now take part these activities both indoors and outdoors.
School visitors: supply staff and other support workers (eg social workers, youth workers, visiting teachers etc) can now move between schools where necessary.
Parents/carers may accompany children onto school premises where this is agreed with the school and strictly necessary to support children and young people (eg nursery to P1 transitions). Otherwise, parents/carers are still not allowed into the school buildings.
Parents/carers should continue to avoid gathering in large numbers at school drop off/pick up times and continue to wear face masks when dropping off children at school.
Dedicated school transport will remain the same as public transport, which has been updated so children aged 12 years and over are required to wear face masks. Children 5-11 years no longer need to wear face masks.
Physical distancing between adults, and between adults and children and young people can now be decreased to 1m.
Face masks are still to be worn by school staff and young people in secondary schools, and everyone should continue with personal hygiene measures including regularly washing their hands, avoiding touching their faces and sneezing/coughing into tissues or their elbow.