Education, Children and Young People Committee
Updates to Guidance for Schools and ELC childminder and school age childcare services
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
Dear Convener
Updates to Guidance for Schools and ELC, childminder and school age childcare services
I am writing to inform you of updated guidance on Reducing Risks in Schools and new guidance for the childcare sector (school age childcare services; childminder services; early learning and childcare services), published on Friday 17th December.
As with previous updates, this guidance has been informed by expert clinical and public health advice from the Advisory Sub-group on Education and Children’s Issues, and via engagement with partners on the Covid-19 Education Recovery Group.
Key changes in the guidance for schools are based upon the evolving balance of risks following the emergence of the Omicron variant and include:
• A strengthened approach to minimising contacts, primarily through the reintroduction of groupings where practicable indoors
• Tightened restrictions on school visitors, including a return to parent councils and other activities being precluded from operating on the school estate
• Updated guidance on the required approach to ventilation and CO2 monitoring, including clarification of some key points based on user feedback
• Updated text on asymptomatic testing, specifically the processes to be followed when distributing test kits
• A strengthened approach to self-isolation for high risk / household contacts, whereby they are required to self-isolate for 10 days regardless of age, vaccination status or a negative PCR result
• Details relating to school staff eligibility for exemption from self-isolation under the critical worker guidance
• An update to guidance on school visits and trips in order to reflect the above ‘in school’ mitigations
• A requirement that schools and local authorities continue to provide essential in-person support for particular groups (including vulnerable children and young people) in the event of temporary school closures at a local level
Childcare Services Guidance
New guidance is also available for childcare services (school aged childcare services, childminder services; early learning and childcare services). The updated guidance can be found at the links below and should be implemented as soon as feasible. Please note that school age childcare services are still permitted to run on school premises and should follow the below guidance. We do not expect school age childcare services to be prevented from operating, if they are following the guidance.
Key changes to the guidance include:
• Movement of staff across settings. No restrictions are being proposed on the use of peripatetic or agency staff but this re-emphasises that staff should minimise working across settings, particularly if there is an outbreak in one.
• In person visiting: ‘virtual’ visits should be the norm for meetings with parents. However, where it may be in the best interests of children for a parent or carer to attend in person, this should be considered on a case by case basis. There is no change to the position on allowing visits for specialist staff (e.g. allied health professionals).
• Groupings: minimising contacts through the use of groupings should be considered in indoor spaces where practicable.
• Measures to support routine asymptomatic testing.
As always, I will continue to keep you informed of updates and changes.