DfE: Guidance for full opening – schools
This updated guidance is intended to support schools, both mainstream and alternative provision, to prepare for this. It applies to primary, secondary (including sixth forms), infant, junior, middle, upper, school-based nurseries and boarding schools. Independent schools are expected to follow the control measures set out in this document in the same way as state-funded schools. The guidance also covers expectations for children with special educational needs and disability (SEND), including those with education, health and care plans, in mainstream schools.
Separate guidance is available for early years, further education colleges and for special schools.
This guidance is in 5 sections. The first section sets out the actions school leaders should take to minimise the risk of transmission in their school. This is public health advice, endorsed by Public Health England (PHE).
The rest of the guidance is focused on how the Department for Education (DfE) expects schools to operate in this new context.
This includes:
- school operations
- curriculum, behaviour and pastoral support
- assessment and accountability
- contingency planning to provide continuity of education in the case of a local outbreak
This guidance has been prepared with input from school leaders, unions and sector bodies and in consultation with PHE and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
We will keep this guidance under review and update as necessary.
