All children to return March 8th

22nd February 2021

The Government has today announced that children will return to schools / settings on March 8th.  The latest guidance is here  We would now expect schools to work out how this will be achieved and to communicate direct with parent carers.  In absence of any further detail, we would advise that any parent carer with concerns about their child’s return should talk with the school.

This is taken from the DfE website 26/2/21 2:30pm

From 8 March, all children and students should return to school and college. All primary pupils should attend school from this date. All secondary pupils and college students will be offered testing from 8 March, and those who consent to testing should return to face-to-face education following their first negative test result. If you or your child (if they are aged over 18) do not consent, they will not be stopped from going back and will return in line with their school or college’s arrangements.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has made clear that the overwhelming majority of children and young people still have no symptoms or very mild illness only. Returning to school or college is also vital for their educational progress, for their wellbeing, and for their wider development.

To continue to manage the risks, including when all children and students return, nurseries, childminders, schools and colleges will continue to implement the range of protective measures that they have been using throughout the autumn term. We have further strengthened these measures to help decrease the disruption the virus causes to education. Current evidence suggests that these measures are still the right ones to take.

Your child’s nursery, childminder, school or college can give you more information about the measures they have in place.