Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the tiered levels of covid-19 restrictions for (a) education and (b) childcare.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Government has made it a national priority that schools and nurseries should continue to operate as normally as possible during the COVID-19 outbreak. This remains the default position for all areas in all local restriction tiers.
On 27 November the Department published a simple and clear contingency framework for the rare circumstances in which schools and/or colleges might need to revise their delivery models for a short period of time to help contain COVID-19 transmission within a community.
Such measures will be implemented in the fewest number of schools required, for the shortest time. Given the considerable benefits to children of continued face to face teaching, the threshold for moving to any restrictions will remain exceptionally high.
Any decision to initiate local restrictions to any schools or nurseries will not be taken lightly and will be made by central government on a case by case basis in the light of local and national circumstances.
The education contingency framework can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-contingency-framework-for-education-and-childcare-settings.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Health and Safety Executive guidance, Face coverings and face masks at work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, whether that guidance applies to staff in all schools.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department has published specific guidance on the use of face coverings in education which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-in-education.
Under national restrictions from 5 November, face coverings should be worn by all adults and pupils in secondary schools in indoor communal areas and outside of classrooms, where social distancing is difficult to maintain. Primary school head teachers have the discretion to require adults to wear face coverings in indoor situations where social distancing is difficult to maintain. Children in primary schools do not need to wear a face covering. Some individuals are exempt from wearing face coverings.
Face coverings are distinct from surgical face masks which are a type of personal protective equipment (PPE). Further guidance on the use of PPE in education and childcare can be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings-including-the-use-of-personal-protective-equipment-ppe.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of testing, tracing and isolating during the covid-19 outbreak within schools.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Testing capacity is the highest it has ever been. The UK’s daily COVID-19 testing capacity passed the 500,000 mark on 31 October and continues to expand. To support schools further, the Department is also supplying COVID-19 test kits directly to schools for both staff and students who develop symptoms of COVID-19 and face significant barriers to accessing a test through existing routes.
Schools are playing a vital role in supporting the test and trace system. Where someone who has attended tests positive, schools are taking swift action to send home close contacts of the positive case, advising them to self-isolate for 14 days since they were last in close contact with that person when they were infectious. There is a dedicated advice line to help schools, colleges or early years settings to implement the most appropriate public health measures once a case is confirmed. If, following triage, further expert advice is required the adviser will escalate the school’s call to the Public Health England local health protection team.
The Government is committed to introducing mass asymptomatic testing using new technologies to minimise the risk of infection spread within communities and pilots are already underway for using them in schools and colleges. Establishing this testing capability will enable students to continue their studies safely and assure staff to be able to continue to deliver education and support.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect on teacher workload of the need for teachers to educate pupils both in class and remotely in (a primary, (b) secondary and (c) special schools during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department is working hard to ensure that children and young people can continue to attend school and college safely, as this is the best place for them to be for their education, development and wellbeing. We recognise that for some pupils and students, remote education will need to be an essential component in the delivery of the school curriculum, alongside on-site teaching. We recognise that schools may need to alter the way in which they deploy their staff and use existing staff more flexibly. It is important that planning builds in the need to avoid increases in unnecessary and unmanageable workload burdens. The Department has not published information on the effect on teacher workload in relation to educating pupils both in class and remotely as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Department has published a range of resources to support schools to reduce workload. The workload reduction toolkit, for example, can help schools to identify and address their particular workload challenges: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-workload-reduction-toolkit.
The Department has also provided a remote education support package to help schools and colleges meet the remote education expectations set out in the schools guidance for full opening published in July, and the further education providers autumn term guidance published in August: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools and: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-further-education-provision/what-fe-colleges-and-providers-will-need-to-do-from-the-start-of-the-2020-autumn-term.
The support package includes access to the right technology to deliver remote education, peer to peer training and guidance on how to use this effectively in the short and long term, and practical tools, good practice guidance and school-led webinars to support effective delivery of the curriculum. All of this support can be accessed via the Remote Education Service on GOV.UK. We will continue to work closely with school leaders, teachers, and their representatives to address workload and provide support for schools.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to ensure that teachers are among those prioritised for a covid-19 vaccine when one becomes available.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are the independent experts who advise the Government on which vaccine(s) the UK should use and provide advice on who should be offered them.
The JCVI’s current advice is that, once available, the vaccine for COVID-19 should be given to care home residents and staff, followed by people over 80, and health and social workers, then to the rest of the population in order of age and risk.
The JCVI have not, as of yet, made any further recommendations on what professions should be prioritised in vaccine roll out.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2020 to Question 76046 and the Answer of 8 October 2020 to Question 98997, what recent discussions he has had with school leaders on providing financial support for expenses incurred during the covid-19 outbreak on (a) additional cleaning, (b) signage, (c) supply staff and (d) other anticipated extra costs that are likely to have been incurred since September 2020.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Ministers and officials continue to engage regularly with school leaders and their representatives on a wide range of issues around COVID-19, including discussions in relation to costs faced by schools at this time.
Getting all children and young people back into school for the new academic year has been a national priority. To support schools with this, they have continued to receive their core funding allocations throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. Following last year’s Spending Round, school budgets are rising by £2.6 billion in the 2020-21 financial year, £4.8 billion in 2021-22 and £7.1 billion in 2022-23, compared to 2019-20. As stated in our guidance, schools should use these existing resources when making arrangements for this term. The full guidance on the reopening of schools is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of school fires on levels of educational attainment.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Government gives the highest priority to the safety of pupils and staff, and to ensuring that the owners of school buildings take the necessary action to protect those buildings.
The Department has not made an assessment of the effect of school fires on levels of educational attainment.
The data held from the Department’s Condition Data Collection indicates that 1665 schools in England have sprinkler systems.
The Department is currently updating Building Bulletin 100 (BB100), the department’s guidance on fire safety design in schools. A revised version of BB100 is expected to be published in 2021, following a full public consultation. The consultation will give full consideration to the implementation of various fire safety measures, including the use of sprinkler systems.
In the meantime, schools are fundamentally safe environments. All schools must comply with Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which means they must have an up to date fire risk assessment, appropriate fire alarms and regular fire drills. This is to ensure they are as safe as possible and well prepared in the event of a fire.
Sprinklers must be fitted in new schools where they are deemed necessary to keep pupils and staff safe. All new school building projects must also comply with building regulations, including on fire safety, and this must be independently checked by Building Control or an Approved Inspector before buildings are occupied.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Government plans to publish its response to the Review of Building Bulletin 100: design for fire safety in schools consultation.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Government gives the highest priority to the safety of pupils and staff, and to ensuring that the owners of school buildings take the necessary action to protect those buildings.
The Department has not made an assessment of the effect of school fires on levels of educational attainment.
The data held from the Department’s Condition Data Collection indicates that 1665 schools in England have sprinkler systems.
The Department is currently updating Building Bulletin 100 (BB100), the department’s guidance on fire safety design in schools. A revised version of BB100 is expected to be published in 2021, following a full public consultation. The consultation will give full consideration to the implementation of various fire safety measures, including the use of sprinkler systems.
In the meantime, schools are fundamentally safe environments. All schools must comply with Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which means they must have an up to date fire risk assessment, appropriate fire alarms and regular fire drills. This is to ensure they are as safe as possible and well prepared in the event of a fire.
Sprinklers must be fitted in new schools where they are deemed necessary to keep pupils and staff safe. All new school building projects must also comply with building regulations, including on fire safety, and this must be independently checked by Building Control or an Approved Inspector before buildings are occupied.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of schools are fitted with effective sprinkler systems in England.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Government gives the highest priority to the safety of pupils and staff, and to ensuring that the owners of school buildings take the necessary action to protect those buildings.
The Department has not made an assessment of the effect of school fires on levels of educational attainment.
The data held from the Department’s Condition Data Collection indicates that 1665 schools in England have sprinkler systems.
The Department is currently updating Building Bulletin 100 (BB100), the department’s guidance on fire safety design in schools. A revised version of BB100 is expected to be published in 2021, following a full public consultation. The consultation will give full consideration to the implementation of various fire safety measures, including the use of sprinkler systems.
In the meantime, schools are fundamentally safe environments. All schools must comply with Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which means they must have an up to date fire risk assessment, appropriate fire alarms and regular fire drills. This is to ensure they are as safe as possible and well prepared in the event of a fire.
Sprinklers must be fitted in new schools where they are deemed necessary to keep pupils and staff safe. All new school building projects must also comply with building regulations, including on fire safety, and this must be independently checked by Building Control or an Approved Inspector before buildings are occupied.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of schools in England with inadequate fire detection systems.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Government gives the highest priority to the safety of pupils and staff, and to ensuring that the owners of school buildings take the necessary action to protect those buildings.
The Department has not made an assessment of the effect of school fires on levels of educational attainment.
The data held from the Department’s Condition Data Collection indicates that 1665 schools in England have sprinkler systems.
The Department is currently updating Building Bulletin 100 (BB100), the department’s guidance on fire safety design in schools. A revised version of BB100 is expected to be published in 2021, following a full public consultation. The consultation will give full consideration to the implementation of various fire safety measures, including the use of sprinkler systems.
In the meantime, schools are fundamentally safe environments. All schools must comply with Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which means they must have an up to date fire risk assessment, appropriate fire alarms and regular fire drills. This is to ensure they are as safe as possible and well prepared in the event of a fire.
Sprinklers must be fitted in new schools where they are deemed necessary to keep pupils and staff safe. All new school building projects must also comply with building regulations, including on fire safety, and this must be independently checked by Building Control or an Approved Inspector before buildings are occupied.