Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions the Government has had with the teaching unions on keeping schools and colleges open during the November 2020 covid-19 lockdown in England; and what further steps the Government is taking to limit the spread of covid-19 in schools and colleges.

Ministers and officials have regular engagement with teaching unions about the Government’s COVID-19 response, including around keeping schools and colleges open during the November national lockdown.

On 2 July, the Department published guidance to help schools prepare for all pupils, in all year groups, to return to school full-time from the beginning of the autumn term. The full guidance can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.

Our guidance for schools sets out measures which provide a framework for school leaders to put in place proportionate protective measures for children and staff, which also ensure that all pupils receive a high quality education that enables them to thrive and progress. This includes the public health advice schools must follow to minimise the risks of COVID-19 transmission.

The public health advice in the guidance for schools makes up a Public Health England-endorsed ‘system of controls’, building on the hierarchy of protective measures that schools have been using throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Department is keeping the guidance under review. It will reflect any further steps necessary to keep children in school, whilst minimising the risk of COVID-19 transmission, in light of new national restrictions being implemented from 5 November.