Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing covid-19 social distancing restrictions for primary school aged children in schools.

In line with Step 4 of the roadmap for England, the majority of COVID-19 restrictions will be relaxed, including the measures recommended for schools.

The Department’s priority is for schools to deliver face to face, high quality education to all pupils. The evidence is clear that being out of education causes significant harm to educational attainment, life chances and mental and physical health.

The Department has worked closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England to revise this guidance for schools. Our aim is to balance the risks associated with COVID-19, whilst moving to a ‘steady state’ that minimises both the burden of implementing a system of controls on staff and parents, and the effect that those measures have on young people’s education.

The Department will continue to keep these measures under review, in partnership with health experts, and informed by the latest scientific evidence and advice.