Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many complaints have been received from schools regarding carbon dioxide monitors delivered by his Department.
Answered by Robin Walker
During the autumn term, the department provided over 353,000 CO2 monitors to all state-funded education providers, including early years, schools and further education colleges, backed by £25 million in government funding. Feedback suggests that schools are finding the monitors helpful to manage ventilation and, in the majority of schools, colleges and nurseries, existing ventilation measures are sufficient.
All department-funded CO2 monitors are supplied with a 1 metre USB cable that can be plugged into a standard USB power source, such as mains adaptors or laptop. Schools, colleges and nurseries can use any standard USB plug adaptor for the CO2 monitors, such as ones used to charge mobile phones or other electrical devices. This is the primary means of powering the devices, batteries are a back-up. The life of the back-up battery is variable based on the refresh rate of the device and if providers wish to use the CO2 monitor battery powered. In most cases, they can extend battery life by changing the refresh rate on their CO2 monitors. We have provided schools, colleges and nurseries with guidance on how to use their monitors effectively. Education providers can also contact the supplier of their device if they have any technical queries.
If any school feels they have received an insufficient number of CO2 monitors to cover approximately one monitor for every two teaching rooms, they should request additional monitors via the department’s Coronavirus Helpline. Similarly, where the lack of plugs is causing challenge, education providers should contact the department via the department’s helpline for additional support.
CO2 monitors are an additional measure that we are rolling out to education providers to be used as a guide for where ventilation can be improved. It is up to school leaders to decide how to best use them in their specific environment. There is no requirement from the department for providers to record readings or share these with the department. Feedback suggests that the monitors are acting as a helpful tool to manage ventilation, sitting alongside the other protective measures in place to manage transmission, such as regular testing, vaccinations and increased hygiene.
The department recognises that schools may be facing pressures this winter, particularly where energy prices have increased. As well as helping to identify areas that are poorly ventilated, CO2 monitors can be useful to help providers balance good ventilation with keeping classrooms warm. When CO2 monitors indicate good ventilation, there is no need to keep windows fully open at all times at the expense of keeping classrooms warm. Opening windows regularly for 10 minutes, or a small amount continuously, can still reduce the airborne risk from COVID-19 substantially compared to spaces with no fresh air. In addition to the department-funded CO2 monitors and air cleaning units, and accompanying guidance on ventilation, all schools can access a range of school resource management tools to help them get the best value from their resources, including two Schools Commercial Team recommended deals for energy costs and ancillary services relating to energy, which can be accessed via the “Find a DfE-approved framework for your school” service on GOV.UK.
For education providers with particularly poor ventilation, we are supplying up to 7,000 units in response to feedback from providers, where quick fixes to improve ventilation is not possible. This is in addition to the 1,000 department-funded air cleaning units that we announced on 18 November for special educational needs and disabilities and alternative provision providers.
When used properly, air cleaning units can help reduce airborne contaminants in a poorly ventilated space, such as SARS-CoV-2 particles, dust, pollen amongst other pollutants. Air cleaning units are not a substitute for ventilation and should never be used as a reason to reduce ventilation. They are not necessary in spaces that are adequately ventilated.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his department has made of the potential impact of ventilation guidance on the cost of energy bills for schools in England.
Answered by Robin Walker
During the autumn term, the department provided over 353,000 CO2 monitors to all state-funded education providers, including early years, schools and further education colleges, backed by £25 million in government funding. Feedback suggests that schools are finding the monitors helpful to manage ventilation and, in the majority of schools, colleges and nurseries, existing ventilation measures are sufficient.
All department-funded CO2 monitors are supplied with a 1 metre USB cable that can be plugged into a standard USB power source, such as mains adaptors or laptop. Schools, colleges and nurseries can use any standard USB plug adaptor for the CO2 monitors, such as ones used to charge mobile phones or other electrical devices. This is the primary means of powering the devices, batteries are a back-up. The life of the back-up battery is variable based on the refresh rate of the device and if providers wish to use the CO2 monitor battery powered. In most cases, they can extend battery life by changing the refresh rate on their CO2 monitors. We have provided schools, colleges and nurseries with guidance on how to use their monitors effectively. Education providers can also contact the supplier of their device if they have any technical queries.
If any school feels they have received an insufficient number of CO2 monitors to cover approximately one monitor for every two teaching rooms, they should request additional monitors via the department’s Coronavirus Helpline. Similarly, where the lack of plugs is causing challenge, education providers should contact the department via the department’s helpline for additional support.
CO2 monitors are an additional measure that we are rolling out to education providers to be used as a guide for where ventilation can be improved. It is up to school leaders to decide how to best use them in their specific environment. There is no requirement from the department for providers to record readings or share these with the department. Feedback suggests that the monitors are acting as a helpful tool to manage ventilation, sitting alongside the other protective measures in place to manage transmission, such as regular testing, vaccinations and increased hygiene.
The department recognises that schools may be facing pressures this winter, particularly where energy prices have increased. As well as helping to identify areas that are poorly ventilated, CO2 monitors can be useful to help providers balance good ventilation with keeping classrooms warm. When CO2 monitors indicate good ventilation, there is no need to keep windows fully open at all times at the expense of keeping classrooms warm. Opening windows regularly for 10 minutes, or a small amount continuously, can still reduce the airborne risk from COVID-19 substantially compared to spaces with no fresh air. In addition to the department-funded CO2 monitors and air cleaning units, and accompanying guidance on ventilation, all schools can access a range of school resource management tools to help them get the best value from their resources, including two Schools Commercial Team recommended deals for energy costs and ancillary services relating to energy, which can be accessed via the “Find a DfE-approved framework for your school” service on GOV.UK.
For education providers with particularly poor ventilation, we are supplying up to 7,000 units in response to feedback from providers, where quick fixes to improve ventilation is not possible. This is in addition to the 1,000 department-funded air cleaning units that we announced on 18 November for special educational needs and disabilities and alternative provision providers.
When used properly, air cleaning units can help reduce airborne contaminants in a poorly ventilated space, such as SARS-CoV-2 particles, dust, pollen amongst other pollutants. Air cleaning units are not a substitute for ventilation and should never be used as a reason to reduce ventilation. They are not necessary in spaces that are adequately ventilated.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of guidance on ventilation in schools on air pollution in classrooms.
Answered by Robin Walker
During the autumn term, the department provided over 353,000 CO2 monitors to all state-funded education providers, including early years, schools and further education colleges, backed by £25 million in government funding. Feedback suggests that schools are finding the monitors helpful to manage ventilation and, in the majority of schools, colleges and nurseries, existing ventilation measures are sufficient.
All department-funded CO2 monitors are supplied with a 1 metre USB cable that can be plugged into a standard USB power source, such as mains adaptors or laptop. Schools, colleges and nurseries can use any standard USB plug adaptor for the CO2 monitors, such as ones used to charge mobile phones or other electrical devices. This is the primary means of powering the devices, batteries are a back-up. The life of the back-up battery is variable based on the refresh rate of the device and if providers wish to use the CO2 monitor battery powered. In most cases, they can extend battery life by changing the refresh rate on their CO2 monitors. We have provided schools, colleges and nurseries with guidance on how to use their monitors effectively. Education providers can also contact the supplier of their device if they have any technical queries.
If any school feels they have received an insufficient number of CO2 monitors to cover approximately one monitor for every two teaching rooms, they should request additional monitors via the department’s Coronavirus Helpline. Similarly, where the lack of plugs is causing challenge, education providers should contact the department via the department’s helpline for additional support.
CO2 monitors are an additional measure that we are rolling out to education providers to be used as a guide for where ventilation can be improved. It is up to school leaders to decide how to best use them in their specific environment. There is no requirement from the department for providers to record readings or share these with the department. Feedback suggests that the monitors are acting as a helpful tool to manage ventilation, sitting alongside the other protective measures in place to manage transmission, such as regular testing, vaccinations and increased hygiene.
The department recognises that schools may be facing pressures this winter, particularly where energy prices have increased. As well as helping to identify areas that are poorly ventilated, CO2 monitors can be useful to help providers balance good ventilation with keeping classrooms warm. When CO2 monitors indicate good ventilation, there is no need to keep windows fully open at all times at the expense of keeping classrooms warm. Opening windows regularly for 10 minutes, or a small amount continuously, can still reduce the airborne risk from COVID-19 substantially compared to spaces with no fresh air. In addition to the department-funded CO2 monitors and air cleaning units, and accompanying guidance on ventilation, all schools can access a range of school resource management tools to help them get the best value from their resources, including two Schools Commercial Team recommended deals for energy costs and ancillary services relating to energy, which can be accessed via the “Find a DfE-approved framework for your school” service on GOV.UK.
For education providers with particularly poor ventilation, we are supplying up to 7,000 units in response to feedback from providers, where quick fixes to improve ventilation is not possible. This is in addition to the 1,000 department-funded air cleaning units that we announced on 18 November for special educational needs and disabilities and alternative provision providers.
When used properly, air cleaning units can help reduce airborne contaminants in a poorly ventilated space, such as SARS-CoV-2 particles, dust, pollen amongst other pollutants. Air cleaning units are not a substitute for ventilation and should never be used as a reason to reduce ventilation. They are not necessary in spaces that are adequately ventilated.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what additional support will he provide schools to ensure that they can safely open in January.
Answered by Robin Walker
The government is clear on the critical importance of avoiding disruption to children and young people’s education. Therefore, the priority is to keep all schools open. We have set out clear plans for schools opening in January.
The department has also reintroduced face coverings for all adults in schools and for pupils and students in year 7 and above in communal areas, and from 4 January, in classrooms. This is a temporary measure.
Schools must continue to comply with health and safety law and put in place proportionate control measures in line with our guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak. This includes ensuring good hygiene, cleaning, keeping occupied spaces well ventilated and following the latest public health advice on testing, self-isolation and managing confirmed cases of COVID-19.
From Tuesday 14 December, young people and fully vaccinated adults who are identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19 can take an NHS rapid lateral flow test every day for seven days and continue to attend their school or college as normal unless they have a positive test result.
Every child aged 12 and over is eligible to receive the vaccine. Healthy 12 to 15-year-olds can have a second dose 12 weeks after their first dose. My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, announced the acceleration of our COVID-19 booster programme to offer every adult in England a booster jab by the end of 2021 to protect people from the Omicron variant.
Testing remains important in reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 within schools and colleges. All secondary schools have been asked to test their pupils once on-site, using lateral flow tests, on return in January. Tests, personal protective equipment, and funding to support the school workforce will be provided.
Secondary schools have had the option to stagger the return to school for the first week to accommodate on-site testing.
The department has also supported schools, colleges, and nurseries to improve ventilation. The department has also provided CO2 monitors to state-funded schools, colleges and nurseries backed by £25 million in government funding. Over 99% of eligible maintained schools, further education colleges, and the majority of nurseries have now received a carbon dioxide monitor with over 300,000 now delivered. The government is also making available at least 7,000 funded air cleaning units for poorly ventilated teaching spaces where quick fixes to improve ventilation are not possible.
Additionally, the department has put in place support to help schools facing workforce shortages. This includes calling on former teachers with the time and skills to return to the classroom and re-introducing the COVID-19 workforce fund to provide financial support to eligible schools and colleges for absence costs incurred from 22 November until the spring half term.
Finally, to ease some of the burden there will also be a short temporary break from Ofsted inspections during the first week of term. Ofsted will also encourage providers that have been hit badly by COVID-19 related staff absence to ask for a deferral in planned inspections, and have confirmed that they will not ask school leaders to participate in the delivery of inspections for the spring term.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing targeted financial assistance to schools in response to the omicron covid-19 variant to support the (a) implementation of additional covid-19 safety measures on their premises and (b) purchase of air filtration devices where natural ventilation is limited due to design and capacity of buildings.
Answered by Robin Walker
The measures in place day-to-day in schools, colleges and nurseries to tackle COVID-19 are based on the latest scientific advice and strike a balance between managing transmission risk and reducing disruption to children and young people’s education.
The priority is for schools, colleges and nurseries to deliver face-to-face, high-quality education to all children, pupils and students. The evidence is clear that being out of education causes significant harm to educational attainment, life chances, and mental and physical health. To manage COVID-19 transmission, education providers continue to ensure good hygiene for everyone, maintain appropriate cleaning regimes, keep occupied spaces well ventilated and follow public health advice on testing, self-isolation, face coverings and managing confirmed cases of COVID-19.
To support schools with these measures, the department provided carbon dioxide monitors to all state-funded education providers, including nurseries, schools and further education colleges, backed by £25 million in government funding. We have now delivered on our public commitment with over 353,000 monitors delivered in the autumn term. Feedback following this roll out shows that in most schools, colleges and nurseries existing ventilation measures are sufficient.
For the very few cases where maintaining good ventilation is not possible, the department is supplying up to 7,000 air purifiers cleaning units. This is on top of the 1,000 funded units for special educational needs and disabilities and alternative provision providers that we announced in November. We have also made over £100 million of funding available to secondary schools, colleges, and specialist providers to support them with the workforce costs associated with delivering on-site testing, and continue to do so, in line with departmental testing policy.
This should also be seen in the wider context of funding for schools. Overall, core schools funding will increase by £4 billion in financial year 2022/23 compared to 2021/22, a 5% real terms per pupil boost. This includes an additional £1.2 billion for schools in the new school supplementary grant for financial year 2022/23. This funding boost will rapidly give schools the resources they need to rise to the challenges of COVID-19 response and recovery, increase teacher pay, and meet the cost of the Health and Social Care Levy, while continuing their work to raise attainment and educational outcomes for all children and young people.
The vast majority of schools are operating with a cumulative surplus, with only a small percentage having a deficit. The latest published figures show that the percentage of both academy trusts and local authority maintained schools in surplus or breaking even increased compared to the previous reporting year. At the end of financial year 2020/21, 92% of local authority maintained schools were in cumulative surplus or breaking even, compared to 88% the previous year. At the end of the 2019/20 academic year, 96% of academy trusts were in surplus or breaking even, compared to 94% the previous year.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the spread of the omicron variant of covid-19, what assessment has he made of the adequacy of the current (a) resourcing of and (b) support provided to special schools for (a) improving ventilation in schools and (b) implement other covid-19 mitigation measures.
Answered by Robin Walker
Following our rollout of around 300,000 CO2 monitors to schools during the autumn term – with over 350,000 monitors delivered to over 99% of eligible maintained schools, further education colleges, and the majority of nurseries – schools are finding the monitors helpful to manage ventilation and, in the majority of education providers, existing ventilation measures are sufficient. Feedback suggests that the monitors are acting as a helpful tool to manage ventilation, sitting alongside the other protective measures in place to manage transmission, such as regular testing, vaccinations and increased hygiene.
In November, the department announced that it was providing additional funding for 1,000 air cleaning units for poorly ventilated spaces in special educational needs and disability (SEND) and alternative provision providers. This includes SEND units in mainstream schools, where quick fixes to improve ventilation are not possible. These schools were prioritised given the higher-than-average number of vulnerable pupils in attendance. These units are being delivered from January 2022.
In addition, the department also announced on 2 January that it would make up to an additional 7,000 air cleaning units available for poorly ventilated teaching spaces in state-funded education providers, where quick fixes to improve ventilation are not possible. All state funded schools (primary and secondary), further education colleges and nurseries can apply. Special and alternative provision providers that were not successful or did not apply in the first round are also eligible to apply in this round. The deadline for applications is 9am on 17 January and the additional units will be delivered from February 2022.
Any that are not eligible for a department funded unit have access to an online ‘marketplace’, which provides a route to purchasing air cleaning units of a suitable specification and competitive price.
All nurseries, out-of-school settings, schools and colleges, including all special schools, are continuing to put in place a combination of measures to help minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19. These include handwashing, enhancing cleaning, ventilation and managing confirmed cases. Further information on this can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak.
Settings should continue to conduct risk assessments for their particular circumstances and take appropriate action in line with our guidance, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus. There is also our guidance for special schools and other specialist settings which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-full-opening-special-schools-and-other-specialist-settings.
This provides additional information specifically targeted at special schools and other specialist settings to support the implementation of other COVID-19 mitigation measures.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education,with reference to the spread of the omicron variant of covid-19, whether he has issued updated guidance to (a) nurseries and (b) early years providers on mitigating measures to prevent the spread of covid-19.
Answered by Will Quince
We continue to publish comprehensive guidance to help the early years sector provide a safe and secure environment for children and staff.
This guidance explains the control measures that settings should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This includes maintaining good hygiene and appropriate cleaning regimes, keeping spaces well-ventilated, and following public health advice on testing, self-isolation, wearing face coverings and managing confirmed cases.
These UK Health Security Agency-endorsed control measures create an environment for children and staff where the risk of transmission of infection is substantially reduced. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures. This has been updated in the light of the emergence of the Omicron variant, although the ways to help control COVID-19 remain the same.
To help keep spaces well ventilated, all nurseries, and childminders operating on domestic premises in groups of 4 or more, receiving state-funding, were included in the carbon dioxide monitor roll out which took place last term. The new monitors will enable staff to identify areas where ventilation needs to be improved and provide reassurance that existing ventilation measures are working, helping balance the need for good ventilation with keeping rooms warm. We are also providing an additional 7,000 air cleaning units for early years settings, schools and colleges. This will improve ventilation in settings and help to minimise disruption to face-to-face education and care.
We continue to monitor the early years sector for staffing issues, including through engagement with local authorities. We have provided significant support to protect education and childcare providers from the impact of COVID-19. We remain committed to doing everything possible to protect face-to-face education and care, and keeping early years settings open for all children.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education,with reference to the spread of the omicron variant of covid-19, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) resourcing and (b) support provided to (i) nurseries and (ii) early years childcare providers on the provision of (A) improved ventilation and (B) other covid-19 mitigation measures in those settings.
Answered by Will Quince
We continue to publish comprehensive guidance to help the early years sector provide a safe and secure environment for children and staff.
This guidance explains the control measures that settings should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This includes maintaining good hygiene and appropriate cleaning regimes, keeping spaces well-ventilated, and following public health advice on testing, self-isolation, wearing face coverings and managing confirmed cases.
These UK Health Security Agency-endorsed control measures create an environment for children and staff where the risk of transmission of infection is substantially reduced. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures. This has been updated in the light of the emergence of the Omicron variant, although the ways to help control COVID-19 remain the same.
To help keep spaces well ventilated, all nurseries, and childminders operating on domestic premises in groups of 4 or more, receiving state-funding, were included in the carbon dioxide monitor roll out which took place last term. The new monitors will enable staff to identify areas where ventilation needs to be improved and provide reassurance that existing ventilation measures are working, helping balance the need for good ventilation with keeping rooms warm. We are also providing an additional 7,000 air cleaning units for early years settings, schools and colleges. This will improve ventilation in settings and help to minimise disruption to face-to-face education and care.
We continue to monitor the early years sector for staffing issues, including through engagement with local authorities. We have provided significant support to protect education and childcare providers from the impact of COVID-19. We remain committed to doing everything possible to protect face-to-face education and care, and keeping early years settings open for all children.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, in the context of the spread of the Omicron variant of covid-19, what assessment he has made of levels of staff sickness in the nurseries and early years childcare sector; and what steps he is taking to support providers to keep services open.
Answered by Will Quince
We continue to publish comprehensive guidance to help the early years sector provide a safe and secure environment for children and staff.
This guidance explains the control measures that settings should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This includes maintaining good hygiene and appropriate cleaning regimes, keeping spaces well-ventilated, and following public health advice on testing, self-isolation, wearing face coverings and managing confirmed cases.
These UK Health Security Agency-endorsed control measures create an environment for children and staff where the risk of transmission of infection is substantially reduced. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures. This has been updated in the light of the emergence of the Omicron variant, although the ways to help control COVID-19 remain the same.
To help keep spaces well ventilated, all nurseries, and childminders operating on domestic premises in groups of 4 or more, receiving state-funding, were included in the carbon dioxide monitor roll out which took place last term. The new monitors will enable staff to identify areas where ventilation needs to be improved and provide reassurance that existing ventilation measures are working, helping balance the need for good ventilation with keeping rooms warm. We are also providing an additional 7,000 air cleaning units for early years settings, schools and colleges. This will improve ventilation in settings and help to minimise disruption to face-to-face education and care.
We continue to monitor the early years sector for staffing issues, including through engagement with local authorities. We have provided significant support to protect education and childcare providers from the impact of COVID-19. We remain committed to doing everything possible to protect face-to-face education and care, and keeping early years settings open for all children.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, in the context of the spread of the Omicron variant of covid-19, what assessment has he made of the adequacy of the (a) resourcing of and (b) support provided to (i) nurseries and (ii) early years childcare providers for improving ventilation and taking other mitigating steps against the spread of covid-19.
Answered by Will Quince
We continue to publish comprehensive guidance to help the early years sector provide a safe and secure environment for children and staff.
This guidance explains the control measures that settings should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This includes maintaining good hygiene and appropriate cleaning regimes, keeping spaces well-ventilated, and following public health advice on testing, self-isolation, wearing face coverings and managing confirmed cases.
These UK Health Security Agency-endorsed control measures create an environment for children and staff where the risk of transmission of infection is substantially reduced. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures. This has been updated in the light of the emergence of the Omicron variant, although the ways to help control COVID-19 remain the same.
To help keep spaces well ventilated, all nurseries, and childminders operating on domestic premises in groups of 4 or more, receiving state-funding, were included in the carbon dioxide monitor roll out which took place last term. The new monitors will enable staff to identify areas where ventilation needs to be improved and provide reassurance that existing ventilation measures are working, helping balance the need for good ventilation with keeping rooms warm. We are also providing an additional 7,000 air cleaning units for early years settings, schools and colleges. This will improve ventilation in settings and help to minimise disruption to face-to-face education and care.
We continue to monitor the early years sector for staffing issues, including through engagement with local authorities. We have provided significant support to protect education and childcare providers from the impact of COVID-19. We remain committed to doing everything possible to protect face-to-face education and care, and keeping early years settings open for all children.