Asked by: Lilian Greenwood (Labour - Nottingham South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to ensure that 17 year olds who are starting university in the autumn can access the covid-19 vaccine before they are 18 to allow them to be double-vaccinated before they arrive at university.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Government has accepted the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice that young people, including students, may be offered a COVID-19 vaccination within three months of turning 18 years old. The second dose of the vaccine would be offered eight weeks after the first dose.
Students over the age of 16 years old with underlying health conditions that put them at risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19 have been offered both doses of vaccine as part of phase one of the vaccine deployment programme. Age is assessed to be the strongest factor linked to mortality, morbidity and hospitalisations.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will issue guidance on covid-19 safety measures for recent 18 year olds who are (a) due to go to University in autumn 2021 and (b) all other recent 18 year olds; what discussions he has had with (i) Directors of Public Health and (ii) relevant higher education and health stakeholders on provision of covid-19 vaccinations at universities; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
On 14 July 2021, we updated the higher education (HE) operational guidance for the sector on how HE settings can manage the risks of transmission and outbreaks as students return to campus. This is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reopening-buildings-and-campuses.
This includes advice on testing prior to arrival at university and measures on ventilation and outbreak management.
We routinely engage stakeholders in our plans including via the HE Task Force, involving representatives from across government and the HE sector, which meets to explore the challenges currently facing the sector as it continues to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak.
We also regularly engage with the Department of Health and Social Care, and we are working with them to ensure students have easy access to vaccinations at university if needed. We expect universities to work closely with their directors of health, especially for the development of outbreak management plans.
The COVID-19 vaccination is now being offered to everyone aged 18 and over, and we strongly encourage all students to take up the opportunity to be vaccinated as soon as possible, to protect themselves and those around them.
Students should register with a GP to be actively invited for a vaccination, though they can easily request to book a COVID-19 vaccine as an unregistered patient. More information on accessing vaccines can be found on the NHS published student frequently asked questions. HE providers should encourage students to consult with this advice, which are available here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/06/C1317-COVID-19-vaccination-FAQs-students-in-Higher-Education-Institutions-.pdf.
Students and staff should continue to test twice a week, either using home test kits or at an on-site facility throughout the summer break where settings remain open. Testing will pause in settings that are closed.
Students should expect to test before they travel back to university, by ordering a free test online or collection from their local pharmacy. On arrival at university, students should take two lateral flow device tests – either using home test kits or at an on-site testing facility – 3 to 4 days apart. This is to reduce the risk of transmission following the movement of students across the country. Final decisions about testing on return and ongoing regular asymptomatic testing in the autumn term will take into account public health advice. The position will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what educational support will be made available to university students required to self-isolate due to the covid-19 outbreak in the 2021 autumn term; and how he plans to provide that additional support.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
From 16 August and as part of Step 4 of the government’s COVID-19 roadmap, double vaccinated people and under 18 year olds will no longer be legally required to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case.
It is vitally important that universities continue to make sure that students feel as supported as possible, should they have to self-isolate. Universities UK has produced a checklist for higher education (HE) providers to support students who are required to self-isolate: https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/policy-and-analysis/reports/Documents/2020/uuk-checklist-support-self-isolating-students.pdf.
Universities UK has also created bespoke guidance for HE providers on how to prepare for and care for students who are required to self-isolate on arrival in the UK. We encourage providers to review this guidance when considering how best to support their international students and other students arriving from overseas.
The Office for Students has also published a statement on support for students in self-isolation during the COVID-19 outbreak, available at: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-and-events/blog/ofs-student-panel-statement-on-support-for-students-in-self-isolation-during-covid-19-coronavirus-pandemic/. Students will still have access to online resources and learning materials during periods of self-isolation. We encourage students to contact their provider to find out more about what resources are available to them online.
In addition, some students may be eligible for a one-off payment of £500 through the NHS Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme, if they are required to self-isolate: https://www.gov.uk/test-and-trace-support-payment.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria he will use to determine whether covid-19 secure measures should be reintroduced in the future in the education system.
Answered by Nick Gibb
On 5 July, it was announced that when the Government moves to Step 4 of the roadmap the majority of COVID-19 restrictions will be relaxed. This includes the measures that the Department recommends for early years, schools, colleges, and universities.
The Department for Education has worked closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England (PHE) to revise guidance for schools and colleges. 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 impact those measures have on young people’s educational experience. The Department will continue to keep these measures under review, in partnership with health experts and informed by the latest scientific evidence and advice.
Local authorities, Directors of Public Health and PHE Health Protection Teams play an important role in providing support and advice to early years, schools, colleges, and universities and are responsible for managing localised outbreaks.
The contingency framework describes the types of measures that may need to be reintroduced, outlining the types of measures that early years, schools, colleges, and universities should be prepared for, who can recommend them, when measures should be lifted and how decisions are made. If there is an outbreak, or if they are in an enhanced response area, the local director of public health might advise an early years setting, school, college, or university to temporarily reintroduce some control measures. If that happens, the individual setting's outbreak management plan should help staff understand the actions they need to take. In all cases, any benefits in managing transmission should be weighed against any educational drawbacks. More information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-local-restrictions-in-education-and-childcare-settings/contingency-framework-education-and-childcare-settings.
The Department’s priority is for all early years, schools, colleges, and universities to deliver face-to-face, high quality education to all pupils and students. The evidence is clear that being out of education causes significant harm to educational attainment, life chances, mental and physical health.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to review covid-19 measures ahead of the autumn 2021 term in the event of increased infection levels.
Answered by Nick Gibb
On 5 July 2021, it was announced that when the Government moves to Step 4 of the roadmap, most COVID-19 restrictions will be relaxed across all parts of society. As measures will be eased at Step 4, it is appropriate to relax the measures in early years, schools, colleges, and universities so that we can return to normal as far as possible.
The Department’s priority is for all schools to deliver face to face, high quality education to all pupils and students. The evidence is clear that being out of education causes significant harm to educational attainment, life chances, mental and physical health.
When we move to Step 4, the Department’s aim is to balance the risks associated with COVID-19 whilst moving to a ‘steady state’ that minimises the burden of implementing the system of controls on staff and parents, and the effect those measures have on young people’s educational experience.
Asymptomatic testing will resume in the autumn term for staff and for pupils of secondary age and above. Schools and colleges should offer pupils 2 lateral flow device tests at an on-site asymptomatic test site, 3 to 5 days apart. They may start this testing up to 3 days before the start of term and can stagger the return of pupils during the first week of term to accommodate this. Following the first two on-site tests, pupils should continue to test twice weekly at home until the end of September, when this will be reviewed.
Staff across all schools, colleges, and nurseries should also test regularly at home until the end of September, at which point this will be reviewed in line with public health advice.
All schools and nurseries should have outbreak management plans outlining how they would operate if there was an outbreak on site or in their local area. If an outbreak occurs or if they are in an enhanced response area, the local director of public health might advise a school to temporarily reintroduce some control measures. The contingency framework describes the principles of managing local outbreaks of COVID-19 in schools and nurseries: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-local-restrictions-in-education-and-childcare-settings/contingency-framework-education-and-childcare-settings.
The Department has worked closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England to revise guidance for schools, colleges and nurseries from Step 4. We will continue to keep these measures under review in partnership with health experts and informed by the latest scientific evidence and advice. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance is available for students who are self-isolating with covid-19 in a privately-owned house of multiple occupation after their tenancy end date.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
MHCLG has produced guidance on moving home during the outbreak which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.
Accommodation providers have also been urged to extend tenancies and delay moves if tenants are self-isolating due to COVID-19, and some universities do provide temporary accommodation to those in this situation.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 20 April 2021 to Question 179661 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of prioritising 17-year-old students planning to start university in September 2021 to receive their first covid-19 vaccine so that those students will be able to be in receipt of two covid-19 vaccinations prior to the start of the 2021-22 academic year.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is currently examining the evidence and the relative risks and benefits of routinely vaccinating children and young people against COVID-19 and will provide advice to the Department in due course. This will include consideration of those aged 16 to 17 years old.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to support pupils missing additional days at school as a result of the rise in rates of covid-19 infection.
Answered by Nick Gibb
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, mental and physical health.
The Department for Education has worked closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England to revise guidance for schools from Step 4, available to view here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/999602/Schools_guidance_Step_4_update.pdf. The 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 impact those measures have on young people’s educational experience.
The Department will be removing the need to keep children and young people in consistent groups (‘bubbles’) in schools, colleges, and out-of-school settings, and the need to reduce mixing in nurseries from Step 4.
Face coverings will no longer be recommended in schools or on dedicated school transport. Individuals are free to wear a face covering in communal areas and on dedicated transport to school, where social distancing is difficult to maintain, if they wish to.
Twice weekly home testing will continue to be offered over the summer break in settings that remain open (e.g., nurseries, summer schools and colleges). On return in the autumn, asymptomatic testing is expected to resume for staff and for students of secondary age and above. Schools and colleges are preparing to offer students two lateral flow device tests at an on-site Asymptomatic Test Site, 3 to 5 days apart. Following the first two on-site tests, students should then prepare to resume twice weekly testing at home. New guidance emphasises that it is vital that staff and secondary school and college students continue to test for the last few weeks of this term, and throughout September.
From Step 4, schools and childcare settings will not routinely be required to undertake contact tracing. Instead, pupils who test positive will be subject to the normal test and trace process, which will identify close contacts. Unless they test positive, children and those who are fully vaccinated will not be required to isolate from 16 August, if they are identified as a close contact. Self-isolation continues for those who have tested positive for COVID-19.
In areas where there is a high prevalence of the Delta variant, the Department is increasing the availability of testing for staff, pupils, and families. We are also working with directors of public health to reduce local transmission. On 8 June, the Government announced an enhanced support package for any areas affected by local outbreaks. The package includes specialist Rapid Response Teams, surge testing and enhanced contact tracing, military support, specialist communication, supervised in-school testing, and discretion to reintroduce face coverings in communal areas in schools if directors of public health decide it is appropriate. Further information on responding to individual or regional outbreaks can be found in the contingency framework for education and childcare: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-local-restrictions-in-education-and-childcare-settings.
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the Department has acted swiftly to help minimise the impact on pupils’ education and provide extensive support for schools. We know the COVID-19 outbreak has caused challenges for some children who may already have been disengaged from education. That is why the Department is working closely with local authorities and schools to help them re-engage pupils, including providing best practice advice. In June 2020, the Department announced a £1 billion catch-up package including a National Tutoring Programme and a catch-up premium for this academic year. In February 2021, the Department committed to further funding of £700 million to fund summer schools, the expansion of tutoring programmes and a Recovery Premium for the next academic year.
Where pupils are away from school for a limited period, for example because they are self-isolating, schools have a legal duty to provide remote education. To provide clarity to the sector, the Department issued the temporary continuity direction in October 2020 which places an express legal duty on schools to provide remote education for state-funded, school-age children unable to attend school due to COVID-19.
Where remote education is needed, the strengthened remote education expectations published on 7 January 2021 remain in place. These require schools to deliver 3 to 5 hours per day dependent on key stage and have a system in place for checking on a daily basis whether pupils are engaging actively with their work and education.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that pupils engage with the covid-19 testing regime.
Answered by Nick Gibb
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, mental and physical health.
The Department for Education has worked closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England to revise guidance for schools from Step 4, available to view here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/999602/Schools_guidance_Step_4_update.pdf. The 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 impact those measures have on young people’s educational experience.
The Department will be removing the need to keep children and young people in consistent groups (‘bubbles’) in schools, colleges, and out-of-school settings, and the need to reduce mixing in nurseries from Step 4.
Face coverings will no longer be recommended in schools or on dedicated school transport. Individuals are free to wear a face covering in communal areas and on dedicated transport to school, where social distancing is difficult to maintain, if they wish to.
Twice weekly home testing will continue to be offered over the summer break in settings that remain open (e.g., nurseries, summer schools and colleges). On return in the autumn, asymptomatic testing is expected to resume for staff and for students of secondary age and above. Schools and colleges are preparing to offer students two lateral flow device tests at an on-site Asymptomatic Test Site, 3 to 5 days apart. Following the first two on-site tests, students should then prepare to resume twice weekly testing at home. New guidance emphasises that it is vital that staff and secondary school and college students continue to test for the last few weeks of this term, and throughout September.
From Step 4, schools and childcare settings will not routinely be required to undertake contact tracing. Instead, pupils who test positive will be subject to the normal test and trace process, which will identify close contacts. Unless they test positive, children and those who are fully vaccinated will not be required to isolate from 16 August, if they are identified as a close contact. Self-isolation continues for those who have tested positive for COVID-19.
In areas where there is a high prevalence of the Delta variant, the Department is increasing the availability of testing for staff, pupils, and families. We are also working with directors of public health to reduce local transmission. On 8 June, the Government announced an enhanced support package for any areas affected by local outbreaks. The package includes specialist Rapid Response Teams, surge testing and enhanced contact tracing, military support, specialist communication, supervised in-school testing, and discretion to reintroduce face coverings in communal areas in schools if directors of public health decide it is appropriate. Further information on responding to individual or regional outbreaks can be found in the contingency framework for education and childcare: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-local-restrictions-in-education-and-childcare-settings.
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the Department has acted swiftly to help minimise the impact on pupils’ education and provide extensive support for schools. We know the COVID-19 outbreak has caused challenges for some children who may already have been disengaged from education. That is why the Department is working closely with local authorities and schools to help them re-engage pupils, including providing best practice advice. In June 2020, the Department announced a £1 billion catch-up package including a National Tutoring Programme and a catch-up premium for this academic year. In February 2021, the Department committed to further funding of £700 million to fund summer schools, the expansion of tutoring programmes and a Recovery Premium for the next academic year.
Where pupils are away from school for a limited period, for example because they are self-isolating, schools have a legal duty to provide remote education. To provide clarity to the sector, the Department issued the temporary continuity direction in October 2020 which places an express legal duty on schools to provide remote education for state-funded, school-age children unable to attend school due to COVID-19.
Where remote education is needed, the strengthened remote education expectations published on 7 January 2021 remain in place. These require schools to deliver 3 to 5 hours per day dependent on key stage and have a system in place for checking on a daily basis whether pupils are engaging actively with their work and education.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what advice he is providing to schools in response to the rising level of covid-19 infection.
Answered by Nick Gibb
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, mental and physical health.
The Department for Education has worked closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England to revise guidance for schools from Step 4, available to view here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/999602/Schools_guidance_Step_4_update.pdf. The 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 impact those measures have on young people’s educational experience.
The Department will be removing the need to keep children and young people in consistent groups (‘bubbles’) in schools, colleges, and out-of-school settings, and the need to reduce mixing in nurseries from Step 4.
Face coverings will no longer be recommended in schools or on dedicated school transport. Individuals are free to wear a face covering in communal areas and on dedicated transport to school, where social distancing is difficult to maintain, if they wish to.
Twice weekly home testing will continue to be offered over the summer break in settings that remain open (e.g., nurseries, summer schools and colleges). On return in the autumn, asymptomatic testing is expected to resume for staff and for students of secondary age and above. Schools and colleges are preparing to offer students two lateral flow device tests at an on-site Asymptomatic Test Site, 3 to 5 days apart. Following the first two on-site tests, students should then prepare to resume twice weekly testing at home. New guidance emphasises that it is vital that staff and secondary school and college students continue to test for the last few weeks of this term, and throughout September.
From Step 4, schools and childcare settings will not routinely be required to undertake contact tracing. Instead, pupils who test positive will be subject to the normal test and trace process, which will identify close contacts. Unless they test positive, children and those who are fully vaccinated will not be required to isolate from 16 August, if they are identified as a close contact. Self-isolation continues for those who have tested positive for COVID-19.
In areas where there is a high prevalence of the Delta variant, the Department is increasing the availability of testing for staff, pupils, and families. We are also working with directors of public health to reduce local transmission. On 8 June, the Government announced an enhanced support package for any areas affected by local outbreaks. The package includes specialist Rapid Response Teams, surge testing and enhanced contact tracing, military support, specialist communication, supervised in-school testing, and discretion to reintroduce face coverings in communal areas in schools if directors of public health decide it is appropriate. Further information on responding to individual or regional outbreaks can be found in the contingency framework for education and childcare: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-local-restrictions-in-education-and-childcare-settings.
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the Department has acted swiftly to help minimise the impact on pupils’ education and provide extensive support for schools. We know the COVID-19 outbreak has caused challenges for some children who may already have been disengaged from education. That is why the Department is working closely with local authorities and schools to help them re-engage pupils, including providing best practice advice. In June 2020, the Department announced a £1 billion catch-up package including a National Tutoring Programme and a catch-up premium for this academic year. In February 2021, the Department committed to further funding of £700 million to fund summer schools, the expansion of tutoring programmes and a Recovery Premium for the next academic year.
Where pupils are away from school for a limited period, for example because they are self-isolating, schools have a legal duty to provide remote education. To provide clarity to the sector, the Department issued the temporary continuity direction in October 2020 which places an express legal duty on schools to provide remote education for state-funded, school-age children unable to attend school due to COVID-19.
Where remote education is needed, the strengthened remote education expectations published on 7 January 2021 remain in place. These require schools to deliver 3 to 5 hours per day dependent on key stage and have a system in place for checking on a daily basis whether pupils are engaging actively with their work and education.