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Schools have made many changes to cope with coronavirus – from social distancing to altering the school day.
Many will also be closing early for Christmas, to help reduce the number of infections.
What’s happening at the end of term?
- In Wales, all secondary schools and colleges will
switch to remote learning from 14 December. Primary schools in areas such as Cardiff and Swansea will also close early
- Northern Ireland has resisted calls to shut schools early, with some open until 22 December
- Scotland says its schools will open as usual, which for some means until 22 or 23 December
- In England, schools will be allowed to shut for an inset day on Friday 18 December, allowing “six clear days before Christmas Eve”
All schools are being asked to move to learning online from Tuesday, in the London borough of Greenwich, amid rising Covid cases.
Mass testing is already being rolled out to secondary school staff, pupils and their families in parts of north east London, Essex and Kent with the highest coronavirus rates.
Will next year’s exams take place?
image copyrightGetty ImagesScotland’s Higher and Advanced Higher exams have been cancelled for 2021, with final grades based on teacher assessment.
The National 5 exams have also been cancelled.
The Welsh government has cancelled next summer’s GCSE, AS and A-level exams, with grades based on classroom assessments.
In England, A-levels and GCSE exams are due to go ahead with reduced content for some subjects, and later exam dates.
In Northern Ireland, A-level, AS and GCSE exams will start a week later than usual.
What precautions are schools taking?
Measures include hand sanitiser stations, one-way systems and staggered break times.
Improved cleaning procedures have been introduced, and social distancing wherever possible.
image copyrightGetty ImagesIn England, younger children are being encouraged to mix in small groups or “bubbles” as they are unlikely to stay 2m apart.
Older children, such as those in secondary schools, are being encouraged to avoid touching one another as much as possible.
Do children have to wear face coverings at school?
Pupils and teachers in secondary schools and colleges in England and Wales must wear face masks in communal areas.
Scotland’s senior pupils (years S4-S6) and their teachers must also wear them in class in level 3 and 4 restriction areas.
image copyrightGetty ImagesIn Wales, face coverings are recommended in high schools when social distancing is “unlikely to be maintained”.
In Northern Ireland, face coverings must be worn in the corridors of post-primary schools, and on school and public transport.
What happens if someone tests positive for coronavirus?
If someone tests positive, they must be sent home to self-isolate for 10 days.
The school must then contact their local public health protection team, who will advise on who else should be sent home.
Anyone who has been in close contact with the person testing positive must self-isolate.
image copyrightPA MediaWhat if my child has a cough or cold?
The NHS says the main Covid-19 symptoms are:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- the loss of, or change to, your sense of taste or smell
If a child shows these symptoms, they – and other members of their household – should self-isolate for 10 days and get tested if possible.
A runny nose is more likely to be a symptom of a cold, and is not a reason to get tested for coronavirus, says NHS Scotland.
Help from the NHS:
