Covid-19 Update – December 2021

The Government is clear on the critical importance of not disrupting the education of children and young people and the Government will prioritise keeping all education and childcare settings open. The measures set out below will support this.

Face coverings should be worn by pupils and students in Year 7 and above, staff and visitors in communal areas, unless exempt. This is a temporary measure. Pupils and students in Year 7 and above in these settings must also wear a face covering when travelling on public transport and should wear it on dedicated transport to and from school, college, or higher education provider.

We do not recommend that pupils and staff wear face coverings in classrooms, unless their Director of Public Health advises them to.

We expect all education and childcare settings, including further and higher education providers, to continue to provide face-to-face teaching, and staff should continue to attend their place of work if required in order to deliver this. Teaching and learning should not be moved online as a result of the work from home guidance and we continue to expect higher education students (unless distance learners) to receive an element of face-to-face tuition.