“I am incredibly grateful to everyone working in education and childcare for their tireless work to make the best of what has been a very challenging situation,” Williamson said…reports Asian Lite News.
Covid restrictions in schools, such as class and year group bubbles, will be lifted, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has confirmed, but protective measures will remain in place next term.
As part of Step 4, expected to take place on 19 July, ‘bubbles’ will end for all children under 18, social distancing will no longer be necessary, and schools will not need to stagger start and finish times, the Department of Education announced.
However, the schools can continue with existing arrangements until the end of term if they wish, it added.
“I am incredibly grateful to everyone working in education and childcare for their tireless work to make the best of what has been a very challenging situation,” Williamson said.
“While the pandemic is not over, we are moving into a new phase of managing Covid, from strict rules and towards personal responsibility. The measures we will have after summer strike the right balance as we learn to live with the virus so children can get on with their lives and education in the best possible way,” he added.
From 16 August, the legal requirement to self-isolate for contacts of a positive case will end for everyone aged under 18, and for adults who have been fully vaccinated. This means that from the autumn term, only those who test positive will need to self-isolate.
All school trips, drama, music and sporting activity will be able to resume in line with the relaxation of restrictions across society from Step 4.
From Step 4, NHS test and trace will carry out contact tracing in all education settings rather than being run by the school or college.
Those identified as close contacts will be advised to take a PCR test, and only need to isolate if they test positive. Children must self-isolate if they have symptoms of Covid or a positive test result, it was announced.
However, protective measures will remain in place for the autumn term in all education settings including practicing good hygiene, ventilation, and regular testing until the end of September to strike a balance between relaxing restrictions and minimising further disruption to children’s education.
Two onsite tests should be taken by each secondary school and college student on return, followed by twice weekly testing at home.
The Government will review testing requirements by the end of September.
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