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<p>Schools continue to remain open for all children and young people, as they have
since the start of the autumn term. Being at school is vital for children’s education
and for their wellbeing. It continues to be the aim of the Department that all pupils,
in all year groups, remain in school full-time.</p><p>The risk to children themselves
of becoming severely ill from COVID-19 is very low, and there are negative health
impacts of being out of school. For most children, the benefits of being back in the
classroom far outweigh the low risk of COVID-19, and schools can take action to further
reduce risks.</p><p>The Department published actions for schools during the COVID-19
outbreak to support them to welcome back all children from the start of the autumn
term. The full guidance is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools</a>.</p><p>Schools
should continue to undertake risk assessments and implement the system of controls
set out in this guidance. These measures provide a framework for school leaders to
put in place proportionate protective measures for pupils and staff. If schools follow
the guidance and maximise control measures, they can be confident they are managing
risk effectively. The measures in place include schools minimising contact between
individuals. This can be achieved through keeping groups separate and maintaining
distance between individuals.</p><p>From 5 November 2020, following guidance on new
national restrictions in schools, children who live with someone who is clinically
extremely vulnerable, but who are not clinically extremely vulnerable themselves,
should continue to attend education. The full guidance for schools and nurseries can
be viewed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-and-childcare-settings-new-national-restrictions-from-5-november-2020#schools"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-and-childcare-settings-new-national-restrictions-from-5-november-2020#schools</a>.</p><p>New
guidance for shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable
from COVID-19 was published on 4 November 2020. The guidance can be viewed here: <a
href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/advice-for-people-at-high-risk/"
target="_blank">https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/advice-for-people-at-high-risk/</a></p><p>Where
a pupil is unable to attend school because they are complying with clinical advice
or public health advice, schools are expected to immediately offer them access to
remote education.</p><p>To support schools in meeting the remote education expectations,
the Department announced a further remote education package of support, which can
be found on the remote education service at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19</a>.</p><p>Support
includes an additional 340,000 laptops and tablets for disadvantaged children, and
development resources for staff, including a good practice guide and school-led webinars.</p><p>The
Department is also investing £1.5 million of additional funding to expand the EdTech
Demonstrator programme, which provides peer-to-peer support for schools and colleges.</p><p>The
Department is in regular contact with officials in British embassies overseas to collect
the latest international intelligence and evidence about how other countries have
approached distance learning for pupils.</p>
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