New Schools guidance - masks for 11+

[PatriciaHolm]

www.gov.uk/guidance/education-and-childcare-settings-new-national-restrictions-from-5-november-2020

Got a bit lost in all the other news today I think- main points being masks for all at secondary in communal areas and ECV staff to work from home.

My secondary school children have been doing this since they went back in September.

I thought secondary had to wear masks in communal areas anyway? They do in Wales.

yep, all mine have been wearing masks for several weeks now too.

Secondary Schools near me have this already (england.)

I had wondered about ecv and if they'd get pay or sick pay and if it would disrupt numbers. I think in March it was was cv and ecv that went off in many schools forcing them to close

In Scotland the senior years S4-S6 (and the teachers) now have to wear masks in class and the rest have to wear them in communal areas

I thought this had been the case for ages?

No, only in higher tier areas of England.

It is new guidance for "all" English schools.

Haven't heard about this being needed at our secondary yet, but expected it to be honest as we know cases are rising in secondary age. Mine won't mind, so I'm fine with it if it keeps them in school!

The guidance was released very close to or even after the end of the school day.

That is entirely usual for this govt.

It has always been the case for our secondary here (not a high risk area).

What does ECV mean in this context? Assuming you're not talking about turning a breech baby!

Extremely clinically vulnerable. Roughly the shielding group. Cv is clinically vulnerable.

Yes has been happening here since September. Clearly not working as cases climbing every day. Dd on her 3rd lot of isolation.

Really feel for the cv staff and children. And their parents.

And wondering why classrooms aren’t communal areas for masks ?

We’re in a relatively low-risk area and our secondary has had this rule since Week 2 in September. If child forgets they get issued a disposable mask and an email sent home.

Oh! Not an education related term then.

I think it must be MN specific because the only links I could find were to here and I've always heard it referred to as clinically extremely vulnerable.

Ours have been doing this for several weeks now, I think the school realised this would come and well done to the school for getting the kids prepared for this new rule.

I had one child in a secondary that was doing this, and another in another that wasn't! Same academy chain as well.

And yes sorry - extremely clinically vulnerable staff.

Masks / coverings in class now at my son's secondary. I've bought him a few snoods but he says he's very happy in a regular mask. Teachers only remove theirs briefly if someone can't hear or doesn't understand etc. I'm pleased as I think they're ahead of the game.

The govt guidance actually refers to "Clinically extremely vulnerable" staff and children.

Dc have been wearing masks since the beginning. No issues and the dc got used to it very quickly. Anything we need to do to keep the schools bloody open I say!

My daughter has had to carry a facemask with her but they've never actually been asked to wear them. We are tier 1 but with rapidly rising cases.

I'm relieved that they finally will be wearing them but very frustrated that it has taken this long for just a tiny bit of common sense to happen. It should have been done when they went back to school in September.

My children's school have been doing this since they had to send several classes home after a teacher tested positive.

And staff/children who live with extremely clinically vulnerable family members are still expected to attend schools

I think this should also apply to UKS2 children in primary too.

We have also had this since the first day of September I think a lot of schools around us did (England)

I am not sure there is a point in upper key stage two in a lot of schools? Mine doesn’t go in the communal areas very much as they do spend the whole day in one classroom which I think is much more common in primaries?