Masks in schools - what are the ACTUAL rules in England?

[changingstages]

Am just curious, really, and have no wish to start a big debate on masks in schools - mine is in primary where the pupils have never had masks, though DH sometimes teaches in secondary.

Anyway, our school sent a letter this week which says:
"Advice states children are not permitted to wear masks whilst on the school premises."

Which feels like a bit of a woolly sentence - 'advice' and 'not permitted' don't seem to work together. But I wondered what the DfE advice actually does say - I have googled but it's hard to tell what applies.

@Comefromaway

Dh teaches. He will be wearing a mask.

Is he primary or secondary? DH is secondary and his SLT are dithering over masks for teachers...

@lannistunut

But as they are being cautious and have provided advice which seems careful and considered - as far as they can, anyway - I am extremely hesitant to add to workload.

If you don;t want to ask then don;t but honestly I don't think there is any point worrying about 'adding to workload' - they are professionals, you are a parent, you're entitled to ask questions, they are used to answering. I think it is quite patronising towards them to assume a simple email from you will be too much to deal with.

I know I am very lucky with our head but he is good with emails, he is happy to answer, he is forever asking aprents to get in touch.

You're absolutely right. I'm not normally hesitant in asking questions and the school are usually pretty good about it but I am so aware that they're insanely busy and as I wasn't planning on actually getting DD to wear a mask at primary it felt a bit pointless to ask. But I will.

Secondary (although he only teaches 6th for but he's in corridors with the younger ones) . I feel it should be the individual choice of teacher's and students.

He is double vaxxed but his mum has dementia and is in a care home so he takes all precautions. Our daughter caught covid (at the same school) despite being double vaxxed. She'd been wearing a mask but was really struggling due to sensory issues related to autism. Almost her entire year group caught it.