What is the legal basis for bubbles in schools?

[notevenat20]

Outside of schools I think the law is that you are not allowed 2 people from different households in the same house. Outside of the house everyone from different households has to be at least 2 metres from each other. The same rule applies in the work place I think although you are then allowed 2 people in the same office as long as they are far enough apart I believe.

At DC's school they are instituting a bubble scheme where children from the same bubble don't have to be 2 metres apart. I don't think this is a bad idea but I was wondering what the legal basis was for it? Is there a special except for children in schools?

I am asking mostly because I am interested in the law. But I am also in charge a religious education group for children and wanted to understand what our options are.

I meant special exception .

In the government guidance about opening schools, it specified that children should social distance where possible but it is understandable that this is not always possible.

BeingATwatItsABingThing Does that sort of guidance have legal weight? The bubble scheme isn't exactly necessary but is just a sensible compromise. Some schools are doing it and some not. I also don't understand if the teacher or child (if 10+) could find themselves being fined for not following social distancing rules.

How could they be fined, schools aren’t having visitors on site unless emergencies!

trinity0097 If the legislation allows social distancing to be ignored inside schools then they couldn't. I just haven't found that part of the legislation.

Going back to my religious classes, am I allowed to run them at all under the current rules?

As far as I am aware the 2m distance is guidance only and not a legal requirement for anybody. There a multiple scenarios where the 2m thing is simply not possible, not just in schools. No one should be getting fined.

My year 1 Grandson has just returned to school and is in a bubble of about 13. They socially distance and he patiently explained to me that 2 metres was similar to six ft and that's how far they needed to be apart at school. There is no mixing between bubbles

There is no mention of the 2m (or physical distancing generally) in the law, it is just guidance.

Meeting up in groups of more than 6 from different households is against the legislation and fines can be given but I assume this excludes schools, hospitals etc...

As long as everyone washes their hands, no need to social distance in schools or For staff to wear PPE.

Here’s the guidance for schools and parents...

www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/reopening-schools-and-other-educational-settings-from-1-june

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings

@notevenat20

BeingATwatItsABingThing Does that sort of guidance have legal weight? The bubble scheme isn't exactly necessary but is just a sensible compromise. Some schools are doing it and some not. I also don't understand if the teacher or child (if 10+) could find themselves being fined for not following social distancing rules.

It’s guidance. They can’t and won’t fine the teachers or children for not sticking to it.

2m is not enshrined in law.
It’s just incredibly good for you!

Here are the amended regulations -
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/558/regulation/2/made

There's an exception to the law against indoor gatherings if
"(f) the gathering takes place at an educational facility and is reasonably necessary for the purposes of education."

Does anyone know where the idea of bubbles, within which there is no need for social distancing came from? Is this something schools have invented for themselves or does it come from government?

OfCourseIStillLoveYou Thank you! Do you know how they define an educational facility?

@notevenat20

Does anyone know where the idea of bubbles, within which there is no need for social distancing came from? Is this something schools have invented for themselves or does it come from government?

Government guidance. It still says 2m distancing within groups where possible, but acknowledges that young children may not be able to maintain a distance.

It comes from dfe guidance, so yes from the government

I would recommend you have a look at it if considering starting your religious groups. You would be on very shaky ground though if anything were to happen. Schools have our own specific guidance. I wonder if churches/mosques etc do to?

SandieCheeks That doesn't right as the bubbles at our primary includes year 6 children.

The DfE guidance to schools suggests bubbles should be used to limit the amount of people coming into contact with each other. The idea is that if a teacher or pupil tests positive for CV that only that bubble will have to isolate instead of the whole school.

There is however a convenient paragraph in the guidance documents which says schools don't have to follow this guidance and can make their own arrangements instead. So many schools are going with a different set up.

I would have thought a religious group would come under regulations regarding churches/mosques/places of worship etc?

The bubble is in the guidence for schools - and the social distancing of 2m is to be observed where possible.

Reality is that little kids won't stay 2m away from each other and the teacher so they shouldn't be penalised for behaving like normal kids.

You won't be allowed to start your religious group yet as that isn't allowed. We are not allowed to mix inside. Churches aren't back so their 'sunday schools' (I use the term loosely) should also not be back.

You could arrange to meet outside - 1 teacher to 5 students...no parents. But you would want to check with your insurance before doing this.

Year 6 are 10 and 11. Yes, they are more able to social distance but it’s still hard for them. I teach Y5 and they can be very keen on hugging still.

In the government guidance about opening schools, it specified that children should social distance where possible but it is understandable that this is not always possible.

I think they confused the issue by including a sentence about very young children not being g expected to maintain social distancing which some people (mostly outside of education) have taken to mean din’t bother.

What context are your classes in OP. Off the top of my head I can’t see a context where holding them at all would be in the guidelines unless they are outside and you only have 5 children at any one time while maintaining social distancing.

I suspect once you are allowed a religious Ed group there will be different guidelines that may differ from what is allowed in schools.

@notevenat20

SandieCheeks That doesn't right as the bubbles at our primary includes year 6 children.

I'm not sure what you mean - a year 6 child probably can maintain a 2m distance within their group. A nursery child probably can't. With my Year 1 child, the school are still aiming for a 2m distance during school time although they accept sometimes the children forget.

Here is a section of the guidance for primary schools from the government which may answer your questions

1. Familiarise yourself with the maximum safe group size

We know that, unlike older children and adults, early years and primary age children cannot be expected to remain 2 metres apart from each other and staff. In deciding to bring more children back to early years and schools, we are taking this into account. You should, therefore, work through the hierarchy of measures set out in implementing protective measures in education and childcare settingss_: • avoiding contact with anyone with symptoms • frequent hand cleaning and good respiratory hygiene practices • regular cleaning of settings • minimising contact and mixing It is still important to reduce contact between people as much as possible, so children, young people and staff where possible, should only mix in a small, consistent group and that small group should stay away from other people and groups. If you can keep older children within those small groups 2 metres away from each other, you should do so. While in general groups should be kept apart, brief, transitory contact, such as passing in a corridor, is low risk. For primary schools, classes should normally be split in half, with no more than 15 pupils per small group and one teacher (and, if needed, a teaching assistant). Vulnerable children and children of critical workers in other year groups should also be split into small groups of no more than 15. Where desks are used, they should be spaced as far apart as possible.

Our religious meetings are on zoom and if we could meet then we would but we can't. Bible studies are online or by email.

Can't you do a zoom or teams meeting?