Guidance

The latest news, analysis and best-practice advice when it comes to official education guidance coming from the government, inspectorates and governing bodies

Friday

14th Jan 2022

5-day Covid isolation ‘doesn’t solve’ school staff issues
Heads’ leader says the only way to properly resolve the issue would be if less staff were being infected
teacher absences

Thursday

13th Jan 2022

DfE relaxes EYFS class mixing rules amid staff shortages
Exclusive: Government says EYFS class staff to pupil ratio rules can be ‘temporarily’ changed as Covid is an ‘exceptional circumstance’
infant children in class

Wednesday

12th Jan 2022

DfE has no Covid threshold for moving schools online
Robin Walker also tells MPs the decision to run exams this summer is constantly under review
image of empty desks
DfE: Relax uniform rules and open windows briefly
Government offers schools advice on how to keep classrooms ventilated to guard against Covid without pupils getting cold this term
Schools have been told to review their uniform policies in light of the need to keep windows open this winter to curb the spread of Covid.

Monday

10th Jan 2022

Students will not have to wear masks in exams
New guidance for exams says candidates will only need to wear masks when entering and leaving exam halls

Wednesday

5th Jan 2022

Return to school: 4 key points from Zahawi’s statement
From exams to face masks, here’s what the education secretary told MPs this afternoon
Back to school: Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi has given a Commons statement about Covid guidance for schools
Omicron: Primary pupil masks may be needed, say experts
Government says it opted against masks for younger pupils for hygiene and communication reasons
pupil mask

Monday

3rd Jan 2022

Ofqual boss: Pausing specialist subjects could free up teachers
Exclusive: Ian Bauckham sets out ‘emergency timetable changes’ for schools to consider as Omicron surges
Ian Bauckham Omicron schools
New Covid rules: what you need to know
All the new guidelines and latest announcements for the start of the Spring term
New Covid rules: what you need to know

Sunday

2nd Jan 2022

‘Combining classes’ can keep pupils in school, heads told
DfE also tells schools that live-streamed lessons are the ‘preferred’ approach to remote education
Covid: Schools are being urged to consider combining classes if they are suffering from high teacher absence because of Covid.
Avoiding remote learning could be impossible, admits Zahawi
But education secretary says on-site learning should be available to as many pupils as possible
Masks back in secondary classrooms to tackle Omicron
Ofsted also set to be scaled back for the next month, and schools will receive more air purifiers, DfE announces
The government has reintroduced a recommendation that masks be worn in classrooms for staff and pupils in year seven and above.