Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department has published on support staff attending schools during the covid-19 lockdown announced in January 2021.

During the period of national lockdown, schools remain open to vulnerable children and young people and the children of critical workers only.

Following the reintroduction of shielding, clinically extremely vulnerable staff are advised that they should not attend the workplace. Staff who are in this group will previously have received a letter from the NHS or their GP telling them this.

All other staff can attend the workplace where it is not possible to work from home. This includes school support staff. It is for school leaders to determine the workforce that is required in school, taking into account the updated guidance for those staff who are clinically extremely vulnerable. The Department’s published guidance provides information for school leaders on some of the options for staff deployment to help inform their plans including use of trainee teachers, newly qualified teachers, support staff and supply staff. The expectation is that those staff not attending school will work from home where possible. The guidance is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950510/School_national_restrictions_guidance.pdf.

The Department have worked closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Public Heath England (PHE) to develop specific guidance for schools. The guidance is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950510/School_national_restrictions_guidance.pdf. Where schools implement the system of controls outlined in the guidance, in line with their own workplace risk assessment, PHE and DHSC confirm that these measures create an inherently safer environment for children and staff where the risk of transmission of infection is substantially reduced. All staff attending schools should follow these measures to minimise the risks of transmission.