Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) the phased return of all pupils to schools and (b) the operation of rota systems from 8 March 2021.

The Government has been committed to getting all pupils back into schools full time, as soon as the public health picture allows. In doing so, the Department is guided by the scientific and medical experts. Data and evidence are considered regularly including by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, the Joint Biosecurity Centre, Public Health England, and the Chief Medical Officers.

On 22 February 2021, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, confirmed that, based on the Government’s assessment of the current data against its four tests for relaxing restrictions, it will be possible for children to return to schools from 8 March 2021. The latest data suggest that infection rates have fallen across all ages, including in children and young people.

Attendance will be mandatory for primary and secondary school pupils from that date. All secondary pupils will be offered testing from 8 March 2021 and those who consent to testing should return to face to face education following their first negative test result. Testing is voluntary but strongly encouraged. Pupils not undergoing testing should attend school in line with the phased return arrangements in their school. Head teachers in secondary schools can phase the return of their pupils during the first week as they carry out onsite asymptomatic testing.

Missing face to face education does have severe impacts for children and young people, with clear evidence that further time out of education is detrimental for cognitive and academic development, health and wellbeing. The Chief Medical Officer for England has stated that: "The chances of many children being damaged by not going to school are incredibly clear and therefore the balance of risk is very strongly in favour of children going to school - because many more are likely to be harmed by not going than harmed by going, even during this pandemic." That is why the Government avoided restricting attendance for as long as possible and committed to fully opening schools as the national priority.

Schools should not plan for rotas as there is no need to reduce occupancy in schools. Instead, everyone should follow the system of controls set out in our published guidance, which have been strengthened and are the correct techniques for minimising the risk of transmission within schools: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/963541/Schools_coronavirus_operational_guidance.pdf.