Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether schools are required to ensure that pupils wear face masks while on school premises and outside of the classroom.

Children in primary schools do not need to wear a face covering. In primary schools where social distancing is not possible between adults in indoor areas (for example when moving around in corridors and communal areas), settings have the discretion to recommend the use of face coverings when indoors on site, for both staff and visitors.

In schools where pupils in year 7 and above are educated, face coverings should be worn by adults (staff and visitors) and pupils when moving around indoors in corridors and other communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain. Face coverings are not currently required in school classrooms due to the negative impact they have on communication between teacher and student, and because schools are able to put other COVID-19 secure measures into place.

No-one should be excluded from education on the grounds that they are not wearing a face covering. Where anybody is struggling to access a face covering, or where they are unable to use their face covering due to having forgotten it or it has become soiled or unsafe, education settings should take steps to have a small contingency supply available to meet such needs.

We continue to provide guidance to educational settings online.