Guidance for January Return to Schools

Guidance for all schools and settings.

Childcare settings, Primary Schools, Special Schools and Alternative Provision in the areas of Dartford, Gravesham, Sevenoaks, Ashford, Maidstone, Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Swale are also subject to additional guidance set out within the Contingency Framework.

Additional guidance for those relevant schools and settings within the areas designated for implementation of the contingency framework - Childcare settings, Primary Schools, Special Schools and Alternative Provision in the areas of Dartford, Gravesham, Sevenoaks, Ashford, Maidstone, Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Swale.

Mainstream secondary schools are not subject to any additional guidance within the Contingency Framework anywhere within Kent and should refer to Schools and childcare settings: return in January 2021

List of critical workers (key workers) and vulnerable children and young people who can access full-time education provision in the case of restrictions on education during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Guidance and resources published by DfE to support schools with mass asymptomatic testing.

As of 31 December 2020 the guidance contains:

• Testing Handbook
  An overview of testing in schools.
• Template letter to parents
  Example letter explaining testing to parents, pupils and staff and asking parents and staff to register for testing.
• Consent form template
  Consent to testing will be needed from staff, parents for pupils under 16 and from pupils that are over 16.
• Leaflet - How to undertake self-test 
  A leaflet explaining how individuals should undertake their own swab-test.

It is expected that additional detailed operational guidance will be published in this section by the DfE shortly.

Information relating to mass testing in schools for those settings within the KCC insurance policy. For schools outside of the KCC insurance cover please contact your individual provider for similar advice.

The County Council’s volunteer policy, schools without an existing volunteer policy may wish to use this as a model policy.

All existing guidance previously published by Government remains accessible through this ‘Collection’ page.