Guidance Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak
Preparing for the wider opening of education settings from 1 June
Which pupils can attend school?
From the week commencing 1 June at the earliest, we will be asking primary
schools to welcome back children in nursery, Reception, year 1 and year 6,
alongside priority groups. We will ask secondary schools, sixth form and
further education colleges to offer some face-to-face support for year 10 and
year 12 students (and equivalents) who are due to take key exams next year,
alongside the full time provision they are offering to priority groups.
Alternative provision settings should mirror the approach being taken for
mainstream schools and also offer some face-to-face support for years 10 and
11 students (as they have no year 12). Special schools, special post-16
institutions and hospital schools will work towards a phased return of more
children and young people without a focus on specific year groups.
The following principles will apply to this phase of wider opening by schools:

children and young people in eligible year groups are strongly encouraged to attend (where there are no shielding concerns for the child or their household), so that they can gain the educational and wellbeing benefits of attending
vulnerable children of all year groups continue to be expected to attend educational provision where it is appropriate for them to do so (for children with education health and care (EHC) plans this will be informed by a risk assessment approach)

children, young people and staff who have been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable due to pre-existing medical conditions have been advised to shield. We do not expect people in this category to be attending school or college, and they should continue to be supported to learn or work at home as much as possible. Clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable) people are those considered to be at a higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus. Few if any children will fall into this category, but parents should follow medical advice if their child is in this category. Staff in this category should work from home where possible, and refer to the detail in our protective measures guidance


a child/young person or a member of staff who lives with someone who is clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable), including those who are pregnant, can attend their education or childcare setting

if a child/young person or staff member lives in a household with someone who is extremely clinically vulnerable, as set out in the guidance on shielding, it is advised they only attend an education or childcare setting if stringent social distancing can be adhered to and, in the case of children, if they are able to understand and follow those instructions. This may not be possible for very young children and older children without the capacity to adhere to the instructions on social distancing. If stringent social distancing cannot be adhered to, we do not expect those individuals to attend. They should be supported to learn or work at home
staff and children or young people should not attend if they have symptoms or are self-isolating due to symptoms in their household
protective measures will be put in place for staff and pupils, as far as is possible, to ensure that the risk of transmission is reduced

*[EHC]: Education, Health and Care