Minimising contacts and mixing between people reduces the transmission of coronavirus. This is important in all contexts, and schools have had to consider how to implement this. They must do everything possible to minimise contact and mixing of children while delivering a broad and balanced curriculum.

The main principle to apply is reducing the ‘number of contacts’ between children and staff. This can be achieved through keeping groups separate - in ‘bubbles’ and through maintaining distance between individuals. It is likely that for younger children the emphasis will be on separating groups, and for older children it will be on distancing and not touching staff or peers where possible.

Grouping Children

  • It has been recognised that children, especially the youngest, cannot socially distance from staff or from each other. Maintaining distinct groups or ‘bubbles’ that do not mix makes it quicker and easier in the event of a positive case to identify those who may need to self-isolate, and to keep that number as small as possible.
  • Given the decrease in the widespread presence of coronavirus and the restarting of the full range of curriculum subjects, schools may decide they need to change the size of these bubbles. For example, it is likely that in secondary schools, and older age groups, that bubbles are likely to need to be the size of a year group to enable schools to deliver the full range of curriculum subjects.
  • Whatever the size of the group, they should be kept apart from other groups where possible and older children should be encouraged to keep their distance within their groups, limit interaction, sharing of rooms and social spaces between groups as much as possible.
  • Teachers and staff can operate across different classes and year groups in order to facilitate the delivery of the school timetable. This will be particularly important for secondary schools. Where staff need to move between classes and year groups. But they should try and keep their distance from pupils and other staff as much as they can and ideally 2 metres from other adults.

Measures within the Classroom

  • Maintaining a distance and reducing the amount of time they are in face to face to contact lowers the risk of transmission. Schools should make small adaptations to the classroom to support distancing where possible including seating pupils side by side and facing forwards, rather than face to face or side on.

Measures Elsewhere

  • Groups should be kept apart, meaning that schools should avoid large gatherings such as assemblies or collective worship with more than one group.
  • When timetabling, groups should be kept apart and movement around the school site kept to a minimum. While passing briefly in the corridor or playground is low risk, schools should avoid creating busy corridors, entrances and exits. Schools should also consider staggered break times and lunch times (creating time for cleaning surfaces in the dining hall between groups).

Measures for Arriving at and Leaving School

  • Schools should consider staggered starts or adjusting start and finish times to keep groups apart as they arrive and leave school and should communicate with parents, pupils (and staff) on what to expect on their return, including the process that has been agreed for drop off and collection - gathering at the school gates and coming onto the site without an appointment will not be allowed.

Other Considerations

  • For individual and very frequently used equipment, such as pencils and pens, it is recommended that staff and pupils have their own items that are not shared. It is still recommended that pupils limit the amount of equipment they bring into school each day to essentials such as lunch boxes, books and stationery.
  • Classroom based resources, such as books and games can be used and shared within the bubble; these should be cleaned regularly, along with all frequently touched surfaces.
  • Resources that are shared between classes or bubbles, such as sports, art and science equipment should be cleaned frequently and meticulously and always between bubbles.

For full information regarding bubble groups see the .gov guidelines