Back to School Guidance

We know that for many students, the COVID-19 outbreak has turned life upside down.

Even though some children have been going to local hub schools, for a lot of children and young people, home schooling has taken over. The thought of going back to school can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be.

We’ve looked at the Welsh government’s guidance and operational advice for schools and we’ve highlighted some of the important points below. Before returning to school, we would advise all Apollo staff and parents to read this advice thoroughly.

1. Students will have the opportunity to return to schools over the summer term for a short period. Attendance records will be kept, and parents will need to inform schools if their child is unable to attend.
   • If students or staff fall into the extremely vulnerable and vulnerable categories, it may not be safe for them to attend. More advice regarding these categories can be found here.
   • If students or staff show symptoms of COVID-19, or a member of their household shows symptoms of COVID-19, they will not attend school. Instead, they should follow the self-isolation guidelines set out by the government.
   • Staff can use the Workforce Risk Assessment tool to consider their own health and well-being.
     
2. The number of students attending school at one time will be limited to a maximum of one third of the usual number.
   
3. Frequent hand washing for 20 seconds will be encouraged by schools, and must also be encouraged by parents. Hand washing should occur regularly, as well as:
   • On arrival at school
   • Before and after eating
   • After a cough or sneeze
   • When handling equipment that has also been handled by others.
     
4. Schools should maximise the time students spend outdoors.
   
5. During the time students spend in school, they will be preparing for the next steps or phase of learning, including moving to a blend of in school and at home learning.
   
6. Any students showing symptoms of COVID-19 will need to be collected from school, in the same way any staff member showing symptoms of COVID-19 will also need to leave school.
   

Most schools and colleges will have already sent out guidance for pupils and parents on what to expect when you return to school, but for more advice on how to talk to children and young people about the return to school, take a look at the Mental Health organisation website.