School bubble rules in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

As children head back to school – after a rather grey and wet summer- they will find that rules around self-isolation have changed.

Other rules are changing in parts of the UK, with Scotland changing the rules just before children return to school.

Here, we look at what the new rules are and how they’ll affect children going back to school.

What’s happening to the school bubble rules?

The school bubble system, which meant that children were only to mix with a fixed year or class group, has come to an end.

This means school children will no longer need to follow staggered start times or avoid mixing with other age groups or classes.

In England and Northern Ireland, most kids are heading back to school today, Wednesday, September 1.

School children in Wales return to school on Thursday, September 2.

Scotland’s different school term dates are different, and kids have been back at school on Monday, August 16.

What are the self-isolation rules for school children in England?

Any pupil under the age of 18 who is named as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 will no longer need to self-isolate for 10 days.

Instead, they are being encouraged to take a PCR test.

If the test is negative, they can resume their usual activities, but if it’s positive, they will need to self-isolate.

If a child tests positive for coronavirus, they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and must self-isolate.

The child, or their parents, will then be expected to share details of close contacts through Test and Trace.

These contacts will be informed by NHS Test and Trace, but will only need to self isolate if they are over 18 and have not had their vaccinations.

The government website explains: ‘Testing for close contacts under 18 will be split into two categories. All Primary, Secondary and College age children should take a single PCR test. Early Years children should only take a PCR test if a member of their household tests positive.’

Will school children need to wear masks in England?

Wearing masks is no longer the advice for pupils and teachers inside classrooms, though they will be advised to wear masks in crowded areas, like on buses.

What are the school rules for Scotland?

In Scotland, children will be returning to school for the first time following the move to below zero – where most Covid restrictions have been dropped.

However, many rules will still remain in place at schools for at least the first six weeks of term, including all teachers and senior pupils being asked to wear face coverings while indoors and on school transport.

There must also be physical distancing of at least one metre (3ft) between all staff, as well as staff and pupils.

Class bubbles will be scrapped but the latest government guidelines advise staff to continue to avoid assemblies or large groupings of children.

The government guidelines confirm that other measures like twice-weekly asymptomatic testing, one way systems and staggered start times will be kept in place to begin with.

What are the rules for schools in Wales?

Wales are following England with most of their rule changes, including:

• Face coverings no longer being routinely recommended in classrooms
• Contact groups ending for school pupils or full-time learners in colleges
• Anyone under 18 (and any fully vaccinated adult) no longer needing to self-isolate if they’re identified as a close contact of someone who’s tested positive.

What are the rules for schools in Northern Ireland?

The requirement for school bubbles, where children only mix within a fixed year or class group, have also been relaxed in Northern Ireland.

However, face masks are still required in class for the first six weeks of term at least.

The rules for self-isolating have also changed in Northern Ireland.

People who are fully vaccinated will no longer need to self-isolate for 10 days if someone they have been in close contact with tests positive for Covid.

They should, instead, get a PCR test on day two and day eight of the 10 day period.

The requirement for wearing face coverings for students will remain in place for the first six weeks of the new school term and be kept under review.

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