Back to school in a Covid World: Everything you need to know

After months of speculation and uncertainty, it’s been decided- the kids are going back to school. But the big question is, how are things going to be different, and what will you need?

Schools, colleges, sixth forms and universities shut their doors in March in a desperate bid to slow down the spread of coronavirus. But as we approach the start of autumn term, medical officials believe that it is safe enough to reboot the educational system, instructing all age groups to return to full-time education for the start of the new, school year.

After months of preparation, government officials, teachers, cleaners and all other staff are ready to welcome back pupils in circumstances we’ve never experienced before. From strict hygiene measures to social bubbles, a lot is going to change. But to find out more about Back to School 2020, check out our guide…

When are schools re-opening?

At the beginning of June, primary schools and nurseries began to reopen their doors to children in reception, nursery and Years 1 and 6. On June 15th, secondary schools, colleges and sixth forms opened for exam preparation, but by mid-September, all age groups will be returning to full-time education across the UK. The exact re-opening dates are as follows:

Scotland– Phased re-opening of all school from August 11th- 18th

England– September 1st or 2nd

Wales– September 1st or 14th (optional)

Northern Ireland– Phased re-opening between August 24th – September

What will be different?

Although top medical officials have stated that children are less likely to contract COVID-19 and rarely develop severe symptoms, strict safety measures are still mandatory across all schools. These will include:

Social ‘Bubbles’

A new ‘bubble’ system has been created in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus in schools. Unlike social distancing- which could have been incredibly isolating for some children- bubbles group a certain number of pupils together and separate them from other circles. Therefore, in theory, children can socialise within their groups, and schools can contain outbreaks within specific bubbles.

Increased hygiene measures

Government guidance states that schools must implement stricter hygiene measures including increased hand-washing and regular cleaning of equipment and spaces. As well as this, each school will be given a small number of home testing kits to monitor staff and pupils who may have contracted the virus.

Some relaxation of curriculums

Schools will be business as usual, including broad curriculums and full timetables. However, many children will need extensive support to catch up on lost learning and may need to focus on specific core subjects. Whilst year 7 pupils starting at secondary school may be required to recap their year 6 curricula, GCSE students may also be encouraged to focus more on Maths and English and might be asked to drop a different subject. Ultimately, schools across the country are prioritising the well-being of pupils and aim to transition into a normal curriculum by summer term 2021.

Other changes

• Some smaller changes include teachers segregating from students by sitting, and remaining, at the top of the classroom.
• Classroom layouts may also be changed slightly to widen the space between desks.
• There will be updated behaviour policies for pupils displaying poor behaviour, particularly those who breach the new hygiene and distancing rules.

What are the Back to School essentials?

Your Back to School checklist may be a little different this year, but we are here to explain everything your child may need for their return to the classroom.

School uniform, and plenty of it

Washing clothes more regularly could help slow down the spread of coronavirus, so parents are being advised to buy more uniform essentials for their children, where possible. But if you’re strapped for cash, don’t worry, there are plenty of cheap deals on offer. Alternatively, try and wash your child’s uniform every day after school, if you can.

Protective Gear

Whilst some schools are making facemasks mandatory, many aren’t. However, parents should still provide their children with facemasks, especially if they use public transport. Similarly, schools will provide more hand-cleaning products but pupils could protect themselves even further by carrying hand-sanitizer and phone- cleaning wipes.

Stationary

Sharing is off-the-cards this year so pupils will need to provide their own stationary, including pens, pencils, rulers, rubbers, pencil cases, notebooks and even pencil sharpeners. For a full list of essentials, contact your child’s school for more information.

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