Dorset Council has been working with schools and colleges to make sure that all pupils are welcomed back safely from 8 March.
All education providers are following Dorset Council, Department for Education and Public Health guidance. Risk assessments have been reviewed, hygiene measures will continue to be followed and arrangements for testing staff and secondary-age students will be in place. Schools and colleges will advise families and students about the precise arrangements.
Cllr Andrew Parry, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Early Help, said: “Our schools and colleges are looking forward to welcoming all students back from 8 March. It will be wonderful for children and young people to be back in their classrooms enjoying their education together again.
“I would like to reassure students, parents and carers that our schools and colleges are following Dorset Council, public health and government guidance to make sure everyone returns to school and college in a safe a way as possible.
“It is very important that we all continue to follow the rules, please follow the testing arrangements you receive from your school or college. This will help keep your school, college and our wider community safe. I’d like to thank young people, children and families for their magnificent efforts during this very difficult time.
“I know our schools and colleges can’t wait to welcome all children back. I’d like to thank them for their vigilance, care and service during the pandemic, for remaining open throughout for key workers and vulnerable children as well as providing home learning.”
Dorset’s education provision at every level has remained open during the latest lockdown for key workers and vulnerable children and will now open to all pupils from 8 March. Some provision, such as special schools, early years settings, alternative provision and learning centres were able to remain open to all pupils during this period. Schools, colleges and all settings will be advising families about specific arrangements and dates. The government has strengthened existing protective measures so adults and students in year 7 and above will now be asked to wear face coverings (unless they are exempt) in all indoor settings as an extra temporary precaution. Please contact your education provider if you have any queries about their specific arrangements.
Plans are again in place to manage any cases and all education providers will continue to work closely with public health. If cases occur, Dorset Council and public health teams will work closely with schools and colleges to communicate any necessary actions to staff, parents, carers and students.
School Transport in Dorset will run as normal. Young people will continue to be asked to wear a face covering (unless they are exempt, including if they are aged 11 and under). It is important that they are worn for the entirety of the journey, including inside a bus or train station. Here is the information about who is exempt from wearing a face covering and here is the government guidance about travelling to and from school and college.
Information about testing for students aged in year seven and above is available here.
Information about testing for parents, carers, members of households childcare or support bubbles of pupils, students and staff of schools and colleges is available. In Dorset parents and carers can access testing through their employer, if they offer testing to employees, by collecting a home test kit from a test site (check for your local area) and by ordering a home test kit online.
Everyone can continue to help by following the guidance outside of school and college, which can be found at: gov.uk/coronavirus.
More information is available at gov.uk/backtoschool
