Friday 19 February 2021
The Committee for Education, Sport & Culture has published details of how the re-opening of education settings will align with the States' Exit from Lockdown Framework.
It is the Committee's ambition at this stage - having worked closely with Public Health on the plans - for all students to return to school, college and Early Years settings over a one to two week period following the island's move to Stage 2. No date has yet been set for the island's move to Stage 2.
Currently, schools and pre-schools are open only for vulnerable students by invitation and for the children of essential workers where both parents are classed as essential workers - or a lone parent if in a single-adult household where that single parent is engaged in essential work which must be completed away from the home.
The document published today - Education's Exit from Lockdown Strategy Alignment - sets out how educational settings will operate through the different stages of the exit from lockdown. Once the island moves to Stage 2 of the exit framework, education settings will begin a phased return to school.
There will be other measures in place, many of which students will be familiar with from when they returned to school following our first lockdown. These will include class or year-group bubbles and staggered start and finish times. Also included will be a reduced school transport system, face coverings being strongly recommended for adults and secondary-aged learners and a Public Health developed education testing strategy.
The Education Exit from Lockdown Strategy Alignment can be found at www.covid19.gov.gg/guidance/education
