Is a student authorised to be absent if they are well but self-isolating due to being in contact with someone who has coronavirus symptoms?

Not necessarily.

If the student has no symptoms, then self-isolation only needs to happen if the person with symptoms is in the same household as the student, or the asymptomatic student has been instructed to self-isolate by the local health protection team.

If a student has had close contact with someone who has coronavirus symptoms but has not tested positive for coronavirus, then they can continue to attend school if they themselves do not show symptoms of the coronavirus.

However, if that person later tests positive for the coronavirus, then the student may have to isolate if told to do so by the local health protection team.

When can a student return after being asked to self-isolate following contact with a person who has tested positive?

Students can return to school after 10 days, as long as they have not developed symptoms.

If they do develop symptoms, then they should be tested. If this test is positive, their new 10-day isolation should begin from the first day they developed symptoms.

When can a child return to school after testing positive?

If a student tests positive for the coronavirus, they can return to school after 10 days (counting from the first day they developed symptoms, or had the test if they were asymptomatic). 

However, if the student still has a high temperature, they should not return to school.

If a student still has a cough or loss of taste or smell then they can return to school after the 10 days of self-isolation. This is because these symptoms can continue for a long time after the person has stopped being contagious.

Does a student who previously tested positive need to provide evidence of a negative test before they can return to school?

The guidance makes it clear that schools should not be asking for evidence of negative tests before students are allowed back to school.

Once the isolation period has finished and the student has stopped experiencing coronavirus symptoms then the student can return to school.

What should schools do if a student presents in school with symptoms?

Schools can refuse to admit students with coronavirus symptoms, and ask parents to collect the child. 

When should a school close due to coronavirus absence?

If a school has two or more cases of the coronavirus in a 14-day period, or a rise in sickness absence due to suspected Covid-19 symptoms, the school should contact the local health protection team.

The health protection team may advise to isolate a whole year group, or to close the school completely. 

How should schools record the absence of students who are self-isolating due to contact with a person with the coronavirus?

All schools should use the absence code “X” to record where students are absent due to following the guidance to limit the “incidence or transmission of coronavirus”. 

These absences will not be counted as “absence” in the 2020-21 school census data.

Do schools need proof that students have been asked to self-isolate following a positive coronavirus test or close contact with a person who has tested positive for the coronavirus?

This may vary depending on the local authority. According to Essex County Council, its local health protection team running test and trace will not be providing written communications instructing individuals to self-isolate. Nor will it be expecting schools to be provided with evidence that there has been a need to self-isolate.

“This system works on common sense and trust,” says an Essex County Council spokesperson.

However, Cambridgeshire County Council has decided to send written confirmation if students are required to self-isolate following a positive test. “When there is a confirmed case, the health protection team will work with the school to identify any contacts, who will each be sent a letter,” says a spokesperson.

Will parents be fined for keeping children home during the coronavirus pandemic?

From March 8, the expectation is that all children will attend school, just as it was in September. Unlike the Summer term in 2020, schools can now take steps to sanction parents who are not sending their children to school, including fixed penalty notices.

However, it is always best practice to work with families to discover why absence is occurring, and where possible make allowances for children who have anxieties and concerns about returning. The guidance suggests that school leaders should “provide reassurance of the measures they are putting in place to reduce the risk in school”.

The NAHT school leaders’ union says that it feels that fines are unlikely to be an effective tool at this time: “If a parent has decided to keep their child out of school, the threat of a fine is unlikely to change their minds. In any event, schools will always look to engage positively and supportively with families before resorting to fines.”

What provisions need to be made for students who cannot return to school due to medical reasons?

Shielding began again last year, and in February another 1.7 million people were added to the shielding list. The government guidance says that students who have been advised by medical professionals not to attend school due to their increased risk of contracting the coronavirus should stay home and continue with home learning.

In these situations, the school should provide educational resources to enable the student to continue with their learning. 

The NAHT foresees future pressures for schools that are providing work for self-isolating students. “Clearly this is one of the bigger challenges schools will face this term, as providing remote learning for some students whilst still teaching the majority face to face will create additional pressures on teachers and schools,” says a spokesperson.