Schools can choose to keep bubbles this term, says DfE

Bubbles due to be scrapped from 19 July, but preparations should be made to reintroduce them in the event of local outbreaks, says new guidance

6th July 2021, 2:12pm

Amy Gibbons

Schools will have a choice over whether or not they scrap bubbles for the final week of term, the government has said.

In new guidance published today, the Department for Education confirmed that schools will no longer be required to “keep children in consistent groups (‘bubbles’)” when the country enters step four of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown in just under two weeks’ time.

The government has said step four is expected to begin on Monday 19 July if its “four tests” for easing Covid restrictions have been met. This will be confirmed on Monday 12 July following a review of the latest data.

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However, schools remaining open beyond 19 July will have the option to maintain the bubble system if they wish.

While schools’ contact tracing responsibilities will end at step four, the current NHS Test and Trace rules, whereby pupils must self-isolate if identified as a close contact of a positive case, will stay in place for the remainder of the summer term.

The DfE guidance says: “At step four we will no longer recommend that it is necessary to keep children in consistent groups (‘bubbles’).

“When we proceed to step four, this means that bubbles will not need to be used for any summer provision (for example, summer schools) or in schools from the autumn term.

“If your school is still open at step four, you may wish to continue with these measures until the end of your summer term.

“As well as enabling flexibility in curriculum delivery, this means that assemblies can resume, and you no longer need to make alternative arrangements to avoid mixing at lunch.”

The department added that schools’ “outbreak management plans” should still “cover the possibility that in some local areas it may become necessary to reintroduce ‘bubbles’ for a temporary period”.

“Any decision to recommend the reintroduction of ‘bubbles’ would not be taken lightly and would need to take account of the detrimental impact they can have on the delivery of education,” it said.

In other developments set out today:

From 19 July, schools will no longer be expected to undertake contact tracing. As with any other setting, NHS Test and Trace will identify close contacts of positive cases.
From 19 July, face coverings will no longer be advised for pupils, staff and visitors either in classrooms or in communal areas.
However in the event of a school outbreak, a director of public health might advise that masks should temporarily be worn in communal areas or classrooms (by pupils staff and visitors, unless exempt).
From 16 August, children under 18 will no longer be required to self-isolate if they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact of a positive Covid case. Instead, they will be encouraged to take a PCR test.