DfE SEND division wrote, on 6th April 2021, to signpost important information about face coverings:
- 'We announced yesterday (6 April) that face coverings should continue to be worn in secondary schools and college classrooms when students return after the Easter break to help limit transmission and enable continued monitoring of the effect of school and college returns, as twice weekly testing of students is established and embedded. It is important to note that those who rely on visual signals for communication, or speak to or provide support to those individuals, are currently exempt from any requirement to wear face coverings in schools or in public places.
- It is expected that face coverings will no longer be required to be worn in classrooms, or by students in other communal areas, at step 3 of the roadmap, which will be no earlier than 17 May. At that point, the next stage of easements, including increased social contact indoors, will be confirmed following a review of the latest data on infection and vaccination rates.
- We have also published updates to the following guidance to reflect this announcement:
- Face coverings in education guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-in-education
- Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak
- Actions for FE colleges and providers during the coronavirus outbreak https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-further-education-provision
- Special schools and other specialist settings: coronavirus (COVID-19) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-full-opening-special-schools-and-other-specialist-settings
- Protective measures for holiday and after-school clubs, and other out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak '