First day of school: What are the new Covid rules for London schools this term

School will feel very different this term, as children and young people in London return after a well-deserved summer break.

Following the government’s announcement of Freedom Day on July 19, a number of the restrictions surrounding Covid-19 in schools have been relaxed.

Class bubbles and contact tracing have been relaxed, meaning children can mix with friends in all years.

Here’s everything you need to know about the changes the government has put in place in schools in London for the new academic year.

How have the rules changed?

One of the main changes to occur this term will be that schools and nurseries will no longer trace close contacts.

Last year, whole schools having to close because of isolationg rules.

Now those at school who have been identified as a close contact will no longer be required to isolate unless they test positive.

Rules regarding class bubbles and face coverings will also be relaxed, however regular lateral flow testing will still be encouraged.

Are children still in bubbles?

Last year, children were only allowed to socialise in their class bubbles.

This meant that schools needed to facilitate staggered lunch breaks and playtimes to avoid classes mixing.

Year groups also started and finished school at different times.

When children return to the classroom this week, they will no longer be required to remain in their class bubble and can mix with their peers in other classes.

This means staggered start and end times will no longer be required.

Are face coverings still required?

Before summer all staff and secondary school students were required to wear masks in communal areas in schools.

This term face face coverings are no longer required to be worn by law for staff and pupils, although they are still recommended in crowded spaces such as school buses.

If there is an outbreak at a school or nursery, staff and students may be required to temporarily wear a face covering in communal areas or classrooms.

Are students and teachers still being tested?

Secondary school students will be invited to take two lateral-flow swab tests at schools, three to five days apart, on their return in the autumn term.

Those who test positive will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will be asked to isolate.

Primary school students are not required to take tests before they return to school.

However, twice-weekly voluntary lateral-flow tests for pupils and staff will be encouraged and continued.

Tracing and Self-Isolation

Last year in England, every week, thousands of pupils had to self-isolate due to positive Covid cases in their classes.

Figures showed that in the beginning of July, 840,000 pupils were off school in a single week due to Covid-19 infections, self-isolation requirements and school closure.

This term, children and young people at school identified as a close contacts will no longer be required to isolate unless they test positive for the virus.

If a child tests positive with Covid-19 they will be required to self-isolate for 10 days as before, and NHS Test and Trace will work with the child or their parents to identify close contacts.

The rest of their class will be allowed to remain at school.

Will there be assemblies and sports days?

Before summer, class assemblies took place virtually and sports day was confined to individual class bubbles.

Due to social distancing measures in schools being relaxed, whole school sports days and assemblies may resume.

What do teachers think?

Faye Morris, assistant head-teacher at Beecholme Primary School in Mitcham, says she has mixed feelings about this concept of going back to “normal.”

“I think there’s a general excitement amongst pupils and teachers that normal school is resuming,” she said.

“But I think at the same time there’s something that’s hanging over us in terms of knowing that there are still a lot of cases and wondering what winter will bring.”

Guy Acres, a teacher at Joseph Hood Primary School in Wimbledon, said that staff at his school are concerned about class bubbles mixing again, although the vaccine and bi-weekly lateral flow testing gives people “a bit more confidence and security.”