Education guidance

Further information is being offered for parents / carers of children under the age of 18 or dependent adults who test positive for COVID-19, to help try and reduce the spread within the household. Read more here: Advice for children letter

Latest updates

• Students can return to education settings on Day 4 following a positive result as long as they are asymptomatic
• Students must continue to stay at home if they are unwell
• There will be no further routine surveillance testing
• Students should take an LFT if they are symptomatic (if the first test is negative, please stay at home and repeat after 24 hours), or if they are the household contact of a positive case (please LFT for seven days)
• It is expected that face coverings are worn by staff and students in classrooms and communal areas in secondary and post-16 settings
• Staff in primary schools are expected to wear face coverings in situations indoors where physical distancing between adults is not possible
• Face coverings for students in Years 7 – 13 should be worn on school transport
• Younger children who are able to wear a face covering should be supported to do so
• Students will not be required to test prior to each exam. If a student has symptoms but feels well enough to take an exam, they should take a lateral flow test. If negative they can sit their exam but are asked to please notify a relevant teacher. Students testing positive will not be allowed to attend exams, and support will be available to arrange an alternative

Students and staff who have been diagnosed as a positive case are able to return to school (including extra-curricular/outside school activities) on Day 4 as long as they are symptom-free. Further guidance can be found at https://covid19.gov.gg/positive_case

Following the CCA announcement on 9 January 2022, contact tracing was de-escalated when the emergency regulations expired (17 February). After February half term (3 March) education settings were no longer required to undertake contact tracing.  Where an individual tests positive for COVID-19, they will be asked to notify close contacts. However, where parents and carers inform a school that a student has COVID-19, then a notification should be sent by the school to the relevant year group advising of the positive case and recommending lateral flow tests be undertaken by students for a seven-day period.

In situations where student absence for COVID-19 related reasons falls below 85% among a particular year group, school leaders should adapt operational delivery to minimise the transmission of the virus. This might include limiting mixing between different groups of students and the use of face coverings in classrooms.

Students and staff who have been in contact with the positive case can continue to attend as long as they remain well with no symptoms of COVID-19.

Latest update

• Students can return to education settings on Day 4 following a positive result as long as they are asymptomatic
• Students must continue to stay at home if they are unwell
• There will be no further routine surveillance testing
• Students should take an LFT if they are symptomatic (if the first test is negative, please stay at home and repeat after 24 hours), or if they are the household contact of a positive case (please LFT for seven days)
• It is expected that face coverings are worn by staff and students in classrooms and communal areas in secondary and post-16 settings
• Staff in primary schools are expected to wear face coverings in situations indoors where physical distancing between adults is not possible
• Face coverings for students in Years 7 – 13 should be worn on school transport
• Younger children who are able to wear a face covering should be supported to do so
• Students will not be required to test prior to each exam. If a student has symptoms but feels well enough to take an exam, they should take a lateral flow test. If negative they can sit their exam but are asked to please notify a relevant teacher. Students testing positive will not be allowed to attend exams, and support will be available to arrange an alternative

Based on the current guidance there are no specific limitations on the running of school-run extra-curricular activities and breakfast clubs provided that staff feel able to do so.

There are no limitations on young people attending out of school clubs, however we’d encourage each club to risk assess their activities and put any sensible measures in place. For example this could include asking people to LFT before attending, ensuring distancing where possible, likewise face coverings, ensuring good ventilation, handwashing etc.

Please note: following the CCA announcement 25 January 2022 enhanced passive follow-up for those diagnosed with COVID has been removed, meaning young people are able to attend extra-curricular/outside school activities from Day 4 after testing positive as long as they are symptom-free.

Information about organising events can be found here: Organising Events | States of Guernsey - COVID-19 (gov.gg)

It is important that everyone continues to maintain good hand hygiene. A poster showing how to wash your hands properly is available to download from this page.