When will my child need to wear a face covering at school?

Our approach for face coverings in school from September will be: 

 

    • Face coverings will be encouraged for pupils in corridors and indoor social spaces where maintaining social distancing is more difficult. Staff will provide guidance to pupils throughout their induction to the autumn term. Our guidance and approach may be adapted as the term begins and we will ensure pupils are briefed at all times. 
    • In line with the current guidance, face coverings will not need to be worn when pupils are outdoors but pupils are free to do so should they wish to. Pupils with medical or special educational needs may be exempt from wearing face coverings – we will support exemption for these pupils.  If you think your child is exempt from wearing a face covering please contact us via enquiry@decschool.co.uk and we can take account of this in our plans. 
    • In line with the current guidance, face coverings will not need to be worn when pupils are in lessons. Whilst most pupils will not wear face coverings in lessons, pupils with medical needs where they have been recommended to wear a face covering in lessons will be allowed to do so. If you think your child will need to wear a face covering in lessons, please contact us via enquiry@decschool.co.uk and we can take account of this in our plans.
    • Assemblies will be broadcast to pupil’s form rooms via video link to avoid large groups being together in an assembly. However, if a face to face assembly is needed, we will allow pupils to wear face coverings should they wish to. 
    • Pupils must continue to wear a face covering on public transport.

 

Tips on Wearing a Face Covering
  • They’ll need to wear it when they move through shared indoor areas of the school where it’s difficult to stick to social distancing. This includes corridors and common rooms.
  • They won’t need to wear it outside or in their classrooms. 
  • Your child needs to come to school with: A face covering. We’d recommend a reusable one so that they can use it more than once, as they’ll need to take it on and off several times during the school day. If this isn’t an option, they will need to bring in several single-use face coverings each day. Their face covering should be secured to your child’s head using ear loops only.
  • Reusable and single-use face coverings are available to buy in shops or online.
  • Instructions from the government on how to make a cloth face covering can be found HERE.
  • Supervise your child if they’ll be making it themselves.
  • Watch the video from the World Health Organisation below with your child so they know how to wear their face covering safely.
  • Their face-covering needs to cover their nose and mouth when they’re wearing it They shouldn’t touch the front of the face-covering or the part that’s touched their mouth or nose.
  • They should clean their hands before and after touching the face covering, including to take it off or put it on. They should store it in an individual, sealable plastic bag between uses.
  • If it becomes wet, they shouldn’t wear it, and they should replace it carefully.
  • Single-use face coverings should be disposed of after use (not in a recycling bin).
  • Reusable face coverings will need to be washed at the end of each day, ready for your child to wear the next day.
  • You can wash and dry reusable face coverings with normal laundry – follow the washing instructions for the fabric and use normal detergent.
  • They won’t need to wear one in school.
  • Please let us know by emailing enquiry@decschool.co.uk if your child is exempt so that we don’t ask them to wear a face-covering.
  • This guidance on wearing face coverings doesn’t apply to children under the age of 11.
  • We’ll have a small supply of spares available at school.
  • To be safe in the knowledge that everyone has one, please make sure your child has their own so that we can keep our supply of spares for emergencies.