Schools and colleges to have phased return for students in the new year

The Government has announced new rules for pupils coming back to school and college after the Christmas break in Tier 4 areas, including Kensington and Chelsea.

Pupils in primary schools will not be allowed to return on 4 January, instead having to undertake remote learning until at least Monday 18 January, when the Government will review the rules.

Secondary schools and colleges will have to follow a phased return for students based on year groups. Students will have to undertake remote learning from Monday 4 January and exam age year groups have to return in person from Monday 11 January. The rest of the year groups will come back a week later on Monday 18 January.

The exception to these rules for primary, secondary and colleges are for vulnerable and keyworkers’ children and children in alternative provision or special schools, who can still attend in person from Monday 4 January.

Early years settings, including nurseries and childminders, can continue to allow all children to attend as normal.

From Monday 4 January 2021 schools will be able to conduct Covid-19 testing for staff and students as part of a roll out for community-based testing and to ensure that they can safely attend.

For more information check out our Covid-19 children and education page.