Schools, colleges reopen after months of lockdown in UK

Wearing masks, hundreds of thousands of children and young people across England returned to their classes at schools and colleges on Tuesday after over five months of lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Students were seen queuing up outside their schools ahead of their classes, as new rules are in place to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The Department for Education earlier said pupils will return to school environments with a 'system of controls' in place to keep all students, teachers and staff safe by minimising direct contacts and maintaining social distancing wherever possible.

Face coverings are mandatory in communal areas and corridors at schools and colleges within areas of the country deemed at high risk of COVID-19 infections.

"For many, today marks the first day of a new school year, with thousands of children set to walk through their school gates again as schools across the country begin to reopen for full-time education for all pupils," UK Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said earlier.

"I do not underestimate how challenging the last few months have been but I do know how important it is for children to be back in school, not only for their education but for their development and wellbeing too," the minister said.

"But it is down to the sheer hard work of so many teachers and school staff that from today pupils will be able to learn in their classrooms together again. It has not been easy for parents nor schools, but we could not have got to this point without your support and I cannot say thank you enough for this," he said.

The DfE emphasised that the new school term follows the backing for a full return from the chief medical officers across the four nations of the UK in their recent consensus statement, highlighting that the health risk posed by COVID-19 to children is extremely low and noting the significant risk to young people's wellbeing if they are not back in school.

Most children have been out of full-time education for more than five months, since a nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 23.

A British Medical Journal study also said the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 for children was 'vanishingly small'.

Last week, the National Association of Head Teachers published survey findings that highlighted 97 per cent of schools plan to welcome all pupils full-time from the start of the autumn term and will have the range of recommended safety measures in place.

The remaining 3 per cent outlined that they will phase students back or use transition periods to reopen more widely.

The return of pupils this week follows the reopening of schools in Leicestershire last week, with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visiting to see first-hand the practical steps being taken to ensure the risk of transmission is reduced.

The DfE said ministers have also been visiting schools ahead of the new term and have praised some of the innovative ways schools will be looking after children including the use of cleaning stations, and staggered breaks, keeping pupils in 'bubbles', social distancing and safety on transport.

School term start dates will vary across the country, with approximately 40 per cent schools expected to start term on Tuesday. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have had varying start dates, with many schools already operational.

"It remains the government's priority to continue to support schools, nurseries and colleges through the next few months, continually guided by the best possible science and medical advice," DfE said.

Consistent with the latest Public Health England advice, strict hygiene and cleaning protocols will be in place along with a one-off personal protective equipment supply boost being distributed to schools for use in the small number of instances where it is necessary.

"All children will stay in groups or bubbles to reduce the risk of spreading infection, and older children in particular will be expected to follow social distancing guidelines. Face coverings should also be worn in communal areas in secondary schools in any areas with local lockdowns in place," DfE added.

The government said that pupils are encouraged to walk, cycle or scoot to school but the government is also providing an additional GBP 40 million to local authorities to increase home to school transport and ease pressure on public transport as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.