Staying safe at school (coronavirus)

If your child or anyone in your household has symptoms of Coronavirus (a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss of/change in your sense of smell or taste) you must stay at home and arrange to get a test.

See What to do if you think you have coronavirus and NHS: Is my child too ill for school.

Making schools covid-secure

Schools have worked hard to put measures in place to minimise the risk of infection, such as organising children into bubbles, using one-way systems, minimising movement, providing extra hand washing facilities. See government guidance Gov.uk: Guidance for full opening - schools. 

For advice specific to your child, you should check your child's school website or contact the school directly for details about changes to the timings of the day, layout of the classroom, how your child's bubble is managed safely and requirements for face coverings. 

Attending school

Now that your child has returned to school you may have some questions or worries about how they have settled, how they will continue learning if they have to self-isolate or what will happen if there is a school or bubble closure.

You can view a list of local and national support that is available on our Mental health support for children, young people and families page. Don't forget, your school and GP are also available to help.

Growing Healthy County Durham can also offer support. They have health visitors, school nurses and emotional resilience practitioners who can support your child. You can contact them on 03000 263 532 or follow them on Facebook:

• Facebook: Growing Healthy 0-19 Ferryhill, Sedgefield, Spennymoor & Newton Aycliffe
• Facebook: Growing Healthy 0-19 Chester-le-Street and Durham
• Facebook: Growing Healthy 0-19 Easington, Peterlee and Seaham

Child attendance record

Quarantining or self-isolating will not have an impact on your child's attendance record because you are following government guidance. See Gov.uk: Addendum - recording attendance in relation to coronavirus (COVID-19) during the 2020 to 2021 academic year.

Support for your child during self-isolation

Schools have plans in place so that teaching can be delivered online if they have to close because of a local lockdown or if specific classes/bubbles have to close. Check your child's school website or contact the school directly for the latest information.

View the latest advice for households with possible or confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection - Gov.uk: COVID-19 Guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection.

Getting to and from school

We know how important it is that your child can get to school or college as safely as possible. We are closely following government guidance and working with school transport providers and local bus companies to make this possible. Find out more on our Getting to and from school page.

Changes to school activities

PE lessons

Your child will still be able to do PE as it can help to support their physical and mental health and wellbeing. Your school may ask that children come to school wearing their PE clothing on PE day or suggest new changing arrangements.

Dance and performing arts

Dance is part of the PE curriculum and will continue in schools.  Compositions and choreography with older children may be structured differently to include social distancing and 'bubbles' agreed within your school.

Swimming lessons

School swimming lessons are not available yet. Your school will advise if and when your child will be going swimming with their school in this academic year.

School games and sport competitions

Some in-school or virtual competitions might still take place, but cluster and local tournaments off-site are unlikely to be available.

After school clubs

Some after school sport clubs and activities will be available - however, they might be different to what your child is used to, to allow for social distancing.

Returning from travel abroad

If you or your child travelled and has to self-isolate as part of a period of quarantine, you must not send your child to school. You should contact your school daily and self-isolate following government guidelines - see Gov.uk: Coronavirus (COVID-19) - how to self-isolate when you travel to the UK.

Ask a question

If this page doesn't answer your question, you can use our COVID-19 general enquiry form and we will get back to you with a response as soon as possible.