The Department for Education has updated its Covid-19 operational guidance for schools in light of the new Omicron coronavirus variant.

There are several key changes that senior leaders, teachers and governors will want to be aware of that we have rounded up below:

When does the new guidance take effect?

The changes have come into force from today, having been first announced yesterday.

However, some school leaders said yesterday that there was not enough time to implement the changes from today.

That is the approach we will take. Even if you can inform parents tonight you still need supplies of masks at entrance points and spot duties to enforce the wearing…….needs a day to co-ordinate without confusion. So Tuesday it is.

- Caroline Derbyshire FCCT 💙 (@Morsecat) November 28, 2021

Who does it apply to?

The new guidance covers almost all education settings, including:

• primary schools
• secondary schools (including sixth forms)
• special schools, special post-16 providers and alternative provision
• 16 to 19 academies
• infant, junior, middle, upper schools
• boarding schools

Early Years settings are covered under different guidance.

What are the new rules on masks?

One of the biggest new changes is that masks are now “recommended” to be worn in communal areas in all settings by staff and visitors and any pupils in Year 7 or above - unless they are exempt.

For example, in a primary school, staff and any visitors would wear masks in a communal area but pupils would not. However, in secondary schools or colleges, both staff and students would have to wear masks.

Students are also advised to wear face coverings on public transport to and from school. They are not needed in the classroom though.

The guidance adds that transparent face coverings can be worn to help someone who relies on “lip-reading, clear sound or facial expressions”.

However, face shields or visors are still only allowed when worn with a mask, not instead of one.

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Do schools legally have to follow the new masks guidance?

No, the guidance says the change is a “temporary measure” that schools “should” follow.

This is unlike the requirement to comply with health and safety laws and put in place “proportionate control measures”, which is a legal “must” for schools.

What are the new test and trace requirements?

The second major change is that any individual identified as a close contact or a suspected case of the new Omicron variant will have to isolate for 10 days - regardless of age or vaccination status.

For pupils that are forced to isolate, this means schools will have to ensure their remote education provision is suitable as the guidance still contains the requirement to “maintain your capacity to deliver high-quality remote education”.

For staff, this could mean either having to work and teach remotely or be covered by support staff.

For other variants, the guidance is unchanged, meaning close contacts will not have to isolate if they are fully vaccinated or aged under 18 years and six months.

Questions have been raised as to how Omicron cases will be identified. Yesterday, health secretary Sajid Javid told BBC presenter Andrew Marr that the new Covid variant could be identified in PCR tests, unlike the Delta variant.

But ITV later reported that the Department of Health and Social Care had clarified that this was only currently true for about half of PCR tests carried out.

This suggests that many staff and pupils who test positive for Covid will not know whether they have the Omicron variant and therefore whether their households need to isolate.

Do schools have to do contact tracing?

The guidance still states that the NHS Test and Trace will identify any potential contacts and that schools do not need to undertake contact tracing.

Tes has asked the DfE for confirmation.

Can schools use bubbles again?

For now, the answer is no. The guidance states: “We do not recommend that it is necessary to keep children in consistent groups (‘bubbles’)”.

Can nativities and Christmas concerts go ahead?

This also appears to mean that activities such as assemblies, communal lunches and end of term events such as nativities can continue - subject to the new mask directive. 

The DfE was heavily criticised on social media over the weekend for publishing a blog stating that it hoped “many more” festive events would go ahead this year - shortly before Number 10 held a Downing Street press briefing about the new variant.

The DfE confirmed to Tes today that its position on nativity plays was unchanged.

With parents looking forward to attending their child’s upcoming nativity, play or concert, we explain why these festive events can go ahead this year. https://t.co/mUucnARUpZ

- Department for Education (@educationgovuk) November 27, 2021

What about school trips abroad?

One other notable change is that the updated guidance urges schools to “consider whether to go ahead with planned international educational visits at this time” given the potential disruption the new variant could cause.

This particularly centres around the fact anyone currently returning to the UK from abroad has to take a PCR test on the second day of their return and remain in self-isolation until receiving a negative test.

Parents have also been urged to think about any potential disruption from trips abroad during this time to their child’s education if they are forced to self-isolate on return.

Will Ofsted inspections continue during this time?

It appears so. The guidance has no changes on the inspection regime although Tes has asked the watchdog for confirmation. 

How long will these changes last?

There is no set timeline given with the DfE stating the new measures are “precautionary” while more information about the new variant is gathered and that they remain “subject to change as the situation develops”.

The government has said that the changes it has introduced for England are set to last three weeks, so it seems likely the DfE guidance will be reviewed just before the final week of term.