Returning To School After Lockdown




It's time to go back to school!


The Government has launched its roadmap which will see all schools and further education reopen and pupils return to face-to-face teaching from 8th March. Are you ready to return to school? Simply Education are here to support you every step of the way!

Are you looking for your next teaching role?

We're here to help you get back to work when schools reopen. We work with hundreds of schools across the UK and always have a steady supply of daily, long-term and permanent teaching jobs available across all subject specialisms and Key Stages. Please use the quick links below to get started with Simply Education!


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Are you looking for staff?

Simply Education can help support the re-opening of your school by providing high-quality teachers and support staff for daily supply cover, long-term cover as well as permanent vacancies. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more about our talented candidate pool and we can work closely with your school to help meet all of your needs.

We are also able to help provide you with fully trained staff ready to support the increased number of COVID tests required when school resumes. Find out more about our COVID Testing services here.



Frequently asked questions about returning to school

When are children returning to school in England?

All schools will reopen to all pupils from March 8th. All primary school children will return on Monday March 8th, however, secondary schools and colleges will have discretion on how they stagger the return of their students over the week to allow COVID testing to be carried out.

Is it compulsory for students to attend school?

The DfE's guidance states that school attendance will be "mandatory for all pupils from March 8th". The usual rules on school attendance will apply; schools will be responsible for recording attendance and the ability to issue sanctions such as fines will be reinstated.

Will teachers or students have to wear face masks/coverings?

In secondary schools, students and staff will be required to wear face coverings for a "limited period" until Easter. Face coverings should be worn in all indoor settings, including classrooms, or during activities unless 2m social distancing can be maintained. There are exemptions for those who rely on "visual signals for communication, or communicate with or provide support to such individuals".

In primary schools, staff and adult visitors will be required to wear face coverings where social distancing between adults is not possible. Primary school children are not required to wear face coverings.

How will the mass testing system in schools work?

Secondary school students will be asked to take the lateral flow test when they return from March 8th. They will be able to resume face-to-face classes if they test negative. Over the first two weeks of term, they will be asked to take three initial Covid-19 tests at school before moving to home testing. All students will then be asked to take two rapid lateral flow tests each week at home.

Secondary school staff will also be provided with two tests to use each week at home.

There is no testing planned for primary school students.

Simply Education are able helping with the rollout of mass testing in schools by providing fully trained testing staff to our clients. If you're looking for additional testing staff or are looking for a new role to support the COVID testing of pupils, please find more information here.

When will teachers get vaccinated?

The government is continuing to prioritise vaccinations by age and not occupation to avoid slowing down the vaccine rollout.

Some teachers will have been given the vaccine already if they fall within the first priority categories; all other teachers will have to wait in line for their age group to be called up during the rollout.

People aged 40-49 will be next in line to get the vaccine after all vulnerable groups and the over-50s are covered.

The priority ordering for phase two will be:

  • Everyone aged between 40 and 49
  • Everyone aged between 30 and 39
  • Everyone aged between 18 and 29.

Additional Resources from the Department of Education

Actions for Early Years and Child Care Providers

Schools Coronavirus Operational Guidance

Further Education Operational Guidance

Contingency Framework: Education and Childcare Settings

Rapid Lateral Flow Testing For Households and Bubbles of School Pupils and Staff

Information for Parents and Carers About Schools

For all guidance for schools and education, please visit the Department of Education.