Head teachers have called on the government to provide decisive guidance on face masks in secondary schools, saying that pupils could end up being excluded in disputes over face coverings. On Tuesday, the government intervened to stop councils requiring children in primary schools in England to wear face masks when they return to school next week. The move came after it emerged that Redbridge council in east London had advised headteachers to consider face coverings for primary school pupils in the borough as part of Covid health and safety measures. We merely advised primary schools to consider the use of face coverings indoors along with a wide range of other measures that would play a part in reducing the risk of transmission within schools. “I personally was very relieved to see the government had made it clear that primary school children are not expected to wear face masks.”Another London primary school, which had originally asked children to wear face coverings while inside school buildings, withdrew the request after the government published its updated guidance.

Source: The Guardian March 02, 2021 13:18 UTC