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Outdoor lessons, smaller classes and one-way systems from June 1 – but no masks

It is not being recommended that pupils or teachers wear masks when and if schools reopen for some primary and secondary pupils from June 1.

Instead there should be a focus on “changing habits” to encourage good hand hygiene, while schools are also being advised to “split classes in half” with no more than 15 students per group, to prevent groups from mixing, and to introduce measures such as one-way systems in corridors.

The advice comes from two pieces of Department for Education (DfE) guidance, both published on Monday (May 11), a day after prime minister Boris Johnson revealed that schools could begin reopening for some pupils from June 1.

The government’s plan says that if the infection rate – or “R-rate” – of the coronavirus remains below 1, then from June 1 primary schools should open their doors for all Nursery, Reception, year 1 and year 6 pupils.

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