COVID-19 Guidance for Schools

This page will provide updated guidance from the Government and other national partners to support schools with understanding the guidance for schools connected with COVID-19. This page will be regularly updated as guidance changes. For more information or any further questions please get in touch with us on schools@sportbirmingham.org

UPDATED GUIDANCE 05/11/2020

Sport and physical education

It is important that children continue to remain fit and active and, wherever possible, have the 60 active minutes of daily physical activity recommended by the Chief Medical Officers.

Schools have the flexibility to decide how physical education, sport and physical activity will be provided whilst following the measures in their system of controls.

Sports whose national governing bodies have developed guidance under the principles of the government's guidance on team sport and been approved by the government are permitted. Schools must only provide team sports listed on the return to recreational team sport framework. Competition between different schools should not take place, in line with the wider restrictions on grassroots sport.

Pupils should be kept in consistent groups and sports equipment thoroughly cleaned between each use by different individual groups.

Outdoor sports should be prioritised where possible, and large indoor spaces used where it is not, maximising natural ventilation flows (through opening windows and doors or using air conditioning systems wherever possible), distancing between pupils and paying scrupulous attention to cleaning and hygiene. This is particularly important in a sports setting because of the way in which people breathe during exercise. External facilities can also be used in line with government guidance for the use of, and travel to and from, those facilities.

Schools are able to work with external coaches, clubs and organisations for curricular activities where they are satisfied that it is safe to do so. Where schools are offering extra-curricular activities (that is, before and after school clubs) they should only do so where it is reasonably necessary to support parents to work, search for work, or undertake training or education, or where the provision is being used for the purposes of respite care.

Schools should consider carefully how such arrangements can operate within their wider protective measures.

Activities such as active miles, making break times and lessons active and encouraging active travel help to enable pupils to be physically active while encouraging physical distancing.

The Government has provided guidance to support the full reopening of schools in September - full document available here (while the PE, school sport and physical activity specific section is below): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools

And there is also specific guidance from Swim England in connection to School Swimming provision: https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/pool-return-guidance-documents/

Schools should also refer to the following guidance:

• guidance on the phased return of sport and recreation and guidance from Sport England for grassroot sport
• advice from organisations such as the Association for Physical Education and the Youth Sport Trust
• guidance from Swim England on school swimming and water safety lessons available at returning to pools guidance documents
• using changing rooms safely

COVID-19 Guidance for Schools

Please see below a document containing guidance for schools to support the delivery of Physical Education, school sport and physical activity.

We hosted a webinar on Tuesday 30^th June with colleagues from the Association for Physical Education (afPE) and Birmingham Public Health to give some further information and guidance.

If you would like to receive the presentation information from this webinar, please email schools@sportbirmingham.org with your Name, School and Job Role.

PE, School Sport and Physical Activity: Lockdown and Beyond Webinar

On Monday 13th July 2020, we delivered a webinar alongside some of our key partners to support Primary and Secondary Schools to:

• Understand the expectations and requirements of PE and Sport Premium reporting for 2019/20
• Become familiar with the PE at Home resources to support home-schooling
• Learn about the Pathway to Podium initiative to celebrate your schools achievements
• Understand how young people and schools can engage in the Birmingham Virtual School Games Challenges

To view a recording of the webinar, please visit: https://bep.education/youth-sport-trust/