Health and safety in education settings

All coronavirus guidance for educational settings can be found in one place on GOV.​UK. We recommend that you sign up to receive updates directly from gov.uk

This page should be read alongside the information on the following pages:

Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak (Schools Covid-19 Operational guidance) was updated in August 2021. Changes to the guidance include updated information about:

The guidance outlines the public health advice that you should follow to minimise COVID-19 risks. It explains that you must:

  • comply with health and safety law
  • review risk assessments
  • work through the system of controls identified

The guidance offers advice about how to open more widely in the safest way possible, focusing on measures that can be taken to limit the spread of the virus

Safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care provides more information about preventing and controlling infection. It explains the strategy for infection prevention and control.

Please make sure that you read and follow the guidance carefully. It provides links to other relevant documentation and guidance.

Risk assessments

Risk assessments should directly address the risks associated with COVID-19 and outline the control measures that leaders are putting in place to mitigate and control risk for pupils and staff.

The DfE has issued guidance on risk assessments.

In addition, MKC have created a risk assessment template (XLSX, 239KB) that we hope supports you in undertaking an audit of risk. This is offered as a supportive tool: there’s no expectation that you use this specific template but we do urge you to reflect on the content. You can and should feel empowered to amend it to meet your school’s specific needs.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also provide additional guidance on COVID risk assessments on their managing risks and risk assessment at work webpage.

Finally, don’t forget to update your risk assessments for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.

Ventilation and air conditioning 

Please ensure that you have read and understood the guidance from the Health and Safety Executive about ventilation.

You may also want to read the DfE press release announcing the news that all schools are to receive carbon dioxide monitors.

Administering treatment and medication

During the current pandemic, the usual requirements to provide medical treatment remain. It’s therefore important that you have risk assessments and procedures in place to support you in dealing with any health and/or medical situations that arise whilst taking appropriate measures to reduce the risk of transmission.

In addition to routine care and acute illness caused by COVID-19, procedures should be agreed to ensure the safe and timely management of emergency situations. These might include staff needing to:

  • administer anti-anaphylactic injections (AAI) such as an EpiPen
  • administer CPR
  • administer choking treatment such as abdominal trusts or back slaps
  • manage seizures
  • treat wounds, bites, stings, scalds or burns

To support you in undertaking these actions safely you should read safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care which provides more information about preventing and controlling infection, including the use of PPE and access to testing. It explains the strategy for infection prevention and control, including the specific circumstances in which PPE should be used to support safe working during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Use this guide to decide the level of PPE required for a situation.

First aid requirements

Activities within school should be carefully planned to ensure that risk of injury to staff and pupils remains low.

The HSE publication, first aid during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is very helpful. HSE always strongly recommends that workplace first aiders undertake annual refresher training. If first aid training or requalification during the COVID-19 pandemic has not included practical training and assessment for giving rescue breaths, employers should make sure it’s included in the next refresher course.

The DfE has published Statutory guidance which is to be kept under review: Statutory guidance under review - Early Years foundation stage: Coronavirus Disapplications. This provides information about what to do if paediatric first aid (PFA) requalification training is prevented. If you don’t have someone who is PFA certificated on site you should:

  • undertake a risk assessment to consider and mitigate the likelihood of a serious incident
  • ensure that at least one person on site has a current First Aid at Work or emergency PFA certificate

Face Coverings 

Information on face coverings in education can now be found in the Government guidance for:

Stay at home guidance 

Public Health England (PHE) has published guidance for households where there is a confirmed case of COVID. Across MK we know that there are many people living with extended family. We recommend sharing this guidance with the members of your school community for whom you think it is appropriate.

Health and safety support to schools

Schools need to minimise the spread of COVID-19 through:

  • ensuring good hygiene for everyone
  • maintaining appropriate cleaning regimes
  • keeping occupied spaces well ventilated
  • following public health advice on testing, self-isolation and managing confirmed cases of COVID-19

These requirements are likely to be in place for some time.

*Please note - This guidance is subject to change – always check the government guidance.

Top tips for schools:

  • carry out risk assessments for both children and staff on risks associated with COVID-19
  • keep your workplace clean
  • tell parents and contractors about your plans so they are prepared
  • ensure that all health and safety building checks have been done before opening and regular checks are in place. Further guidance on premises and property maintenance can be found on the MKC Health and Safety for Schools web page.
  • check if your fire evacuation and first aid plans have been impacted by any staffing changes
  • ensure gas and electrical appliances/systems have been checked and are safe to use
  • commission a water treatment specialist to chlorinate and flush the complete system for all hot and cold water systems (including drinking water) if the system has not remained operational through routine flushing of little used outlets

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is carrying out spot checks and inspections on all types of businesses in all areas to ensure they are COVID secure.

Please contact our health and safety team if you need any specific health and safety support.