Initial thoughts from me on this in the thread below, catch up on all the news and analysis on the @tes website http://www.tes.com/news  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools

The science of school reopening we have covered quite a bit through some excellent work from @johncmorgan3
https://www.tes.com/magazine/article/coronavirus-science-behind-schools-reopening
https://www.tes.com/news/covid-19-whats-most-infectious-place-school
https://www.tes.com/news/opening-schools-what-does-safe-really-mean

Short answer? Schools don't appear to be a huge factor in transmission, but data is patchy

"There are no plans at present to reimburse additional costs incurred as part of that process."

So heads need to make their schools safe, but need to dip into empty pockets to do that...

The extra cleaning and cleaning products for a large secondary school will quickly get very very expensive, and as for all the alcohol gels, tissues etc....

"Minimise contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or who have someone in their household who does, do not attend school" - how does a school verify symptoms in terms of fines for absence?

It seems to suggest class bubbles for KS3 - which I don't think was floated earlier this week. Is that to maintain a more primary style of teaching? Are secondaries set up for that? How can it work? Thoughts welcome...

"allow mixing into wider groups for specialist teaching, wraparound care and transport" - this seems a little confusing - children must not mix in school but can mix on the bus or after school clubs? Gov just accepting there is no other option?

"This will not be possible for the youngest children" - this is repeated frequently, so we can safely say any notion of social distancing in EYFS and possibly KS1 not expected.

"staff must still have a break of a reasonable length during the day." - where this might occur is seemingly not specified. Where can teachers actually escape to?

"Staggered start and finish times should not reduce the amount of overall teaching time." - so teachers have to staff the school physically, for much longer?

"Specialists, therapists, clinicians and other support staff for pupils with SEND should provide interventions as usual. " - huge issue for special schools, again it seems the gov have decided there is no option but to allow it.

"Classroom based resources, such as books and games, can be used and shared within the bubble" - return of reading bags and library books for Primary?

"how pupils are grouped together on transport, where possible this should reflect the bubbles that are adopted within school" - and every school asks, WTF? Those bubbles will not align in any way geographically, so...

"Schools should be clear with parents that pupils of compulsory school age must be in school unless a statutory reason applies" basically says unless school anxiety is clinical, anxiety not a reason not to return to school, even for families where a child or parent was shielding

"School leaders should be flexible in how those members of staff [who are extremely clinically vulnerable) are deployed" - with teacher numbers so low and these demands so high, this is tricky - can you offer full school if they are not in the classroom? If they are not, who is?

"We would, however, encourage all schools to return to their usual uniform policies in the autumn term." - costs for uniform would have to come down if parents expected to replace uniform every day

"the curriculum remains broad and ambitious" - so no advice to limit subject areas after all, but later does say other subjects should have a literacy focus

" returning to the school’s normal curriculum content by no later than summer term 2021"

Seems an odd deadline when they have no idea when life will return to normal

"Curriculum planning should be informed by an assessment of pupils’ starting points and addressing the gaps in their knowledge and skills" - as if any teacher would not do this!

Ah so there WILL be narrowing in primary: "For pupils in key stages 1 and 2, school leaders are expected to prioritise identifying gaps and re-establish good progress in the essentials (phonics and reading, increasing vocabulary, writing and mathematics)"

There is a big section essentially telling to schools to be trauma-aware and there's a big off-rolling warning, as well as a warning around exclusion rates in general. But also an emphasis on tough sanctions. So....

"Inspectors will visit a sample of schools to discuss how they are managing the return to education of all their pupils." - a socially distanced conversation, presumably? Can heads refuse entry on risk assessment grounds?

All primary assessment back next year, which will please..... very few people. Whether it actually happens is another matter, of course, if persistent lockdowns occur, and at exam time, how do you make it happen?