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IOSH urges caution as people return to workplaces

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has urged caution over the gradual return of staff to workplaces.

Speaking after the government confirmed that England would move to the final stage of its gradual easing of Covid-19 lockdown measures, IOSH’s Head of Advice and Practice, Duncan Spencer, warned: “Covid-19 still poses a significant threat, so we urge businesses to ensure they continue to do all they can to protect staff from contracting it.”

Ensure a healthy and safe return to work

As the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, spoke out to encourage workers to head back into the office and other workplaces, IOSH advised that businesses be guided by health and safety professionals.

Mr Smith said that risk assessments formed the “starting point” for a safe return to workplaces, “as they can help to identify proportionate controls to protect workers, clients, consumers and communities.”

Advocating continued caution, he added:

“With Covid risks, this might include a reasonable request for people to continue wearing face masks and observe social distancing measures.

“Employers might wish to emulate other socially conscious organisations by asking workers to test themselves regularly, including supplying them with lateral flow test kits.

“It is crucial that any preventative measures are communicated clearly, thereby empowering people to work safely while this disease remains a significant threat.”

Maintain control measures

The (HSE) has issued advice about workplace controls that businesses should maintain despite the removal of lockdown restrictions and social distancing guidance.

Britain’s health and safety watchdog says that organisations must still control the risks of Covid-19 transmission and should continue to review and update their risk assessment.

The following workplace control measures also remain unchanged:

Employers are also advised that communicating with workers and representatives about health and safety matters helps to reduce risks.

The HSE continues to conduct Covid-19 spot checks and inspections to ensure that businesses across the country are managing the risks.

Consider mental health and wellbeing

As a recent survey suggested that 40% of workers feel less resilient now than they did before the pandemic, and that over half feel under pressure to mask mental health challenges as they return to the workplace, transmission of Covid-19 is not the only risk that employers need to manage.

Indeed, Duncan Smith at IOSH agreed that “employers also need to consider the impact of returning to work on people’s mental health and wellbeing, with the possibility that staff may be deeply concerned about returning.”

He added:

“We advocate that open and non-stigmatised conversations are proactively arranged by line managers as part of a strong overall mental health and wellbeing strategy.

“Organisations need to be safe from Covid and safe from the mental health consequences of this pandemic and the impact it has on people’s lives.”

Further training and support for the workplace

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading, national training provider. They deliver over 7,000 courses each year in the fields of health and safety, first aid, fire safety, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care and other special focus topics.

Their diverse portfolio includes training awards in Infection Control, Lone Working, Risk Assessment, Managing and Supervising Safety, Managing Stress in the Workplace and Understanding Mental Health, among many others.

They also offer a portfolio of e-learning training courses, including COVID-19 Infection prevention, identification and control.

A trainer from FRT explains:

“Businesses must ensure they conduct a thorough Covid-19 risk assessment and have effective measures in place for cleaning, hygiene and handwashing, ventilation and protecting vulnerable workers. Continuing measures such as social distancing, working from home and wearing face coverings should also be considered where appropriate.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

Children with SEND disproportionately affected by pandemic

A new report from Ofsted has revealed that children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Children with SEND disproportionately affected during covidThe report contains the findings of joint visits made to local areas by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) during the autumn term of 2020 and the spring term of 2021.

It states that long-standing issues and weaknesses in the system of care for children and young people with SEND have been exacerbated by the disruption of the pandemic.

Children and families ‘out of sight’

It says that children and families have suffered as a result of missed or narrowed education, the withdrawal of essential services such as physiotherapy or speech and language support, and long waiting times for assessment and treatment.

Ofsted inspectors reported that, by Spring 2021, families were often exhausted and despairing when they were still unable to access essential services for their children.

The pandemic and resulting national lockdowns have placed children with SEND ‘out of sight’ of services and led to a worsening situation within the SEND system.

The report cites:

  • Weaknesses in universal education, health and care services which have resulted in children and young people not learning essential skills and knowledge and then mistakenly being identified as having SEND
  • Significant inconsistencies in how SEND are identified
  • A lack of joined-up commissioning and joint working across education, health and care services
  • A lack of clarity between organisations about who is responsible and accountable within local area SEND systems

Experiences for children with SEND vary

Children with SEND out of sight of services during pandemicOfsted found that the experiences of children and families were partly determined by the quality of their relationships with practitioners, as well as the strength of partnership working in their local area.

They were also impacted by the extent to which the local area had implemented the government’s 2014 SEND reforms.

The report states that it is vital that all education settings are ambitious for every child and young person with SEND and that all individuals receive a good quality curriculum and teaching. This was particularly highlighted in relation to the teaching of language and early reading skills.

Improvements for the SEND system

The report contains several recommendations for improvement within the SEND system. These include:

  • More accessible universal services for children and their families, delivered by practitioners with a strong understanding of how to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND
  • More accurate identification when children need targeted or specialist support and higher aspirations for children and young people with SEND
  • A greater sense of joint responsibility between partners in a local area, clearer accountability for different organisations within local systems, and greater coordination of universal, target and specialist local services so children get the right support at the right time

Ofsted have been working with the CQC to develop a new inspection framework which is aimed at driving further improvements in the SEND system and better supporting children and young people at what is described as a “critical moment.”

HM Chief Inspector of Schools, Amanda Spielman, commented on the report’s findings:

“Many local area leaders and practitioners have gone above and beyond to support children and young people with SEND and their families during this challenging time.

“However, our report shows that children and young people were not always getting the education and care they needed, even before the pandemic.

“As the damaging effects of the pandemic on children and young people with SEND become clear, so too does the need to ensure that we are all playing our role in supporting them. We will work closely with CQC to develop a new framework to support improvement in the way education, health and care services work together to get the best possible outcomes for children.”

Improve awareness and support

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years and childcare providers, as well as schools, colleges, and children’s services.

They can provide training in SEND Awareness, Dyslexia Awareness, ADHD Awareness, Introduction to the Autistic Spectrum and Learning Disability Awareness among other special focus subjects.

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

HSE continues COVID spot checks

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned businesses that it will be continuing to carry out Covid-19 spot checks and inspections as the nation continues on the roadmap out of lockdown.

Britain’s health and safety watchdog is working with local authorities to carry out spot checks and inspections on local businesses as the economy reopens.

They say that, as more businesses reopen their doors, the opportunity for Covid-19 to spread only increases, “so it is critical that businesses shouldn’t become complacent. They still need to have Covid-secure measures in place.”

All businesses in line for inspection

Spot checks and inspections are being carried out on all types of businesses in all areas.

Inspectors will be checking the measures that organisations have put in place to manage and reduce the risks posed from coronavirus, ensuring they are in line with current government guidance.

They will be visiting businesses that have continued their operations throughout the pandemic, as well as those that have only recently reopened or are planning to reopen soon.

The HSE says it is assisting local authorities to target premises in the sectors they regulate, such as hospitality and retail.

Businesses must manage Covid risks

sanitisation remains crucialInspectors will offer businesses advice and guidance during spot checks and inspections, but the watchdog has made clear that action will be taken against any organisation that isn’t managing the risk from Covid-19.

The HSE has the power to issue enforcement notices and halt certain work activities until they are made safe.

Any business that does not comply with HSE action could be prosecuted.

The HSE has outlined some general Covid-secure measures that businesses should have in place:

  • A Covid-19 risk assessment for your workplace, which is updated to reflect any changes in legislation or guidance that may impact on your work activities.
  • Social distancing measures to ensure people are kept 2-metres apart or, where this is not possible, 1-metre apart with additional measures in place, such as screens.
  • Strict cleaning, hygiene and handwashing procedures for your workplace and staff.
  • Proper ventilation and air conditioning to help reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading.
  • Information for workers about providing support and maintaining Covid-19 control measures.
  • Suitable measures to support staff to work from home where required, such as appropriate equipment and regular contact to ensure their wellbeing.
  • Control measures, support, and information to help protect workers who are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus.

Engage with the HSE to protect communities

The Director of Transformation and Operational Services at HSE, Angela Storey, explained: “As we come out of lockdown, we are continuing to work with local authorities to check businesses are Covid-secure and providing guidance and advice where needed.

“Our spot checks and inspections support the cross-government work in helping employers and employees that have worked throughout the pandemic and those returning as lockdown measures ease. All workplaces are in scope for spot checks which means businesses of any size, in any sector, can receive an unannounced check from HSE or an inspection from the local authority, to check they are Covid-secure.

“If you are contacted by the HSE or your local authority, please engage with us. By checking businesses have measures in place to manage the risks, we can benefit the health of local communities as well as support the local and national UK economy.”

The HSE provides guidance on remaining Covid-secure on their website.

Training can help you manage the risks

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading, national training provider. They deliver over 7,000 courses each year in the fields of health and safety, first aid, fire safety, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care and other special focus topics.

Infection control is crucialTheir diverse portfolio includes training awards in Infection Control, Lone Working, Risk Assessment, Managing and Supervising Safety, Managing Stress in the Workplace and Understanding Mental Health, among many others.

They also offer a portfolio of e-learning training courses, including COVID-19 Infection prevention, identification and control.

A trainer from FRT explains: “After many months of restrictions, it’s great to see things start to open back up and many businesses begin to return to some sort of normal. This is vitally important for the economy as well as for the mental health and wellbeing of employers and employees.

“It’s equally important, though, that, as restrictions ease, we do not let our guard down and continue to ensure that we are following guidance at all times to control the still-present risk of coronavirus.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

Covid-19 shielding ends for millions

Today (Wednesday 31st March 2021) marks the final day that millions of the most clinically vulnerable people in England and Wales are advised to shield.

Letters have been sent out to around 4 million clinically extremely vulnerable people over the last few weeks, advising them that they no longer need to shield at home. They are still advised to keep social contacts to a minimum, however, and to work from home where possible.

The changes to shielding advice have been introduced as national case rates, hospital admissions and deaths linked to Covid-19 have consistently fallen since the beginning of the third national lockdown and start of the vaccine rollout.

It is expected that restrictions in Scotland and Northern Ireland will be lifted later in April.

According to NHS Digital, there are 3.8 million shielded patients in England and 130,000 in Wales. They were advised to remain at home and take extra care to avoid catching Covid-19 as they are considered at greater risk of suffering serious symptoms and requiring hospital treatment.

Many people want to stay in the home they love for as long as possible. A hospital bed allows you stay in your home, even if you have health and mobility issues, visit this link to learn more about hospital beds.

Shielded patients include individuals who have had stem cell transplants, are receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer and adults living with chronic kidney disease.

February saw an additional 1.7 million people added to the shielding advice list, following judgments made by their GP or hospital doctor. All those shielding have been entitled to priority access to a Covid-19 vaccination as per the government’s priority list for the vaccine rollout.

Figures from yesterday show that 56 people died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test and that 289 more patients were admitted to hospital. The seven-day averages for each had fallen by 35% and 22.1% respectively.

Cases are not falling as quickly; a further 4,040 were reported yesterday, with the seven-day average showing a drop of 7.9%.

Boosting the outlook for the country is the fact that over 30.5 million people have now received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, while nearly 4 million people have received both required doses.

The beginning of this week saw restrictions in England eased enough to allow people to meet outdoors in groups of 6 or two households and to enable outdoor sport facilities to reopen and weddings to take place again, with restrictions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned the nation of the potential for a third wave of coronavirus to hit our shores as cases are rising sharply on the continent.

Speaking at a Downing Street briefing on Monday he said it wasn’t possible to know “exactly how strong” the UK’s defences would be against such a wave, despite the unprecedented vaccine rollout.

He did say that he could not “see anything in the data right now that would cause us to deviate from the roadmap” for easing restrictions in England.

The next milestone will see non-essential retail, hairdressers, gyms and outdoor hospitality reopen in England on 12th April, if all conditions are met.

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading, national training provider. They deliver over 7,000 courses each year in the fields of health and safety, first aid, fire safety, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care and more.

A trainer from FRT says: “It will be an exciting but also anxious time for millions of people who have spent much of the last year at home, isolated.

“People are still required to keep a safe distance from others and to follow all other restrictions and health advice in place, but hopefully this is the start of a route back to normal for all those people who have missed out on so much over the last year.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

Survey reveals impact of coronavirus on UK children

A new survey capturing the experiences of children and young people during the pandemic has revealed many have faced mental health challenges over the past year.

Conducted by Survation for Newsround, the survey asked over 2,000 6–16-year-olds from all across the UK about their experiences during 2020-21, questioning them about a range of issues, from remote learning to what is most important to them and who their role models are.

Newsround found that almost half of children surveyed felt “worse than usual” during lockdown.

When asked how they have felt over the last 12 months, 24% of children said they felt better, while 25% said they felt the same as usual. But for 49% the experience was less positive.

This rose to more than half when focusing on girls (51%) or older children (53%) specifically.

Almost 6 in 10 (57%) of the young people surveyed also said they felt they had done less exercise than normal during the pandemic and resulting local and national lockdowns in the UK.

Newsround says these findings reflect the concerns of many parents, charities and politicians who have said that missing school and not being able to see their friends has taken a significant toll on the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

Family comes first

The vast majority (98%) of young people said that seeing family and friends was important to them, with 7 in 10 girls classing it as “very important”.

More than 9 in 10 (93%) also said that health was important to them, while two thirds said that money was important with three-quarters of 13–16-year-olds confirming this.

When asked to rank the top three issues that were of most importance to them, the answers most likely to feature in childrens’ top three were:

  • Family health (64%)
  • Coronavirus (59%)
  • Exams / school work (57%)
  • Having enough money (45%)

Family also topped the list of figures that young people most looked up to.

Newsround revealed that nearly 3 in 5 respondents (57%) named their own family members as their number one role model. And, when presented with a list of potential role models to choose from, children were most likely to select the following in their top 3:

  • Family members (85%)
  • Doctors (50%)
  • Celebrities (37%)
  • Nurses (31%)

Missed time with loved ones

When it came to identifying what they had found hardest during the pandemic, more than 9 in 10 young people said they had struggled with missing out on time with friends and extended family members.

Around 1 in 4 children did say they had seen their friends more or the same amount as usual, but 82% said they’d seen their friends less than usual as a result of lockdowns, travel restrictions and a lack of school and activity clubs.

While children were unable to get out and see others, they often also found that home was a more strained place to be. Just under half (46%) said their family had been more stressed than usual during the past year.

Remote learning struggles

Around 13% of children said they had spent some time in school but the vast majority (87%) had been learning remotely during lockdown.

Almost 1 in 4 children (23%) were happy about this, and almost a third (30%) didn’t mind either way, but 45% admitted that they were not happy about being away from school.

The survey also showed that children had very different experiences of remote learning. A third said it had been better than usual, while 16% judged it to be about the same. But half said that home schooling was worse than being in school, with girls (52%) and younger children (53%) most likely to be disappointed by their learning experience this year.

There were variances across the country, too, with 38% of London school pupils saying that remote learning was better than being in school in person, compared to 27% of pupils in Scotland.

Some children struggled due to a lack of technical equipment. More than a quarter of children responding to the survey (28%) said they did not have a device to themselves. Some children did not have a device at all (1%) while others had to share it with one or more people (27%).

Despite government schemes in all four nations of the UK to bridge the ‘digital divide’ and provide laptops and tablets to families who needed them, the survey results show that some people still struggled.

In fact, the Learning Foundation education charity has estimated that one million children and young people did not have sufficient access to devices or internet at home.

Catching up on lost time

This may have left some children trailing behind. While more than half (51%) said they felt they were where they should be in their studies, around a quarter (28%) of children said they felt they were behind.

The government are exploring options to help pupils catch up on their school work.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he wants to provide children with the “opportunities they deserve to learn and fulfil their potential,” though exact plans are still unclear.

He has also pledged £79 million to improve mental health support for children and young people, both in schools and within the community.

In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has promised money for additional teachers and school staff and says she wants to ensure that “the impact of lockdown on our young peopled doesn’t turn into a long-term impact they are saddled with for the rest of their lives.”

Her devolved government has announced an extra £139 million to support mental health in both children and adults following the pandemic.

Extra funding has been announced for schools in Northern Ireland, including for activities this summer, while in Wales the government has pledged that its recovery plans will aim to “meet the needs of learners who have been most affected by this period.”

Children need our support

Many school leaders have warned that there is a long way to go to ensure that the most disadvantaged children receive the support they need, while experts also caution that it is important not to overwhelm students.

The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, commented:

“It’s really important that we now listen to what children have to say about their experiences over the last year.”

She pledged to make sure the government is “doing everything it can to help children feel happier and positive about the future.”

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years and childcare providers, as well as schools, colleges, and children’s services. Their courses include Safeguarding Children, Understanding Mental Health and Anxiety Awareness.

They can also provide accredited trainers to deliver Youth Mental Health First Aid training, certificated by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England.

A trainer from FRT says: “There are many hidden victims of the pandemic, and it is saddening that measures introduced to keep the nation safe and healthy may have contributed to children experiencing a more difficult time.

“It’s so important that children receive the help and support they need.

“Anyone who works with children and young people should complete appropriate mental health training so that they can spot the early warning signs of depression, anxiety and other mental health problems as we begin to find our way out of this pandemic and out of lockdowns.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

Ofsted warns of ‘invisibility of vulnerable children’ in lockdown

Ofsted have warned that vulnerable children at risk of harm have “slipped out of sight” during the national coronavirus lockdown.

England’s Chief Inspector of Schools, Amanda Spielman, has warned that, when schools were closed during the first national lockdown, children may have missed out on the help they needed due to teachers being unable to spot the early warning signs of abuse or neglect.

As she launched her annual report, Ms Spielman said the “invisibility of vulnerable children” during the Covid-19 crisis should be a “matter of national concern.”

The first lockdown saw schools remain open only for the children of key workers and vulnerable children, but many eligible families did not send their children to school. The Ofsted chief says that this, coupled with a lack of access for health visitors, had a “dramatic impact”, with a reduction in concerns over neglect or abuse being referred to local authorities.

In fact, the Local Government Association has revealed that referrals to children’s social care teams fell by around a fifth, to 41,000 cases between April and June. This resulted in around 1,600 children being looked after, which is a third below previous years.

Ms Spielman said that identifying those vulnerable children who were overlooked during the pandemic was now a priority, and called for “urgent” coordinated action.

Published today (1st December 2020), her report also raises wider concerns about the mental health and wellbeing of pupils who have faced isolation, anxiety, loneliness or bereavement during the pandemic.

It also highlights the pressures placed on families of children with special educational needs, many of whom are reportedly “struggling to cope.” These “hidden victims” of the pandemic missed out on support services and specialist activities, while those who were shielding also missed out on time in school.

Ms Spielman said:

“Covid-19 has exposed an already crumbling infrastructure that fails to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children all too often.”

Although Ofsted suspended its regular inspections during the pandemic, the report notes that the disruption to lessons has resulted in many pupils slipping back and warns that the attainment gap between rich and poor children will widen.

The education watchdog said that the quality of online learning for pupils during the lockdown was “variable,” as some lacked access to technology and others lacked the motivation to learn at home.

Apprenticeships were found to be the “least effective” education providers during this challenging time, and two thirds of apprentices had either been furloughed, made redundant or had their off-the-job training suspended.

Paul Whiteman from the National Association of Head Teachers said that school leaders shared Ofsted’s concerns about vulnerable children during the pandemic but that budgets for child support services had been “slashed” in recent years.

He said schools were under great pressure and asked Ofsted not to resume their regular school inspection regime in the New Year.

Meanwhile, the head of the Association of School and College Leavers (ASCL), Geoff Barton, said the report highlighted “an important issue” and added: “Schools worked very hard to reach out to families with vulnerable children and bring these pupils into the emergency provision in schools during the first national lockdown.

“Schools have been highly focused on addressing any problems with the wellbeing of students since full reopening in September, and they are very relieved to have vulnerable pupils back in school where they can make sure they have the support they need.”

A spokesperson from the Department for Education commented: “The safety and well-being of the most vulnerable children has always been our focus, which is why we kept nurseries, schools and colleges open for those children throughout the pandemic.

“It remains a national priority to keep full-time education open for all.”

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years and childcare providers, as well as schools, colleges, and children’s services. Their courses include Safeguarding Children.

A trainer from FRT says: “There are many hidden victims of the pandemic, and it is saddening that measures introduced to keep the nation safe and healthy may have contributed to children being placed at greater risk of harm.

“It’s so important that this issue is being discussed and that action is being taken to ensure that these children do not continue to fall through the cracks.

“It’s vital that anyone who works with children and young people completes Safeguarding training so that they are aware of the signs of abuse and neglect and know the correct action to take if they suspect a child is at risk.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.

Children more likely to catch Covid in second wave

Children are now more likely than adults to be infected with Covid-19 and bring the infection into a household, it has been revealed.

The government’s scientific advisors say that the number of school-age children with coronavirus has risen “significantly” during the second wave compared with the first, and that people living with secondary-school-age children are 8% more likely to catch Covid-19.

The exact role that children as a whole play in transmitting the virus is still unclear, however.

Families with children are not at higher risk of suffering a severe illness, and the data does show that young people in general are at very low risk of becoming seriously ill themselves, while evidence suggests that younger children are less likely to even contract Covid-19.

For older children, however, the picture is much less clear.

A review presented to government and published on 13th November reveals growing evidence that older children can both contract and transmit Covid-19 at similar rates to adults.

It shows that, from around the time schools reopened in September, a growing number of children have been testing positive for the virus, although the paper stated that the extent to which transmission was occurring in schools was “unproven and difficult to establish.”

This is because contacts within schools could not be separated from contacts around school, including travelling to and from and socialising afterwards.

In addition, two major surveillance studies carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Imperial College London show that infections among young people aged 16-24 were increasing in September.

By October, increases could be observed throughout the 2-24-year-old age bracket.

Scientists advise, however, that data suggests that infection rates were rising in the wider population before schools returned.

The government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) had previously acknowledged that reopening schools would be likely to increase transmission of the virus and that trade-offs would have to be made with restrictions in order to allow schools to remain open.

The paper published this month highlighted the “significant educational, developmental and mental health harms” posed if schools were to close.

The fact remains, however, that school-age children and young adults have experienced a much faster rise in infections than other age groups during the second wave.

Professor Mark Woolhouse from the University of Edinburgh said this was “not surprising given that schools are operating much closer to normality than most other parts of society.”

ONS data also reveals that teachers are not more likely to test positive for Covid-19 than other workers.

Dr Sarah Lewis, an epidemiologist from the University of Bristol commented that this fact was “reassuring” and that it suggested “the measures in place to reduce transmission is schools are working.”

The National Education Union (NEU) said it was concerned, however, to learn “that children aged 12-16 played a significantly higher role in introducing infection into households in the period after schools reopened their doors to all students.”

They said this could be due to issues such as “the difficulty of social distancing, the absence of face masks inside classrooms, the problems of ventilation, the size of ‘bubbles’ and the cross mixing on school transport, as well as of secondary pupils mixing outside school.”

First Response Training (FRT) is a leading national training provider delivering courses in subjects such as health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, food hygiene, mental health, health and social care, safeguarding and more.

They work with a large number of early years and childcare providers, as well as schools, colleges, and children’s services. Their courses include Health and Safety, Paediatric First Aid and Safeguarding Children.

A trainer from FRT says: “These are challenging and concerning times for all of us, as we prepare to come out of a second national lockdown during which schools remained open while other parts of society effectively shut down.

“It is clear that being at school is crucial for children’s health, wellbeing and development and that so much has already been missed this year. If infection rates are rising among children, it is reassuring to see that they are unlikely to fall seriously ill as a result of the virus and that teachers do not seem to be at greater risk.

“It remains vital for all of us to follow the guidelines and ensure that we are taking sensible precautionary measures, such as regularly washing our hands, covering our faces and maintaining 2 metre social distance where possible.”

For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.