Installation of equipment to mitigate Covid risk

Summary

The requester asked for a breakdown of equipment installed and costs incurred to mitigate Covid-19 risks in Department of Education schools prior to September 2021. The authority responded by providing general government guidance on mitigation measures rather than specific school-level data or cost breakdowns.

Key Facts

• The response provided general guidance for educational settings rather than a specific breakdown of equipment per school.
• No specific costs for equipment installation or modifications were disclosed in the response.
• High-level government mitigations included encouraging twice-weekly LFD testing for staff and secondary students.
• Schools were advised to increase ventilation in all rooms where possible.
• The guidance document is version 1.0, dated 06/09/2021.

Data Disclosed

• 06/09/2021
• September 2021
• twice a week
• V1.0

Original Request

Prior to the start of the current academic year in September, can you provide a breakdown of the equipment installed & modifications (including but not limited to carbon dioxide monitors and ventilation changes) made to mitigate the risk of the spread of Covid-19 at each Department of Education, Sport and Culture school, and the cost of these works.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

V1.0 06/09/2021

Guidance for the return of students to educational settings – September 2021

Objective:

The overarching objective is to maximise the number of children and young people in face- to face education or childcare and minimise any disruption, in a way that best manages the COVID-19 risk. This document provides guidance and reminders for educational settings about measures, plans to put in place and considerations for the return of students to educational settings in September. This is a live document and as such, any revisions made in the future will be logged in the version control table at the end of the document.

Who is this guidance for?

Schools and other educational settings including:

• primary schools (including reception classes) • secondary schools (including school sixth forms) • Specialist Provision Units • special post-16 providers • Other educational settings such as the Pre-school Assessment Centre & the Educational Support Centre • University College Isle of Man.

As we learn to live with the persistent threat of the COVID-19 virus, it is important that educational settings are well-planned and clear about the options they should adopt in the event of a suspected or confirmed cases in their community. It is important, from the outset, to state that – despite detailed planning – educational settings’ responses often need to be dynamic and modifiable in light of specific advice offered by Public Health and the prevailing circumstances at the time.

There cannot be a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. School leaders have shown they are best placed to understand the needs of their settings and communities and to make informed judgments about how to balance delivering a broad and balanced curriculum with the measures needed to manage risk.

There are a range of precautions which should be maintained to keep all those who attend or work in educational settings as safe as possible.

High Level Government mitigations include:

• Encouraging students (secondary and UCM) and all staff (primary, secondary and UCM) to test twice a week using LFDs. Commencing one week before schools open.

• Encouraging staff (within primary, secondary & UCM) and students (within secondary & UCM) to wear face coverings when moving around school premises (indoors). V1.0 06/09/2021

Range of mitigations which educational settings should be undertaking:

• Minimise contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have COVID-19 symptoms or have tested positive do not attend the educational setting.

• Handwashing facilities and hand sanitiser available in all areas including outside space.

• Consistent general reminders for general hygiene “hands, face, space, and fresh air” messaging.

• Ensure good respiratory hygiene by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach.

• Maintain a good cleaning regime in shared areas.

• In the event of a pupil or member of staff becoming unwell whilst at school follow a clear protocol to isolate them and arrange for collection.

• Increased ventilation in all rooms where possible.

The following are additional mitigations which educational settings may choose to implement, following consultation with DESC and PH, should there be a substantial number of cases in an individual setting:

• The number of staff members in a communal area at any one time should be kept to a minimum.

• No shared equipment where possible - any equipment used may be cleaned after use.

• Indoor activities (assemblies, music, sports etc.) may be kept to small groups/year groups, increased ventilation in room or held outside where possible.

• Classes and year groups may not to be mixed where possible.

• Classes may be wiped down for use of a different set of students (desks, chairs, door handles etc.).

• Specific lunchtimes may be set for specific year groups where possible.

• All surfaces may be wiped down after lunch.

• One at a time in toilets with the exception of shared household occupants (family members) may be considered.

V1.0 06/09/2021

• May limit visits on site including parents - collection of child outside may be considered.
• May limit interaction with other schools for a set period of time and review, following confirmation of a positive PCR test and once confirmed with DESC.

The Isle of Man Government has published advice on managing the impact of the virus including what to do if you or someone you know develops symptoms and a high-level COVID-19 Response Levels document which summarises the different levels of response that may be adopted;

https://covid19.gov.im/general-guidance/

Educational settings also have access to this guidance document and their individual risk assessments.

Managing confirmed cases

School leaders should inform DESC of any known confirmed cases within their setting by emailing and

Settings may wish to seek additional public health advice if they are concerned about transmission in the setting.

Educational visits

Educational visits can continue to take place, with mitigations in place, and with appropriate risk assessments as required by school visits policies. If mitigations cannot be put in place then the school leadership need to review whether or not the visit should go ahead.

Attendance

It is vital for all pupils to attend their educational setting to minimise as far as possible the longer-term impact of the pandemic on their education. Attendance will therefore be mandatory. This means from that point, the usual rules on attendance will apply.

Educational setting closures

Educational settings will only be closed as a last resort either under regulation 31 of the Public Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 when the Council of Ministers give a direction requiring individual premises to close, or via a Ministerial decision when staff shortages mean that DESC cannot substitute and safely open schools with the numbers of staff available.

If settings have to temporarily stop onsite provision on public health advice, they should discuss alternative arrangements for vulnerable children and young people with DESC and relevant agencies.

V1.0 06/09/2021

Home education

Home learning in schools, further education and higher education settings should be provided for all students if:

• they have tested positive for COVID-19 but are well enough to learn from home; or • attendance at their setting has been temporarily restricted.

Clinically vulnerable students

Shielding ceased on 11th April 2021. It is central to the DESC policy response to maintain the balance of the mitigations to lower the risk of a vulnerable student testing positive for COVID-19 and the overall wellbeing of that child.

The following groups have been identified by the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) at higher risk of COVID-19 and will be identified as vulnerable students within our schools:

 Severe neurodisability (which could include conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism or epilepsy)  Down's syndrome  A severely weakened immune system, including some children with cancer  Profound and multiple learning difficulties Along with any others that have received written confirmation by a medical professional.

Until such time as the Isle of Man Government complete the vaccination programme to the above vulnerable groups, DESC will put in place measures within both Specialist Provision Units and mainstream settings that are attended by students identified as vulnerable.

Settings will follow their normal procedures for clinically vulnerable students when there are infectious diseases that may poses a risk to that student.

As such all educational settings should have a register of clinically vulnerable students in order that if there is a positive COVID-19 case confirmed in their setting and the setting has been made aware, they are able to inform the parents and carers of those clinically vulnerable.

Settings should be in regular contact with parents/carers of such student and seek to find out their child’s vaccination status (this is voluntary).

Mainstream settings

Each student with an individual health care plan within mainstream will have COVID-19 risks and mitigations reflected in the plan.

V1.0 06/09/2021

Schools will discuss health care plans and any risk assessments with parents and decisions made based ultimately upon parents’ wishes/consent.

Specialist provision units

Setting specific risk assessments will be undertaken and if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs within a specialist unit, parents and staff within the unit will be notified should the setting become aware.

Additional precautions including restricted visiting will be based on the vulnerability of individual students and vaccine status:

 Staff are strongly advised to wear PPE which will be supplied by the relevant setting in line with Public Health advice. This may include: face coverings, visors, gloves and aprons.  All visits to the Specialist Provision Unit (with the exception of parents/carers/escorts at drop-off and pick-up) must be arranged in advance with the Unit Manager.  All visitors will be strongly advised to wear a mask.
 All visitors are required to sanitise their hands on entry and exit to the Specialist Provision Unit.

 A Visitor Registration Form must be completed by all visitors entering the Specialist Unit.

 Activities and outings must be risk assessed and mitigations put in place based on vulnerability of students.

 Mixing within mainstream must be risk assessed based on vulnerability of students and will be agreed in discussion with parents, unit manager and Headteacher. The approach will be reviewed after half term.

Clinically vulnerable Staff

Shielding ceased on 11th April 2021. However, any staff members that are identified as clinically vulnerable (including pregnancy), but otherwise well, and at risk of severe illness if they contract COVID-19 will be dealt with on a case by case basis. OHR and Occupational Health guidance will be applied and the final arrangement will be authorised by a Director level manager. A comprehensive risk assessment will be carried out to identify any reasonable adjustments that can be made to consider options for working in an existing role, homeworking or re-deployment, where social distancing and any other measures identified in a risk assessment can be maintained in accordance with latest advice.

V1.0 06/09/2021

Education workforce Cross-government policies (e.g. off-Island travel, caring, vulnerable persons etc.) which apply to DESC staff should be followed and, where needed, guidance sought from the HR team.

https://hr.gov.im/policies-procedures-codes-guidance-and-forms/

Corporate Services Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Hamilton House Peel Road, Douglas IM1 5EZ Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im Our ref: 2059593 18 November 2021

Dear ###,

We write further to your request which was received on 28 October 2021 and which states:

"Prior to the start of the current academic year in September, can you provide a breakdown of the equipment installed & modifications (including but not limited to carbon dioxide monitors and ventilation changes) made to mitigate the risk of the spread of Covid-19 at each Department of Education, Sport and Culture school, and the cost of these works."

Our response to your request is as follows: I have detailed below the information that is being released to you. Equipment and Modifications 16 Milesight environment sensors were distributed to one primary school as part of a pilot scheme prior to the start of the academic year. 136 Milesight environment sensors were distributed to all other schools during September 2021. We have also enclosed a copy of the information titled “Guidance for the return of students to educational settings – September 2021” which was issued to the schools from the Department. Costs The pilot scheme came at no cost to the Department. The total cost spent on the Milesight environment sensors to date has been £43,250 (this also includes an additional 172 Milesight environment sensors which were distributed to Primary Schools in November 2021).

Redacted content The information received in relation to the guidance issued to schools contained personal information and under section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act (absolutely exempt personal information) is exempt and has therefore been redacted. The reasons why that exemption applies are that: • The Department is satisfied that the information amounts to personal data of which you are not the data subject; and • The Department is satisfied that disclosure of the information would contravene one of the data protection principles as set out at Article 5 of the General Data Protection Regulation as it applies in the Isle of Man pursuant to The Data Protection (Application of GDPR) Order 2018, namely that the Department of Education Sport and Culture can only disclose the information where it would be fair, lawful and meet one of the conditions for lawful processing in Article 6 and in this case, none of those conditions have been met. Please quote the reference number 2059593 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More

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