Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on isolation for residential educational settings

UK Department for Education and Public Health England

This guidance is to support the management of children and young people living in:

  • children’s homes
  • residential special schools and colleges
  • other further education (FE) providers with residential accommodation
  • mainstream boarding schools
  • university halls of residence.

You will find advice on managing isolation for individuals or groups, in the event that a child, young person or staff member either shows symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), or is confirmed as having the disease.

Symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are a high temperature (37.8 degrees Celsius or above) or a new, continuous cough.

Public Health England (PHE) have provided a suite of guidance to support people in making decisions related to coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Education announced on 18 March 2020 that educational settings are closing with effect from 20 March 2020, except for vulnerable children and the children of workers critical to the coronavirus (COVID-19) response. Consequently, residential special schools, boarding schools and FE and higher education (HE) halls may need to remain open if that is possible.