Commenting as the government announce further temporary measures and more support for schools to help with Covid as they return in January, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“School leaders are clear that the best place for children to learn is in school. We need to do everything possible to ensure face-to-face teaching continues, despite increasing infection rates due to the new variant. Reintroducing face masks in secondary classrooms appears to be a sensible move, given the circumstances.

“Where schools need air filtration units to improve areas of poor ventilation, they should be provided with them, without delay. The announcement, therefore, that 7000 more units will be made available is welcome. We will encourage government to monitor demand and to make more available as required, to ensure all schools that need one, get one. Adequate ventilation in classrooms should not be limited to first come, first served.

“Ofsted inspections are the very last thing schools need given the pressure they are under just to stay open and minimise disruption for learners. Pupils will be best served by their schools not being distracted by preparation for inspection. Encouraging schools to ask for deferrals of inspections is helpful but it would be even better if all uncertainty were removed by simply suspending inspections entirely this term so inspectors can return to the classroom, to help the effort.”