Back to school: Education bosses say every child in Harrogate expected to return full-time in September

North Yorkshire County Council said in a statement attendance will be mandatory for all pupils, in all year groups, unless they or a close contact develop symptoms or test positive for coronavirus.

And head teachers will follow up pupils' absences and issue sanctions - including possible fines - when the autumn term starts during the week commencing 7 September.

The county council has offered reassurances to parents and pupils that classrooms have been well prepared for the return and that all necessary precautions have been taken.

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Stuart Carlton, the county's Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services, said: “Schools will have made additional arrangements to minimise risk, and will communicate plans to parents and carers so that they are informed.

"These will include using strategies such as one-way systems, minimising movement around the school buildings and providing additional hygiene measures and facilities."

Mr Carlton said this could also include adjustments to timings during the school day and lunchtime arrangements, and changes to start and finish times to minimise congestion.

The safety measures have been drawn up by teaching unions and Public Health teams, but schools have planned individually as to how they will arrange children in small, consistent teaching groups to minimise contact.

If a school has a suspected coronavirus outbreak, teachers will alert the local Public Health teams who will be on standby to take action.

Although the government has said a whole school closure "will not generally be necessary" unless advised by the health officials, Mr Carlton said "a series of scenario plans" are in place for the region.

He said: “Outbreak procedures have been developed with local Public Health colleagues and have been in place for some time. If a suspected outbreak were to occur in a school, then colleagues in Public Health will support schools on an individual basis and advise on actions which should be taken.

"In conjunction with headteachers, North Yorkshire has also produced guidance to support schools manage a range of potential lockdown restrictions through a series of scenario plans.”

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Education Secretary Gavin Williamson previously said there is little evidence of coronavirus being transmitted in schools.

However, this was met with opposition from the Association of School and College Leaders which said government guidance is unclear.

The union said if schools see a coronavirus spike then students might have to be taught on a week-on, week-off basis.

Parents should approach their child’s school if they have any questions or concerns about the new term and how schools are managing their individual circumstances.

How will the school day work?

The government has set out a system of controls for schools which are expected to teach a broad and balanced curriculum when they return.

The rules mean pupils with Covid-19 symptoms, or with family members with symptoms, will be kept away from school.

Hand-washing will be made frequent and good hygiene will be promoted around the use of tissues for sneezes and coughs.

Staff are expected to have enhanced cleaning procedures and schools are also being asked to stagger start and finish times, without shortening the number of teaching hours each pupil receives.

They are also being told to minimise the number of contacts each pupil has during the day, by putting classes or whole year groups into "protective bubbles".

Assemblies or collective worships with more than one group will also be avoided.

School transport services will be asked to move children in "bubbles", provide hand sanitiser, maintain social distancing where possible and ask children over 11 to wear face coverings.

There should also be a process for staff and pupils to remove face coverings safely on arrival.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter