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Teaching Health & Safety Advice Released

We’ve released new health & safety advice for teachers working during the Covid-19 pandemic, to help members who are considering a return to work prepare.

Published: 15 June 2020 | 12:00 AM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:31 PM
Photo of a young student wearing a mask while playing piano.
We aim to cover as many scenarios as possible so that you are able to make your decision. Photo credit: Shutterstock

Whilst some of our members who teach are still unsure about returning to work yet, we are very aware that some members are wanting to return to face to face teaching as soon as they are able to.

In our new guidance we aim to cover as many scenarios as possible so that you are able to make your decision, confident that you have practically considered all the issues to minimise the risk to yourself and to your pupils when you do return.

This page covers the following advice:

  • Deciding to return to the workplace
  • Teaching in schools
  • Risk Assessments for other educational establishments
  • Teaching at home or in studios
  • Completing a personal Risk Assessment
  • Teaching in other people’s homes
  • Other things to consider
  • Links for further information

See our Health & Safety for Face to Face Teaching page now.

Deciding to return to the workplace

The decision about returning to the workplace, or to start teaching face to face from your own home or in other places when you are allowed to do so, is one that only you can take. Before doing so you must make sure that you take adequate steps to review any relevant guidance and come to a sensible decision based on your own enquiries after taking into account your own individual set of circumstances.

The MU’s advice is for general guidance only and does not represent any instruction or encouragement to return to or begin work. The MU can accept no liability for the consequences of your decision, including any illness or other adverse impact.

Your MU public liability insurance is valid provided you, and any venue in which you are working, are following the current government guidelines (links for the policies of each of the four nations of the UK are at the end of this document) and subject otherwise to the MU’s PLI policy terms and conditions.

At this time little is known definitely about the way coronavirus behaves and given the possible consequences of exposure are so severe, any advice given errs on the side of caution. If you have any specific concerns contact your Regional Office in the first instance.

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