In general, the following rules apply to reopening:

  • The school provides in-person education to all pupils.
  • Pupils are required to attend school. Compulsory education is in force.
  • The school is open, unless…
    • The advice of the GGD regarding infections at school and limiting the risk of transmission gives cause to close, or
    • The school has no organisational alternative but to close because too many staff members are ill or have to quarantine, and no replacements are available.
  • If the school is closed on the grounds mentioned above, the school will nevertheless provide emergency childcare for children whose parents work in essential professions, and these children will be cared for after school by the BSO.
  • When in-person education is not possible, schools will switch to distance learning as much as their situation permits, or provide customised solutions to continue education as effectively as possible. A school must report a school closure to the Inspectorate of Education via the reporting centre.
  • If organising cohorts is not organisationally possible, this is not a reason to close the school.

In addition, the RIVM hygiene measures remain in force – as the OMT indicates, it is particularly important that they are observed. These include:

  • Proper reporting and monitoring of infections;
  • Strictly applying a health check when parents/carers and other adults enter the school (for more information, see this infographic);
  • Strictly applying the other hygiene measures. The participation council will be involved in implementing this protocol on the basis of the WMS, with consultation periods being applied reasonably so that decisions can be made quickly.

The protocol contains six chapters

  1. General
    1. General RIVM guideline on safety risks
    2. Physical contact
    3. Hygiene measures
    4. Hygiene measures for learning materials
    5. Cleaning
    6. Privacy
  2. Attendance of pupils, staff, parent(s)/carer(s) and external parties at school and educational provision
    1. Attendance of pupils at school and educational provision
    2. Cohorting
    3. Distance learning
    4. Staff attendance
    5. Attendance at school of staff, parent(s)/carer(s), volunteers and (external) professionals
    6. Parent-teacher meetings and parents’ evenings
  3. In and around the school building
    1. General
    2. School playground
    3. Walking routes in and around the school
    4. Dropping off, collecting and using the school premises
    5. School transport
    6. Ventilation
  4. Health
    1. Medical procedures/care procedures
    2. Sending-home policy
    3. Stay-at-home rules – pupils’ health
    4. Stay-at-home rules – staff health
    5. Home quarantine after staying abroad
    6. Home quarantine following an infection at school
  5. Capacity
    1. Staff availability
    2. Testing
  6. Emergency childcare
    1. Emergency childcare for pupils whose parent(s)/carer(s) work in essential professions