News

The DfE have published the latest advice on the use of face coverings in schools and further education. Secondary Schools guidance Where pupils and students in year 7 and above are educated, the DfE recommend that face coverings should be worn by staff, pupils and students when moving around the premises, outside of classrooms, such … Read more

We are currently working with a number of schools that are looking to achieve significant savings on the cost of insurance by moving to the Government’s Risk Protection Arrangement. What is the Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA)? The RPA is not an insurance scheme but is a mechanism through which the cost of risks will be … Read more

Summary Happy New Year! On 3 January the PM told Andrew Marr that was “no doubt in my mind that schools are safe” and that the risk to children was “very, very low” and the benefit of education was “so huge”, but did not rule out further closures. The NEU have advised their members not … Read more

Good afternoon, All our best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to catching up with you in the New Year. From all of us at, Cook Lawyers

New self-isolation requirements announced today New filtering rules for DBS certificates Keeping children safe in education: proposed revisions 2021 1. Covid-19 new announcement today – Self-isolation cut to 10 days from Monday 14th December Self-isolation for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus will be shortened from 14 to 10 days across the UK from Monday … Read more

There is a common misconception that a current or former employee is entitled to a ‘good’ reference or, more accurately, that an employer cannot make any negative comments about an employee.  This is simply wrong. In the education sector a useful starting point is the School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2680) which states that … Read more

Summary The PM gave a statement at the coronavirus press conference on 26 November 2020.  The full statement is here. In addition, the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, made a statement to the House of Commons and announced which regions would be in each tier. The full guidance on the different tiers is here – Local … Read more

Summary The PM made a statement in the House of Commons today on the Covid-19 Winter Plan.  The full statement is here. By the Spring, the advances in treatment, in testing and vaccines should ‘reduce the need for the restrictions we have endured in 2020.’ A new regional tiered approach was announced.  Full details below. … Read more

In a landmark decision, R (Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and another [2020] EWHC 3050 (13 November 2020), the High Court (Chamberlain J) has held that workers are now entitled to the same protection as employees against suffering detriment if they take steps to protect themselves … Read more

Summary We are seeing increasing requests in relation to pregnant employees over 28 weeks (i.e. in their third trimester) to be working from home. The basis for these requests was because the Guidance for full opening: schools makes specific reference to Occupational Health guidance published by the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG).  Part … Read more