To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department has issued to schools regarding students diagnosed with long covid.

It is important that children and young people continue to attend their education and childcare providers. Long COVID symptoms can vary and range in severity and will not necessarily impact on pupils’ or students’ ability to attend their education or childcare provider. Most adults, young people, and children who develop COVID-19 resolve within the first four weeks. However, everyone is different and recovery time can vary from one individual to another. Pupils or students absent from their education for a prolonged period due to long COVID should be supported in the same manner as those absent due to other medium to long-term illnesses or medical conditions.

Department for Education guidance states that local authorities must arrange suitable full-time education (or as much education as the child’s health condition allows) for children of compulsory education age who, because of illness, would otherwise not receive suitable education. This should be provided as soon as it is clear that the child will be away from education for 15 days or more, either consecutively or cumulatively. Education providers should liaise with appropriate medical professionals to ensure minimal delay in arranging appropriate provision for the child. If a child is looked-after or previously looked-after, their virtual school head should also be involved in making these arrangements. Further detailed information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/education-for-children-with-health-needs-who-cannot-attend-school.

The NHS website offers further guidance for those experiencing long COVID, this can be found here: https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/.