Following a meeting on 23 March 2021 with a Government adviser, BBSI has confirmed that current Regulations in force from 8 March 2021 permit Madrasas to open for the purposes of supervised activities for children, that is for face-to-face teaching but only for a select group of children including:

• where the child or young person is vulnerable, and
• the provision or activities are reasonably necessary to enable the parent/person who has parental responsibility for, or care of the child, to work, search for work, to undertake training or education, attend a support group or to attend to a medical need.

Please read the Regulation and relevant Government guidance(s) including on out of school settings and on what is understood as vulnerable children – see links below.

Madrasa Managers who consider opening for face-to-face teaching as well as remote teaching must ensure risk assessments are updated including to take account of local infection rates and to implement reasonable precautionary measures to continue to ensure staff and students are safe at the Madrassah.

Regulations on Madrasa, i.e. supervised activity for children is likely to be eased and changed on 12 April 2021 to allow ‘all’ children to attend for face-to-face teaching.

If Madrassah Managers decide to open for face-to-face teaching, please consider as best practice:

• To notify the Local Authority and Police of any permitted activity at the Masjid/Madrassah incl. sending a link of the Regulation to explain what it permits to pre-empt and avoid any complaints being taken seriously,
• To post the relevant passage of the Regulation or its summary on the notice board – see link below.
• To obtain appropriate support and advice

BBSI

24 3 21

1. Summary of the current Regulation can be found on page 23 of the College of Policing website https://paas-s3-broker-prod-lon-6453d964-1d1a-432a-9260-5e0ba7d2fc51.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2021-03/covid-19-england-regs.pdf

2. Protective measures for holiday and after-school clubs, and other out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Updated 11 March 2021

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

3. Children of critical workers and vulnerable children who can access schools or educational settings updated 9 March 2021 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision