As you will know, the Scottish Government recently made face coverings mandatory in secondary schools. However, there are certain conditions which would result in a person being made exempt from wearing one. These are quoted below.

In order for us to establish which of our pupils fall in to this category of exemption, we kindly assk that as parents/carers you read these guidelines and then contact the school if your child should be allowed to not wear a face covering in school.

Many thanks in advance for your assistance in this matter.

Face covering exemptions

“Some people are not required to wear a face covering.

These include:

• babies, toddler and children under 5 years of age, due to the possibility of overheating, suffocation and strangulation and they are safe without one. 
• police constables or emergency response workers such as paramedics acting in the course of their duty 
• owners, managers, members of staff, or volunteers, of indoor premises where it is mandatory to wear a face covering who are physically separated, by means of, for example, partition screens, from passengers or customers or if they maintain a 2 metre distance from customers or members of the public
• a person leading an act of worship, service, ceremony or registration in a place of worship, or at a funeral, marriage ceremony or civil partnership, where there is a partition screen or a distance of 2 metres is maintained 

You may also have a reasonable excuse not to wear a face covering if, for example:

• you have a health condition or you are disabled, including hidden disabilities, for example, autism, dementia or a learning disability,  or are providing care for someone with a health condition or disability, and a face covering would be inappropriate because it would cause difficulty, pain or severe distress or anxiety to the wearer or the person in the care of the wearer, or because you cannot apply a covering and wear it in the proper manner safely and consistently
• Individual discretion should be applied in considering the use of face coverings for other children including, for example, children with breathing difficulties and disabled children who would struggle to wear a face covering
• to seek medical assistance
• to avoid injury, illness or escape the risk of harm
• you need to eat or drink
• you are taking medication
• you are communicating with someone else who relies on lip reading and facial expressions to communicate
• a relevant person, such as a police officer, asks you to remove your face covering
• you are exercising

When temporarily removing a face covering you should, where possible, maintain 2 metres distance as physical distancing is one of the most effective methods of preventing the spread of the virus and removing your face covering places others at an increased risk.

Those exempt under the guidance and regulations do not have to prove their exemption and should not be made to wear a face covering or denied access to public transport or shops. We ask for people to be aware of the exemptions and to treat each other with kindness.

We will continue to keep this guidance under ongoing review as we move through the phases of the route map out of lockdown.”