Primary schools draw up changes
Daily temperature checks for pupils One-way corridors, relaxed uniform code Staggered starts and fewer days in class
PUPILS could face daily temperature tests, a two-day week, emotional wellbeing lessons and a relaxation of uniform rules when they return to primary schools.
Ahead of official guidance being published, proposals for the ‘new normal’ set out by Belfast principals will see an August start for some schools and staggered classroom hours.
One principal said children will probably be in school just one or two days a week and learning at home for the remainder.
PRIMARY school pupils could face daily temperature testing, a two-day week, emotional wellbeing lessons and a relaxation of school uniform rules when they return to education.
The proposals are among many that some schools in Belfast have started to set out in the absence of official guidance from the Education Minister.
Peter Weir is currently working with teaching unions and schools on guidance which is expected to be announced later this month.
He has previously said he expects a phased return for schools in August, but this week he wrote to teaching unions to admit that strict social distancing will be hard to maintain.
In letters to parents, the principals of Our Lady’s Girls’ Primary, Saint Vincent de Paul Primary and Sacred Heart Boys’ Primary School — all in Belfast — set out their vision for a ‘new normal’.
Each school acknowledged the arrangements could change after the official guidance is issued.
Our Lady’s principal Emer Hughes told parents “life will be very difficult” when school returns.
Children will have their temperature taken on arrival every morning and leaving times will be staggered.
She added that most children will probably be in school just one or two days a week in a group setting and at home for the remainder of the week.
Children will be allocated into a group, taking into account any siblings.
Where possible, the girls’ school will liaise with nearby Sacred Hearts Boys’ so brothers and sisters can attend school on the same days.
The school building and yard is to be marked out to comply with social distancing measures with a one-way system in place.
“There are many aspects of school life that have to be finetuned, therefore we cannot be more specific at this time,” Ms Hughes said.
“However, one thing is certain — our school will still be a happy place to learn and social connections will be so important.
“We will continue to nurture our pupils. The emotional wellbeing and welfare of your daughter and of our staff is paramount.”
A relaxation on school uniform policy will also be in place, as children would not be attending every day.
Saint Vincent de Paul head Bronagh Mcveigh set out a proposed new weekly timetable.
Primary Six and Seven pupils taking the transfer test would return at some point in August, attending four days a week from 8.45am to 2pm.
Primary One and Two pupils would attend one day a week for reduced hours from August 31 until the end of September.
Pupils in Primary Three, Four, Five and Seven, who aren’t taking the transfer test, will attend two days a week.
Sacred Heart Boys’ principal Joanne Smyth told parents the new term would likely mean a mix of learning in school and at home.
“This will mean that your son will be attending school on certain days of the week with a small group of children from his class.
“Currently we anticipate this
❝ We haven’t tried to second guess any of what’s happening ... detail will make the difference
to be two days a week,” she said.
As the school year ended abruptly, Sacred Heart is aiming to have pupils resume lessons with their previous teacher in August before changing to their new class in the middle of September.
“This will help ease children’s anxiety and also prepare them better for transition to their new teacher for the year ahead,” Ms Smyth said.
“During this time the teacher will be developing social and emotional lessons with an emphasis on improving positive wellbeing.”
Whiteabbey Primary School head Keith Wysner said he has yet to make arrangements, saying it would be too difficult to anticipate the official guidance.
“We haven’t tried to second guess any of what’s happening, obviously we’re keeping an eye on things but we don’t know whether pupils will have to be one or two metres apart,” he said.
“Just like with restaurants and hotels, that detail will make a world of difference to what we can do in school.”
Mr Wysner said it was “crucially important” that any guidance will make staff and parents feel safe.
“There is a Dutch model, which encourages the children to come in and be together, as the coronavirus to date has had very little impact on that age group.
“I can potentially see how that would work for our children. But they would still need to remain two metres apart from adults.
“A part of educating children is socialising them and allowing them to play and cooperate together.”
Ulster Unionist education spokesman Robbie Butler MLA said a number of schools and parents had expressed their frustration at the ongoing uncertainty.
“The minister has given a commitment to release guidance this month and said it could change at any time,” he said.
“However, we know what the threats are and what the strategies are needed in public. So, we could already be giving a range of scenarios to schools to help them to prepare.”
Meanwhile, Ulster Unionist peer Lord Rogan has criticised Prime Minister Boris Johnson for not doing more to help schools open safely in devolved regions.
“He has shown no inclination to use the vastly superior resources of the UK Government to properly support our schools in the difficult task of reopening later this year,” he said.
“As the months go by, it is becoming increasingly clear that he has no desire to take responsibility for anything.”