Safety first for schools

The safety of the school community will be at the heart of how schools will operate when they reopen in August.

That’s according to a letter from South Lanarkshire Council’s executive director for education Tony Mcdaid, who has written to parents and carers about the next steps for the region’s schools.

After teachers return to work this week, they will now begin preparations for what Mr Mcdaid called “the new normal” throughout June before pupils get back to school in August.

A key part of deciding what the new normal will be involves consultation and the council have already begun engaging with parents, teachers, janitors, cleaners, caterers and trade unions.

Mr Mcdaid laid out a number of considerations the council will have to take into account over the coming weeks, including:

■ cleaning and hygiene;

■ physical distancing;

■ the layout of classrooms, dining rooms etc;

■ potential for smaller groups of pupils in school for shorter periods and over fewer days;

■ staggered starts, finishes and break times; ■ what learning will look like;

■ practical considerations for children with additional support needs;

■ travel to and from school;

■ childcare support and;

■ supporting learning at home.

He added: “Health and safety sits at the heart of our plans, with risk assessments and infection prevention and control measures being put in place. We are also in regular contact with NHS Public Health Lanarkshire to ensure we are informed of the medical advice on personal safety and wellbeing.

“This is uncharted territory for all of us. Therefore, we are working together to try and find solutions by enabling our headteachers, staff, parents and young people to contribute to local discussions. We continue to engage with our Parents as Partners focus group, parent councils as well as other parent groups as a way of ensuring the voice of parents is a core part of how we shape our plans to restart schools.

“Next week we plan to host online meetings with parent councils and steps have been taken to survey pupils and parents across South Lanarkshire.

“This week, senior staff have returned to their schools with other staff coming back on a phased basis to plan for a return of children in August.

“We continue to support the children of key workers and as the Scottish Government guidance indicates we are looking at the possibility of some in-school experience for late June for children at key transitions points (e.g. due to start P1 or S1).

“At this stage, no final decision has been made on which pupils may be able to return for this limited activity as we are still looking at the numbers who can return safely, taking account of physical distancing measures.

“I understand that supporting learning at home whilst managing other changes to family life has been challenging for parents and carers.

“I recognise that as we look towards schools returning in August, further support in this area is required.

“As a council, we are looking at how children and young people access digital learning at home and how we can provide further assistance to families in this area.”