Calderdale: Too early for pupils to return to classes
CALDERDALE Council has advised headteachers not to re-open schools on June 1.
Unlike neighbouring Kirklees Council, where education chiefs have guided schools to re-open but left the final decision down to individual schools, Calderdale has urged school leaders to keep their doors closed amid safety concerns.
Councillor Tim Swift, leader of the council, said: “Education plays a crucial role in making sure children have a good start in life, laying the foundations so that they are able to enjoy a long, healthy and fulfilling future.
“However, the council has major concerns that the Government’s tests are not currently being met within Calderdale, and for this reason we are advising our schools against opening more widely on June 1.”
Deborah Harkins, director of public health at Calderdale Council, said: “More children should only return to school when we are confident that it is safe; we should not put them, their families and our communities at risk.
“The current evidence within Calderdale indicates three of the Government’s five tests are not met and unfortunately we are not assured that this will change before June 1.
This means that we cannot advise our local schools that it will be safe to reopen yet.”
The council said new measures such as smaller class sizes, increased hand washing and social distancing would be essential, but said it was very challenging for schools based in smaller Victorian buildings which do not have large open plan classrooms and flexible spaces.
They said young children were likely to struggle to maintain social distancing, increasing the risk of the spread of further infection.
Cabinet member Clr Adam Wilkinson said: “This has been an incredibly difficult time for children and their parents and carers and I’d like to thank them and our teachers for all that they are doing to make sure that our children and young people are able to continue to learn from home.
“The safety of our staff and pupils is of paramount importance, however, and schools should only open for more children if it is safe to do so. We’re also aware that each school is different and there’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to a safe re-opening.
“We have carefully considered this issue in light of public health and health and safety advice, and the Government guidance and information from the DfE Lead Scientific
Advisor and in view of this we believe that further opening of our schools on 1 June would be premature.
“We’ve prepared a template risk assessment and a checklist for our schools and staff which covers every part of the latest government guidance with regard to health and safety.
“The council’s Health and Safety team is supporting schools to undertake this process and will provide tailored advice as required.
“I know that many young people will want to see their friends again and resume learning. However, for now, our priority must be to make sure we keep ourselves and each other safe, by staying at home whenever possible.”