SCHOOL’S BACK... BUT NOT AS WE KNEW IT
SCHOOLCHILDREN and teachers across Wales have been making a new start today – as the nation’s schools reopen for the first time in three months.
It marks the culmination of many weeks of work, after the return to school from the coronavirus shutdown was first signalled by Education Minister Kirsty Williams on June 3.
But pupils, parents and teachers were today set to find a very different reality to that of pre-lockdown schools, with a range of measures in place to help stop the spread of Covid-19.
Welcome-back rainbows have been painted, one way signs point the way and there are marks on the floors showing where to stand at a two-metre distance.
At one school, St Illtyd’s Catholic High in Cardiff, everyone entering the building was having their temperature taken.
Such measures are part of the new look for schools that children and staff will come across as they return for their few pre-summer sessions after 14 weeks off.
Staff have been busy preparing schools to be as safe as they can, without looking like “emergency areas” said headteachers, who have been at pains to keep the environment as warm and welcoming as possible.
Headteacher Armando di Finizio, at Cardiff’s Eastern High, speaking ahead of today’s reopening, summed it up by saying: “We’re all set up and really pleased with how all our staff have risen to it, pulling out all the stops to make it work from both a safety and educational point of view.”
Hand sanitising stations have been set up at key points in schools across Wales, handwashing facilities are adorned with safety signs and there are notices reminding everyone how their new “bubbles” work.
Pupils will come into schools in small groups of between five and eight children and stay in them for the duration of their session or day.
They will stay in one room with the teachers – rather than the children – moving. Children in these small groups – or “bubbles” as they’re popularly known – will have lunch and break times together.
Toys and equipment are labelled and separated for disinfecting between use by each child, desks and chairs are separated and in some schools marks have been put on desks, chairs, floors and outside play areas to show where people should stand at two metres distance.
Only around one third of pupils will be in at any one time.
Although Ms Williams has said schools can open to all pupils, in phases, some are recommending their nursery children wait to until September to return.
When the doors finally open today there will be little of the usual hustle and bustle. Children and teenagers won’t stream in and out at the start and end of the day or at playtime.
Most won’t be in uniform and only a few canteens will serve hot food. Close together working is gone for now with desks and chairs marked to keep everyone two metres apart.
While it is alien to the whole way schools usually work, heads, teachers and support staff said they have prepared everything to be as colourful and normal as possible.
Some schools have remained open as hubs for vulnerable and key workers’ children, but some of the buildings had been empty for weeks before staff returned to clean and get them ready.
Schools have drawn up rotas for who can come in and when, cleaners have been hired and reopening guidance from the Welsh Government has been followed to keep everyone as safe as possible.
All equipment and toys that can’t be easily cleaned, such as soft toys and dressing-up clothes, have been stored, said Karen Brown, head of Cardiff’s Millbank Primary.
“We’ve tried to maintain our caring ethos. We’ve put rainbow tape down to show children where they can sit, rather than showing where they can’t sit.
“If schools follow the guidelines they can be one of the safest places you can be.”
Dave Thomas, head at St Illtyd’s Catholic High School in Cardiff, said: “A lot of planning and preparation has been carried out, with support from the local authority, to make sure that the school is ready for reopening.
“There will be a maximum of eight pupils in a classroom and social distancing guidelines will be enforced
throughout the school.
“We anticipate this to be a challenge, but I am confident that we have the support of parents and the pupils in making it happen. We have no choice; it must.
“There will be regular cleaning of the site, abundant hand sanitiser and wipes, optional face masks and everybody who enters the building will have their temperature taken.
“Like all schools we have tried to make the site as safe as possible and everything is aimed at easing the worries and concerns of pupils, parents and staff.
“The last few months have not been easy for all concerned and we are delighted to be open and can`t wait to welcome everybody back.”
Huw Powell, head of Mary Immaculate High, Wenvoe, and Stephen Garthwaite, head of Ysgol y Grango, Wrexham, said as many as 70% of their pupils have said they will come back this term.
“They want to return to some normality,” said Mr Powell.
“We have signs marking two-metre distancing and will have five pupils on five desks in each classroom. Teachers, not pupils, will move rooms.
“We are doing full days. We bus in our youngsters and have arranged this with the local education authority safely.
“The day will run from 8.45am to 3.15pm and the canteen will serve hot food. For our youngsters it’s a wellbeing issue. People may not come with food and our youngsters like the food and we run our own canteen. They won’t wear uniform so that parents can wash clothes more easily.
“We had timetabled in one-week blocks for four weeks so when we were told by the LEA we could only open three weeks we just changed that so they come in three not four times.
“We are well prepared. By the nature of the job we have to be adaptable.”
Mr Garthwaite said he couldn’t wait to see most of his 545 pupils come in at some point over the next three weeks.
“We are all really pleased to be back and really looking forward to seeing pupils back. Every pupil will get three visits, if they want,” he said.
“There are new social distance signs and a one way system, but it is not obtrusive.
“The school looks as it did before but with new signs. It is Covid aware, but bright.
“We are really excited to be seeing pupils back. It will be great to see them again and give them a sense of purpose to help them progress.”