Challenges to bringing childern back in ‘bubbles’

The chief executive of an academy trust in Peterborough says she intends to bring children back into school despite a number of ‘challenges’.

Julie Taylor, who heads the Thomas Deacon Education Trust, said she had been a “little surprised” by Boris Johnson announcing schools could re-open on June 1 for some primary pupils and that it was “unrealistic” to expect to expect children to return full-time.

But she hopes to see some Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils back in the classroom next month in ‘bubbles’ alongside a teacher or teaching assistant, although a final decision will only be made this week when the trust’ s board meets virtually.

The trust runs seven academies, including five primaries, three of which are in Peterborough - Gladstone, Welbourne and Thomas Deacon.

Ms Taylor admitted convincing parents and staff it was safe to re-open schools to more than just vulnerable children and the children of key workers will be difficult as the country slowly eases out of lockdown, but she insisted each academy will only do what is safe even if it means allowing in fewer pupils than recommended by the Government.

She said: “We are taking time to make sense of the new guidance. We had considered a number of scenarios before the Government guidance came out. We were perhaps a little surprised by the June 1 announcement. We were thinking it might be a more gentle, phased return.

“The guidelines are only that - the responsibility lies with the corporate body. We are just making the decisions that are right for our schools.

“Parents have been given a message that the safest place is at home and now they’re being asked to send their precious children to school. It’s a challenge.

“We are looking very much at how we can work in social bubbles. We won’t be able to do 15 children in a school like the Government suggests - with the space in our schools I don’t think that’s workable.

“We want to be on the side of caution and are looking at around 10 children with a teacher or teaching assistant in a bubble.”