School reassures parents after coronavirus case

HEADTEACHERS have moved to reassure pupils and parents worried about school during the pandemic that they are open safely.

Rebecca Barker, headteacher of Trallwn Primary School, the first school in Swansea to report a confirmed case of Covid-19, said procedures were followed and they have not had a case since.

Ms Barker acknowledged some children were very anxious coming to school but said she and her staff were helping them to feel safer. She said: “Some children have got high levels of anxiety about coming to school. Some of those are worried someone in their family will catch it and die.

“So we put in transition plans to help them come in. This includes the children being met by staff or coming in a bit later when it’s not so busy. That helps them feel safe.

“We are also working with education welfare officers who speak to families. Some parents have high levels of anxiety about sending their children in.”

Although the Welsh Government has suspended penalties for not sending children to school, Ms Barker said attendance is still compulsory.

“We take a supportive approach to ease anxiety. We want to support them as best we can. Attendance is compulsory but there are no penalties for not attending.”

Safety procedures to reduce risk of infection include frequent handwashing, hand-santising, social distancing and PPE.

Ms Barker said the safety process swung into action as soon as she was told a pupil had tested positive on Sunday, September 13.

A total of 54 pupils in the school’s Year 1 and reception classes, as well as eight staff, were asked to selfisolate as a result. The part of the school they used was thoroughly cleaned and the classrooms locked and only re-opened when they returned.

“We were the first Swansea school to have a confirmed case of coronavirus.

“Our procedures meant we could identify who that pupil had been with within minutes and we have had no other cases since.

“We also got in contact with all other parents concerned to reassure them the case had not been in contact with their children. We also spoke to staff.

“The classroom where the pupil had been was cleaned and locked. We have not had another case since.”