Face masks in class, no blazer needed... and don’t even ask to borrow a pencil
As pupils head back after a five-month layoff, schools look very different... a nd they face a VERY steep learning curve
FOR the first time in almost five months children across Scotland are to return to the classroom.
Except for those whose parents are key workers, around 700,000 children have not set foot inside a school since March 20.
Ministers have announced they want every child who is eligible to be back in front of a teacher by August 18.
The Scottish Government has issued a list of health and safety guidance for local authorities to follow.
However, local authorities are in charge of regulating their own returning policies and in most cases this is done on a school-by-school basis with rules being determined by individual headteachers.
The Mail has contacted Scotland’s councils to get a clearer picture of what most children can expect as they head through the school gates again:
What will the start and end of the day look like?
MAny schools have introduced staggered start and end times to ease congestion in hallways and communal areas. One-way systems will be in place with appropriate signage. But areas where pupils and staff pass briefly are considered low risk.
Parents will not be allowed to enter the playground in most places, meaning children should be dropped off in the street. To reduce congestion, local authorities are asking those who do not need to travel on public transport to walk or cycle to school with a parent or guardian (in the case of younger children).
Hand sanitiser stations have been installed at the entrances of all schools, classrooms and communal spaces. Where possible, there will be hand washing facilities with warm water and soap.
Independent schools are expected to take this a step further. For example, Kilgraston School in Bridge of Earn, Perthshire, has a mandatory temperature check at the school entrance. This applies to any adult or child entering the building as part of what the school has described as a ‘cautious normality’.
Much like a restaurant, the names and contact details of those entering will be noted down to aid tracking and tracing, though the school has reiterated that any data collected will not be recorded.
WHIlE Government guidance allows school bags to be brought into the classroom, some councils may prefer parents not to give their child equipment such as pens and pencils. Instead schools will provide stationary.
Will my child have to wear a face mask?
OncE inside the school children will not be required to wear face masks, although in most schools pupils have been given the option should two-metre social distancing rules be difficult to meet.
Teachers will also not be required to wear masks while teaching, but will need to don a face covering when coming into contact with other teachers or parents.
This varies from local authority to local authority. In Glasgow, for example, teachers will be required to wear a face mask but only during face-to-face meetings with individual pupils of more than 15 minutes and in circumstances where it is not possible to adhere to two-metre social distancing rules.
children in the city can choose to wear a face covering if they wish.
How will children eat their lunch?
HOT meals will be served in schools in canteens as usual. However, there may be a reduced menu and lunch breaks may be staggered and social distancing required. The details of this may vary depending on which authority area you live in.
Parents are advised to contact the school for more information or visit its website.
Staggered lunch times will be based around year and form group, rather than whether a child has hot or cold meals, though packed lunches should be brought in disposable bags when possible. On the whole, secondary school pupils who do not remain on site for lunch will be required to follow school guidance on re-entry to the building and adhere to Scottish Government guidance on face coverings in and around shopping outlets and the wider community, where required.
In the fee-paying sector, menus will remain largely the same. However, self-service will no longer be permitted.
Those attending Gordonstoun School, in Moray, though not starting class until September, will see children placed into social ‘bubbles’ to limit contact.
Will children still be able to get the school bus and will they need to wear a mask?
ScHOOl buses will run as normal and do not require social distancing or face coverings. children are encouraged to wear them, however, if they feel more comfortable.
In a number of local authorities, children will be allocated a seat and will not be allowed to move around the vehicle.
School coaches will also be filled from the back and emptied in reverse order. Food and drink, if previously allowed, will also be banned in some areas. If your child catches a public bus
to school then face coverings and social distancing of one metre applies, as normal, due to the presence of other members of the public. The same applies if children travel on a mini bus (up to 16 people) or by taxi. This is prevalent in rural areas where children are more likely to take long bus journeys to school.
Will my child be safe inside the classroom?
ScoTTiSh Government rules state that the sharing of equipment should be kept to a minimum. Each school has its own system in place but in the majority of classrooms each child will be given their own tray of equipment, pens, pencils, calculator and tablet computer where possible.
Teachers have been advised by ministers to ventilate classrooms as much as possible. This means that in most cases doors and at least one window in every room will remain open during lessons. Desks should be cleaned between uses where more than one student is using the work space, otherwise all desks should be cleaned at least twice a day, the same applies to computers and tablets.
in rural areas, outdoor classes will also be introduced when weather allows. in Aberdeen, uniform policies will be relaxed to allow children to wear outdoor clothing in order to attend lessons ‘set within the natural environment’.
What uniform will be required?
Uniform policies have been relaxed across most local authorities to minimise washing. in a lot of cases blazers are no longer required and have been replaced by jumpers.
Scottish Government guidance states that no extra cleaning of clothing is required.
How will playtime work?
for younger children break times will continue as normal due to the relaxation of social-distancing rules for the under 12s last month.
Those in secondary school may be subjected to staggered break times on a year by year basis. oneway systems are expected to be put in place for older children, accompanied with signage.
Ball games and contact sports will not be allowed until lockdowneasing measures are put in place later in the year.
Schools with smaller student numbers, such as independent schools, are set to test playground ‘zoning’ in an effort to keep year groups apart.
What can my child expect from PE lessons?
PE lessons will be held outdoors only and contact sports or shared equipment for older children are expected to be limited in favour of other activities where the use of equipment is limited and social distancing easier. A list of Scottish Government approved activities for PE includes athletics, golf, yoga, tennis, skipping and ‘outdoor pursuits’.
in confined spaces clear signage will be in place to indicate any one-way systems.
Swimming lessons will remain off the curriculum until lockdowneasing measures are introduced later in the year. Equally, contact sports such as football and rugby will also not be included in school PE lessons.
for lessons involving equipment, such as tennis, teachers have been advised by ministers to keep extra rackets on hand in order to minimise the loss of teaching time.
The Scottish Government said children should attend school wearing PE clothing on days it will be required, but said schools should also provide individual changing spaces for each pupil.
All equipment should also be sterilised between classes by your child’s teacher.
Will my child have access to a safe toilet?
onE-wAy systems will be put in place to allow pupils to access toilets and social distancing will also be required among secondary children.
Primary schools will see little change in this area but younger children may have hand washing supervised by a teacher or other member of staff.
Will my child be given homework?
chilDrEn will be given homework but parents are being advised to keep the sharing of textbooks and other equipment between siblings to a minimum and to clean the books regularly. library books will be quarantined for 72 hours upon return as the amount of infectious virus on any contaminated surface is likely to have decreased significantly in that time.
Children with additional support needs
ThE parents of children with complex additional support needs will be contacted by schools to help plan a transitional return to lessons.