Calderdale school ready for new year - but it wont be easy warn councillors

Children are set to go back to the borough’s primary and secondary schools on September 7, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Council staff and other partners have worked closely with headteachers to make sure schools are ready, members of Calderdale Council’s Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Board heard.

Some board members said it had to be recognised it would not be easy and challenging issues, for example if a “bubble” had to be put into isolation, would arise.

Coun Anne Collins (Lab, Ovenden) said an incredible amount of hard co-operative work had been done to get schools prepared.

“But I am really concerned this is not going to be an easy thing to do and we shouldn’t play down how difficult it will be to admit these children in a week’s time,” she said.

It was going to be difficult with, for example, around 1,800 pupils going back to Calderdale’s biggest schools, and it would be naive to think otherwise, she said.

“I am really, really anxious and our next meeting will be a very interesting one to see how entry to school has gone and I don’t think we should pretend it is going to be easy,” said Coun Collins.

Mark Randall, the council’s Assistant Director for Education and Inclusion, said guidance issued on face coverings for secondary school pupils was being taken into account.

“Schools are finalising arrangements for opening.

“Be assured heads are working on their final plans,” he said.

Mr Randall said strategies were in place to support children, and headteachers would be communicating with parents in the coming days.

The board had previously heard social distancing measures were in place, additional cleaning arranged, staggered starts and finishes to the school day were planned, health guidance including washing of hands was being promoted and the creation “bubbles”, where children were together with their peers but kept apart from other “bubbles” including at school start and end times.

Bubbles are likely to be a class at primary level but a year group at secondary level.

Issues included aditional details which had been provided to schools about face coverings, including exemptions and support for expempted children who did not wear them.

Coun Sarah Courtney (Lab, Calder) asked about how schools would continue if there was an outbreak of COVID-19 at a school and children and staff had to isolate, for example a mix of face-to-face and online learning.

Mr Randall said schools were aware they needed to be open and make up for lost time educationally.

“It’s important to say that any full closure will be very much a last resort,” he said.

In case of need to isolate a pupil, careful consideration would be used to reach the right decision in terms of the child, the bubble and the prevention of wider transmission of the virus, he said.

Mr Randall said schools would be able to apply for more devices including laptops for children who were shielding or if schools had to close down a bubble which had been made available by the Government.

Board Chair Coun Colin Rasitrick (Ind, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) asked if this process had been speeded up, and partiularly stressed the need for routers and dongles to be used in some parts of Calderdale where they were the most effective solution. Mr Randall said this had been done.

Coun Raistrick was also concerned that the larger the bubble the higher the risk of an infection spreading.

Mr Randall said it was likely that a whole year group would have to isolate but others at the school could continue.

Coun Helen Rivron (Lab, Ovenden) asked about worst case scenario preparations, including obtaining the necessary equipment.

“If there is a second wave we ought to be able to deliver the curriculum as much as possible,” she said.

Mr Rabdall said headteachers had both made assessments and arranagements for pupils returning in September and had also worked on “Plan Bs” to ensuring learning could continue.

“It is going to be a challenge but one which headteachers, with support of colleagues, will be able to tackle in earnest,” he said.