Calderdale education leaders have their say on children returning to school

This morning Calderdale Council’s Cabinet member for Children and Young People’s Services, Coun Adam Wilkinson confirmed the council had met with school headteachers and Governor representatives yesterday (Sunday, January 3) to discuss the authority’s position on opening schools for the new term amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Coun Wilkinson (Lab, Sowerby Bridge) said the situation is changing rapidly and the council would stand by schools if heads and Governors felt they had to close.

He said schools deserved better than “the continued mixed messages and constantly changing advice” that Government issued.

“At the moment, we’re fortunate that the infection rate in Calderdale is still lower than it was during the national lockdown in November.

“However we know this could change quickly so the situation is being reviewed on a daily basis.

“We have asked council officers to work closely with our primary schools to support those who are reopening this week, helping them make sure their safety measures are robust and helping them with testing for staff where they want this.

“But we also know that some schools may struggle in the next few days, and if heads and governors decide that they are unable to open safely, then they can be assured that we will stand by them.”

The Leader of Calderdale Council, Coun Tim Swift (Lab, Town), said the council remained extremely concerned about the national position with the virus and urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to act quickly to introduce stricter measures to help contain the virus.

“It’s very clear that the current tiers are not going to be enough to regain control over the rising infection rates,” he said.

Director of Children and Young People’s Services, Julie Jenkins, and the Director of Public Health, Debs Harkins, will review the position every day to assess if the council’s advice to schools needs to change, says the authority.

The council has issued the latest national guidance for the return to school on its website.

This states that in terms of secondary school age pupils, only vulnerable children and children of key workers are to return to school this week, beginning today, January 4, to allow time to set up testing.

Young people taking exams and those in years 11 and 13 are to return to school in the week beginning January 11.

All other secondary school children are to return on January 18.

In terms of primary school age children, they are expected to attend school from today, Monday, January 4.